Official Role Player Hall of Fame Thread If this was a real thing, who would be first ballot entries? 1. Robert Horry 2. Derek Fisher 3. Steve Kerr 4. Tony Allen 5. Michael Cooper 6. B.J. Armstrong 7. Rick Fox 8. Robert Reid 9. Clifford Robinson 10. Shane Battier 11. Bruce Bowen 12. Steve Kerr 13. Ron Harper 14. Jason Terry 15. Lamar Odom 16. Toni Kukoc 17. Bobby Jones 18. Jerome Williams 19. Vinnie Johnson 20. Kenny Smith 21. Eddie Johnson 22. Horace Grant 23. A.C. Green 24. Sam Perkins 25. Otis Thorpe Personal Suggestion (no mentions yet): Dell Curry Tom Sanders Don Buse Caldwell Jones Doc Rivers Terry Cummings (borderline, because he was a 2x all-star, a very good player and his numbers are good enough to get into Hall of Fame or garner consideration) Avery Johnson Al Attles Dale and Antonio Davis Omissions: Matt Maloney - for a time. Chandler Parsons - too young Brian Cook, Ryan Bowen - Scott Brooks - Homer pick Joey Crawford - Greatest Pick of All Time, so much he cannot be included. Has effected more outcomes of any NBA games than any player beneath or above him. Real Hall of Fame (players)/Borderline Star Players/Multiple All-Star appearances: Dennis Johnson (All-Star Caliber player - 5 all star appearance, he actually was a primary scorer for few teams; Hardly a role player in the manner the OP is looking for). Ben Wallace (He was typically the best rebounding player/post defender-defensive player on the team, we consider players who are very great at offense and mediocre or worse on defense to be stars, how come it doesn't work for defensive players who can do a little more than play defense). Dennis Rodman (see Ben Wallace) Dikembe Mutombo (see Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace) Jeff Hornacek (He was pretty solid all-star worthy player, very early in his career) Jason Terry (See Jeff Hornacek) Byron Scott (Possibly one of the best players ever to never play in an all-star game, in his best years, he was actually a formidable scorer off the dribble.) Sam Cassell (Early in his career, maybe, but he was pretty damn good in New Jersey and Milwaukee ... I'd call him a star player at that point. Buck Williams (see Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman, Dikembe Mutombo) Charles Oakley (see Buck Williams and others) Scottie Pippen (most controversial, one of the most dynamic players in NBA history, yet he made decent primary scorer and could easily be the best player on a playoff caliber team ... He was more of a role player in Portland than he was in Chicago. The Bulls actually needed him to be go to scorer, along with MJ to win those championships).
Dennis Johnson was not a role player Dennis Johnson was the best player on a title winning team. No role player can do that. It's like the definition of a role player
Such an exhaustive list but no mention of Ginobody. Did you just forget him or are you saying he's better than guys like Pippen and DJ
Otis Thorpe was not a role player. Dream took off in 92 and the Rockets adjusted their offense accordingly, in the 6 years prior to that OT averaged 18 and 10 and made an All Star appearence. Choking aside, Nick Anderson averaged 20 PPG twice in his career. Horry, Fisher, Battier these are role players. Guys who can't really do anthing on their own but lend support to great players.
A really good one nobody mentioned yet either. JAMES POSEY! He's the quintessential role player. Does a little bit of everything but most importantly a hustler. Tough defender, timely buckets, always seemed to grab the most important loose balls, clutch down the stretch, stepped up in the playoffs. Very much like a Robert Horry lite. He was huge in helping the Heat get their ring in 2006 and the Celtics in 2008. add Bobby Jackson to the list as well. I loved watching him on the Kings.
Ive always said Robert Horry is Cliff Robinson with more luck on good teams (theres technically 2 cliff robinsons, im sure you mean the 90s version)
