NYC Basketball Hall of Fame

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New York City Basketball Hall of Fame
Established1990
LocationNew York City
TypeBasketball Hall of Fame
Accreditation501c3
FounderBob Williams*, Howard Garfinkel*, Tom Konchalski*, Cecil Watkins*, Peter Vecsey, Howie Evans*, Larry "Scout" Pearlstein*, Bill Travers*,
  • Denotes Deceased
PresidentZak Ivkovic
CEOZak Ivkovic
ChairpersonKeri Watkins-Webb
WebsiteOfficial website

The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame celebrates over 120 years of basketball history in the city and recognizes and honors the best basketball players, coaches, referees, promoters and contributors in the history of the sport in New York.

Candidates for the hall are nominated for the honor by the public and chosen annually by a select committee consisting of Hall of Famers, media personalities, former players and coaches.

The governing body of the hall was most recently appointed by their peers in July 2025 for a two-year term.

History

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The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame's inaugural class was inducted in September 1990.[1] The hall's first class included all-time basketball superstars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Billy Cunningham, Coach Arnold “Red” Auerbach, Coach Claire Bee, Bob Cousy, William “Pop” Gates, Connie Hawkins, Coach Dick McGuire, Holcombe Rucker, Adolph Schayes and Ms. Zelda Spoelstra.[2]

The second class included: Dolly King, Fuzzy Levane, Ned Irish, Tiny Archibald, Bobby Wanzer, Bob Douglas and Coaches Red Sarachek, Lenny Wilkins, Nat Holman and Red Holtzman.[3]

A total of twenty eight classes of inductees were enshrined between 1990 and 2017 by the founders Robert A. "Bob" Williams, Howard "Garf" Garfinkel, Cecil Watkins, Tom Konchalski, Larry "Scout" Pearlstein, Bill Travers, and Howie Evans.[4] As of October 2025, the only remaining founder was sports columnist Peter Vecsey (Class of 2001).[5]

The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 was inducted on September 19 of 2024 before a crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.[6]

The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be inducted on February 24, 2026.[7]

Inductees

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Listed by induction year

1990

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1991

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1992

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1993

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1994

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1995

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1996

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1997

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1998

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1999

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2000

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2001

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2002

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  • Fred Crawford
  • Larry Fleischer
  • Charlie Hoxie
  • Albert King
  • Chris Mullin
  • Mark Reiner
  • Solly Walker

2003

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  • Ed Conlin
  • Floyd Layne
  • Alfred "Butch" Lee
  • John Roche
  • Danny Lynch
  • Richard "Chink" Gaines
  • 1959-60 Boys High Team

2004

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2005

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  • John Bach
  • Jack Curran
  • Lou Eisenstein
  • Clarence "Puggy" Bell
  • Vern Fleming
  • Lenny Rosenbluth
  • Willie Rubenstein
  • Dwayne "Pearl" Washington
  • The Original Celtics Team

2006

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  • Stacey Arceneaux
  • George Gregory
  • Jamal Mashburn
  • Nevil "Butch" Shed
  • Willie Cager
  • Mark Jackson
  • Rick Pitino
  • Mickey Crowley
  • Tommy Kearns
  • John "Honey" Russell
  • Willie Worsley

2007

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  • Burt Beagle
  • Walter Berry
  • Al Bianchi
  • Bobby Cremins
  • Mario Elie
  • Ed Pinckney
  • Hank Rosenstein
  • Bob Wolff

2008

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  • Kenny Anderson
  • Louis "LuLu" Bender
  • Pete Gillen
  • Joe Goldstein
  • Bob McCullough
  • Sam Perkins
  • Rod Strickland
  • Eddie Younger

2009

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2010

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  • George Johnson
  • Teddy Jones
  • Barney Sedran
  • Anthony Mason
  • Joe Mullaney
  • Isaac "Rab" Walthour
  • Phil Sellers
  • George Kalinsky

2011

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  • Kenny Charles
  • Jim Larranaga
  • Donnie Walsh
  • Sonny Dove
  • Debbie Mason
  • John Warren
  • Tom Henderson
  • Mike Saunders

2012

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  • Dick Bavetta
  • Donald Goldstien
  • Ricky Sobers
  • Ray Felix
  • Jack Kaiser
  • Charley Yelverton
  • Chuck Granby
  • Connie Simmons

2013

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  • Vaughn Harper
  • Don Kennedy
  • Hank Whitney
  • Jerry Harkness
  • Manny Sokal
  • Lee Jones
  • George Thompson

2014

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  • Craig "Speedy" Claxton
  • Hugh Evans
  • Mike Riordan
  • Felipe Lopez
  • Jack Rohan
  • Charlie Davis
  • Tom Owens
  • Christ the King HS 1993

2015

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2016

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2017

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2018-2023

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  • No activity

2024

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2025

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "New York Hall to Induct Nine". The New York Times. 16 September 1990. p. S12. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  2. ^ "New York Knicks, Liberty Legends Carmelo Anthony, Tina Charles Bound for NYC Basketball Hall of Fame". New York Knicks On SI. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  3. ^ "1991 Archives". The NYC Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b Jamie C. Harris (26 July 2018). "New York City basketball legend Robert 'Bob' Williams transitions". Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Leadership". The NYC Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Tina Charles becomes WNBA's all-time rebounds and double-doubles leader, passing Sylvia Fowles". AP News. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  7. ^ "NYC Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 30th Class To Be Enshrined February 24, 2026 Hilton Midtown, NYC". WJBF NewsChannel 6. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Dr. Richard Lapchick, Willie Hall Inducted into New York City Basketball Hall of Fame".
  9. ^ "Gus Alfieri's memoir looks at a long-ago time in Long Island high school basketball". 20 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Website Disabled".
  11. ^ "Former Jasper Larry Lembo '65 Inducted into New York City Basketball Hall of Fame". 2 November 2017.
  12. ^ https://news.fordham.edu/athletics/anne-gregory-oconnell-recognized-as-atlantic-10-trailblazer/
  13. ^ "New York City basketball legend Robert 'Bob' Williams transitions". 26 July 2018.
  14. ^ "New York City Basketball Hall of Fame welcomes a true teacher — Shelly Schneider". 19 May 2025.
  15. ^ "MBWA's Chuck Stogel to be Honored by Golf Writers; Inducted into WPHS Hall of Fame". 21 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Big East Announces Paquette Retirement". 11 March 2025.
  17. ^ https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2025-03-23/nyu-wins-2025-ncaa-diii-womens-basketball-championship
[edit]
  • Legendary high school scout Tom Konchalski dies at 74 [1]
  • Honoring legendary H.S. hoops scout Tom Konchalski as he battles cancer [2]
  • The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame [3]
  • NYC Basketball Hall of Fame set to welcome newest class [4]
  • New York City Basketball Hall Of Fame Induction This Week [5]
  • NYC Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony moved to Bryant Park Grill [6]
  • MBB: “Speedy” Claxton Inducted Into NYC Basketball Hall Of Fame [7]
  • Howard Garfinkel, colorful broker of basketball talent, dies at 86 [8]
  • Five-Star camp founder Howard Garfinkel dies at 86 [9]
  • His Basketball Camp Made Hall of Famers. Now He's One, Too. [10]
  • Robert A. Williams, pro basketball player, Bronx activist, 77 [11]
  • Cecil Watkins: A Great Friend of the Game [12]
  • A Legend Passes: Cecil K. Watkins [13]
  • The World According to Garf [14]
  • Five-Star: The Art of Camping [15]
  • ESPN: Pearl Washington to lead '05 NYC hoops hall class [16]