Top NBA Players Who Became First-Ballot Hall of Famers

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame stands out from other sports halls because it selects outstanding basketball performers without delay. In contrast to many other sports that build large lists of late deserving athletes, basketball’s top institution quickly admits NBA legends when they become eligible. Most NBA players, hall-of-famers make it into the exhibit on the day they qualify, which is called first ballot entry.

NBA Players Who Became First-Ballot Hall of Famers (1959-2024)

PlayerYear InductedPositionLegends Score
Michael Jordan2009G-F197
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar1995C171
Magic Johnson2002G-F145
Tim Duncan2020F-C139
Larry Bird1998F137
Kobe Bryant2020G-F129
Shaquille O’Neal2016C124
Karl Malone2010F111
Julius Erving1993F-G107
Wilt Chamberlain1979C94
Jerry West1980G91
Bill Russell1975C90
Moses Malone2001C-F90
Kevin Garnett2020F-C84
David Robinson2009C83
Dirk Nowitzki2023F-C79
Oscar Robertson1980G-F69
Charles Barkley2006F68
John Havlicek1984F-G59
Steve Nash2018G56
Dwyane Wade2023G49
Gary Payton2013G49
Elgin Baylor1977F48
Bob Pettit1971F-C48
Elvin Hayes1990F-C46
Allen Iverson2016G45
Jason Kidd2018G45
John Stockton2009G41
Isiah Thomas2000G41
Scottie Pippen2010F-G40
Alonzo Mourning2014C-F33
Dikembe Mutombo2015C31
Clyde Drexler2004G30
Grant Hill2018F-G29
Tracy McGrady2017G-F28
Bob Cousy1971G27
Tony Parker2023G24
Paul Pierce2021F-G24
Jerry Lucas1980F-C20
Yao Ming2016C17
Alex English1997F17
Pau Gasol2023C-F14
Ray Allen2018G14
Robert Parish2003C13
Kevin McHale1999F-C12
Vince Carter2024G-F12
Ed Macauley1960C-F7
Andy Phillip1961G-F5
George Mikan1959C4
Manu Ginóbili2022G4
Bill Bradley1983F-G1
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