WNBA icon Sue Bird among Basketball Hall of Fame nominees as longlist emerges

The prestigious Basketball Hall of Fame could be inducting Carmelo Anthony not just once , but twice next year.

On Thursday, the hall announced the exciting roster of candidates for its Class of 2025, headlining first-time contenders such as basketball luminaries Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Marc Gasol.

WNBA legends are also making a splash with Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, and Chamique Holdsclaw entering the fray for the first time, alongside coaching notables like Doc Rivers and Billy Donovan.

Miami Heat chief Micky Arison, Gonzaga's Mark Few, and former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder add to the list of distinguished nominees.

Adding an interesting twist, the 2008 U.S.

Olympic men's basketball crew, which featured Anthony, is also among the nominees.

Shaquille O'Neal strikes historic WNBA agreement after Angel Reese contract Dennis Rodman makes promise to estranged daughter Trinity after honest interview The Hall unfolded some changes to the rules as well - now players only need to wait two seasons after retiring instead of three to become eligible, a modification that gained unanimous backing from the Board of Governors.

"To better recognize the distinguished careers of potential first-ballot nominees in a more timely manner, the board has appropriately shortened the waiting period," Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo said.

"We are excited about this change and believe that honoring individuals while their contributions are still fresh in peoples minds is both meaningful and impactful." The announcement made on Thursday marks the beginning of the process.

The finalists will be chosen on February 14 in San Francisco during the NBA All-Star weekend, and the enshrinement class will be unveiled on April 5 in San Antonio at the men's NCAA Final Four.

The enshrinement events are scheduled for September 5 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut and September 6 at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Hall stated that there are 189 candidates being considered across various categories.

2008 United States Olympic Team (TEA) Marv Kessler (COA) Carmelo Anthony (PLA) Bill Laimbeer (PLA) Rick Barnes (COA) Jim Larranaga (COA) Gene Bartow (COA) Mike Leonardo (COA) John Beilein (COA) Maurice Lucas (PLA) Tom Chambers (PLA) Jack Madden (REF) John Clougherty (REF) Shawn Marion (PLA) Danny Crawford (REF) Rollie Massimino (COA) Terry Cummings (PLA) Gary McKnight (COA) Jack Curran (COA) Bill Morse (COA) Bobby Dibler (REF) Dick Motta (COA) Don Donoher (COA) Jack Nagle (COA) Billy Donovan (COA) Jim Phelan (COA) Mark Few (COA) Don Richardson (COA) Robert Foley (COA) Doc Rivers (COA) Mike Gminski (PLA) Lee Rose (COA) Anfernee Hardaway (PLA) Stan Spirou (COA) Lou Henson (COA) Harry Statham (COA) Robert Horry (PLA) Amare Stoudemire (PLA) Marques Houtman (PLA) Reggie Theus (PLA) Dwight Howard (PLA) Jerry Welsh (COA) Marques Johnson (PLA) Buck Williams (PLA) Leta Andrews (COA) Taj McWilliams-Franklin (PLA) Jennifer Azzi (PLA) Debbie Yosinoffalmore (PLA) Sue Bird (PLA) Maya Moore (PLA) Lisa Bluder (COA) Ticha Penicheiro (PLA) Doug Bruno (COA) Ruth Riley (PLA) Cheryl Ford (PLA) Mike Thibault (COA) Wanda Ford (PLA) Marian Washington (COA) Sylvia Fowles (PLA) Dean Weese (COA) Bridgette Gordon (PLA) Chris Weller (COA) Chamique Holdsclaw (PLA) Andrew Yosinoff (COA) Becky Martin (COA) Micky Arison Johnny Red Kerr Pete Babcock Tom Konchalski Dick Baumgartner Bobby Lewis Henry Bibby Dan Lynch Bernie Bickerstaff Fred McCall Marty Blake Jack McCloskey Tal Brody Jon McGlocklin Vic Bubas Speedy Morris Tremaine Dalton Dennis Murphy Bill Duffy Curly Neal Wayne Duke Jack Powers Bill Foster Jim Riswold Mike Fratello Will Robinson Bob Gibbons Gene Shue Roberto Gonzalez Oris Dino Smiley Simon Gourdine Scott Tarter Tim Grgurich Donnie Walsh Dennis Jackson World Wheelers Junius Kellogg David Blatt (COA) Marcos Leite (PLA) Jean-Jacques Conceicao (PLA) Ettore Messina (COA) Mirza Delibasic (PLA) Juan Carlos Navarro (PLA) Jorge Garbajosa (PLA) Andres Nocioni (PLA) Marc Gasol (PLA) Fabricio Oberto (PLA) Andrew Gaze (PLA) Jose Ortiz (PLA) Panaglotis Giannakis (PLA) Amaury Pasos (PLA) Giuseppe Giergia (PLA) Modesto Palauskas (PLA) J.R.

Holden (PLA) Togo Soares (PLA) Dusan Ivkovic (PLA) Penny Taylor (PLA) Andrei Kirilenko (PLA) Amaya Valdemore (PLA) Vladimir Kondrashin (COA) Ranko Zeravica (COA) 1982 Cheyney State NCAA Final Four Team (TEA) Yolanda Laney (PLA) Molly Bolin (PLA) Nashville Business College (TEA) Alline Banks Sprouse (PLA) Lometa Odom (PLA) Edmonton Commercial Grads (TEA) Hazel Walker (PLA) Fort Shaw Indians School (TEA) Valerie Walker (PLA) John Head (COA) 1936 US Olympic Team (TEA) Francis Meehan (PLA) 1972 Melchionni Team (TEA) Luci Zaslofskyll (COA) Tom Blackburn (COA) Joe Mullaney (COA) Charles Brown (PLA) Richard Mullins (PLA) Freddie Brown (PLA) Willie Naulls (PLA) Malcolm Brown (PLA) Ben Newman (CONT) Boid Buie (PLA) Don Otten (PLA) Mack Calvin (PLA) Louis Pieri (CONT) Jack Coleman (PLA) Kevin Porter (PLA) Leroy Edwards (PLA) William J.

Reinhart (CONT) Leo Ferris (CONT) Mel Riebe (PLA) World B.

Free (PLA) Glenn Roberts (PLA) Travis Grant (PLA) Lennie Rosenbluth (PLA) Bobby Showboat Hall (CONT) Kenny Sailors (PLA) Jack Hartman (COA) Bernard Red Sarachek (CONT) Cam Henderson (COA) Fred Schaus (CONT) Robert Hopkins (PLA) Sam Schulman (CONT) Charles Keinath (PLA) Paul Silas (PLA) Greg Kelser (PLA) Ralph Simpson (PLA) 1966 Kentucky Wesleyan 1966, 68, 69 (TEA) Dick Van Arsdale (PLA) Abe Lemons (COA) Tom Van Arsdale (PLA) Henry Logan (PLA) Cleo Vaughn (PLA) Loyola of Chicago 1962-63 (TEA) Lambert Will (CONT) Billy Markward (CONT) Gus Williams (PLA) Jack McKinney (CONT) John Williamson (PLA) Bill Melchionni (PLA) Max Zaslofsky (PLA).

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