Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are set to join the Basketball Hall of Fame this year, alongside fellow luminaries such as LeBron James and Chris Paul, all recognized before concluding their playing careers.

Anthony and Howard were announced as part of the Class of 2025 on Saturday, along with the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, known as the “Redeem Team,” which won gold during the Beijing Games and initiated a remarkable streak of five consecutive Olympic victories for USA Basketball’s men’s program.

The inductees also include notable WNBA players Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Bulls coach and NCAA champion Billy Donovan, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, and veteran NBA referee Danny Crawford.

“I made it to the real basketball heaven,” Howard expressed in his reaction.

The enshrinement weekend will take place on September 5-6 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, as well as at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Reflecting on the moment, Anthony shared, “When the call comes and I saw Springfield on the phone, you just know it’s time. Hearing, ‘You’re in,’ was a significant relief for me.”

Hall of Fame coach Billy Donovan celebrated his back-to-back championships with the Florida Gators, while Micky Arison highlighted the collective effort of the Miami Heat team to achieve multiple NBA titles, and Danny Crawford reminisced on his extensive career across 32 NBA seasons.

Together, the five nominated players have accumulated 11 WNBA or NBA championships, 15 Olympic gold medals, and numerous All-Star selections throughout their careers.

Bird described her induction as “surreal,” while Fowles reflected, “None of us anticipated being Hall of Famers. We just performed our roles and here we are at this moment.”

The recognition of the Redeem Team signifies that previous inductees such as Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant will be honored yet again.

USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley expressed excitement regarding the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team’s Hall of Fame induction, emphasizing its significance in U.S. basketball history.

Moreover, UConn’s women’s program will further its legacy as Bird and Moore enter the Hall, creating a broader impact on the basketball community.

Auriemma remarked, “They’re Hall of Famers for all — even for those who oppose UConn. That’s a universal agreement.”