http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5052939 Well deserved, in my opinion. Not the most gaudy offensive stats, but an elite defender, and could play the role of a top contributor on a championship team (Sonics), or exemplary role player. Stepped up his game in the playoffs and has a Finals MVP to his credit.
Little random but I think Dennis Rodman deserves a go at HoF. No one can rebound as good as he does and he has like what, a 4 years straight of highest rebounding record?
Should be elected in as well IMO <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JnThwmNBvfc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JnThwmNBvfc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Whats the A-Train gotta do to get in the Hall? Its the BASKETBALL Hall of Fame not just the NBA Hall of Fame, so ABA is considered. I dont get it. He was better at his position than Dennis Johnson was in his.
An anti-ABA bias on the selection committee is the only explanation I can come up with. I agree it's hypocritical to put college coaches and international coaches but ignore the ABA. Artis is not the only one who gets the shaft, other guys like Mel Daniels and George McGinnis deserve consideration too.
Does this start to open the door for someone like Robert Horry? Clearly, that door will never fully open - as it shouldn't - but does this at least crack it? Horry never had quite the stats that DJ had, but 7 championships, almost all of which he played a critical role in during the playoffs, and like DJ, was also key to the defensive side of the equation in those championships. I guess my point really is that I'm not sure DJ should be in the Hall. Great role player who had a couple of better than role player seasons, and who was definitely key to some championship teams. Rip Hamilton Manu Ginobili Stephen Jackson just some players of the top of my head, who all were similarly talented relative to the rest of the league as DJ was in his day. They all have different games, mind you, but just trying to think of some somewhat comparable players, who I doubt will make the HOF.
I'd put Dennis Johnson in a Tony Parker/Manu Ginobili mode. Dennis Johnson won a ring with Seattle and was a Finals MVP, before going to the Celtics. Similar to Tony Parker winning a Finals MVP, not being THE absolute best player team but one of the best at his position, and the best when it counted. Then how Manu is known as a "winner" everywhere he goes, DJ had the winner tag put on him. I guess the HOF can be the Hall of Good Player Winners more than the Hall of Individual Good. Artis Gilmore won a title in the ABA as THE man. Something they give credit to Dr J for doing. Even more reason why Gilmore's exclusion is puzzling.
He wasn't making fun of someone who is dead, he was making fun of Pippen and Malone. By the way, are you the poster formerly known as adeelsiddiqui?
Dennis Johnson is one of the best DEFENSIVE guards ever to play the game. Watch the old tapes, this guy was a D beast, I'm sad he died so young but his game will never be forgotten. RIP
I agree with you completely, but then I'd question if Manu will ever make the HOF. I don't see it happening. Basketball Reference website, which has a HOF probability predictor doesn't see it happening (they were 50/50 on DJ, btw). Tony Parker on the other hand, they do lean slightly in favor of making the HOF...who knows. I'm curious if every Finals MVP ever is in the HOF? Will Chancy make it?
Manu is actually a virtual lock to make the HOF, IMO. Don't forget about the his great international performances, not least of which was the gold medal. B-R cannot take that sort of thing into account but the HOF most certainly does. I don't know about TP, he's never been a huge factor in international basketball. France has never done especially well. I think given how Billups is doing right now and assuming he'll keep it up for at least a few more years, he is on track to make it, but if he falls off a cliff next year I'd be unsure. On Artis, there's no legitimate reason he shouldn't be in the HOF. His stats are without a doubt HOF worthy. He led a championship contender in the ABA (Kentucky Colonels) which by the end of its existence was almost on talent parity with the NBA, played very well in Chicago even leading them to the second round once, and was still a very solid player for the Spurs when they made the WCF.
