Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 Ceremony Recap, Speech Highlights and Reaction

One of the most decorated classes in Basketball Hall of Fame history was enshrined Saturday in Springfield.

Former NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard joined WNBA icons Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles in officially entering the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, former NBA referee Danny Crawford and Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison were also inducted, as was the 2008 US Olympic Men's Basketball Team.

Fans were impressed by the caliber of the players being celebrated Saturday night.

Howard, who was named Defensive Player of the Year three times in his legendary NBA career, credited his parents and former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy during his acceptance speech.

Howard was later distracted from his speech by noticing Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James in the crowd:

James donned his own orange jacket as a member of the 2008 "Redeem Team" that went 8-0 during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

James spoke during the Redeem Team's time on stage about the impact the late Kobe Bryant had on the 2008 Olympic team.

"He was the missing link we needed in order to regain dominance," James said about Bryant.

James and Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd then went back and forth as to how big of a role Kidd had played on the gold medal team.

Moore, who helped lead UConn to two undefeated seasons that ended with national championships, thanked Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma in her own speech.

The former Minnesota Lynx star and four-time WNBA champion went on to provide advice to young athletes as to how to deal with insecurity.

Sylvia Fowles, who won two of those four Lynx championships with Moore and was named WNBA Finals MVP both times, gave thanks to both her family and her former Minnesota teammates in her own acceptance speech.

Hall of Famers Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson later took the stage to welcome Anthony ahead of his induction.

Anthony went on to offer an emotional tribute to his father, Carmelo Iriarte, who died of cancer when his son was just two years old.

He also thanked New York Knicks fans for their support during his seven years with the organization, including his campaign as the NBA's scoring leader in 2012-13.

The player inductions wrapped up with Sue Bird, who led the Seattle Storm to four championships across three different decades.

Bird, another former UConn legend, joked about both Auriemma and her wife Meegan Rapinoe during her induction speech.

Saturday night's ceremony took place before the WNBA playoffs begin on Sept. 14 and the NBA season opens on Oct. 21.