Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are going into the Basketball Hall of Fame later this year, not once but twice. And LeBron James and Chris Paul are part of the group that’s headed to the Hall as well, even before their playing careers end.
Anthony and Howard were announced Saturday as members of the Class of 2025, as was the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team that they played on — dubbed the “Redeem Team,” the one that captured gold at the Beijing Games and started a still-going run of five consecutive Olympic titles and counting for USA Basketball’s men’s program.
Congratulations to 10x @NBAAllStar, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist, and member of the @NBA 75th Anniversary Team, #25HoopClass inductee Carmelo Anthony. pic.twitter.com/8kAZqGxs3o
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 5, 2025
Congratulations to 8x @NBAAllStar, 2020 @NBA Champion, and 3x NBA Defensive Player of the Year, #25HoopClass inductee Dwight Howard. pic.twitter.com/DiNgDYZ6J1
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 5, 2025
Also selected for enshrinement: WNBA greats Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Bulls coach and two-time NCAA champion Billy Donovan, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford.
Enshrinement weekend is Sept. 5-6 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, and the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“When the call comes and in my case, I saw Springfield on the phone,” Anthony said on the televised announcement. “You know what time it is Springfield is on the phone. You know who it is. You get the phone call and you hear, ‘You’re in.’ And I think for me, it was a burden off of my shoulders.”
Donovan won back-to-back titles as a college coach with Florida. Arison oversaw Miami’s path to NBA titles in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Crawford worked NBA games for 32 seasons and was picked to work the NBA Finals in 23 of those years.
“For some, this is an individual honor,” Arison said. “But for me, this speaks to what our entire Heat family — players, coaches, staff and fans — have built together.”
The Redeem Team’s selection means that Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant — already enshrined as Hall of Famers — essentially now go in for a second time. James and Paul, who are obviously both locks to get into the Hall after they retire, also played for that Olympic team, as did Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Tayshaun Prince.
A roster of @NBA All-Stars led by Hall of Fame Coach Mike Krzyzewski restored USA Basketball dominance in Beijing. 8-0 and a gold-medal win over Spain. #25HoopClass inductee the 2008 US Men’s Olympic team. pic.twitter.com/QIVQ3CpBQ3
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 5, 2025
The Redeem Team had that moniker because it was the team tasked with restoring USA Basketball’s place atop the world stage, after the 2004 Olympic team only managed a bronze medal at the Athens Games. The Redeem Team went 8-0 in Beijing, winning those games by an average of 27.9 points.
“USA Basketball is thrilled to see the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. “The Redeem Team’s celebrated run in Beijing marks a pivotal moment in U.S. men’s Olympic basketball history and has propelled us to five straight gold medals.”
UConn’s women’s program already had coach Geno Auriemma, Swin Cash (enshrined as a player) and Rebecca Lobo (enshrined as a contributor) in the Hall of Fame, and Bird and Moore going in together will obviously add to what’s always a huge weekend in New England.
“They’re hall of famers for me, they’re hall of famers for their family, they’re hall of famers for everybody — they’re even hall of famers for UConn haters,” Auriemma said. “That’s one thing they can all agree on.”
Full details on the Class of 2025:
North American Committee:
2008 US Olympic Men’s Basketball Team [Team] – The 2008 United States men’s Olympic basketball team restored USA Basketball to global prominence under the leadership of Managing Director Jerry Colangelo, who rebuilt the program by securing multi-year commitments from NBA players. Capturing gold in Beijing with a perfect 8-0 record and average victory margin of 27.9 points, the squad featured co-captains Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade, alongside LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Chris Bosh under Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski. The team, which earned its ‘Redeem Team’ moniker after USA’s bronze medal finish in 2004, defeated Spain 118-107 in the gold medal game.
Carmelo Anthony [Player] – A 10-time NBA All-Star, Anthony was one of the most prolific scorers of his generation during his 19-year NBA career (2003-22). Selected third overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2003 after leading Syracuse to its first NCAA national championship in basketball as a freshman and earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors, Anthony averaged 22.5 points per game in his career and ranks 10th all-time in NBA scoring with 28,289 points. He earned All-NBA honors six times and won three Olympic gold medals (2008, ’12, ’16) as a key member of Team USA. Anthony led the NBA in scoring in 2012-13 (28.7). Anthony was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Danny Crawford [Referee] – One of the NBA’s most respected officials over his 32-year career (1985-2017), Crawford officiated over 2,000 regular season games, 300 playoff games, and 30 NBA Finals contests. He was selected to work the NBA Finals in 23 consecutive seasons, including his final game—Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals. Crawford worked many of the league’s most significant games, including the 1992 Dream Team’s first Olympic contest and multiple NBA All-Star Games. He served as a referee in the Missouri Valley Conference prior to making his NBA debut.
