Yao is more of a story of what could have been that what actually was. His on court performance is too limited and uneventful in terms of playoff appearances to put him in the HOF. He might get in as an ambassador for international basketball but not as a player. Injuries robbed him of a HOF career.
Yes, but only because the basketball HOF isn't in the same class as the pro football HOF, or baseball HOF.
I voted no because I am a hall of fame elitist. However, I do understand the pro-HOF argument and would be happy if he was enshrined.
A "top five Rocket?" Better than Elvin Hayes, Calvin Murphy, Moses Malone, Clyde Drexler, and Hakeem Olajuwon? I could add more Rockets players to that list, but just leaving it there, who would you toss to get Yao into "the top five Rockets players?" They are all Hall of Fame players.
I would toss Elvin Hayes...He had one truly dominate year in Houston. Better player, but not better Rocket.
And I wouldn't. When the San Diego Rockets drafted Elvin Hayes, I became a fan of the Rockets. Sound familiar?
I know Ronny be trollin, but I'm bored waiting on my dinner to cook, so let's do dis yall. No, I'm defining the parameters of the thread (i.e. the OP's question, which can be interpreted two different ways), not the HOF. We all have our own personal definition of what a HOF player is, and I can't define that for anybody but myself. I'd say with a raging Rik Smits debate going on, that no, it isn't. LOL. No. The brevity of Yao's career, his inability to play a complete season, and lack of playoff success, make him not HOF worthy as of this moment. But, give him a few years to craft his post-nba career (which he no doubt will) and he'll likely get my thumbs up. herp de derp ta teedly tum. LOL. I guess we should ask the OP what he really meant, since it bothers you so much. Based on who has gotten in before him, should Yao get in ? Probably. Based on my personal standard of a HOFer, should Yao get in ? Probably not. Got a problem with that? Spoiler
This is actually probably the only place this wouldn't be a debate, as shown by the voting. I'd love to see an ESPNation poll on this, I doubt the majority would vote yes.
Why don't you call him up and ask him to hand over his ring. Clyde played 4 seasons with the Rockets, won that ring, and ended his career with the Rockets. Odd that I didn't see him wearing a Blazers uniform during that time, and certainly haven't seen him doing color commentary with the Blazers. Go figure.
Agree, but I would put Rudy T before him in the top five. Hakeem, Moses, Calvin, Rudy, Elvin, then Clyde (for me.)
He had many dominate years for the organization, it just happens that the organization was in San Diego it's first few years. He was the Rockets first superstar
