Amar'e Stoudemire, Kevin Johnson and coach Mike D'Antoni are among 21 finalists for the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, with the Class announced April 4. Betting impact: expect Hall of Fame futures and coach/legend props to move — D'Antoni and Stoudemire could see shortened odds, so consider hedging or adjusting futures positions before the announcement.
Phoenix Suns Trio Headline 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Finalists
The Phoenix Suns have three prominent NBA finalists for the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Amar'e Stoudemire, Kevin Johnson and coach Mike D'Antoni. The 21 finalists include 11 North American players and two contributor candidates. The Class of 2026 will be revealed April 4 at the Men’s Final Four. Final induction requires 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee.
Why this matters for the Suns' legacy
Having multiple franchise figures reach finalist status reinforces Phoenix's influence on modern NBA offense and its era-defining teams. Stoudemire, Johnson and D'Antoni represent the Suns’ late-2000s peak and the stylistic shift toward pace, spacing and high-scoring play that reshaped the league.
Amar'e Stoudemire — power forward/center who changed the Suns' attack
Stoudemire burst into the NBA as the ninth overall pick in 2002 and won Rookie of the Year in 2003. A six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, he averaged 21.4 points and 8.3 rebounds during his first eight seasons in Phoenix (2002–10). Stoudemire returned from microfracture knee surgery to post multiple 20-plus point seasons and reached a career-high 25.2 points in 2007–08. He was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor in 2024.
Kevin Johnson — dynamic point guard and statistical trailblazer
Johnson spent most of his 12-year NBA career with Phoenix, earning three All-Star nods and four All-NBA Second-Team honors. He produced historically rare all-around seasons, becoming the first player to average 20 points, 10 assists, .500 FG and two steals in a season (1990–91). Johnson’s playmaking and scoring helped elevate the Suns during his era; his jersey is retired by the university and he is in the Suns’ Ring of Honor.
Mike D'Antoni — architect of the modern, analytics-friendly offense
D’Antoni’s up-tempo, space-and-pace philosophy helped redefine offensive strategy in the NBA and accelerated the league’s move toward three-point emphasis and ball movement. Coaching Phoenix from 2003–08, he led the “Seven Seconds or Less” era featuring Nash and Stoudemire, and later earned multiple Coach of the Year honors. His influence spans European and NBA basketball and reshaped how teams value efficiency and pace.
Hall of Fame voting process and timeline
Nominees must earn 18 of 24 final votes from the Honors Committee to be inducted. The Class of 2026 will be announced at the Men’s Final Four on April 4, concluding the finalist-to-inductee process for this cycle.
Betting and market implications
Hall of Fame futures and related prop markets often react to finalist announcements. With three Suns figures on the ballot, expect betting interest and possible odds movement on coach and player Hall futures. D'Antoni and Stoudemire may be viewed as favorites who could shorten odds ahead of April 4; punters should monitor markets for early moves or consider hedging existing futures positions.
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The Phoenix Suns could be well represented in this year's Basketball Hall of Fame class.
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