Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are set to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025—an honor they’ll receive not just for their individual careers, but also as part of the legendary 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, known as the “Redeem Team.” This team’s gold medal victory in Beijing marked the start of a dominant era for USA Basketball, securing five consecutive Olympic titles to date.
Joining Anthony and Howard in the Class of 2025 are basketball icons LeBron James and Chris Paul, who will also be enshrined while still active in their careers. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on September 5-6 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, and at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Class of 2025 also includes WNBA legends Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles, along with Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan—known for winning back-to-back NCAA titles with Florida. Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, who played a key role in securing NBA championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013, and veteran NBA referee Danny Crawford, who officiated for 32 seasons and worked 23 NBA Finals, are also being honored.
Anthony shared his excitement about the honor, recalling the moment he got the call from Springfield: “You know what time it is when Springfield is on the phone. You know who it is. You get the phone call, and you hear, ‘You’re in.’ For me, it was a burden off of my shoulders.”
Arison reflected on the collective impact of the Heat organization: “For some, this is an individual honor. But for me, this speaks to what our entire Heat family—players, coaches, staff, and fans—have built together.”
The Redeem Team’s induction means players like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd, and Kobe Bryant—already Hall of Famers—will essentially be honored a second time. James and Paul, who were also key members of that Olympic squad, join other former teammates such as Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, and Tayshaun Prince.
The Redeem Team earned its nickname for restoring USA Basketball’s dominance after the 2004 team’s bronze medal finish in Athens. They went undefeated in Beijing, winning by an average margin of 27.9 points per game.
USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley celebrated the team’s legacy: “Seeing the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team elected to the Hall of Fame highlights a pivotal moment in U.S. men’s Olympic basketball history. Their success has propelled us to five straight gold medals.”
The addition of Bird and Moore further cements UConn’s legacy in the Hall of Fame, alongside coach Geno Auriemma, Swin Cash, and Rebecca Lobo. Auriemma praised the duo, saying, “They’re Hall of Famers for me, for their families, for everyone—they’re even Hall of Famers for UConn haters.”
