Nearly six years ago I did this blog post when news hit that PF Dennis Rodman had been selected as a Naismith Hall of Fame finalist while Reggie Miller was snubbed. I found it odd that the NBA didn’t have a Hall of Fame so I decided to create an NBA Hall of Fame with the caveat that only 50 players would be allowed in.
Well 6 years have passed & now I thought it would be a good idea to revisit this idea…. and make some changes to it. I’ll address the changes after the list.
Who would you put in the NBA Hall of Fame?
Guards(in no particular order):
His Airness, Mamba, The Big O, Magic
* Oscar Robertson, G/F – 25.7 ppg, 9.5apg, 7.5rpg; 1 Title(1971), 12-time All-Star, 9-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1964 MVP, Career leader in triple doubles(183); Averaged triple double in 1962 season
* Nate “Tiny” Archibald, PG – 18.8ppg, 7.4apg, 2.3rpg; 1 Title(1981), 6-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team
* Isiah Thomas, PG – 19.2ppg, 9.3apg, 3.6rpg, 1.9spg; 2 Titles(1989-90), 12-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1990 Finals MVP
* Magic Johnson, PG – 19.5ppg, 11.2apg, 7.2rpg, 1.9spg; 5 Titles(1980, 82, 85, 87-88), 12-time All-Star, 3-time MVP, 9-time All-NBA 1st Team, 2nd All-Time in triple doubles(138)
* John Stockton, PG – 13.1ppg, 10.5apg, 2.7rpg, 2.2spg; 10-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA 1st Team, Career leader in assists & steals
* Jason Kidd, PG – 12.6ppg, 8.7apg, 6.3rpg, 1.9spg; 1 Title(2011), 10-time All-Star, 1995 ROY, 5-time All-NBA 1st Team, 4-time All-Def. 1st Team, #2 all-time in assists & steals, #3 all time in triple doubles
* Chris Paul, PG – 18.7ppg, 9.9apg, 4.4rpg, 2.3spg; 9-time All-Star, 4-Time All-NBA 1st Team, 6-time All-Def. 1st Team, 2006 NBA ROY
* Jerry West, G/F – 27.0ppg, 6.7apg, 5.8rpg; 1 Title(1972), 14-time All-Time, 10-time All-NBA 1st Team, 4-time All-Def. 1st Team, 1972 Finals MVP
* Walt Frazier, G – 18.1ppg, 5.9apg, 5.6rpg, 1.8spg; 2 Titles(1970, 73), 7-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA 1st Team, 7-time All-Def. 1st Team
* Pete Maravich, G – 24.2ppg, 5.4apg, 4.2rpg, 1.4spg; 5-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA 1st Team
* Clyde Drexler, SG – 20.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.6apg, 2.0spg; 1 Title(1995), 10-time All-Star, 1992 All-NBA 1st Team
* Michael Jordan, SG – 30.1ppg, 6.2rpg, 5.3apg, 2.3spg; 6 Titles(1991-93, 96-98), 14-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA 1st Team, 9-time All-Def. 1st Team, 5-time MVP, 6-time Finals MVP; 1985 ROY, 1988 DPOY, #4 all-time in points, #3 all-time in steals
* Reggie Miller, SG – 18.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.0apg, 1.1spg; 5-time All-Star, #2 all-time 3PT FG made
* Ray Allen, SG – 18.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.4apg, 1.1spg; 2 Titles(2008, 2013), 10-time All-Star, #1 all-time 3PT FG made
* Kobe Bryant, SG – 25.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.7apg, 1.4spg; 5 Titles(2000-02, 09-10), 18-time All-Star. 10-time All-NBA 1st Team, 9-time All-Def. 1st Team, 2008 MVP, 2-time Finals MVP, #3 all-time in points
* John Havlicek, G/F – 20.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 4.3apg; 8 Titles(1963-66, 68-69, 74, 76), 13-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA 1st Team, 4-time All-Def. 1st Team, 1974 Finals MVP
