List of Eligible Players not in the Basketball Hall

[L.Kizzle]

These players have been eligible for years (or 1 year) who have not made the Hall. Who on this list has the best shot at being inducted?


-Max Zaslofsky (4 All-NBA 1st Teams)
-Alex Groza (2 All-NBA 1st Teams): I think his college scandal is what has messed his chances up as he was banned from the league.
-Larry Foust (8 Time All-Star)
-Richie Guerin
-Johnny Green
-Zelmo Beaty
-Roger Brown (ABA)
-Spencer Haywood (ABA MVP)
-Lou Hudson (6 Time All-Star)
-George McGinnis (ABA MVP)
-Rudy Tomjanovich
-Norm Van Lier (8 All-D Teams)
-Jo Jo White (NBA Finals MVP)
-Charlie Scott
-Bobby Jones (11 All-D Teams)
-Paul Westphal (3 All-NBA 1st Teams)
-Bob Dandridge
-Maurice Lucas
-Gus Williams
-Bernard King
-Marques Johnson
-Jack Sikma
-Walter Davis
-Sidney Moncrief
-Mark Aguirre
-Tom Chambers
-Mark Price
-Brad Daugherty
-Kevin Johnson
-Tim Hardaway
-Shawn Kemp
-Mitch Richmond



A list of retired players not yet eligible
-Gary Payton (I think this is his year)
-Chris Webber (same as Payton)
-Alonzo Mourning (same as Glove and C-Webb)
-Dikembe Mutombo
-Rasheed Wallace
-Ben Wallace

[Rowe]

These players have been eligible for years (or 1 year) who have not made the Hall. Who on this list has the best shot at being inducted?


-Max Zaslofsky (4 All-NBA 1st Teams)
-Alex Groza (2 All-NBA 1st Teams): I think his college scandal is what has messed his chances up as he was banned from the league.
-Larry Foust (8 Time All-Star)
-Richie Guerin
-Johnny Green
-Zelmo Beaty
-Mel Daniels (2 ABA MVPs)
-Roger Brown (ABA)
-Spencer Haywood (ABA MVP)
-Lou Hudson (6 Time All-Star)
-George McGinnis (ABA MVP)
-Rudy Tomjanovich
-Norm Van Lier (8 All-D Teams)
-Jo Jo White (NBA Finals MVP)
-Charlie Scott
-Bobby Jones (11 All-D Teams)
-Paul Westphal (3 All-NBA 1st Teams)
-Bob Dandridge
-Maurice Lucas
-Gus Williams
-Bernard King
-Marques Johnson
-Jack Sikma
-Walter Davis
-Sidney Moncrief
-Mark Aguirre
-Tom Chambers
-Mark Price
-Brad Daugherty
-Kevin Johnson
-Tim Hardaway
-Shawn Kemp
-Mitch Richmond



A list of retired players not yet eligible
-Gary Payton (I think this is his year)
-Chris Webber (same as Payton)
-Alonzo Mourning (same as Glove and C-Webb)
-Dikembe Mutombo
-Rasheed Wallace
-Ben Wallace

Those in Bold.

[nycelt84]

None of those players listed who are already eligible should be inducted into the Hall of Fame should be inducted. In fact there's about 50 players in the Hall who don't belong in such an institution anyway such as Jamaal Wilkes, Frank Ramsey, K.C. Jones, Ralph Sampson and others.

[L.Kizzle]

These players have been eligible for years (or 1 year) who have not made the Hall. Who on this list has the best shot at being inducted?

-Roger Brown (ABA)
-Bernard King
-Gary Payton (I think this is his year)
I'm a genius.

[DonDadda59]

I'm a genius.

Garbage ass rapper doe.

[L.Kizzle]

Garbage ass rapper doe.
Come at me bro.

[DonDadda59]

Come at me bro.

Already did brah, never got your response in that diss thread.

[ProfessorMurder]

Mutombo is not eligible.

[fpliii]

Turns out Zelmo Beaty died a week and a half ago:

http://www.cascadememorial.com/obits/obituaries.php/obitID/176003/obit/Zelmo--Beaty-JR

:( RIP. It's too bad he hasn't made it into the HOF yet (the ABA committee will likely put him in at some point in the next few years).

