The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will induct eight individuals and one team that has contributed to the growth of basketball – domestically and internationally – becoming one of the best, surpassing milestones and having a worldwide impact.
One of the inductees for the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame is none other than head coach Doc Rivers.
Other inductees include Joey Crawford, Mark Few, Amar’e Stoudemire, Mike D’Antoni, Candace Parker, Chamique Holdsclaw, Elena Delle Donne and the 1996 USA Basketball Women’s National Team.
They will be joined by many fellow Hall of Famers, basketball stars and contributors to the game who will gather to celebrate the newest group of the sport’s iconic figures.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be formally enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame at Springfield Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. The broadcast event begins at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) on NBA TV and streaming on the NBA App.
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2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony honors enshrinees
Outside the Springfield Symphony Hall before the start of the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony.
(David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony honors enshrinees
Outside the Springfield Symphony Hall before the start of the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony.
(David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony honors enshrinees
Outside the Springfield Symphony Hall before the start of the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony.
(David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony honors enshrinees
Outside the Springfield Symphony Hall before the start of the 2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremony.
(David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony honors enshrinees
A general view outside of the Symphony Hall prior to the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 15, 2026 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
Doc Rivers career accolades
Rivers has coached for five different franchises including the Orlando Magic (1999-2003), Boston Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23), and Milwaukee Bucks (2023-26).
He became one of the winningest NBA head coaches of all-time. He has amassed 1,195 wins in 27 seasons as a head coach. Rivers ranks sixth all-time in coaching wins, behind Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan, Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson and Gregg Popovich. Rivers passed George Karl during the 2025-26 season.
He has 114 playoff victories, which ranks fourth all-time, behind Popovich, Riley and Phil Jackson.
Rivers coached the Celtics to a pair of NBA Finals appearances against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 and 2010, with a team headlined with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. They won the championship in 2008, but lost the title in 2010.
He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2000.
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
(ANNE RYAN, USA TODAY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
(ANNE RYAN, USA TODAY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)
(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)
(John Hefti, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Everett High School (MI)
(ROBERT HANASHIRO, USA TODAY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Larry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Bill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)
(Malcolm Emmons, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)
(Malcolm Emmons, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Shaquille O’Neal, Cole High School (TX)
(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)
(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Allen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)
(KIMBERLY BARTH, AFP via Getty Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)
(Malcolm Emmons, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Elgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)
(Darryl Norenberg, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Jerry West, East Bank High School (WV)
(Manny Rubio, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)
(Damian Strohmeyer, Getty Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Moses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)
(CRAIG LASSIG, AFP via Getty Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Charles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)
(Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Karl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)
(Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
David Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)
(Porter Binks, USA TODAY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)
(Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
John Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)
(Tony Tomsic, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Pete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)
(Manny Rubio, Imagn Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)
(Chris Coduto, Getty Images)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Meadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)
(Jack Corn, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Dwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)
(Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images)
First father-son coach-player duo in NBA history
As the Clippers head coach, Rivers made NBA history when the team signed his son, Austin, making them the first-ever father-son coach-player duo in league history.
Austin was traded to the Boston Celtics in a Jan. 12 three-team trade involving the Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies. But days later on Jan. 15, he joined his father on the Clippers after he was traded in a three-team trade involving the Celtics and the Phoenix Suns.
Rivers made his debut for the Clippers on January 16 becoming the first son to play for his father in an NBA game.
They played together for over three seasons until Austin was traded to the Washington Wizards in June 2018.
Doc Rivers NBA playing career
Before he became a Hall of Fame coach, Rivers put together a solid NBA playing career. He played 13 NBA seasons as a point guard, becoming an All-Star in 1988.
Rivers was drafted with the 31st overall pick in the second round of the 1983 NBA Draft to the Atlanta Hawks, after three seasons at Marquette University.
He also played for the Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs throughout his 13-year career that ended in 1996. Rivers averaged 10.9 points, 5.7 assists in 864 career games.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Doc Rivers enters Basketball Hall of Fame: His legacy explained