* Allen Iverson, G – 26.7ppg, 6.2apg, 3.7rpg, 2.2spg; 11-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1997 ROY, 2001 MVP
* Dwayne Wade, G – 23.5ppg, 5.7apg, 4.8rpg, 1.6spg; 3 Titles(2006, 2012-13), 12-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA 1st Team, 2006 Finals MVP
* Dennis Johnson, G – 14.1ppg, 5.0apg, 3.9rpg, 1.3spg; 3 Titles(1979, 84, 86), 5-time All-Star, 1981 All-NBA 1st Team, 6-time All-Def. 1st Team, 1979 Finals MVP
* Gary Payton, PG – 16.3ppg, 6.7apg, 3.9rpg, 1.8spg; 1 Title(2006), 9-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA 1st Team, 9-time All-Def. 1st Team, 1996 DPOY
Forwards(in no particular order):
Pip, King James, The Big Fundamental, Larry Legend
* Julius Erving, SF – 22.0ppg, 6.7rpg,3.9apg, 1.8spg, 1.5bpg; 1 Title(1983), 11-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1981 MVP
* Larry Bird, SF – 24.3ppg, 10.0rpg, 6.3apg, 1.7spg; 3 Titles(1981, 84, 86), 12-time All-Star, 9-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1980 ROY, 3-time MVP, 2-time Finals MVP
* George Gervin, F – 26.2ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg; 9-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA 1st Team
* Kevin Garnett, PF – 17.8ppg, 10.0rpg, 3.7apg, 1.4bpg, 1.3spg; 1 Title(2008), 15-time All-Star, 4-time All NBA 1st Team, 9-time All-Def. 1st Team, 2008 DPOY, 2004 MVP
* Scottie Pippen, SF – 16.6ppg, 6.6rpg, 5.4apg, 2.0spg; 6 Titles(1991-93, 96-98), 7-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team, 8-time All-Def. 1st Team
* Lebron James, SF – 27.1ppg, 7.2rpg, 7.0apg, 1.7spg; 3 Titles(2012-13, 2016), 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA 1st Team, 5-time All-Def. 1st Team, 2004 ROY, 4-time MVP, 3-time Finals MVP
* Paul Pierce, SF – 19.8ppg, 5.6rpg, 3.5apg, 1.3spg; 1 Title(2008), 10-time All-Star, 2008 Finals MVP
* Dominique Wilkins, SF – 24.8ppg, 6.7rpg, 2.5apg, 1.3spg; 9-time All-Star, 1986 All-NBA 1st Team
* Elgin Baylor, PF – 27.4ppg, 13.5rpg, 4.3apg; 11-time All-Star, 1959 ROY, 10-time All-NBA 1st Team
* Kevin McHale, PF – 17.9ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7bpg; 3 Titles(1981, 84, 86), 7-time All-Star, 2-time 6th Man of Year, 1987 All-NBA 1st Team, 3-time All-Def. 1st Team
* James Worthy, PF – 17.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 3.0apg, 1.1spg; 3 Titles(1985, 87-88), 7-time All-Star, 1988 Finals MVP
* Charles Barkley, PF – 22.1ppg, 11.7rpg, 3.9apg, 1.5spg; 11-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1993 MVP
* Karl Malone, PF – 25.0ppg, 10.1rpg, 3.6apg, 1.4spg; 14-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA 1st Team, 3-time All-Def. 1st Team, 2-time MVP, #2 all-time scoring
* Tim Duncan, PF – 19.0ppg, 10.8rpg, 3.0apg, 2.2bpg; 5 Titles(1999, 2003, 05, 07, 14x), 13-time All-Star, 9-time All-NBA 1st Team, 8-time All-Def. 1st Team, 1998 ROY, 2-time MVP, 2-time Finals MVP
* Dirk Nowitzki, PF – 21.9ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.5apg; 1 Title(2011), 13-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA 1st Team, 2007 MVP, 2011 Finals MVP
* Jerry Lucas, PF – 17.0ppg, 15.6rpg, 3.3apg; 1 Title(1973), 7-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1964 ROY
