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The international committee has selected Dusan Ivkovic as a finalist for the Class of 2025 in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The revered Serbian coach, who died in 2021, was a pivotal force in European basketball, with a coaching career that spanned nearly fifty years. His extensive list of accomplishments includes winning the EuroLeague championship in both 1997 and 2012, and his significant contributions to the sport are poised to be honored with a posthumous induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Ivkovic was previously inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Other notable finalists announced during the NBA All-Star Weekend at Friday’s Basketball Hall of Fame Press Conference included former Maccabi Tel Aviv player Tal Brody, NBA greats Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, as well as the United States men’s national team from 2008.
According to a press statement: “Today at NBA All-Star Weekend 2025, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame revealed the selection of 17 finalists from various committees: North American, Women’s, Men’s Veterans, Women’s Veterans, International, and Contributors.
These finalists will be forwarded to the Honors Committee for consideration for election into the Class of 2025. The new class will be unveiled in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5, during the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
**Finalists from the North American Committee (in alphabetical order):**
– 2008 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team
– Carmelo Anthony [Player]
– Danny Crawford [Referee]
– Billy Donovan [Coach]
– Mark Few [Coach]
– Dwight Howard [Player]
– Marques Johnson [Player]
– Jerry Welsh [Coach]
– Buck Williams [Player]
**Finalists from the Women’s Committee:**
– Jennifer Azzi [Player] – Sue Bird [Player] – Sylvia Fowles [Player] – Maya Moore [Player]
**Finalists from the Women’s Veteran Committee:**
– Molly Bolin [Player]
**Finalist from the International Committee:**
– Dušan Ivković [Coach]
**Finalists from the Contributors Committee:**
– Micky Arison
– Tal Brody
Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, remarked, “Being selected as a finalist for the Class of 2025 signifies an extraordinary achievement marked by a lifetime of exceptional contributions to the game. This recognition transcends mere statistics—it celebrates individuals who have shaped eras, inspired generations, and elevated basketball through their talent, leadership, and commitment. Every finalist has made an indelible impression on the sport, and we are honored to highlight their remarkable influence.”
The Enshrinement Weekend will commence at Mohegan Sun on Friday, September 5, beginning with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala, followed by the Enshrinement Ceremony the next day at Symphony Hall in Springfield.
**North American Committee Finalists:**
**2008 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team [Team]**– The United States men’s basketball team for the 2008 Olympics rejuvenated USA Basketball’s global standing under Managing Director Jerry Colangelo, who revitalized the program by securing long-term commitments from NBA stars. The team achieved gold in Beijing with an unblemished 8-0 record, winning by an average of 27.9 points. Notable players included co-captains Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade, alongside stars like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Chris Bosh, all orchestrated by Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski. The team, nicknamed ‘Redeem Team’ following USA’s bronze medal in 2004, triumphed over Spain 118-107 in the final.
**CARMELO ANTHONY [Player]**– An esteemed 10-time NBA All-Star, Anthony has been celebrated as one of the most prolific scorers of his generation throughout his 19-year NBA career (2003-22). Drafted third overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2003 after leading Syracuse to its inaugural NCAA national championship, he averaged 22.5 points per game and ranks 10th in all-time NBA scoring with 28,289 points. He earned All-NBA honors six times and clinched three Olympic gold medals (2008, ’12, ’16) as a vital member of Team USA. In the 2012–13 season, he led the NBA in scoring (28.7) and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
**DANNY CRAWFORD [Referee]**– A respected official throughout his 32-year career (1985-2017), Crawford was in charge of over 2,000 regular season games, 300 playoff games, and 30 NBA Finals contests. He officiated 23 consecutive seasons of NBA Finals, including his last game—Game 5 of the 2017 Finals. His distinguished career covered some of the league’s pivotal games, including the 1992 Dream Team’s inaugural Olympic match.
**BILLY DONOVAN [Coach]**– A two-time NCAA national champion coach, Donovan achieved remarkable success during his stint at the University of Florida (1996-2015). He directed the Gators to consecutive national championships in 2006 and ’07 and made four Final Four appearances, amassing over 500 career victories at both Florida and Marshall (1994-96). Following his collegiate success, he moved to the NBA, coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder (2015-20) and the Chicago Bulls (2020-present) to more than 400 wins. Donovan, who also played under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino at Providence College, has secured SEC Coach of the Year honors thrice and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
**MARK FEW [Coach]**– Known as one of the most accomplished figures in college basketball history, Few has led Gonzaga to two NCAA national championship game appearances (2017, ’21) and has secured 25 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths up to 2024. He holds the record as the winningest active coach by percentage and has achieved at least 20 victories in every one of his 25 seasons with the Bulldogs. Few is the second fastest to reach 700 wins in NCAA Division I history, has twice earned the Naismith Coach of the Year title (2017, ‘21), and has captured 22 WCC regular-season titles and 19 WCC tournament championships. He has coached 22 All-Americans and brought home a gold medal as an assistant coach in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
**DWIGHT HOWARD [Player]**– An 8-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2009-11), Howard was a dominant player on both ends of the court during his 18-year career. Known as “Superman,” he led the NBA in rebounds five times and blocks twice, ranking 10th all-time in NBA rebounds (14,627) and 13th in blocks (2,228). Howard led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009, later claiming a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He was the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
**MARQUES JOHNSON [Player]**– A five-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, Johnson averaged 20.1 points and 7.0 rebounds during his 11-year NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors. Drafted third overall in the 1977 NBA Draft, Johnson played a pivotal role in UCLA’s 1975 national championship under Hall of Fame coach John Wooden and was a key contributor in helping the Bruins forge a remarkable 98-10 record during his college career. His No. 8 jersey was retired by the Bucks in 2019.
