2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction: Candace Parker, Amar’e Stoudemire, Doc Rivers lead latest class

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame welcomed its eight-person 2026 class on Saturday night.

Players Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and Amar’e Stoudemire were joined by coaches Doc Rivers, Mark Few, and Mike D’Antoni, and referee Joey Crawford in enshrinement.

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The ceremony was held at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, following Friday night’s red carpet event at the Monhegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Each of this year’s honorees actually received their Hall of Fame jackets, orange jackets, on Friday night.

Saturday is reserved for the inductees to not only continue to be honored but also to give speeches about their inductions as they become official.

Here is more on this year’s class of inductees and what they had to say during their induction.

Candace Parker, 7-time All-Star F

Teams she played for

Los Angeles Sparks (2008 to 2020), Chicago Sky (2021 to 2022), Las Vegas Aces (2023).

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Career Accolades

3-time WNBA champion (2016, 2021, 2023)
2-time WNBA MVP (2008, 2013)
7-time WNBA All-Star (2008, 2012 to 2014, 2017, 2020, 2022)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
Only player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season in WNBA history
Number retired by Sparks, Sky
2008, 2012 Olympic gold medal winner with Team USA

Who presented Candace Parker?

Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, Cheryl Miller, and Tamika Catchings presented Candace Parker for enshrinement.

What she said in her induction speech

Parker talked about the expectations set for her during her childhood. She said her father said, “Parker’s don’t have the same goals and don’t have the same expectations,” meaning that their family always aimed high. Parker’s brother is a GM with the Orlando Magic, and her other brother became a doctor after attending Johns Hopkins.

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She talked about how Allen Iverson was one of her role models growing up, and she couldn’t believe that he was on stage with her wearing a jacket that read “Parker.”

She divided her speech into “four quarters,” going through the stages of her career. In the fourth quarter, Parker gave props to her wife for how supportive she has been throughout the end of her career and her transition into retirement.

She also talked about how, when she came into the WNBA, she played with Lisa Leslie, who seemed to pass the torch to her. When Parker left the WNBA, she said she was happy to have played with A’ja Wilson and to have had the chance to pass the torch herself.

Parker talked about her broadcast career and how she wants to continue changing the game even after her retirement from her playing career.

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Elena Delle Donne, 7-time All-Star F

Teams she played for

Chicago Sky (2013 to 2016), Washington Mystics (2017 to 2019 and 2021 to 2023)

Career Accolades

2019 WNBA Champion
2-time WNBA MVP (2015, 2019)
7-time WNBA All-Star (2013 to 2015, 2017 to 2019, 2023)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2013)
WNBA scoring leader (2015)
2016 Olympic gold medal winner with Team USA
Best career free-throw shooting percentage in NBA, WNBA, and ABA history (93.7%)

Who presented Elena Delle Donne?

Sylvia Fowles and Marianne Stanley presented Delle Donne.

What she said in her induction speech

Delle Donne playfully recounted her initial commitment to UConn, but she lasted only 48 hours in a summer school program before leaving and realizing she would have to stay local for college. She opted to walk on for volleyball at Delaware and then joined their women’s basketball team.

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She then said that the best way to show her appreciation for basketball was to pen a letter to the sport. Delle Donne then recounted that letter titled “Dear Basketball.”

The forward spoke through the trials and tribulations of her life and how basketball had been interwoven into them. Delle Donne talked about her older sister, who was born blind and deaf, and how strong she always thought her sister was.

Chamique Holdsclaw, 6-time All-Star F

Teams she played for

Washington Mystics (1999 to 2004), Los Angeles Sparks (2005 to 2007), Atlanta Dream (2009), San Antonio Silver Stars (2010)

Career Accolades

6-time WNBA All-Star (1999 to 2003, 2005)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (1999)
2-time WNBA rebounding champion (2002, 2003)
WNBA scoring champion (2002)
2000 Olympic gold medal with Team USA

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Who presented Chamique Holdsclaw?

Fellow Hall of Famer Magic Johnson presented Holdsclaw.

What she said in her induction speech

Holdsclaw spoke about her upbringing in New York, when girls weren’t allowed on the court but were expected to focus on arts and crafts instead.

The forward discussed the long journey she has made to reach this moment.

“This journey has required a competitor, a leader, a teammate, a fighter, a survivor, a believer, even when belief was hard to find.”

She made sure to give a shout-out to Pat Summitt, who had a profound impact on Holdsclaw during her time at Tennessee.

Holdsclaw sent a message to those who may be dealing with a mental battle that others may not see.

She also had a poignant moment when she quoted Whitney Houston by saying, “I am every woman.”

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Amar’e Stoudemire, 6-time All-Star F

Teams he played for

Phoenix Suns (2002-2010), New York Knicks (2010 to 2015), Dallas Mavericks (2015), Miami Heat (2015 to 2016)

Career Accolades

6-time NBA All-Star (2005, 2007 to 2011)
NBA Rookie of the Year (2009)
All-NBA First Team (2007)
4-time All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2008, 2010, 2011)
Suns retired his number
2004 Olympic bronze medal with Team USA

Who presented Amar’e Stoudemire?

Stoudemire had six presenters. Jerry Colangelo, fellow inductee Mike D’Antoni, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash, and Rick Welts.

What he said in his induction speech

Stoudemire began by thanking God and the Naismith Hall of Fame, while recapping his career, from his time in Lake Wells, Florida, to growing up in poverty. He fell in love with the game after seeing his cousin finish an alley-oop in a high school game.