* Bob McAdoo, F/C – 22.1ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5bpg, 1.0spg; 2 Titles(1982, 85), 5-time All-Star, 1973 ROY, 1975 All-NBA 1st Team, 1975 MVP
Centers(in no particular order):
Wilt the Stilt, Kareem, Russell, The Dream
* Dave Cowens, C/F – 17.6ppg, 13.6rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg; 2 Titles(1974, 76), 7-time All-Star, 1976 All-Def. 1st Team, 1971 ROY, 1973 MVP
* Bill Russell, C – 15.1ppg, 22.5rpg, 4.3apg; 11 Titles(1957-66, 68-69), 12-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1969 All-Def. 1st Team, 5-time MVP
* Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, C – 24.6ppg, 11.2rpg, 3.6apg, 2.6bpg; 6 Titles(1971, 1980, 82, 85, 87-88), 19-time All-Star, 1970 ROY, 10-time All-NBA 1st Team, 5-time All-Def. 1st Team, 5-time MVP, 2-time Finals MVP, #1 all-time scoring
* Wilt Chamberlin, C – 30.1ppg, 22.9rpg, 4.4apg; 2 Titles(1967, 72), 13-time All-Star, 1960 ROY, 7-time All-NBA 1st Team, 2-time All-Def. 1st Team, 4-time MVP, 1972 Finals MVP
* Hakeem Olajuwon, C – 21.8ppg, 11.1rpg, 3.1bpg, 2.5apg, 1.7spg; 2 Titles(1994-95), 12-time All-Star, 6-time All-NBA 1st Team, 5-time All-Def. 1st team, 1994 MVP, 2-time Finals MVP
* Shaquille O’Neal, C – 23.7ppg, 10.9rpg, 2.5apg, 2.3bpg; 4 Titles(2000-02, 06), 15-time All-Star, 1993 ROY, 8-time All-NBA 1st Team, 2000 MVP, 3-time Finals MVP
* Patrick Ewing, C – 21.0ppg, 9.8rpg, 2.4bpg, 1.9apg; 11-time All-Star, 1986 ROY, 1990 All-NBA 1st Team
* David Robinson, C – 21.1ppg, 10.6rpg, 3.0bpg, 2.5apg, 1.4spg; 2 Titles(1999, 2003), 10-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA 1st Team, 4-time All-Def. 1st Team, 1990 ROY, 1992 DPOY, 1995 MVP
* Bob Pettit, C/F – 26.4ppg, 16.2rpg, 3.0apg; 1 Title(1958), 11-time All-Star, 1955 ROY, 10-time All-NBA 1st team, 2-time MVP
* Willis Reed, C – 18.7ppg, 12.9rpg, 1.8apg; 2 Titles(1970, 73), 7-time All-Star, 1965 ROY, 1970 All-NBA 1st Team, 1970 All-Def. 1st Team, 1970 MVP, 2-time Finals MVP
* Moses Malone, C – 20.6ppg, 12.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg; 1 Title(1983); 12-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA 1st Team, 1983 All-Def. 1st Team, 3-time MVP, 1983 Finals MVP
* Elvin Hayes, C/F – 21.0ppg, 12.5rpg, 2.0bpg, 1.8apg, 1.0spg; 1 Title(1978), 12-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team
Legend: ppg(points per game), apg(assists per game), rpg(rebounds per game), spg(steals per game), bpg(blocks per game), ROY(Rookie of the Year), DPOY(Defensive Player of the Year
Changes:
Guards: The only change I made was adding PG Chris Paul and removing Steve Nash. While Nash has won 2 MVPs, many can argue those MVPs could of, and probably should have, gone to either Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett. Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook will make this list when their careers are done.
Forwards: Pau Gasol(18ppg, 9.5rpg, 3.3apg; 2002 ROY, 2 Titles) and Carmelo Anthony(24.8ppg, 6.6rpg, 3.1apg; 9-time All Star) right now are on the outside looking in. Kevin Durant is surely making this list when he’s done playing. Kwahi Leonard & LaMarcus Aldridge may also have a case when all is done. Chris Bosh is another.
Centers: The only center that could possibly be up for consideration is Dwight Howard. However in my opinion he doesn’t stack up to the all-time great centers in this league.
About Author