[pudman13]

I have a tough time with these things because sports halls already all have a lot of players they shouldn't, and given what I think should be the standards, I'm not sure I can stand up for any of these players, but a few thoughts:

-Lou Hudson (6 Time All-Star)

Excellent forgotten player, but probably one who just falls short.

-George McGinnis (ABA MVP)

Numbers look impressive, but he holds turnover records and choked in the '77 finals. The Sixers were thrilled to trade him for someone who is listed below.

-Rudy Tomjanovich

Like Hudson, an all-star caliber player for a while, but probably falls short.

-Jo Jo White (NBA Finals MVP)

One of the all-time great clutch players, but his peak didn't last too long, and even though as a great team player he might be better than his numbers, I also think he falls short.

-Charlie Scott

There's really no way to know if his gaudy ABA numbers are inflated, but in the NBA he was lesser than the guys one above and two below him on this list.

-Bobby Jones (11 All-D Teams)

The most underrated player of his generation? One of the greatest defensive players ever, and has one of the best lifetime FG% in NBA history. I can't say enough good things about him, but are role players hall-worthy? can anyone think of his closest comparison?

-Paul Westphal (3 All-NBA 1st Teams)

These last two guys were the best white dunkers ever! It's tempting to call Westphal one of the all time greats just for what he did in game 5 of the '76 finals. Another great forgotten player, but I think he falls in the same category as Jo Jo, just not a long enough peak career.

-Bob Dandridge
-Maurice Lucas
-Gus Williams

These guys all looked great on their championship teams, and Gus may even have been the best player on that winning Sonics team, but none of them ever seemed even close to the best in the league at their peaks.

-Bernard King

Do you judge someone on their peak, or their career? Would McAdoo be the closest comparison? His peak is probably the best of anyone on this list.

-Mark Price
-Brad Daugherty
-Kevin Johnson
-Tim Hardaway
-Shawn Kemp
-Mitch Richmond

Interesting to look at guys from this time period, all overshadowed by Jordan. Great players all, but could any of them really carry a great team? My instincts tell me Daugherty is the best of this bunch, but again, a short career. Richmond has some pretty gaudy career numbers.

[steve]

George McGinnis should be if for no other reason than his ABA career. He sputtered out really after three years in NBA but still this guy was a high quality player. It sort of annoys me that people when talking about players focus on their low points (like playing poorly in the '77 finals and boatload of turnovers) but neglect to mention the numerous high points he had in his career (ABA MVP, two time ABA champion with the Pacers). If you've ever seen him play, he was like an unrefined Lebron, was able to put so many skills to use on the floor but very little in the way of polish.

Bobby Jones should be in also. He was one of the greatest defenders in NBA history and is one of the biggest net positive role players anyone has ever seen. Did so many things to help his teams win and took nothing off the table. It's easy to dismiss role players but this guy easily made every team he was on better. This might get scoffed at, but if you have players like Rodman in the Hall of Fame (and deservedly so) then there's a place for Jones too.

Personally I think Dandridge and Gus Williams should be. Their regular body of work might not put them over the top but they were absolutely instrumental to teams winning NBA titles and were excellent players in general that it should put them over the top. Dandridge should get more love for the Hall just based on Wilkes inclusion. I always get annoyed when it comes to Williams because he was the best player on those '78 and '79 Sonics teams but there's been a bit of revisionist take that DJ was their best player.

Paul Westphal is another guy I think should be in but have a little more understanding of why he wouldn't be. He basically had a five year peak and didn't do much on either side of that peak. But during it, he was arguably the best guard in the NBA at the time (which I think separates him from someone like Jo Jo White, although that might sound a bit hypocritical considering what I just said about Dandridge and Williams -- although I wouldn't argue with anyone who thought he should be in).

Lou Hudson I've always been on the fence about and the rest of the guys I probably wouldn't think too much of as Hall of Fame players. KJ probably comes closest but I always feel like the player people describe now doesn't quite match up with the player I remember watching and he was very good but also putting up gaudy numbers when a lot of guards in the West were putting up gaudy numbers. Price I could make an argument for if not for injuries.

Not sure why you commented on King as he's going in tomorrow.

[L.Kizzle]

Turns out Zelmo Beaty died a week and a half ago:

http://www.cascadememorial.com/obits/obituaries.php/obitID/176003/obit/Zelmo--Beaty-JR

:( RIP. It's too bad he hasn't made it into the HOF yet (the ABA committee will likely put him in at some point in the next few years).
Oh wow, was this even reported on NBA.com or NBATV?

