The NBA Hall of Fame has honored a remarkable and varied group of players, coaches, and referees since 2000, each having a memorable impact on the sport.
It has been home to the icons that changed the game since 1959, those whose names reverberate through arenas and motivate new generations of ballers.
Imagine Michael Jordan's swagger, his gravity-defying dunks ingrained in sports history for all time—or Shaquille O'Neal, whose size and skill made him an unstoppable force in the paint.
The Hall of Fame is a monument to the variety of skills that define the game of basketball, from the silky smooth shots of Larry Bird to the sky-walking dunks of Dr. J.
2000
The 2000 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Isiah Thomas (1981-1994)
- Bob McAdoo (1972-1992)
Contributors:
- Danny Biasone (1946-1963)
The Hall of Fame's class of 2000 included the Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas, one of the shortest NBA players who won two NBA titles alongside the 1975 NBA MVP Bob McAdoo.
Danny Biasone's contribution to the league can be best highlighted as a sports manager and the founding owner of the Syracuse Nationals (currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers).
2001
The 2001 NBA Hall of Famer is listed below:
Players:
- Moses Malone (1974-1995)
Moses Eugene Malone played center in the NBA and ABA for nine teams, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship and earning the Finals MVP honor.
Malone was a prolific rebounder in addition to his scoring prowess. With 16,212 career rebounds, he ranks fifth all-time in the league, a testament to his unwavering grit and positional skill.
2002
The 2002 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Magic Johnson (1979-2000)
- Drazen Petrovic (1979-1993)
Coaches:
- Larry Brown (1965-2022)
The 2002 class of Hall of Fame includes players like Magic Johnson and Drazen Petrovic, who left a mark in history as one of the greatest NBA players.
The Lakers Hall of Famer Johnson led the team to five NBA titles and was named the Final MVP thrice. Petrovic became the EuroLeague champion twice.
2003
The 2003 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Robert Parish (1976-1997)
- James Worthy (1982-1994)
- Dino Meneghin (1966-1994)
Contributors:
- Chick Hearn (1957-2002)
- Earl Lloyd (1950-1972)
Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn was inducted into the 2003 Hall of Fame due to his contribution to the league as the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers for over 40 years.
In addition, Hearn served as the team's assistant general manager for about seven years from 1972. Earl Lloyd was the first African American to play in the NBA, winning the 1955 NBA title.
2004
The 2004 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Clyde Drexler (1983-1998)
- Maurice Stokes (1955-1958)
Coaches:
- Bill Sharman (1961-1976)
Contributors:
- Jerry Colangelo (1966-2019)
Bill Sharman was an NBA and ABA coach for the Cleveland Pipers, San Francisco Warriors, Los Angeles / Utah Stars, and Los Angeles Lakers.
He led the Utah Stars and the Lakers to the 1971 ABA and 1972 NBA championships, winning the Coach of the Year Award twice.
2005
The 2005 NBA Hall of Famer is listed below:
Coach:
- Hubie Brown (1955-2004)
The two-time NBA Coach of the Year, Hubie Brown, was the only NBA coach to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2004.
Brown served as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, and Memphis Grizzlies and as an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in the league.
Furthermore, he led the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association to the championship title as a coach in 1975.
2006
The 2006 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Charles Barkley (1984-2000)
- Joe Dumars (1985-1999)
- Dominique Wilkins (1982-1999)
Barkley played power forward in the NBA for the 76ers, Suns, and the Rockets, being named the NBA MVP once and the NBA All-Star eleven times.
The Detroit Pistons shooting guard Joe Dumars led the team to two NBA titles in 1989 and 1990 and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1989.
Likewise, Dominique Wilkins is a veteran NBA small forward who led the league in scoring in 1986. His excellence in the court was rewarded with nine All-Star appearances.
2007
The 2007 list of NBA Hall of Famers is shown below:
Coaches:
- Phil Jackson (1978-2011)
Referees:
- Mendy Rudolph (1953-1975)
Phil Jackson's contribution to the league as a coach includes eleven NBA titles, four All-Star Game head coach appearances, and one Coach of the Year honor.
He guided the league as an assistant coach of the Nets and the Bulls and as the head coach of the Bulls and the Lakers throughout his career.
Marvin "Mendy" Rudolph served the league for 22 years as a professional basketball referee, becoming the first to officiate over 2,000 games.
