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Hall of Famer? You Make the Call
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20 current and former NBA players, you make the call, do they belong in the Hall? I will provide you with some of the numbers, including career and key stats, honors, and awards, but you decide. I will also make my pick. The list starts with retired players then gets into the current guys. It's the Basketball Hall of Fame, so remember college honors are also a factor.
Reggie Miller
Resumé:
18 seasons
*18.2 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists per game *All-time 3 point leader *8th all-time free throw percentage *5 time All-Star *3 time All-NBA 3rd Team *Highest finish in MVP vote: 13th
Yes. This is a great way to start off. I was on the other side of the fence probably a year ago. After looking through all the numbers and other players who are in the Hall, I give Reggie the nod. 18 points per game over 18 seasons is very impressive, as is his ability from beyond the arc. 0 titles, but played against the best, and certainly didn't run from the moment. I got him in, but it's very close, and I will probably feel he's not in by the time I'm done with this.
Brad Daugherty
Resumé:
8 seasons
*19 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game *5 time All-Star *All-Rookie 1st Team *All-NBA 3rd Team *2nd Team All-American at UNC *Highest finish in MVP vote: 10th
No. If Daugherty could have stayed healthy and played longer he gets in for sure. Close to 20-10 for his career is impossible to argue. Like Miller, Daugherty didn't win any titles, but unlike Miller, he didn't have a lengthy career.
Chris Mullin
Resumé:
16 seasons
*18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals per game *5 time All-Star *All-NBA 1st Team, All-NBA 2nd Team (2), All-NBA 3rd Team *1st Team All-American, 2nd Team All-American, Wooden Award Winner at St. John's *Member of 1992 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Team (The Dream Team) *Highest finish in MVP vote: 6th.
Yes. This is a great example where achievements outside of the NBA could help a guy get in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Mullin was an incredible college player and a member of the greatest basketball team ever assembled.
Mark Price
Resumé:
12 seasons
*15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 1.2 steals per game *4 time All-Star *All-NBA 1st Team, All-NBA 3rd Team (3) *2nd Team All-American, 3rd Team All-American at Georgia Tech *90.4% career free throw percentage (best in NBA history) *Highest finish in MVP vote: 7th.
No. Price is one of the best point guards of the past 25 years (I wrote a fantastic article about that a few months back; check the archives), but I still don't think he did enough to get into the Hall. Imagine Price and Daugherty's legacy had it not been for one Michael Jordan, or if his Airness was drafted by Portland in the Western Conference.
Penny Hardaway
Resumé:
14 seasons (parts of)
*15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.6 steals per game *4 time All-Star *All NBA 1st Team (2), All-NBA 3rd Team *1st Team All-American at Memphis *Highest finish in MVP vote: 3rd
No. Certainly began his career on his way to being a 1st ballot Hall of Famer. He was the best PG in the NBA for 2-3 seasons in a row. It looked like the Orlando Magic were going to be contenders for years. His career numbers were ruined as he tried to hang around the league post injuries. In 14 seasons, Penny played 82 games just twice.
Larry Johnson
Resumé:
10 seasons
*16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game *2 time All-Star *Rookie of the Year *All-Rookie 1st Team *All-NBA 2nd Team *1st Team All-American (2), Wooden Award, Naismith Award winner, NCAA Champion at UNLV
No. The Runnin' Rebels of the early 1990s was one of the greatest college teams of all-time. They were fun to watch, won a National Title, and nearly went undefeated the next year if the refs and NCAA weren’t so Pro-Duke. That's a different article for a different time. L.J. was the #1 pick in the draft after being the best college player in the country. He wont the Rookie of the Year award the that season, but injuries bit Johnson and he could not play the same game he had out in Vegas or few seasons in Charlotte.
Horace Grant
Resumé:
17 seasons
*11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds per game *1 time All-Star *4 time NBA Champion *All-Defensive 2nd Team (4) *2nd Team All-American at Clemson
No. He's a great defensive player and rebounder, Grant had a long career with 4 rings to show from it. He's a good player who was in the right place at the right time with both the Bulls and Lakers, also was a part of the Magic team that got swept by the Rockets. 1-time All-Stars don't belong in the Hall.
Kevin Johnson
Resumé:
12 seasons
*17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.5 steals per game *3 time All-Star *All-NBA 2nd Team (4), All-NBA 3rd Team *NBA Most Improved *Highest finish in MVP vote: 7th.
Yes. I got K.J. in the Hall. A career average of 18 points and 9 dimes? I'll take that on my team. This is another great debate, but I only had 6-7 point guards ahead of him in my life time, that’s good enough.
Dennis Rodman
Resumé:
14 seasons
*7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds per game *2 time All-Star *All-NBA 3 rd Team (2), 2 time Defensive Player of the Year *All- Defensive 1st Team (7), All- Defensive 2nd Team *5 time NBA Champion *Led NBA in RPG 7 seasons *Highest finish in MVP vote: 10th.
Yes. Maybe his cross dressing and hair color and everything else will keep him out, but he deserves to be in. He had titles like a Horry and Ho. Grant, but the Worm was one of the best defensive players of all-time, and maybe the best rebounding power forwards not named Karl Malone or Charles Barkley. Twice, Rodman averaged more than 18 rebounds a game.
Tim Hardaway
Resumé:
13 seasons
*17.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.6 steals per game *5 time All-Star *1st Team All-Rookie *All-NBA 1st Team, All-NBA 2nd Team (3), All-NBA 3rd Team *Highest finish in MVP vote: 4th.
