Doc Rivers, Celtics’ NBA Champion Coach, Named to 2026 Hall of Fame

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced a diverse 2026 class. The enshrinement ceremony is set for August in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Doc Rivers and his place in the class

Doc Rivers reflected on the Celtics title that defined his coaching career. He said that championship, won after a 17-year Boston drought, crystallized his legacy.

Rivers was a 13-year NBA player before turning to coaching. He led the Orlando Magic prior to Boston, and later coached the Clippers, 76ers, and Bucks. Doc Rivers, Celtics’ NBA Champion Coach, Named to 2026 Hall of Fame, noted the title’s lasting impact.

Standouts from women’s basketball

The class includes multiple women who shaped the WNBA and international play. For the first time, inductees were honored during the women’s Final Four.

Candace Parker, Chamique Holdsclaw, Elena Delle Donne, and members of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team were present at the ceremony in Phoenix.

Candace Parker

• Won three WNBA championships with Los Angeles, Chicago, and Las Vegas.
• Captured MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.
• Earned two WNBA MVP awards and two Olympic gold medals.
• Helped Tennessee win two collegiate titles under Pat Summitt.

Elena Delle Donne

• WNBA MVP in 2015 and 2019.
• Led the Washington Mystics to their lone championship in 2019.
• First player in league history to record a 50/40/90 shooting season.

Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 Olympic team

• Holdsclaw won three straight NCAA titles at Tennessee from 1996 to 1998.
• The 1998 Volunteers finished 39–0, an NCAA record for wins at that time.
• Holdsclaw enjoyed an 11-year WNBA career after college.
• The 1996 U.S. Olympic team went unbeaten in Atlanta and sparked major interest in women’s pro basketball.

Coaches, players, and officials honored

The class also recognizes influential figures in men’s basketball and officiating. Each honoree left a measurable mark on the game.

Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni

• Amar’e Stoudemire was NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003 and a six-time All-Star.
• He spent his first eight seasons with Phoenix, playing under Mike D’Antoni.
• D’Antoni helped reshape offense with his uptempo approach and won NBA Coach of the Year twice.
• D’Antoni amassed nearly 1,200 wins over his coaching career.

Mark Few and Joey Crawford

• Mark Few has 773 wins at Gonzaga and set a Division I mark by winning 81 games in his first three years there.
• Few guided Gonzaga to national title games in 2017 and 2021.
• Referee Joey Crawford worked 2,561 regular-season games and 50 NBA Finals games across 39 years.
• Crawford retired from officiating in 2016.

The Hall’s decision highlights players, coaches, and officials from pro, college, and international basketball. Filmogaz.com will continue covering reactions and ceremony details ahead of the August enshrinement.