SPRINGFIELD, MA – Today, December 21st, marks the Birthday of Basketball – the game that was invented by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts and has grown into an international pastime. As part of the celebration of this momentous day, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has announced the eligible candidates for the Class of 2018, after revealing earlier in the week that players would now be eligible after just three seasons of retirement.

A first look at the list of eligible nominees was provided by The Jump on ESPN, hosted by Amin Elhassan and Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady. A complete list of eligible candidates can be found below.

A press conference announcing the Finalists from the North American and Women's committee for the Class of 2018 will be held during NBA All-Star Weekend, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 17th in Los Angeles, California. The entire Class of 2018, including those selected by the direct elect committees, will be unveiled during the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.

Enshrinement festivities will take place in Springfield, Mass., September 6-8, 2018. Tickets for the various Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Enshrinement events are on sale as of noon eastern time on www.hoophall.com.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.

For more information:

Visit us online: www.hoophall.com

… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF

… on Twitter/Instagram: @hoophall #18HoopClass

… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Ballot

* Indicates First-Time Nominee

 North American Committee Nominations

• Mark Aguirre (PLA)
• Ray Allen (PLA)*
• Chauncey Billups (PLA)*
• Muggsy Bogues (PLA)
• Irv Brown (REF)
• Jim Burch (REF)
• Maurice Cheeks (PLA)
• Charles "Lefty" Driesell (COA)
• Hugh Evans (REF)
• Steve Fisher (COA)*
• Bill Fitch (COA)
• Cotton Fitzsimmons (COA)
• Richard Hamilton (PLA)*
• Tim Hardaway (PLA)
• Ed Hightower (REF)*
• Grant Hill (PLA)*
• Bob Huggins (COA)*
• Kevin Johnson (PLA)
• Marques Johnson (PLA)
• Bobby Jones (PLA)
• Jerry "Tiger" Jones (COA)
• Gene Keady (COA)
• Ken Kern (COA)
• Jason Kidd (PLA)*
• Rollie Massimino (COA)
• Gary McKnight (COA)
• Danny Miles (COA)
• Sidney Moncrief (PLA)
• Dick Motta (COA)
• Steve Nash (PLA)*
• Jake O'Donnell (REF)
• Jim Phelan (COA)
• Lamont Robinson (PLA)
• Lee Rose (COA)
• Bo Ryan (COA)
• Bob Saulsbury (COA)
• Jack Sikma (PLA)
• Steve Smith (COA)
• Harry Statham (COA)
• Eddie Sutton (COA)
• Rudy Tomjanovich (COA)
• Ben Wallace (PLA)
• Chris Webber (PLA)
• Willie West (COA)*
• Paul Westphal (PLA)

Women's Committee Nominations

• Leta Andrews (COA)
• Jennifer Azzi (PLA)
• Becky Hammon (PLA)*
• Susie McConnell (PLA)
• Pearl Moore (PLA)
• Kim Mulkey (COA)
• Kim Mulkey (PLA)
• Harley Redin (COA)
• Theresa Shank (PLA)
• Katie Smith (PLA)*
• Marianne Stanley (COA)
• Barbara Stevens (COA)
• Valerie Still (PLA)*
• Tina Thompson (PLA)*
• Wayland Baptist (TEA)
• Theresa Weatherspoon (PLA)

DIRECT-ELECT CATEGORY: Early African-American Pioneers Committee Nominations

• Clarence "Puggy" Bell
• Sonny Boswell
• Chuck Cooper
• Bill Garrett
• Inman Jackson
• Clarence "Fats" Jenkins
• Bucky Lew
• Davage "Dave" Minor
• Hudson Oliver
• Al "Runt" Pullins
• James "Pappy" Ricks
• Paul Robeson
• Eyre Saitch
• William "Wee Willie" Smith

DIRECT-ELECT CATEGORY: International Committee Nominations

• Tal Brody
• Jackie Chazalon
• Vlade Divac
• Alphonso Ford
• Semen Khalipski
• Vladimir Kondrashin
• Toni Kukoc
• Marcos Leite
• Aldo Ossola
• Amaury Pasos
• Dan Peterson
• Dino Radja
• Manuel Sainz
• Togo Soares
• Ranko Zeravica

DIRECT-ELECT CATEGORY: Contributor Committee Nominations

• Marv Albert
• Al Attles
• Dick Baumgartner
• Henry Bibby*
• Marty Blake
• Vic Bubas
• Wayne Duke
• Harry Glickman
• Marty Glickman
• Simon Gourdine*
• Curt Gowdy
• Tim Grgurich
• Del Harris
• Greg Heineman*
• Robert Indiana
• Johnny "Red" Kerr
• Bill King
• John Kline
• Red Klotz
• Bobby Lewis
• Jack McCloskey
• Jerry McHale*
• Johnny Most
• Dennis Murphy
• Joe O'Toole
• Billy Packer
• Jack Powers
• Dee Rowe
• Zelda Spoelstra
• Rod Thorn*
• Jim Valvano
• Donnie Walsh
• Frank Walsh
• Rick Welts*

DIRECT-ELECT CATEGORY: Veterans Committee Nominations

• 1936 US Olympic Team (TEA)
• 1964 State Department Basketball Ambassadors (TEA)
• Ron Boone (PLA)
• Sid Borgia (REF)
• Carl Braun (PLA)
• Frank Brian (PLA)                    
• Joe Caldwell (PLA)
• Mack Calvin (PLA)
• Jack Coleman (PLA)
• Bob Dandridge (PLA)
• Charles Eckman (REF)
• Leroy Edwards (PLA)
• Leo Ferris (CONT)
• Clarence "Bevo" Francis (PLA)
• Buck Freeman (COA)
• Donnie Freeman (PLA)
• Travis Grant (PLA)
• Bob Grody (PLA)
• Robert Harrison (PLA)
• Flo Harvey (PLA)
• Dick Hemric (PLA)
• Cam Henderson (COA)
• Robert Hopkins (PLA)
• Lou Hudson (PLA)
• Warren Jabali (PLA)
• Jimmy Jones (PLA)
• Charles Kenaith (PLA)
• Freddie Lewis (PLA)
• Jim Loscutoff (PLA)
• Loyola of Chicago (TEA)
• Billy Markward (CONT)
• Ed McCluskey (COA)
• Ray Mears (COA)
• Francis Meehan (PLA)
• Donald "Dudey" Moore (COA)
• Willie Naulls (PLA)
• Philadelphia SPHAS (TEA)
• Mel Riebe (PLA)
• Glenn Roberts (PLA)
• Holcombe Rucker (CONT)
• Kenny Sailors (PLA)
• Fred Schaus (PLA)
• Charlie Scott (PLA)
• Kenny Sears (PLA)
• Frank Selvy (PLA)
• George Senesky (PLA)
• Paul Seymour (PLA)
• Charles Siler (CONT)
• Talvin Skinner (PLA)
• Ken Suesens (PLA)
• Tennessee A&I (TEA)
• Dick Van Arsdale (PLA)
• Tom Van Arsdale (PLA)
• Willie Wise (PLA)
• Max Zaslofsky (PLA)