There might be some changes made to the election process of the Basketball Hall of Fame that would let players like China's Yao Ming, as well as Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson, be among those inducted in 2016, reported China.org.cn.
A report on the NBA website claimed that the changes to the Basketball Hall of Fame will include reducing the wait for eligibility for induction by one year. The report cited unnamed sources.
From the current five seasons in retirement, the wait time would be reduced to four. Officials hope the measure will avoid a sixth year of waiting by the time the voting process is completed.
If the proposed new plan pushes through, eligibility of a retired player for the Hall of Fame will begin after five calendar years rather than five NBA seasons. This would allow several candidates to be inducted early, including Yao, O'Neal, Iverson, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash.
Yao and Shaq will have to wait another year to get on the ballot if the current rules are applied.
Yao is currently one of the most recognizable Chinese basketball players in the world.
There are some carryover candidates that could be squeezed in with new players moving up in the Hall picture, like Tim Hardaway, Kevin Johnson and Chris Webber.
Previously, Yao rejected being nominated for the distinction of contributor to the sport. The distinction would not have required the fiver-year wait.
Finalists for the NBA's Hall of Fame Class of 2016 are expected to be known in February. Selections will be in April, while enshrinement will take place in September at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.