INDIANAPOLIS – There was a uniquely Phoenix flair to the Naismith Hall of Fame festivities held in conjunction with the NCAA’s Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium.

This year’s inductees met with the media on April 4, ahead of the first of two men’s semifinal games. Among those honored were longtime coach Mike D’Antoni, as well as one of the stars of his teams, Amar’e Stoudemire.

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Stoudemire, now 43, was a six-time NBA All-Star (2005, ‘07-11) and 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year. He averaged 21.4 points and 8.3 rebounds during his first eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns (2002-10) before signing with the New York Knicks (2010-15).

D’Antoni, now 74, coached the Suns from 2003-08 and was known for his up-tempo, entertaining brand of offense. D’Antoni’s impact spans continents, having coached professionally in Italy for eight seasons before bringing his ideas to the NBA, where he amassed nearly 1,200 career wins.

He was named NBA Coach of the Year twice (2005, ‘17), served as an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, and was recognized as one of the “50 Greatest Contributors” in EuroLeague history in 2008.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

Alexia Rodriguez performs at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

Alexia Rodriguez performs at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

People watch the action of the outdoor court at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

Alexia Rodriguez performs at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

Jack Soccio, of Maryland, shoots during a game of knockout at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

Booths offering various games at The Canyon on Third Street at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

A four-on-four game at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

Nelson Novarro makes a layup on the outdoor court at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

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Scenes from Four It All Fest in downtown Phoenix

Jack Soccio, of Maryland, grabs a rebound during a game of knockout at Four It All Fest outside the Phoenix Convention Center celebrating the Final Four in Phoenix, on April 2, 2026.

The two thought it appropriate that they were included in the same class.

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“One of the bigger reasons I’m here is because of the man down there,” D’Antoni said, looking to his left where Stoudemire sat four spots away. “So it’s really special to be able to come in with Amar’e. He and Steve (Nash) and Shawn (Marion) and different guys on the team, we had a vision that the Colangelos and myself wanted a way to play, and then they carried it out.”

Stoudemire agreed: “Going into the Hall of Fame with Coach D’Antoni, the way he changed the game, not only for us but for the NBA, and allowing us to really be able to play our full game and reach our full potential.”

Stoudemire was the ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft directly out of high school.

“As basketball players,” he continued, “you always dream of being versatile and being able to express your game in a versatile way. To play that way for those years in Phoenix, because of Mike D’Antoni’s innovative mindset for that type of play, allowed us to be very successful. Without that success, I wouldn’t be here today. So to go into the Hall of Fame with Coach D’Antoni is pretty cool.”

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The rest of the class includes referee Joey Crawford, longtime Gonzaga coach Mark Few, Doc Rivers, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and Candace Parker. The 1996 United States Women’s National Team is going in as a group.

Delle Donne was the lone inductee not on hand here at the press conference.

The formal induction will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

All the inductees called the experience a dream come true and said it’s not necessarily a goal they thought about early on. They were just playing the game they loved.

“To be part of the Hall of Fame is a dream come true,” Stoudemire said. “As a kid, you play basketball because you love the sport, and then you begin to try to chase your dreams of becoming the best player you can possibly be, but you don’t really imagine being in the Hall of Fame. You just go for what you know and try to figure out how to be the best that you can be.”

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D’Antoni and Rivers singled out the players they had the opportunity to coach, while Holdsclaw and Parker emphasized the growth of the women’s game.

“A lot of coaches have already said, without great players, nothing good happens,” D’Antoni said. “I had some great players. But really special to be here with (Stoudemire) today, see where he came from. I was there his rookie year as assistant coach, and see the man he is today, pretty cool.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Amar’e Stoudemire, Mike D’Antoni enter Hall of Fame together