If Carmelo Anthony is a Hall of Famer, why isn't Ben Wallace?

[SugarHill]

both carmelo and ben are locks

this thread is stupid










the nba hall of fame is by far the easiest one to make out of all pro sports... pau gasol with 4 reserve allstar games, 2 all nba 3rd team awards and a 0-16 record in the playoffs as leader is looked at as a lock for the HOF by many online who have an opinion about kobe in a negative way. so if thats the case. those other 2 guys are shoe ins

Gasol has a second team selection (which you conveniently left out ) and was the second best player on repeat championships. He also had a great international career.

"reserve" allstar.....was he an all-star or not? Why are you trying to descredit him? Are you not a Laker fan?

[andremiller07]

If Melo and Ben are locks than surely Shawn Marion is a lock as well, his career numbers +1 ring and defense have to make him a lock. The guy was putting up similar numbers to what AD (slightly less blocks/points) is now at 6'6 on a winning team.

I'd put Marion in before both these guys and he's literally never even mentioned as a HOF type player.

[SugarHill]

If Melo and Ben are locks than surely Shawn Marion is a lock as well, his career numbers +1 ring and defense have to make him a lock. The guy was putting up similar numbers to what AD (slightly less blocks/points) is now at 6'6 on a winning team.

I'd put Marion in before both these guys and he's literally never even mentioned as a HOF type player.

Marion and Ben Wallace's careers aren't comparable, accolades wise and Ben Wallace was a much bigger part of his team's success than Marion's for their championship. How could you possibly put Marion over Wallace?

[andremiller07]

Marion and Ben Wallace's careers aren't comparable, accolades wise and Ben Wallace was a much bigger part of his team's success than Marion's for their championship. How could you possibly put Marion over Wallace?

17-20/10/2/2/1 while being an above average defender on Suns squads that went fairly deep into the playoffs most the time. Marion was one of the most versatile/best two ways players in the NBA, Wallace was a one way player (elite at that) and a complete liability at the free throw line and offense.

Also I'm pretty sure Marion had a lot to do with them winning that ring with his defense on LeBron. I thought Marion impact wise played well in the NBA finals 12/6/2 (over 21 playoff games) with good defense while guarding the oppositions best wing players for a past his prime player is pretty damn solid.

[WallIn]

If Alonzo Mouring and Chris Mullin are in the HoF...

I wouldn't be suprised if Joe Johnson made it one day.

[Real Men Wear Green]

While Wallace may deserve to be in the Hall the accomplishments that would be used in his argument are completely different from the ones that would be used for Melo. A voter that values scoring over all else could support Melo but not Wallace.

[Dresta]

If Alonzo Mouring and Chris Mullin are in the HoF...

I wouldn't be suprised if Joe Johnson made it one day.

Zo was a far better player than Melo or Wallace.

[T_L_P]

Wallace is a Hall of Famer

Melo is not.

[fpliii]

Wallace is a Hall of Famer

Melo is not.

Dat PPG doe.

[sportjames23]

because offense is way more valued than defense

see: magic johnson

You're not saying Magic doesn't deserve to be in the Hall, are you?

[sportjames23]

If Alonzo Mouring and Chris Mullin are in the HoF...

I wouldn't be suprised if Joe Johnson made it one day.

[MellowYellow]

It's a basketball hall of fame, not NBA
2 gold medals
1 ncaa championship
He's a lock even if he retired tomorrow

[chocolatethunder]

First off Wallace was a much more impactful player than Melo, top 5 defensive player all time (and that's being harsh...), best player on title team. It just sickens me that guys who were half as good on offense as Ben was on defense, like Carmelo, Harden, etc... and equally bad on defense as he was on offense probably get in the hall of fame and Ben might not.

OK Melo sucks but if you think that Ben Wallace is a top 5 defensive player of all time then you haven't watched much basketball. Ben Wallace is easily one of the most overrated players from his era. Excellent rebounder and weak side shot blocker. He would get lost on pick and rolls all the time and was small enough that he couldn't man up larger centers. Good defender, totally overrated. Excellent rebounder and weak side shot blocker. He is nowhere near top 5 defensive players of all time.

[chocolatethunder]

In fairness to Wallace. The 2002 USA team were the worst team USA selection in the Open League Era.

He had a great stats in his prime. And Wallace had plenty of awards in his NBA Career.

He's the 2000's version of Dennis Rodman, but Wallace was the better playoffs and finals performer.

No, in fairness to Wallace, he had no idea how to defend pick and roll and also got back doored to death. He was a weak side shot blocker and excellent rebounder. His defense is overrated.

[bizil]

Both are going to get in. Wallace is going to get in for similar reasons that Rodman got in. Rodman was clearly the better player, but Ben was the best rebounder arguably of his era. And an elite defensive big man. Don't know if he will be first ballot, but he will get in.

And Melo is on a COMPLETELY different level than Ben ever was. There is NO COMPARISON! Melo should be a first ballot lock in the HOF. His peak value has him CONSISTENTLY as a top 3 SF in the world. He has over 20,000 points, two gold medals, and an NCAA title. Plus in terms of scoring skillsets, he is in the top five OF ALL TIME at SF along with Bird, Durant, Bernard King and Rick Barry. THE MOST PREMIUM ASSET in the sport is alpha dog level scoring. And Melo is one of the best of all time in that regard!