The 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class could be dominated by legendary point guards after the finalists were named on Saturday.

Two-time MVP Steve Nash and former NBA champion Jason Kidd were the headline names chosen among 13 finalists.

They were joined by Ray Allen, Grant Hill, Maurice Cheeks and Chris Webber but it's the two standout point guards who are surely guaranteed locks to headline the class.

The announcement for this year's enshrinees will be unveiled during the NCAA tournament's Final Four in San Antonio next month.

Kidd - who was fired as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks last month - ranks second in league history in assists with 12,091 and Nash is third with 10,335.

The former won back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 with the Phoenix Suns and made the All-NBA first team three times during his 18-year career which also included stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Canadian was also an eight-time All-Star and is considered to be one of the best point guards in the history of the game.

Kidd was the Rookie of the Year in the 1994-95 season which set the stage for a glittering 19-year career in the NBA where he made the All-NBA first team five times and All-Defensive first team four times.

He also made 10 All-Star appearances and won his first ring with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.

In an interview with ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers legend and 2003 Hall of Famer James Worthy, who watched the two guards in action on many occasions as a broadcaster, believes its fitting that they'll be inducted into the same class.

"Enhancers of the game, and made everyone else better than they probably were," Worthy said. "Jason Kidd had a flair that was like Magic Johnson; he just had angles. And Steve Nash was the same way."

As well as Nash and Kidd, the NBA's leading three-point shooter Allen - who drained 2,973 attempts - has a great chance of being inducted.

He won championships with both the Boston Celtics in 2008 and Miami Heat in 2013, where he memorably sent the series into a game seven with a stunning three-pointer in the final seconds.

Hill enjoyed a stellar college career but he couldn't reach the same heights during his 19-year career in the NBA. He was, however, a seven-time All-Star and is still a strong candidate.

This is certainly one of the strongest classes in recent years and they're all deserving of being added to the Hall of Fame so it'll be a tough choice for the voters.

Finalists must receive 18 votes from the 24-member honours committee to be enshrined.