FIBA honours global basketball legends at Hall of Fame 2025 Ceremony
Manama, May 17 (BNA): The Bahrain National Theatre hosted the FIBA Hall of Fame ceremony, held as part of the biannual Congress hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, which concludes tomorrow, Sunday.
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.
In an exceptional evening attended by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee; Osama bin Saleh Al Alawi, Minister of Social Development; Shaikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani, President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA); Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Al Saud, Vice President of the Saudi Olympic Committee; Dr. Abdulrahman Askar, Chief Executive of the General Sports Authority; Fares Mustafa Al Kooheji, Secretary-General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee; and a number of officials, FIBA honoured several prominent figures who left a lasting mark on the sport’s global history.
Those honoured included Pau Gasol of Spain, two-time NBA champion; Mike Krzyzewski of the United States, legendary coach and three-time Olympic gold medallist; Ticha Penicheiro of Portugal, WNBA all-time assists leader; Andrew Bogut of Australia; Ratko Radovanović of the former Yugoslavia; Alphonse Bilé of Côte d’Ivoire; Leonor Borrell of Cuba; and Dawn Staley of the US, who carried her country’s flag at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
T.J. Pollock, FIBA’s Head of Development, 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 over 180 countries. It underscored Bahrain’s growing role in hosting major sporting events and promoting cultural and athletic exchange on the international stage.
His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali 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. His Highness emphasised Bahrain’s commitment to integrating culture and sport internationally and welcomed global basketball icons to the Kingdom.
On his part, Ala’a Madan, President of the Bahrain Basketball Association, 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 added 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.
