“On the occasion of World Basketball Day, FIBA is proud to announce the 2026 Hall of Fame class honoring legendary figures whose contributions have shaped world basketball,” the International Federation wrote in a press release.
“A total of seven players and one coach are being recognized for their exceptional contribution to the sport. Members of the Class of 2026 will be honored at an induction ceremony on April 21 in Berlin.
Dirk Nowitzki, voted MVP of the 2002 FIBA World Cup in Indianapolis and EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade, represented his country in FIBA competitions for twenty years. He started with the youth teams in 1995, before leading the senior team in numerous tournaments until 2015.
With the Dallas Mavericks, this 2.13m strong winger won an NBA title, participated in numerous playoff games and won the NBA MVP title. He was selected to the All-Star Game several times.
1.75m point guard Sue Bird was the driving force behind the U.S. women’s team that dominated international basketball from 2002 until her international retirement at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She led the United States to four FIBA Women’s Basketball World Championship titles and also played a vital role in five consecutive Olympic gold medals, when the Americans won all of their matches.
Nowitzki and Bird are joined in the 2026 class by Céline Dumerc, Hedo Türkoğlu, Clarisse Machanguana, Ludwik Mietta-Mikołajewicz, Wang Zhizhi and Ismenia Pauchard.
Céline Dumerc, playmaker of the French team during its coronation at the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2009, finished finalist in the competition three times and third once. The blazingly fast playmaker was renowned for her efficiency in decisive moments, notably at the 2012 Olympic Games where she led her team to a silver medal.
Hedo Türkoğlu is a Turkish basketball legend, revealed to the general public when his team reached the FIBA EuroBasket 2001 final in Istanbul. In 2009, this NBA star led the Orlando Magic to the finals. A year later, at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup held in his country, he led the 12 Giants to the final and was selected in the major five.
Clarisse Machanguana was an emblematic pivot of Mozambique. A key figure in African basketball, she led her country to third place in the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in 1993 and second place in 2013. This second performance allowed Mozambique to qualify for the first time in its history for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
China’s Wang Zhizhi won two FIBA Asian Championship titles, in 2001 and 2011. This explosive scorer also participated in four Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2008, 2012) and two FIBA Basketball World Cups (2006, 2010). He was the first Chinese to be drafted and play in the NBA.
Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz, from Poland, coached the Wisla Krakow women’s team, leading them to 14 national titles, from the first in 1963 to the last in 1981. He also had the honor of coaching the Polish women’s national team, leading them to two FIBA Women’s EuroBasket finals in 1980 and 1981, and then to victory in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 1983.
Ismenia Pauchard, legend of the Chilean women’s national team, is inducted posthumously. She finished third in scoring in the 1957 and 1964 FIBA Women’s Cups.
Here is the full list of members inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2026:
Members of the Class of 2026 will be honored at an induction ceremony on April 21 in Berlin – the same day as the draw for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. »
