Report: Basketball Hall of Fame to change eligibility wait time

Rather than wait five years to become eligible for induction, players will now only be required to wait four years after retirement.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is set to make a change the eligibility rules, reports Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com.

Rather than wait five years to become eligible for induction, players will now only be required to wait four years after retirement to be placed on the ballot. Howard-Cooper reports that an official announcement will be made this week.

With the current system, players end up waiting six years to be nominated by the time voting comes to a close at the completion of the NBA regular season. The change will shorten the process five calendar years instead of five NBA seasons.

The the new rule would allow Yao Ming, Shaquille O‘Neal and Allen Iverson to be eligible a full year earlier than expected.

- Xandria James