[fpliii]

Oh wow, was this even reported on NBA.com or NBATV?

Not sure, saw the notice on apbr.org/forum earlier today.

[pudman13]

Good points by Steve except that I'd suggest you're undervaluing the negative effect of so many turnovers. That's also something Maravich is given a pass on but shouldn't be.

[Miller for 3]

Gus Williams should be in. Only person to be the best player on a championship NBA team and not be in the HOF. In fact he was the best player on a team that made 3 straight WCF trips, 2 Finals, fell apart when he sat out a year in a contract dispute, and then went back to winning 50+ games when he returned.

Him not being in is a disgrace to the sport and makes it obvious how the league has blackballed him for wanting to have a more appropriate salary. Who can blame him, after all sportswriters colluded against him to award Dennis Johnson the 79 FMVP, only to make DJ feel better after he shot 0-14 in game 7 of the 78 Finals :facepalm

Please write a letter to the league office demanding Gus Williams to be inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame. Gus led both a Western Conference and Eastern Conference team to the playoffs, something Magic, Bird, MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Russell, Duncan, and Hakeem never did.

[L.Kizzle]

Gus Williams should be in. Only person to be the best player on a championship NBA team and not be in the HOF. In fact he was the best player on a team that made 3 straight WCF trips, 2 Finals, fell apart when he sat out a year in a contract dispute, and then went back to winning 50+ games when he returned.

Him not being in is a disgrace to the sport and makes it obvious how the league has blackballed him for wanting to have a more appropriate salary. Who can blame him, after all sportswriters colluded against him to award Dennis Johnson the 79 FMVP, only to make DJ feel better after he shot 0-14 in game 7 of the 78 Finals :facepalm

Please write a letter to the league office demanding Gus Williams to be inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame. Gus led both a Western Conference and Eastern Conference team to the playoffs, something Magic, Bird, MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Russell, Duncan, and Hakeem never did.
He also was voted to the All NBA first team over Magic in I think 1982?

[steve]

Good points by Steve except that I'd suggest you're undervaluing the negative effect of so many turnovers. That's also something Maravich is given a pass on but shouldn't be.

I'm not suggesting they should be ignored but they shouldn't necessarily overshadow all the good things he did on the court too (much in the same vein as Maravich). For some people, all they know about McGinnis is his turnovers (mainly due to the hit job Simmons did on him in his book) and that's really unfortunate.

[L.Kizzle]

I'm not suggesting they should be ignored but they shouldn't necessarily overshadow all the good things he did on the court too (much in the same vein as Maravich). For some people, all they know about McGinnis is his turnovers (mainly due to the hit job Simmons did on him in his book) and that's really unfortunate.
McGinnis will probably be the next ABA'er to get in. Since they have their own comity, one has been getting inducted every year since 2011.

[steve]

McGinnis will probably be the next ABA'er to get in. Since they have their own comity, one has been getting inducted every year since 2011.

It'll either be him or Slick Leonard.

[CeltsGarlic]

Im not checking the list but I assume theyre all black. Racist.

[SamuraiSWISH]

-Rudy Tomjanovich
-Norm Van Lier (8 All-D Teams)
-Jo Jo White (NBA Finals MVP)
-Paul Westphal (3 All-NBA 1st Teams)
-Bernard King
-Sidney Moncrief
-Mark Aguirre
-Tom Chambers
-Mark Price
-Brad Daugherty
-Kevin Johnson
-Tim Hardaway
-Shawn Kemp
-Mitch Richmond

:facepalm

Why aren't these guys in the HOF yet

[L.Kizzle]

-Mitch Richmond
-Alonzo Mourning
Two more.

[Nowitness]

-Rudy Tomjanovich
-Norm Van Lier (8 All-D Teams)
-Jo Jo White (NBA Finals MVP)
-Paul Westphal (3 All-NBA 1st Teams)
-Bernard King
-Sidney Moncrief
-Mark Aguirre
-Tom Chambers
-Mark Price
-Brad Daugherty
-Kevin Johnson
-Tim Hardaway
-Shawn Kemp
-Mitch Richmond

:facepalm

Why aren't these guys in the HOF yet

Because a lot of them had half a career. What did Mark Price ever do? How can you have 2 guys from the same team who never even made a final in the HoF?