2008
The 2008 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Adrian Dantley (1976-1992)
- Patrick Ewing (1985-2002)
- Hakeem Olajuwon (1984-2002)
Coaches:
- Pat Riley (1979-2008)
Contributors:
- Bill Davidson (1974-2009)
- Dick Vitale (1963-2022)
Bill Davidson was inducted into the 2008 Hall of Fame due to his contributions to the league as an owner of the Detroit Pistons for over 30 years, leading the team to three NBA titles.
Dick Vitale's contributions to the league aren't limited to a single career. He served the league as the head coach of the Pistons for a season and called several NBA games as an ESPN broadcaster.
2009
The 2009 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Michael Jordan (1984-2003)
- David Robinson (1989-2003)
- John Stockton (1984-2003)
Coaches:
- Jerry Sloan (1978-2011)
Contributors:
- Jerry Colangelo (1966-2019)
The 2009 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame included players like Michael Jordan, David Robinson, and John Stockton, whose names echo throughout the court as the greatest NBA players ever.
With his vertical leap of 48 inches, Michael Jordan was an integral part of the Chicago Bulls around the 1980s and 1990s, leading the team to six NBA titles.
2010
The 2010 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Dennis Johnson (1976-1990)
- Gus Johnson (1963-1973)
- Karl Malone (1985-2004)
- Scottie Pippen (1987-2008)
Contributors:
- Jerry Buss (1979-2013)
Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss was more than an NBA owner; he was a showman, an innovator, and a basketball alchemist.
He turned the Los Angeles Lakers into a worldwide sensation between 1979 and 2013, winning ten NBA titles and inducting himself into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
2011
The 2011 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Artis Gilmore (1971-1989)
- Chris Mullin (1985-2001)
- Dennis Rodman (1986-2006)
- Arvydas Sabonis (1981-2004)
Coaches:
- Tex Winter (1947-2004)
Contributors:
- Tom Sanders (1960-1978)
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011, Tom Sanders finally received the recognition his talent deserved.
He contributed 18 years to the league as a player and coach, winning eight NBA championship titles. He personified a rebellious and self-expressing mentality that still motivates athletes and spectators today.
2012
The 2012 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Mel Daniels (1967-1976)
- Chet Walker (1962-1975)
- Reggie Miller (1987-2005)
- Ralph Sampson (1983-1995)
- Jamaal Wilkes (1974-1985)
Coaches:
- Don Nelson (1976-2010)
Contributors:
- Don Barskdale (1948-1955)
The present, high-scoring era of basketball was made possible by the innovative coaching of Don Nelson, a master of the sideline who reinvented offensive basketball.
He earned Coach of the Year honors thrice in 1983, 1985, and 1992, recognizing his ability to get the most out of his players.
2013
The 2013 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Gary Payton (1990-2007)
- Bernard King (1977-1993)
- Roger Brown (1967-1975)
- Oscar Schmidt (1974-2003)
- Richard Guerin (1956-1970)
Coaches:
- Rick Pitino (1974-present)
Contributors:
- Russ Granik (1976-2005)
Russ Granik, a titan of the NBA's executive branch, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and earned his proper position there.
Throughout his 29 years with the league, he progressed from staff attorney to deputy commissioner, helping to shape today's NBA.
2014
The 2014 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Alonzo Mourning (1992-2008)
- Mitch Richmond (1988-2002)
- Guy Rodgers (1958-1970)
- Sarunas Marciulionis (1981-1997)
Coaches:
- Bob Leonard (1962-1980)
Contributors:
- David Stern (1978-2014)
- Nat Clifton (1945-1961)
Beyond statistics, Bob "Slick" Leonard is a legendary coach. His 18-year career in the ABA and NBA is a mosaic of victories and evidence of his exceptional basketball skills.
His three ABA titles (1970, 1972, 1973) with the Indiana Pacers cemented his reputation as a victor.
2015
The 2015 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Louie Dampier (1967-1979)
- Dikembe Mutombo (1991-2009)
- Jo Jo White (1969-1981)
Coaches:
- John Calipari (1982-present)
- Tom Heinsohn (1969-1978)
Referees:
- Dick Bavetta (1975-2014)
Dick Bavetta is a retired American professional basketball referee who officiated for the league for about 40 years.
He persevered through the physical challenges, on-court drama, and constantly changing game laws to never miss an allocated game from 1975 to 2014.
