About the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame
Our Mission
The Members of this Board of Directors never forgot that our New York basketball experience, 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 took place on our playgrounds, school gyms and after school recreation centers 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.
We learned 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.
Therefore, aside from honoring the great men and women who deserve our eternal recognition for their contributions, The Hall is committed to make a contribution of our own, to serve the youth and adults of the New York community that includes health, education and nutrition awareness programs.
Building a physical location and an annual NYC All-Star Games involving the PSAL, CHSAA and PSAA teams are our agenda as well as many other programs.
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 All-Star 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.
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.