Toronto • Shaquille O'Neal should be a lock. Yao Ming and Allen Iverson could join him.
Two larger-than-life big men and one of basketball's most exciting little guys highlight the list of players, coaches and contributors who are eligible for induction this year into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
O'Neal and Iverson got past an extra step by first being chosen as finalists Friday at a press conference during the NBA's All-Star weekend festivities. They now require 18 votes from the 24-member Honors Committee, as do all nominees from the North American and Women's Committees.
But Yao was nominated by the Hall's International Committee, recognized as much for his impact in the growth of basketball in his native China as his play in the NBA.
That committee elects players directly to the Hall.
The class of 2016 will be unveiled April 4 in Houston on the day of the NCAA championship game, and the enshrinement ceremony is set for Sept. 9 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
O'Neal, Yao and Iverson earned a chance to be a part of it after a recent rule change that made players eligible for nomination after four full seasons of retirement. Previously, they had to wait five years, which meant they were actually six years removed from their playing days by the time they could take their place in the birthplace of basketball.
O'Neal won four NBA championships, an MVP award and is in the league's top 10 in career scoring. Iverson, just 6-feet tall, won four scoring titles and was the league's MVP in 2001, when his 48-performance for Philadelphia in Game 1 of the NBA Finals handed O'Neal's Lakers their only loss of the most dominant postseason in NBA history.
Yao doesn't have as impressive a résumé, his career cut short by multiple foot injuries. But the 7-foot-6 center lasted long enough to make an enormous impact on and off the court after being selected No. 1 overall in 2002.
FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2001, file photo, Eastern Conference player Allen Iverson, of the Phildadelphia 76ers, holds his MVP trophy at the end of the 50th NBA All-Star Game at the MCI Center, in Washington. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/Pablo Matinez Monsivais, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 25, 2001, file photo, Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson, center, throws a wrap-around pass between Los Angeles Lakers' Mark Madsen, left, and Robert Horry in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, in Los Angeles. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 12, 1997, file photo, Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson (3) goes into the air against Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, in Houston. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in.(AP Photo/Tim Johnson, File)
FILE - In this June 15, 2001, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal holds up the MVP trophy, right, and the championship trophy after the Lakers won their second straight NBA championship, in Philadelphia. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - In this June 15, 2004, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal (34) dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Auburn Hills, Mich. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/ Michael Conroy, File)
FILE - This April 19, 2007, file photo shows Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal talking to the news media following a team basketball practice in Miami. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
FILE - This Feb. 17, 2007, file photo, shows Shaquille O'Neal, right, of the Miami Heat, and LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, dancing together during NBA All-Star basketball practice in Las Vegas. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
FILE - In this April 10, 2003, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal slam dunks as Sacramento Kings' Jim Jackson, left, looks on during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at Staples Center in Los Angeles. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
FILE - This April 1, 2009, file photo shows Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, top, of China, shooting over Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal (32) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, in Phoenix. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/Paul Connors, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2008, file photo, China's Yao Ming of the NBA's Houston Rockets reacts at the end of men's basketball game against Germany at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2005, file photo, San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan (21) works to get by Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11), of China, during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Houston. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
FILE - In this April 17, 2004, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, left, goes after a rebound along with Houston Rockets' Yao Ming during the first half of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, in Los Angeles. This year's Hall of Fame class includes a star-studded field of potential finalists, including Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming and Allen Iverson. That trio should be a lock to get in.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 file photo, Memphis Grizzlies forward guard Kyle Lowery (1) and Phoenix Suns forward Robin Lopez, left, try to pick off a loose ball durikng the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. All-Stars Lowery and DeMar DeRozan have pushed the team to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at the break, giving their dedicated and vocal fan base reason to pack the Air Canada Center. (AP Photo/Jim Weber, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 file photo, Memphis Grizzlies forward guard Kyle Lowery (1) and Phoenix Suns forward Robin Lopez, left, try to pick off a loose ball durikng the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. All-Stars Lowery and DeMar DeRozan have pushed the team to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at the break, giving their dedicated and vocal fan base reason to pack the Air Canada Center. (AP Photo/Jim Weber, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 file photo, Memphis Grizzlies forward guard Kyle Lowery (1) and Phoenix Suns forward Robin Lopez, left, try to pick off a loose ball durikng the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. All-Stars Lowery and DeMar DeRozan have pushed the team to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at the break, giving their dedicated and vocal fan base reason to pack the Air Canada Center. (AP Photo/Jim Weber, File)
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