2016
The 2016 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Zelmo Beaty (1962-1975)
- Allen Iverson (1996-2011)
- Yao Ming (1997-2011)
- Shaquille O'Neal (1992-2011)
Contributors:
- Jerry Reinsdorf (1985-Present)
Referees:
- Darell Garretson (1967-1994)
Jerry Reinsdorf is a brilliant businessman, a Chicago sports great, and the creator of one of history's most successful NBA dynasties.
He acquired the Chicago Bulls in 1985, a struggling franchise, and led the team to six NBA championships (1991-93, 1996-98) the most by any owner in the Eastern Conference.
2017
The 2017 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Tracy McGrady (1997-2013)
- Nick Galis (1979-1994)
- George McGinnis (1971-1982)
Contributors:
- Jerry Krause (1985-2003)
Behind closed doors, Jerry Krause was a cigar-chomping, bespectacled executive who helped create one of the most dominant dynasties in NBA history.
As the architect of the Chicago Bulls' six NBA titles from 1991 to 1998, Krause (general manager) was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
2018
The 2018 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Ray Allen (1996-2014)
- Maurice Cheeks (1978-1993)
- Grant Hill (1994-2013)
- Jason Kidd (1994-2013)
- Steve Nash (1996-2015)
- Dino Radja (1985-2003)
- Charlie Scott (1970-1980)
Contributors:
- Rod Thorn (1963-Present)
- Rick Welts (1969-Present)
Ray Allen earned him a place among the NBA's all-time greats, culminating in his well-deserved induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
He hoisted two NBA championship trophies (one with the Celtics, one with the Heat) and participated in 10 All-Star games.
2019
The 2019 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Carl Braun (1947-1962)
- Charles "Chuck" Cooper (1950-1956)
- Vlade Divac (1983-2005)
- Bobby Jones (1974-1986)
- Sidney Moncrief (1979-1991)
- Jack Sikma (1977-1991)
- Paul Westphal (1972-1984)
Coaches:
- Bill Fitch (1956-1998)
Contributors:
- Al Attles (1960-1995)
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, Bill Fitch's legacy stands tall, a testament to his basketball IQ and unwavering will.
He led the Boston Celtics, the team with the most hall of famers, to the 1981 NBA championship win by molding Larry Bird's raw talent into championship gold.
2020
The 2020 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Kobe Bryant (1996-2016)
- Tim Duncan (1997-2016)
- Kevin Garnett (1995-2016)
Coaches:
- Rudy Tomjanovich (1983-2005)
Tomjanovich earned his place among the legends in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame with his unassuming demeanor belied by a fierce competitive spirit and basketball IQ.
His calm demeanor and strategic acumen flourished, leading Houston to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.
2021
The 2021 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Chris Bosh (2003-2017)
- Paul Pierce (1998-2017)
- Ben Wallace (1996-2012)
- Chris Webber (1993-2008)
- Toni Kukoc (1985-2006)
- Bob Dandridge (1969-1981)
Coaches:
- Rick Adelman (1977-2014)
- Bill Russell (1966-1988)
Contributors:
- Cotton Fitzsimmons (1958-1996)
Cotton Fitzsimmons, synonymous with coaching brilliance, earned his rightful place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Cotton, the two-time NBA Coach of the Year, became the NJCAA champion twice, in 1966 and 1967, with the Moberly Area Community College basketball team.
2022
The 2022 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Manu Ginobili (1995-2018)
- Tim Hardaway (1989-2003)
- Lou Hudson (1966-1979)
Coaches:
- George Karl (1978-2016)
Contributors:
- Larry Costello (1954-1987)
- Del Harris (1965-2012)
Referees:
- Hugh Evans (1972-2001)
Manu was an essential contributor to the Spurs' dynasty. His clutch shooting and fierce defense were pillars of the team's four NBA titles in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
Manu demonstrated his influence off the bench, going above and beyond just scoring goals with the 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award.
2023
The 2023 NBA Hall of Famers are listed below:
Players:
- Pau Gasol (1998-2021)
- Dirk Nowitzki (1994-2019)
- Tony Parker (1999-2019)
- Dwyane Wade (2003-2019)
Wade illuminated the NBA for over a decade, leaving an indelible mark on the game and earning his rightful place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
One of the first ballot hall of famers, Wade, became a legendary player for the Miami Heat and a champion for all time because of his clutch performances and Finals MVP honor in 2006.