Billy Donovan [Coach] – Donovan is a two-time NCAA national champion coach who achieved unparalleled success during his tenure at the University of Florida (1996-2015). He guided the Gators to consecutive national titles in 2006 and ‘07 and four Final Four appearances while recording over 500 total victories at Florida and Marshall (1994-96). After his collegiate success, Donovan transitioned to the NBA, coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder (2015-20) and Chicago Bulls (2020-present) to over 400 wins. The former Providence College point guard under Hall of Famer Rick Pitino was named SEC Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Dwight Howard [Player] – A dominant force on both ends of the court, Howard was an eight-time All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2009-11), and earned eight All-NBA selections during his 18-year career. Known as “Superman,” he led the NBA in rebounding five times and blocks twice, ranking 10th all-time in NBA history in rebounds (14,627) and 13th in blocks (2,228). Howard led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals and later won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. The 2008 Olympic gold medalist was the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft out of high school.
Women’s Committee:
Sue Bird [Player] – Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in basketball history, Bird is a four-time WNBA champion (2004, ’10, ’18, ’20) who played 21 seasons with the Seattle Storm (2002-22). A record 13-time All-Star, Bird was recognized as one of the 25 greatest players in league history during the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. She is the WNBA’s all-time leader in wins (333), games played (580), assists (3,234), and minutes (18,079) and earned All-WNBA First-Team accolades on five occasions. Internationally, Bird won five Olympic gold medals and is a five-time FIBA World Cup medalist with Team USA. At UConn, Bird led the Huskies to two NCAA titles (2000, ‘02), won the Naismith Player of the Year award in 2002, and was the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft.
Congratulations to 13x @WNBA All-Star, 4x WNBA Champion, 5x Olympic Gold Medalist, #25HoopClass inductee Sue Bird. pic.twitter.com/5S7bMZyvvl
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 5, 2025
Sylvia Fowles [Player] – A four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx (2015, ‘17), Fowles earned Finals MVP honors in both title runs. She retired as the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder (4,006) and was honored as part of the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. The 2017 WNBA MVP was an eight-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year (2011, ‘13, ‘16, ‘21) and finished her 15-year career averaging 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds. Fowles was selected second overall in the 2008 draft after a stellar career at LSU, where she led the Tigers to four consecutive Final Four appearances. Fowles, who has her No. 34 retired by LSU and the Lynx.
Congratulations to 8x WNBA All-Star, 2x WNBA Champion, 4x WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, #25HoopClass Sylvia Fowles. pic.twitter.com/nuiCEfVXEb
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 5, 2025
Maya Moore [Player] – Moore led the Minnesota Lynx to four WNBA championships (2011, ‘13, ‘15, ‘17) during her seven-season career (2011-18) before stepping away from basketball to focus on criminal justice reform. A six-time All-Star, she also earned WNBA MVP honors in 2014 and Finals MVP in 2013 and was named to the All-WNBA First Team five times. Moore was also recognized as one of the 25 greatest players in league history during the WNBA’s W25 celebration in 2021. The first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft, Moore starred at UConn, winning a pair of Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year honors (2009, ‘11) and leading the Huskies to back-to-back undefeated seasons (2008-09, 2009-10) and two NCAA national championships. Internationally, she captured two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and two FIBA World Cup golds (2014, ‘18).
Congratulations to 6x @WNBA All-Star, 4x WNBA Champion, ’14 WNBA MVP, #25HoopClass inductee Maya Moore. pic.twitter.com/9ZgXtoJ1uw
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 5, 2025
Contributor Committee:
Micky Arison – Since acquiring the Miami Heat in 1995, Arison has led the franchise to three NBA championships (2006, ’12, ’13) and seven Eastern Conference titles. Under his ownership, the Heat have featured legendary players like Hall of Famers Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Dwyane Wade, and current superstars LeBron James and Jimmy Butler. With Arison as owner, Pat Riley as team president, and Erik Spoelstra as head coach, the organization has become renowned for its culture of stability and success. Arison’s influence extends beyond the court through his philanthropic work and dedication to the Miami community.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
