Nominees for the road to Springfield were announced on Friday, and the class of 2026 for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is headlined by Candace Parker. But she's not the only one!

ESPN's 'NBA Today' shared the first look featuring nearly 200 players, coaches, contributors, and teams under consideration. And 6x All-Star Blake Griffin has made it to the list as well.

According to the president and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, John L. Doleva, “The candidates for the Class of 2026 have each left an indelible impact on the game of basketball."

But few resumes stand out quite like Candace Parker’s. Marking her impact as soon as she stepped into the pros, the 2008 first pick was the Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, and MVP in the same season, an achievement still untouched.

Playing for 3 franchises and winning a championship with all of them- Los Angeles Sparks (2016), Chicago Sky (2021), and Las Vegas Aces (2023)- shows her adaptability as a player.

But she's not the only MVP and All-Star winner there.

Candace Parker and Blake Griffin Are Joined by a List of Top Achievers

Fellow first-time nominees Jamal Crawford, 2 time MVP Elena Delle Donne, and 7x All-Star Joe Johnson also join them as players. While former player turned coach, Mike D’Antoni, is listed as a contributor.

Many finalists who missed the Class of 2025 are added back, including Mark Few (Gonzaga coach), former NBA players Marques Johnson, Buck Williams, Marv Albert, and Jennifer Azzi.

Doc Rivers, the only NBA coach with 1000 wins, and Amar’e Stoudemire are also returning candidates.

Apart from individuals, the gold-winning 1996 U.S Olympic women's team featuring Lisa Leslie and Rebecca Lobo, along with coaches Bruce Pearl and Kelvin Sampson, are also mentioned.

Finalists will be announced during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in February, with the Class of 2026 revealed on April 4 at the NCAA Final Four.

Who are you most excited to see in the final list?

Written by

Fatema Kapasi

Edited by

Joyita Das