Basketball – The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) last night honoured a number of global basketball legends in a Hall of Fame ceremony at the Bahrain National Theatre, held as part of the biannual Congress hosted by Bahrain, which concludes today.
The Fiba Hall of Fame honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the global development of basketball, whether as players, coaches, or administrators, and aims to preserve their legacy and inspire future generations.
Several prominent figures, who left a lasting mark on the sport’s global history, were honoured in the presence of Bahrain Olympic Committee vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa; Social Development Minister Osama Al Alawi; Fiba president Shaikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani; Saudi Olympic Committee vice-president Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Al Saud; General Sports Authority chief executive Dr Abdulrahman Askar; Bahrain Olympic Committee secretary-general Fares Al Kooheji; and a number of officials.
The honourees included Spain’s two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol; legendary US coach and three-time Olympic gold medallist Mike Krzyzewski; Portugal’s WNBA all-time assists leader Ticha Penicheiro; Australia’s Andrew Bogut; former Yugoslavia’s Ratko Radovanović; Côte d’Ivoire’s Alphonse Bilé; Cuba’s Leonor Borrell; and US’ Dawn Staley, who carried her country’s flag at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Fiba’s head of development T J Pollock said the 2025 Hall of Fame ceremony in Bahrain featured a dedicated museum showcasing rare and valuable basketball memorabilia. He noted that this year’s event differed from previous editions, particularly with the addition of entertainment segments at the Bahrain National Theatre.
The ceremony was one of the key highlights of the biannual Congress, which brought together delegations from more than 180 countries. It underscored Bahrain’s growing role in hosting major sporting events and promoting cultural and athletic exchange on the international stage.
Shaikh Isa said that hosting the global ceremony at a cultural venue like the Bahrain National Theatre added a refined cultural and artistic dimension to international basketball events. He emphasised Bahrain’s commitment to integrating culture and sport internationally and welcomed global basketball icons to the kingdom.
Bahrain Basketball Association president Ala’a Madan said the ceremony reflected Bahrain’s pride in athletes who have inspired generations. He noted that Bahrain has become a preferred destination for international events due to its advanced infrastructure and world-class organisation.
Madan said that the ceremony was not only an opportunity to highlight sporting achievements but also a symbolic gesture of appreciation for those who shaped the sport’s history.
He stated that the presence of such influential figures in Bahrain serves as motivation for local players to improve, and that the event embodied the global spirit of basketball and its values of inspiration, dedication and building bridges between nations.
&uuid=(email))