A total of 10 players and two coaches are inductees into the 2023 FIBA Hall of Fame which was officially unveiled on Friday.
The glorious streamer is the towering Chinese and eight-time NBA superstar Yao Ming, who led his country to three gold medals in the FIBA Asia Cup. Wlamir Marques is also included, famously helping Brazil clinch back-to-back gold medals at both the 1959 and 1963 World Cups and bronze medals at the 1960 and 1964 Olympics.
Three-time WNBA champion and two-time silver medalist Penny Taylor fills a spot on the honor roll as she led Australia to gold at the 2006 FIBA Women’s World Championship by being the tournament’s MVP. Meanwhile, Philippine sports icon Carlos Loizaga will be posthumously glorified for his outstanding contribution as a key man in the Philippines’ bronze medal campaign at the 1954 World Cup.
The FIBA will also immortalize the late Zurab Sakandilidzi of Georgia, Indonesian star Sonny Hendrawan, Japanese whistleblower Yoko Uga and Italian tactician Alessandro Jumbo, among others.
The FIBA Hall of Fame honors the outstanding achievements of players, coaches, teams, referees, and administrators who have made a significant contribution to internationally competitive basketball. Founded by the International Federation in 1991.
The inductees will be honored in Manila on the evening of August 23 after the FIBA Congress.