It's not just the Hall of Fame in Springfield. Every year, the FIBA also inducts legends into its own Hall of Fame, and the 2025 vintage is particularly well stocked…
Eight players will join the International Basketball Pantheon on May 17, in Bahrain. It is aboutAlphonse Bilé (Ivory Coast), Andrew Bogut (Australia), Leonor Borrell (Cuba), Pau Gasol (Spain), strong>Fadi El Khatib (Lebanon), Ticha Penicheiro (Portugal), Ratko Radovanovic (Serbia) and Dawn Staley (UNITED STATES). Only one coach at their side, but not just any coach, Mike Krzyzewski (UNITED STATES).
Obviously, it is Pau Gasol who is the headliner, the interior having been the leading figure of the golden generation of Spanish basketball, who collected medals (silver at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, gold at the Cup of the world 2006, gold at Euro 2009, 2011 and 2015…) with La Roja and gave so many nightmares to French supporters.
A three-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA as a player (1996, 2000 and 2004) but also an Olympic gold medalist as a coach with Team USA (2021), Dawn Staley is inducted alongside Mike Krzyzewski, legendary Duke coach and three-time winner of the Olympic Games (2008, 2012 and 2016) at the head of the United States.
Portugal, Lebanon, Ivory Coast and Cuba also in the spotlight
NBA champion (2015) and winner of the U19 World Cup in 2003, Andrew Bogut has been a driving force for Australian basketball, which has become a stronghold of the game, even if the Boomers often finish at the foot of the podium.
Among the most decorated players in the history of the game, Ratko Radovanovic was part of the Yugoslav teams which won the Olympic title in 1980, but also the 1978 World Cup and Euro 1977.
WNBA champion (2005) with the Sacramento Monarchs, Ticha Penicheiro also shone in Europe, winning the Euroleague with Spartak Moscow. She has generally won almost everywhere in Europe, and notably in France, where she was French champion with Valenciennes in 2005.
Alphonse Bilé was an emblematic captain of Ivory Coast, during its victory at AfroBasket 1981, while he was the coach during the second (and last) continental title of the “Elephants” (1985).
We also find in this vintage Leonor Borrell, the best player in the history of Cuba, and Fadi El Khatib, who has long carried Lebanon basketball on his shoulders.
