Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are set to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame not once, but twice, alongside notable figures like LeBron James and Chris Paul, who are also part of the Class of 2025 even before their playing careers conclude. The announcement was made on Saturday, revealing that the 2008 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team, which included Anthony and Howard, would join the Hall of Fame as well. This team, famously known as the "Redeem Team," captured the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marking the beginning of a streak of five consecutive Olympic titles for USA Basketball's men's program.
The 2025 Hall of Fame class also includes WNBA legends Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles, as well as Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, who has won two NCAA championships. Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and veteran NBA referee Danny Crawford round out the inductees. The enshrinement weekend is scheduled for September 5-6 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, and the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Anthony expressed his emotions during the televised announcement by stating, "When the call comes and in my case, I saw Springfield on the phone, 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." This sentiment underscores the significance of this honor not only for the players but also for their legacies.
Coaching great Billy Donovan achieved back-to-back NCAA titles with the University of Florida, while Micky Arison played a pivotal role in the Miami Heat's successes, including championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Danny Crawford infused 32 years of officiating experience into the NBA, working 23 NBA Finals throughout his career. Arison highlighted the collective effort required to achieve personal accolades by stating, "For some, this is an individual honor. But for me, this speaks to what our entire Heat family—players, coaches, staff, and fans—have built together."
The selection of the "Redeem Team" means that Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd, and Kobe Bryant—who are already established Hall of Famers—will essentially be enshrined a second time. LeBron James and Chris Paul, both anticipated to secure their places in the Hall upon retirement, were also part of this notable Olympic squad. Other members included Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, and Tayshaun Prince.
The "Redeem Team" earned its title due to its mission to restore USA Basketball's dominance after the 2004 Olympic team, which only secured a bronze medal at the Athens Games. This iconic squad finished with an impeccable 8-0 record in Beijing, winning their games by an impressive average of 27.9 points. Jim Tooley, the CEO of USA Basketball, expressed pride in the team's selection, stating, "USA Basketball is thrilled to see the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. 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."
The University of Connecticut women's basketball program further solidified its legacy with the additions of Bird and Moore, joining previous inductees coach Geno Auriemma, Swin Cash, and Rebecca Lobo. Auriemma remarked on the remarkable achievements of Bird and Moore, asserting, "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. That’s one thing they can all agree on."
