Finals rivals Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade headline Hall of Fame class

Wade won the title and Finals MVP in 2006 when his Miami Heat defeated Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks, and Nowitzki returned the favor in 2011, upsetting the LeBron James-Chris Bosh-Wade "Heatles" team. But by the end of their careers, it was all love.

Each player retired after the 2019 season. Wade finished with three titles (2006, 2012, 2013) and five Finals appearances, as well as 13 All-Star appearances. He's the Miami Heat's all-time leader in games, points, assists and steals, and also a three-time member of the All-Defensive team.

Nowitzki is a 14-time All-Star and won the MVP trophy in 2007. He's scored more points than all but five players in basketball history - LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Notably, he never did product endorsements outside of his Nike deal, perhaps because he wanted to focus on his acting work in promos for the Mavericks.

Nowitzki also won MVP trophies playing for his native Germany in the FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket tournaments. He's generally considered the greatest European-born NBA player of all time, though he's joined by two other notable Euros in this year's Hall of Fame class.

Pau Gasol, part of two championship teams with the Lakers and six All-Star teams, is also going into the Hall. The Lakers retired his jersey this month, perhaps knowing that Gasol would make it in. He also led Spain to their first-ever EuroBasket titles, winning three out of four tournaments in a six-year stretch.

Longtime San Antonio Spur and four-time NBA champion Tony Parker of France also made it, as did even longer-time Spurs coach - and five-time champion - Gregg Popovich. If Coach Pop's induction speech is anything like his sideline interviews, it will be quite terse.

Rounding out the San Antonio contingent is former assistant coach Becky Hammon, inducted for her stellar WNBA playing career. She won a WNBA title in her first year coaching the Las Vegas Aces, so she might get a second induction as a coach.

Finalists will be announced during the Final Four this weekend, and should include additional members from the Veterans, Women's Veterans, International and Contributor Committees. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place August 12 in Springfield, Massachusetts.