FIBA announce Hall of Fame Class of 2023 headlined by Yao Ming
Republic of China icon Yao Ming, Brazil legend Wlamir Marques and Opal's ace Penny Taylor headline this year's class.
Basketball
FIBA has confirmed the Hall of Fame Class of 2023, with China's basketball legend Yao Ming, Wlamir Marques and Penny Taylor among the stellar 12-person field who will be honored this year.
The inductees will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Manila, Philippines on 23 August, just ahead of the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which tips-off on 25 August.
Yao Ming, Wlamir Marques, Penny Taylor headline 2023 Hall of Fame class
Yao made history at the 2002 NBA Draft when he was selected with the No.1 overall pick by the Houston Rockets, becoming the first international player to be chosen with the first pick. During his nine-year career with the Rockets, the 2.29m (7 ft 6) center made eight All-Star teams and two All-NBA Second Teams, averaging 19 points, 9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Yao also won three gold medals at the FIBA Asia Cup, and his No.11 jersey has been retired by the Rockets. In 2016, Yao was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Taylor is one of the most successful athletes in the history of the women's game, winning three WNBA titles and making three All-Star teams. She also won five medals while representing Australia on the international stage, including silver at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, as well as a gold medal at the 2006 World Championship, where she was selected as the tournament's MVP.
Despite never playing in the NBA, recognised as the men's top league in the world, there's no doubting Wlamir Marques' place as one of the best Brazilian basketball players of all time, and one of the best players in the world during the 1960. Nicknamed "The Flying Saucer", Marques won the 1959 and 1963 FIBA World Championships with Brazil, earning the MVP award for the latter. He also won bronze medals at the the 1960 Summer Olympic Games and the 1964 Summer Olympic Games, and silver medals at the 1954 and 1970 FIBA World Championships.
2023 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame full list
Players
Amaya Valdemoro (Spain)
Yuko Oga (Japan)
Penny Taylor (Australia)
Katrina McClain (USA)
Wlamir Marques (Brazil)
Yao Ming (China)
Liem Tjien Siong / Sonny Hendrawan (Indonesia)
Angelo Monteiro dos Santos Victoriano (Angola)
Carlos Loyzaga (Philippines - posthumously)
Zurab Sakandelidze (Georgia - posthumously)
Coaches
Valerie Garnier (France)
Alessandro Gamba (Italy)