Yes. The killer crossover is in. Homophobic comments aside, Hardaway was a great point guard for many years in the league. Both with the Warriors and the Heat he was a game changer. He had skillz. (In Hardaway accent)
Shawn Kemp
Resumé:
14 seasons:
*14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks per game *6 time All-Star *All-NBA 2nd Team (3) *Highest finish in MVP vote: 7th
No. If there was a Hall of Fame for in-game dunkers, it would probably be named after him. But unfortunately I'm going to have to leave the Reign Man out of the real Hall. Great moments, and extremely likable teams in Seattle, but not enough to get him in.
Chris Webber
Resumé:
15 seasons
*20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.4 blocks per game *5 time All-Star *NBA Rookie of the Year *1st Team All-Rookie *All-NBA 1st Team, All-NBA 2nd Team (3), All-NBA 3rd Team *1st Team All-American at Michigan *Highest finish in MVP vote: 4th (5 Top 10s).
Yes. I wrote an entire article on C-Webb when he retired. Feel free to pour through the archives to find it. He's a slam dunk Hall of Famer in my mind. Webber is 1 of 6 players to average 20-9-4. The others? Baylor, Wilt, Billy Cunningham, Bird, and Garnett, with the 1st four in the Hall already.
Robert Horry
Resumé:
16 seasons
*7 points, 4.8 rebounds per game *2nd Team All-Rookie *7 time NBA Champion *244 career playoff games, and 261 playoff 3PM ranks 2nd all-time (Reggie Miller).
No. 7 time NBA Champion! That's a lot of rings. I know "Big Shot Bob" got that name for a reason, but playing with Hakeem, Shaq, Kobe, and Duncan will help you get those titles. People will point to those championships, I point to the career averages and 0 All-Star selections. Hall of Fame is an individual award, sorry Bob.
Tracy McGrady
Resumé:
Playing 12th season
*22.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals per game *7 Time All-Star *All-NBA 1st Team (2), All-NBA 2nd Team (3), All-NBA 3rd Team (2) *NBA Most Improved Player *Highest finish in MVP vote 4th (6 top 8s)
Yes. I know he's never made it out of the 1st round of the playoffs, but he has time to fix that. T-Mac already ranks 73rd All-Time in points scored in the NBA, and he won't be 30 until after this season. Say what you want, but be sure to check out the numbers.
Ray Allen
Resumé:
Playing 13th season
*21 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game *8 time All-Star *All-Rookie 2nd Team *All-NBA 2nd Team, All-NBA 3rd Team *NBA Champion *1st Team All-American and 3rd Team All-American while at UConn *Highest finish in MVP vote 9th
Yes. I would have given Ray the nod before winning the title last year with the Celtics, so I believe that only pushes him over the cliff. He's 2nd All-Time behind Miller in 3 pointers made and has one of the best shots the game has ever seen. And he played Jesus Shuttlesworth in He Got Game, so come on.
Vince Carter
Resumé:
Playing 11th season
*23.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists 1.3 steals per game *8 time All-Star *NBA Rookie of the Year *All Rookie 1st Team *All-NBA 2nd Team, All-NBA 3rd Team *2nd Team All-American at North Carolina *Highest finish in MVP vote 10th
Yes. A lot of people would probably argue with this, particularly in Toronto. Vincanity is currently 67th on the NBA's scoring list, and only going up. He has a career average of 24 points per game and is the 18th best of all-time. Like him or not, he's a Hall of Famer.
Grant Hill
Resumé:
Playing 14th season
*18.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals per game *7 time All-Star *NBA Rookie of the Year *1st Team All-Rookie *All-NBA 1st Team, All-NBA 2nd Team (4) *1st Team All-American and 3rd Team All-American at Duke *Highest finish in MVP vote 3rd
No. To me, very much like Penny Hardaway. They both began their careers on the fast track to Springfield. I remember thinking when they announced the "50 Greatest Players List" back in the day that they needed to add Grant Hill. (and Dominique Wilkins, whose omission made that list a bit of a joke). But unfortunately, he did not have enough good seasons to get him in.
Tony Parker
Resumé:
Playing 8th season
*16.2 points, 5.5 assists per game *2 time All-Star *1st Team All-Rookie *3 time NBA Champion *Finals MVP *Highest finish in MVP vote 9th.
No... at least not yet. Parker is the youngest guy on this list, and clearly has the most game left barring injuries. His 3 titles put him in the conversation, but the stats needed to increase, and they are.
Chauncey Billups
Resumé:
Playing 12th season
*14.9 points, 5.6 assists per game *3 time All-Star *All-NBA 2nd Team, All-NBA 3rd Team *All-Defensive 2nd Team (2) *NBA Champion, Finals MVP *2nd Team All-American at Colorado *Highest finish in MVP vote: 5th
No. I got back and forth on Billups much like Reggie Miller. Right now, I'm saying he has not done enough to get in. Just 3 all-star games and the career numbers don't wow you. Finals MVP helps, but I think he needs to do more.
Paul Pierce
Resumé:
Playing 11th season
*23 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.6 steals per game *6 time All-Star *1st Team All-Rookie *All-NBA 3rd Team (3) *NBA Champion, Finals MVP *1st Team All-American at Kansas *Highest finish in MVP vote: 11th.
Yes. Like Ray Allen, I felt Pierce was a Hall of Famer before last year's championship. Well that solidified it for me, and another inevitable All-Star selection won't hurt. One more championship would make him a slam dunk 1st ballot guy. As Shaquille O'Neal once eloquently put it, "Paul Pierce is the mother f***in truth."
There it is. Leave your comments with thoughts on 1, 2, or all of these players.
