Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Dwayne Wade and Gregg Popovich lead the list of 12 finalists for 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame class.

Overall 12 Finalists have been announced for the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class.

Former Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, and Los Angeles Lakers centre Pau Gasol were among the NBA players named as finalists.

A finalist as a player was Becky Hammon, the head coach of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces and a former assistant coach for the Spurs. Throughout her career, she was a WNBA All-Star six times.

Gregg Popovich, the most successful coach in NBA history, is one of the coaching finalists.

As part of the festivities leading up to the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City in 2023, the finalists were revealed. The official 2023 class will be revealed in Houston in April at the Final Four for men.

Who are among the 12 finalists for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023?

Below is a list of players and coaches named as finalists for the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame class:

Jennifer Azzi (player): Led Stanford to 1990 NCAA national title and was named women's basketball player of the year. Helped 1996 Olympic team win gold medal.

Gary Blair (coach): Won 837 games over 37 seasons as the women's basketball coach at Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas and Texas A&M. Led Aggies to 2011 national title.
Stephen F. Austin (1985-93), Arkansas (1993-2003), Texas A&M (2003-22)

Becky Hammon (player): A 6-time WNBA All-Star named to the WNBA's 15th, 20th and 25th anniversary teams. Former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach. Coached Las Vegas Aces to 2022 WNBA title.
As player: New York Liberty (1999-2006), San Antonio Stars (2007-14)
As coach: San Antonio Spurs (2014-2022), Las Vegas Aces (2022-present)

Jim Valvano (Coach): Johns Hopkins (1969-70), Bucknell (1972-75), Iona (1975-80), NC State (1980-90)

1983 national champion -- Two-time ACC tournament champion (1983, 1987)--Two-time ACC regular season champion (1985, 1989)

Gene Bess (coach): All-Time Winningest Coach, Won an all-levels record 1,300 games over 50 years at Three Rivers Community College (Missouri).
Three Rivers Community College (1971-2021)

Pau Gasol (player): A 6-time NBA All-Star and international standout who helped guide Los Angeles Lakers to back-to-back championships - Memphis Grizzlies (2001-08), Los Angeles Lakers (2008-2014), Chicago Bulls (2014-16), San Antonio Spurs (2016-19), Milwaukee Bucks (2019).

David Hixon (coach): The longtime leader of the Amherst College men's basketball team won 826 games and two Division III national titles.
Amherst College (1977-2019)

Gene Keady (coach): Won more than 500 games as a Division I coach and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year seven times over his 25 years at Purdue.
Western Kentucky (1978-80), Purdue (1980-2005)

Dirk Nowitzki (player): A 14-time All-Star who played entire 21-year career with the Dallas Mavericks. Named 2006-07 NBA MVP and won 2011 Finals MVP after leading Mavs to title - Dallas Mavericks (1998-2019).

Tony Parker (player): A 6-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion with San Antonio Spurs. Captured 2007 Finals MVP.
San Antonio Spurs (2001-2018), Charlotte Hornets (2018-19)

Gregg Popovich (coach): Winningest coach in NBA history; has won five championships with San Antonio Spurs - San Antonio Spurs (1996-present).

Dwayne Wade (player): A 13-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion; captured 2006 Finals MVP - Miami Heat (2003-2016, 2018-19), Chicago Bulls (2016-17), Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18).

1976 Olympic women's U.S. basketball team: Won silver medal in first Olympic women's basketball tournament

_____

nba.com