**JERRY WELSH [Coach]**– Over 22 seasons as head coach at SUNY Potsdam, Welsh compiled an impressive 494-141 record and guided the Bears to the NCAA Division III national championship in 1981 and three Final Four appearances (1979, ’81, ’86). He was twice named the NABC Division III Coach of the Year and his teams secured or shared the SUNYAC regular-season title in each of his last 15 seasons. His teams at SUNY Potsdam set a Division III record with 60 consecutive victories from 1985 to 1987 and boasted a remarkable 254-13 record at home.
**BUCK WILLIAMS [Player]**– A three-time NBA All-Star, Williams ranks third in NBA history for offensive rebounds (4,526) and is 16th in total rebounds (13,017). He received four All-Defensive Team honors and was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1982. Williams, who was the third overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft, spent the first eight seasons of his professional career with the New Jersey Nets before being traded to Portland, where he helped the Trail Blazers reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. His No. 52 jersey was retired by the Nets in 1999.
**Finalists from the Women’s Committee:**
**JENNIFER AZZI [Player]**– Azzi, the 1990 Naismith College Player of the Year, led Stanford to the NCAA national championship and earned Most Outstanding Player honors in the tournament. She also had a successful international career, securing a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics and World Championship titles in 1990 and 1998. After playing abroad, Azzi co-founded the short-lived American Basketball League before playing five years in the WNBA (1999-2003). She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
**SUE BIRD [Player]**– Renowned as one of the all-time greatest point guards, Bird won four WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm over her 21-season career. A record 13-time All-Star, she is the WNBA’s all-time leader in wins, games played, assists, and minutes. Bird has also triumphed at the international level, winning five Olympic gold medals and five World Cup medals with Team USA. At UConn, she captured two NCAA titles and was the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft.
**SYLVIA FOWLES [Player]**– A WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx, Fowles is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist and retired as the league’s all-time leading rebounder. She was named Finals MVP in both championship runs and has earned WNBA MVP honors among numerous accolades during her 15-year career. Selected second overall in the 2008 draft after a stellar college career at LSU, where she led the Tigers to four consecutive Final Four appearances, Fowles has had her No. 34 retired by both LSU and the Lynx.
**MAYA MOORE [Player]**– Leading the Minnesota Lynx to four WNBA titles in her seven seasons, Moore also achieved significant personal success, including being a six-time All-Star and earning WNBA MVP honors in 2014. She was the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft and starred at UConn, where she won multiple awards and led the Huskies to back-to-back undefeated seasons and NCAA titles. Moore possesses two Olympic gold medals and two FIBA World Cup golds.
**Finalists from the Women’s Veteran Committee:**
**MOLLY BOLIN [Player]**– A groundbreaking figure in the women’s professional basketball landscape, Bolin became the first player signed in Women’s Professional Basketball League history and gained fame as “Machine Gun” Molly for her scoring prowess. She led the Iowa Cornets to two WBL championship appearances and set a single-game scoring record with 55 points in 1980. Bolin averaged a remarkable 32.8 points during the 1980-81 season. She was enshrined in the Iowa High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986.
**International Committee Finalist:**
**DUŠAN IVKOVIĆ [Coach]**– A former Serbian player, Ivkovic’s illustrious coaching career spanned six decades, earning him myriad accolades, including recognition as one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors in 2008 and a EuroLeague Basketball Legend in 2017. He captured two EuroLeague titles and guided the Yugoslavia national team to an Olympic silver medal and World Championship glory. Over his career, Ivkovic coached renowned European clubs and guided numerous players who became NBA stars.
**Finalists from the Contributors Committee:**
**MICKY ARISON** – As the owner of the Miami Heat since 1995, Arison has steered the franchise to three NBA championships and seven Eastern Conference titles, cultivating a legacy that includes legendary players. Under his leadership, the Heat has established a culture of excellence, significantly impacting the Miami community through various philanthropic efforts.
**TAL BRODY** – An ambassador for basketball for over five decades, Brody led Maccabi Tel Aviv to a historic victory in the 1977 FIBA European Champions Cup, marking a turning point for Israeli teams in Europe. An All-American from the University of Illinois, he achieved fame as the country’s first athlete to receive the Israel Prize. His No. 6 jersey was retired by Maccabi after an impressive career.
In addition, George Blaha, Clark Kellogg, Michelle Smith, and Adrian Wojnarowski were acknowledged with the Curt Gowdy Media Awards.
