Basketball Hall of Fame announces finalists for 2022 class

On3 imageby:Wade Peery•02/18/22

The past few years of inductions into the Basketball Hall of Fame have been among the most talented in recent history. In just the past two years, the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce, and Chris Webber were all granted basketball’s highest honor in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The 2022 class isn’t quite as star-studded, but there’s still a number of impressive players and coaches that are up for the sport’s highest honor this year. Below is the list of finalists that were announced on Friday.

  • Leta Andrews
  • Swin Cash
  • Michael Cooper
  • Hugh Evans
  • Manu Ginobili
  • Tim Hardaway
  • Bob Huggins
  • Marques Johnson
  • George Karl
  • Marianne Stanley
  • Lindsay Whalen

Manu Ginobili is perhaps one of the most famous names on the list as far as players are concerned. He was a four-time NBA Champion and a two-time All-Star with the San Antonio Spurs. He also led Argentina to an Olympic gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. Against Team USA in those Olympics, he exploded for a game-high 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting and 4-for-6 from beyond-the-arc. The win was historic because Argentina became the first team to deny Team USA Basketball Olympic gold.

Ginobli was undoubtedly one of the best international players the game of basketball has ever seen. Ginobli was remembered for his fierce drives to the basket and his ability to score at awkward angles. He was also a very skilled three-point shooter.

West Virginia basketball head coach Bob Huggins was also one of the finalists. Since 2007, he’s guided the Mountaineers to over 300 victories, including a conference championship, 12 postseason appearances, and a trip to the 2010 NCAA Final Four. Overall, he’s won over 900 games during his storied coaching career, ranking him third among active Division I head coaches.

Ginobli, Huggins and the rest of the class will find out if they will be inducted to the Hall of Fame during the Final Four in April. If the guard does get inducted, the ceremony will take place Sept. 9-10 in Springfield, Massachusetts.