The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield yesterday released the list of nominees for induction into the Class of 2026. Among those eligible there are Ettore Messina, in the “International” section for the third time, and Mike D’Antoni, in the “Contributors” section for the first time. D’Antoni was nominated as a contributor for his multiple roles as an international player and coach, and then as a coach in the “North American” section.
The nomination represents the first of three steps required for induction into the Hall of Fame in its original form. During the NBA All-Star Game in February, the finalists are generally identified after the second round of screenings, and in April, during the NCAA Final Four, the inductees will typically be announced for the ceremony which will be held on August 14th in Springfield.
