About the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame
Our Mission
Basketball, aka The City Game, played an important role in keeping thousands, perhaps millions of NYC kids from falling by the wayside over the years.
The City Game was played in our local parks, school gyms and after school recreation centers and were supported by various governmental agencies and organizations. It created heroes for kids to emulate, and then mentors to help guide the course of our lives, on and off the court.
The City Game taught us the values of fair play, education, discipline, anger management and found a safe haven from the perils of growing up in the streets of New York. For many of us, the New York basketball experience was the schoolyard of life.
The great men and women of The City Game deserve our eternal gratitude and recognition for their contributions. The new ReBorn Hall Team is committed to make a contribution of our own, to serve the youth and adults of the New York community together with our growing list of partners in areas such public and individual health, education, and nutrition awareness, as well as reading, internships and employment assistance programs.
Our plans include building a physical location and endowing an annual NYC All-Star Games involving all the high school leagues in the city.
Through social media, an actual physical location, relevant memorabilia, membership participation, community outreach and development ”The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame” has the powerful potential and the dedicated individuals, to revitalize a sense of pride across the entire city and beyond.
History of the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame
The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame’s inaugural class was inducted in an elegant mega ceremony in NYC in May 1990.
The Hall’s first class included All-Time Basketball superstars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Billy Cunningham, Red Auerbach, Coach Claire Bee, Bob Cousy, William “Pop” Gates, Connie Hawkins, Coach Dick McGuire, Holcombe Rucker, Dolph Schayes and Ms. Zelda Spoelstra.
The second class was no less stunning: Dolly King, Fuzzy Levane, Ned Irish, Tiny Archibald, Bobby Wanzer, Bob Douglas and Coaches Red Sarachek, Lenny Wilkins, Nat Holman and Red Holtzman. A similar level of greatness has continued throughout the years.
A total of twenty-seven classes of inductees were enshrined between 1990-2017 when two of the legendary founders Robert A. “Bob” Williams and Howard “Garf” Garfinkel passed away, followed closely by the passing of founding board members Cecil Watkins and Tom Konchalski. Founder Howie Evans died in May 2025 after a long debilitating illness. The only remaining Founder is the esteemed Peter Vecsey (Class of 2001)- who is well on his way to achieving his lifelong goal – to outlive everyone born in 1943.
Founders
* Deceased
Bob Williams*
Larry "Scout" Pearlstein*
Howard Garfinkel*
Bill Travers*
Howie Evans*
Peter Vecsey
Cecil Watkins*
Tom Konchalski*
Our Current Leadership
On May 24, 2023, a newly constituted board was selected and approved by the three remaining Legacy Board members Gail Marquis, Ronnie Nunn, and Mel Davis – and the hoopshallny.org was officially back!
September 19, 2024 – Barclay’s Center Brooklyn – last regular season home game of the soon to be crowned WNBA Champion NY Liberty vs The Atlanta Dream – pregame – roaring crowds – 10 outstanding NYers who ARE The City Game – The NYC Basketball Hall of Fame is ReBorn again!