LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are among the NBA players already guaranteed a first-ballot call into the Hall of Fame, according to a recent analysis by Brad Botkin.
LeBron James, the all-time leading scorer in both regular and postseason, is cemented as a Hall of Famer, regardless of his final chapter with the 76ers. With four championships, four league MVPs, and four Finals MVPs, James's legacy is secure.
Stephen Curry, the all-time 3-point leader, is also a first-ballot lock. He changed the game with his shooting and has won two MVPs, including a unanimous one in history.
Kevin Durant, known as one of the purest scorers to ever play, has a remarkable career shooting percentage of 50% and is the only male basketball player in history with four Olympic gold medals.
Nikola Jokić is another player who will likely be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He's the best player on the planet for the past half-decade and has led the Nuggets to a title without any other All-Stars on his roster.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, is also on the path to the Hall of Fame. He has nine straight All-NBA nods and five All-Defense teams under his belt.
James Harden, known as one of the greatest individual creators to ever play, is a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer. He averaged north of 33 points per game over a three-year span, something only four other players have ever done.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is another player who is already secure for the Hall of Fame. He's one of 14 players in history to have won two MVPs and one of eight with a Finals MVP and scoring title to boot.
On the other hand, Joel Embiid's peak may end up being among the shortest of any player on this list, but he's still a likely candidate for the Hall of Fame.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's class of 2026 was inducted on Saturday night, including Amar'e Stoudemire, Candace Parker, and the entire 1996 U.S. women's national team.
This analysis by Brad Botkin highlights the current state of the NBA and the players who are already guaranteed a first-ballot call into the Hall of Fame.
Source: CBS