The 11 NBA players on the Basketball Hall of Fame's waiting list

Key Points:

• The 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class features a strong WNBA presence with Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, and Chamique Holdsclaw inducted, while Amar'e Stoudemire is the sole NBA player enshrined this year.
• Several notable NBA players are eligible or nearing eligibility for Hall of Fame induction, including LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodala, Joe Johnson, and Shawn Marion, all of whom have strong career resumes.
• Future first-ballot candidates expected to be inducted include Chris Paul (eligible 2029), Russell Westbrook (eligible 2029), and Derrick Rose (eligible 2028), with Paul and Westbrook having particularly distinguished careers.
• Players like Rajon Rondo and Kyle Lowry present more debatable cases due to mixed career achievements despite significant contributions, while others like Blake Griffin and Andre Iguodala are acknowledged for their roles on championship teams and overall impact.
• The Hall of Fame eligibility rule requires players to be retired for three full seasons, meaning many stars from the 2010s are only now becoming eligible or will be soon, promising deeper classes in the coming years.