Dirk Nowitzki, Sue Bird and Hedo Türkoğlu, among others, are on the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 roster.
The inductees were revealed on World Basketball Day on Sunday.
According to the press release: “On World Basketball Day, FIBA is pleased to announce the 2026 Hall of Fame class, honoring legendary figures whose contributions have shaped basketball on a global scale.
Brighter than the spotlights that illuminate them ✨
Here is… the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 🌟#FIBAHallofFame x #WorldBasketballDay pic.twitter.com/HCQLkx1UrB
— FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) December 21, 2025
A total of seven players and one coach are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the sport.
Members of the Class of 2026 will be honored at an induction ceremony on April 21 in Berlin.
Basketball icons Dirk Nowitzki of Germany and Sue Bird of the United States open the list of new inductees.
Nowitzki, MVP of both the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis and EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade, represented his country in FIBA competitions for two decades. He started in the youth teams in 1995, before leading the senior team in numerous tournaments until 2015.
With the Dallas Mavericks, the 2.13m (7ft) power forward won an NBA title, appeared in numerous playoffs and won the NBA MVP trophy. He has been a consistent All-Star.
Bird, a 5-foot-10 point guard, was the heart and soul of 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 Cup titles and played a key role in five consecutive gold-winning Olympic teams, when the Americans won every game played.
Nowitzki and Bird are joined in the 2026 class by Céline Dumerc, Hedo Türkoğlu, Clarisse Machanguana, Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz, Wang Zhizhi and Ismenia Pauchard.
For Dumerc, France’s point guard when they won the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2009, she finished second on three other occasions in the competition and third on another. This blazingly fast leader was renowned for her decisive shots in the national team, notably during the 2012 Olympics where she launched a streak that ended with a silver medal.
Türkoğlu is a Turkish legend who distinguished himself when his team reached the FIBA EuroBasket 2001 final in Istanbul. In 2009, the longtime NBA star led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals. The following year, when the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup was held in his country, he took the Twelve Giants to the finals and was named to the Five All-Star.
Clarisse Machanguana was a celebrated kingpin from Mozambique. One of the most respected players in African women’s basketball, Clarisse guided her country to third place at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in 1993 and second place in 2013. That sophomore performance led to Mozambique’s historic first qualification for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Wang Zhizhi of China won two FIBA Asia Cup titles, in 2001 and 2011. The 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, originally from Poland, was the coach of the Wisla Kraków women’s team and led them to 14 national titles, the first in 1963 and the last in 1981. Miętta-Mikołajewicz also had the honor of coaching the Polish women’s national team. He guided them to two missed finals at the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket in 1980 and 1981, and led them to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 1983.
Ismenia Pauchard is a legend of the Chilean women’s national team and is being inducted posthumously. Pauchard was the third highest scorer at the FIBA Women’s World Cups in 1957 and 1964.
Here is the full list of inductees who make up the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
Players
- Sue BIRD (USA)
- Céline DUMERC (FRA)
- Clarisse MACHANGUANA (MOZ)
- Dirk NOWITZKI (GER)
- Ismenia PAUCHARD (CHI)
- Hedo TÜRKOĞLU (TUR)
- Wang ZHIZHI (CHN)
Coaches
- Ludwik MIĘTTA-MIKOŁAJEWICZ (POL)
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 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026.
The induction ceremony and drawing will take place in Berlin at the Kraftwerk, a former power station transformed into a remarkable event venue. This distinctive setting reflects the city’s creative energy and vibrant urban culture.”
Stay informed of the latest news