Stop smoking san.

The bigger travesty is the Failman making it.

[LAZERUSS]

None of those players listed who are already eligible should be inducted into the Hall of Fame should be inducted. In fact there's about 50 players in the Hall who don't belong in such an institution anyway such as Jamaal Wilkes, Frank Ramsey, K.C. Jones, Ralph Sampson and others.

This.

And part of the problem is that there is no NBA HOF. It is the Basketball HOF, which explains players like KC Jones and Tom Gola, or the fact that there are players who never even played in the NBA in it, as well as women.

But almost every major team sport has just been saturated with "HOFers", ...players who were merely good, and never great. What amazes me is that there seems to be no real criteria, either. For instance, can someone explain to me how Paul Hornung is in the HOF, and Terrell Davis is not? Or why Don Sutton, (yes, I know...he won 300 games) is in, and yet Ron Guidry or Doc Gooden are not? At least a prime Guidry and Gooden were almost unhittable. Meanwhile, Sutton had ONE 20 win season (21 to be exact), and a plethora of average one's. Hell, there were seasons in which a prime Sutton was only his team's 3rd or 4th best pitcher.

I could go on. All of these "HOF's" are littered with players who have no business being enshrined next to the true "immortals." If anything, these HOF's ought to at least consider "tiers", and separate the truly great from the merely good.

[bballnoob1192]

Gus Williams should be in. Only person to be the best player on a championship NBA team and not be in the HOF. In fact he was the best player on a team that made 3 straight WCF trips, 2 Finals, fell apart when he sat out a year in a contract dispute, and then went back to winning 50+ games when he returned.

Him not being in is a disgrace to the sport and makes it obvious how the league has blackballed him for wanting to have a more appropriate salary. Who can blame him, after all sportswriters colluded against him to award Dennis Johnson the 79 FMVP, only to make DJ feel better after he shot 0-14 in game 7 of the 78 Finals :facepalm

Please write a letter to the league office demanding Gus Williams to be inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame. Gus led both a Western Conference and Eastern Conference team to the playoffs, something Magic, Bird, MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Russell, Duncan, and Hakeem never did.
wtf is your problem. all of these dudes are one team players........you cannot blame them for not accomplishing some stupid arbritary accomplishment you consider important. :facepalm

[Stringer Bell]

Alonzo Mourning and Mitch Richmond are getting in.

Now just need Tim Hardaway to get it to complete the Run TMC trio.

[Stringer Bell]

Gus Williams should be in. Only person to be the best player on a championship NBA team and not be in the HOF. In fact he was the best player on a team that made 3 straight WCF trips, 2 Finals, fell apart when he sat out a year in a contract dispute, and then went back to winning 50+ games when he returned.

Him not being in is a disgrace to the sport and makes it obvious how the league has blackballed him for wanting to have a more appropriate salary. Who can blame him, after all sportswriters colluded against him to award Dennis Johnson the 79 FMVP, only to make DJ feel better after he shot 0-14 in game 7 of the 78 Finals :facepalm

Please write a letter to the league office demanding Gus Williams to be inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame. Gus led both a Western Conference and Eastern Conference team to the playoffs, something Magic, Bird, MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Russell, Duncan, and Hakeem never did.

That's not some amazing accomplishment. The front offices did what they could to keep guys like Magic, Bird, Jordan, etc...from going to another team (no matter what conference) because they were such great players.


wtf is your problem. all of these dudes are one team players........you cannot blame them for not accomplishing some stupid arbritary accomplishment you consider important. :facepalm

:lol

Yeah, damn those players for staying with one team for their whole careers (or the great majority of it). They should have been 'expendable' so they could go to another conference.

Only Lebron of those guys listed did not spend his whole prime with one team.

Imagine what backlashes the front offices would take if they traded a Bird, Magic, or Jordan in their primes.

[jayfan]

None of those players listed who are already eligible should be inducted into the Hall of Fame should be inducted. In fact there's about 50 players in the Hall who don't belong in such an institution anyway such as Jamaal Wilkes, Frank Ramsey, K.C. Jones, Ralph Sampson and others.

I'm assuming Ralph Sampson is in for what he did in college. He definitely didn't have a HOF pro career.






.

[Big#50]

Bobby Jones isn't in? Why?