Sue Bird, Dirk Nowitzki headline 2026 FIBA Hall of Fame class
Icons Nowitzki, Bird Set to Lead Star-Studded 2026 FIBA Hall of Fame Class
Two of the most decorated figures in basketball history are adding another prestigious chapter to their legendary careers. On Sunday, coinciding with World Basketball Day, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced that Dallas Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki and USA Basketball legend Sue Bird will headline the 2026 FIBA Hall of Fame class. The inductees will be enshrined during a ceremony scheduled for April 21, 2026, in Berlin, setting the stage for an emotional homecoming for the German superstar.
Nowitzki, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, is widely credited with revolutionizing the power forward position. While his NBA legacy is secured by his 2011 championship and 31,560 career points, his international impact was equally profound. He carried the German national team for two decades, highlighted by an MVP performance at the 2002 World Cup where he led his country to a bronze medal, and a silver-medal run at EuroBasket 2005. His ability to dominate FIBA competition paved the way for the current generation of European stars, making his induction in Berlin a fitting capstone to his global journey.
Sharing the marquee is Sue Bird, arguably the most successful international player in the sport's history. The legendary point guard was the floor general for a United States dynasty that claimed five consecutive Olympic gold medals and four FIBA World Cup titles. Bird defined excellence and longevity, retiring with an undefeated record in Olympic competition. Her induction recognizes a career where she served as the heartbeat of American dominance, seamlessly translating her WNBA brilliance to the global stage for nearly twenty years.
The Class of 2026 features significant NBA ties beyond the headliners. Hedo Türkoğlu, who enjoyed a 15-year NBA career and led Turkey to a silver medal at the 2010 World Cup, and Wang Zhizhi, the trailblazing center who became the first Chinese player to compete in the NBA, are also set for induction. They will be joined by French guard Céline Dumerc, Mozambican center Clarisse Machanguana, Chilean legend Ismenia Pauchard, and Polish coach Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz. This diverse group underscores basketball’s evolution into a truly borderless game, celebrated through the careers of its finest ambassadors.
Two of the most decorated figures in basketball history are adding another prestigious chapter to their legendary careers. On Sunday, coinciding with World Basketball Day, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced that Dallas Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki and USA Basketball legend Sue Bird will headline the 2026 FIBA Hall of Fame class. The inductees will be enshrined during a ceremony scheduled for April 21, 2026, in Berlin, setting the stage for an emotional homecoming for the German superstar.
Nowitzki, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, is widely credited with revolutionizing the power forward position. While his NBA legacy is secured by his 2011 championship and 31,560 career points, his international impact was equally profound. He carried the German national team for two decades, highlighted by an MVP performance at the 2002 World Cup where he led his country to a bronze medal, and a silver-medal run at EuroBasket 2005. His ability to dominate FIBA competition paved the way for the current generation of European stars, making his induction in Berlin a fitting capstone to his global journey.
Sharing the marquee is Sue Bird, arguably the most successful international player in the sport's history. The legendary point guard was the floor general for a United States dynasty that claimed five consecutive Olympic gold medals and four FIBA World Cup titles. Bird defined excellence and longevity, retiring with an undefeated record in Olympic competition. Her induction recognizes a career where she served as the heartbeat of American dominance, seamlessly translating her WNBA brilliance to the global stage for nearly twenty years.
The Class of 2026 features significant NBA ties beyond the headliners. Hedo Türkoğlu, who enjoyed a 15-year NBA career and led Turkey to a silver medal at the 2010 World Cup, and Wang Zhizhi, the trailblazing center who became the first Chinese player to compete in the NBA, are also set for induction. They will be joined by French guard Céline Dumerc, Mozambican center Clarisse Machanguana, Chilean legend Ismenia Pauchard, and Polish coach Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz. This diverse group underscores basketball’s evolution into a truly borderless game, celebrated through the careers of its finest ambassadors.
