MIES (Switzerland) – For the 3rde edition of “World Basketball Day”, FIBA has chosen to highlight the extent to which this sport inspires and positively influences the lives of people all over the world, particularly thanks to certain emblematic figures who have left their mark on the history of basketball.
Thus, this day recognized by the United Nations in 2023 was the ideal platform to unveil the list of sports legends whose contributions have been such that they make up the Class of 2026 of the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Seven players and a coach will be inducted at a ceremony on April 21, 2026 in Berlin, following the highly anticipated draw for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026.
More on the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Dirk Nowitzki and Sue Bird headline FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026
This Class of 2026 will be led by the legendary Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) and Sue Bird (USA), who will be accompanied by Céline Dumerc (France), Hedo Türkoğlu (Turkey), Clarisse Machanguana (Mozambique), Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz (Poland), Wang Zhizhi (China) and Ismenia Pauchard (Chile).
As part of the ‘World Basketball Day’ celebrations, FIBA spoke with the direct descendants of the sport’s creator, Dr. James Naismith, to reflect on how the very essence of the game endures, even as it experiences meteoric global growth.
Jim, one of Naismith’s grandsons present at the Maison du Basketball Patrick Baumann in Mies (Switzerland) three years ago to celebrate the 90e anniversary of FIBA, and members of his family gave a fascinating and in-depth insight into the life and vision of the brilliant inventor of the sport.
David Hollander, professor at New York University, is the visionary behind “World Basketball Day.” He collaborated with the Basketball for Good section of the FIBA Foundation and representatives of the United Nations to make his dream a reality.
This now annual event provides a tremendous platform to promote and celebrate basketball, a sport that makes the world a better place.
As part of this third edition, 43 festivals Basketball For Good were organized in 33 countries – and in all 5 FIBA regions – with the support of the FIBA Foundation.
Around 6,000 people directly benefited from the various campaigns around the day, mainly focused on health and wellbeing, gender equality, disability, refugees and climate action.
Basketball For Good celebrations with K-Town Hoops, Rwanda for World Basketball Day 2025.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis comments: “This third edition of World Basketball Day is an opportunity to think about and celebrate all the positive impacts of our sport. After very successful and popular FIBA Continental Cups, it is the turn of the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 in Berlin and the FIBA World Cup 2027 in Doha to take shape.
“World Basketball Day highlights all the local Basketball for Good projects and festivals that aim to help shape and change lives. It is also an ideal time to see how far 3×3 has come from the neighborhood courts to the Olympic Games, and to honor legends and iconic personalities of our sport, who will be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame next April in Berlin.
“It is also the perfect time to encourage our loved ones, our friends and our colleagues who are not yet fans of this sport to pick up a ball or go watch a match, as our sport continues to develop around the world”concludes Zagklis.
FIBA
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