Former Chicago Bulls Pau Gasol and Dwyane Wade named finalists for the Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Two former Chicago Bulls, Dwyane Wade, and Pau Gasol, are among the finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023. The Basketball Hall of Fame made the announcement during the NBA's All-Star weekend.
Brief yet memorable stints
All told, Gasol and Wade did not spend a lot of time with the Bulls. However, they still had a profound impact on the team.
Gasol played for Chicago from 2014 to 2016 and was an All-Star in both seasons. He averaged 17.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 blocks in the 150 games that he played for the Bulls.
Meanwhile, Wade spent just one year with the Bulls—the 2016-2017 season—and averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 60 games. Known more for the three NBA championships that he won with the Miami Heat, Wade signed on to play for his hometown, forming a fearsome backcourt trio with Rajon Rondo and Jimmy Butler. However, the season ended badly as the Bulls were ousted in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Star-studded Hall of Fame class
The list of finalists is composed of seven players and five coaches. Aside from Gasol and Wade, also named finalists were Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki and San Antonio Spurs great Tony Parker. The finalists' names will be submitted to the Honors Committee for deliberation and election as a member of the Class of 2023.