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The forward said that he relied on basketball to help him get through any trials and tribulations, always finding his way to the court and calling basketball his “therapist.”

He talked about Tracy McGrady and the inspiration he got from the fact that he went to the same high school McGrady did, with the intention of getting drafted out of high school. Stoudemire followed the path and was the ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.

He recapped his career, including his international career, in which he won the sole championship of his career. Stoudemire helped Maccabi Tel Aviv win the 2020 Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals.

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Doc Rivers, 27-year Head Coach

Teams he played for

Atlanta Hawks (1983 to 1991), Los Angeles Clippers (1991 to 1992), New York Knicks (1992 to 1994), San Antonio Spurs (1994 to 1996)

Teams he coached

Orlando Magic (1999 to 2003), Boston Celtics (2004 to 2013), Los Angeles Clippers (2013 to 2020), Philadelphia 76ers (2020 to 2023), Milwaukee Bucks (2024 to 2026)

Career Accolades

As a player:

NBA All-Star (1988)

As a coach:
NBA Champion (2008)
NBA Cup Champion (2024)
NBA Coach of the Year (2000)
6th-most wins in NBA history (1,194)
4th-most playoff wins in NBA history (114)
First person to ever coach his son in an NBA game

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Who presented Doc Rivers?

Rivers was presented by his “Big Three”: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.

What he said in his induction speech

Rivers started his speech by saying that this was not his real voice and that coaching had taken it years ago, which is why it is raspy now, making the crowd laugh.

The longtime head coach then got emotional in his speech, talking about his brother, who was in the crowd supporting him, and how they have leaned on each other since their parents both passed. Rivers later said that when he learned he was being inducted, his first call was to his brother.

Rivers then gave a shout-out to his ex-wife Kristen for the support she has always given. He even joked that over the years she kept a mental list of all the people that had doubted them or Rivers in his coaching.

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Mike D’Antoni, 17-year Head Coach

Teams he coached

Denver Nuggets (1998 to 1999), Phoenix Suns (2003 to 2008), New York Knicks (2008 to 2012), Los Angeles Lakers (2012 to 2014), Houston Rockets (2016 to 2020)

Career Accolades

2-time NBA Coach of the Year (2005, 2017)
22nd-most wins in NBA history (672)
25th-most playoff wins in NBA history (54)

Who presented Mike D’Antoni?

D’Antoni was presented by Jerry Colangelo, Bob McAdoo, Steve Nash, Rod Thorn, and fellow inductee Amar’e Stoudemire.

What he said in his induction speech

D’Antoni talked about how, growing up, he had two heroes in Thorn and Jerry West. He also gave a shout-out to Marshall University, where he played college basketball.

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D’Antoni then discussed the impact of playing and coaching internationally with Olimpia Milano on his career. It was with this team that he honed his coaching skills and game plan.

It was also where he met his wife, and he recounted their first date in Italy.

D’Antoni made a point of shouting out Jeremy Lin and the impact of Linsanity on the Knicks and their fans.

Mark Few, Gonzaga Head Coach

Years coached at Gonzaga

Few has been the head coach at Gonzaga since 1999 and is entering his 28th season with the Bulldogs

Career Accolades

AP Coach of the Year (2017)
2-time NABC Coach of the Year (2017, 2021)
2-time Naismith Coach of the Year (2017, 2021)
23-time West Coast Conference regular season champion
21-time West Coast Conference Tournament champion
19th-most college basketball wins (773)

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Who presented Mark Few?

Few was presented for enshrinement by John Stockton, John Calipari and Grant Hill.

What he said in his induction speed

Few told a story about how he was the assistant coach at the high school he attended and applied for the varsity head coaching position but wasn’t selected. It was a very “look at me now” moment as he goes into his 28th year at Gonzaga.

The head coach gives a shout-out to those who have supported him along his journey, including Stockton, Calipari, and Hill. He also gave a shout-out to his wife, calling her the MVP of the family. Few also made sure to honor his children and his parents.

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The head coach talked about how many may wonder why he is still at Gonzaga. He said, “he [Few’s father] taught me you don’t mess with happy. Sometimes the greatest calling isn’t finding the next thing; sometimes it is pouring everything you have into where you are. Hence I stayed.”

Few recalled an old coaching adage that says, “It’s not about the X’s and the O’s; it’s about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s,” and he added, “I’m just here to represent the 290 players I have had the unbelievable privilege to coach at Gonzaga.”

Joey Crawford, 39-year Referee

Years he was a referee

Crawford was an NBA official from 1977 to 2016.

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Career Accolades

Officiated 2,561 regular-season games (2nd-most all-time)
Officiated 374 playoff games (most all-time)
Officiated 50 NBA Finals games (most all-time)

Who presented Joey Crawford?

Crawford was presented by fellow referee Danny Crawford and former NBA executive Rod Thron.

What he said in his induction speech

Crawford talked about his path into becoming a referee. He discussed being drawn to the profession since his father, Shaq Crawford, was an umpire from 1956 to 1975.

He talked about his accomplishments in the profession, including his all-time playoff games refereed and second-most regular-season games. Crawford slightly misquoted Mohammed Ali by saying, “It ain’t bragging if you did it, and I did it,” and then lifted his arms triumphantly.

The 1996 U.S. Women’s National Team was also honored in this year’s class. The team included coach Tara VanDerveer and players Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, Teresa Edwards, Rebecca Lobo, and Katrina McClain.