The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced their Nominees for the Class of 2021.

As usual, it is a gigantic list, so we will not be doing brief resumes of each candidate, and will do so when they become a Finalist.

Finalists from the North American and Women’s Committee will be announced All-Star Weekend, with the full Class of 2021 announced during the Final Four. 

At present, the 2021 Enshrinement Ceremony will take place in September. The 2020 Ceremony, which was postponed due to COVID-19 is scheduled for May 13-15.

The Nominees are: (*indicates a First-Time Nominee)

North American Committee Nominees:

Rick Adelman (Coach)

Ken Anderson (Coach)*

Fletcher Aritt (Player)

Johnny Bach (Coach)

Gene Bess (Coach)

Chauncey Billups (Player)

Chris Bosh (Player)

Rick Byrd (Coach)

Muggsy Bogues (Player)

Irv Brown (Referee)

Jim Burch (Referee)

Marcus Camby (Player)

Michael Cooper (Player)*

Jack Curran (Coach)

Mark Eaton (Player)

Cliff Ellis (Coach)

Dale Ellis (Player)

Hugh Evans (Referee)

Michael Finley (Player)

Steve Fisher (Coach)

Cotton Fitzsimmons (Coach)

Leonard Hamilton (Coach)*

Tim Hardaway (Player)

Lou Henson (Coach)*

Ed Hightower (Referee)

Bob Huggins (Coach)

Mark Jackson (Player)

Herman Johnson (Player)

George Karl (Coach)

Gene Keady (Coach)

Ken Kern (Coach)

Shawn Marion (Player)

Rollie Massimino (Coach)

Bob McKillop (Coach)

Danny Miles (Coach)

Steve Moore (Coach)

Speedy Morris (Coach)

Dick Motta (Coach)

Jake O’Donnell (Referee)

Jim Phelan (Coach)

Digger Phelps (Coach)

Paul Pierce (Player)*

Jere Quinn (Coach)

Lamont Robinson (Player)

Bo Ryan (Coach)

Bob Saulsbury (Coach)

Norm Sloan (Coach)

Ben Wallace (Player)

Chris Webber (Player)

Willie West (Coach)

Buck Williams (Player)

Jay Wright (Coach)

Paul Westhead (Coach)*

Women’s Committee Nominations:

Leta Andrews (Coach)

Jennifer Azzi (Player)

Swin Cash (Player)

Yolanda Griffith (Player)*

Becky Hammon (Player)

Lauren Jackson (Player)*

Suzie McConnell (Player)

Debbie Miller-Palmore (Player)

Kim Mulkey (Player)

Marianne Stanley (Coach)

Valerie Still (Player)

Marian Washington (Coach)

Contributor Committee Nominations (Direct-Elect Category):

Val Ackerman*

Marv Albert

Dick Baumgartner

Bill Bertka

Henry Bibby

Marty Blake

Vic Bubas

Doug Collins*

Wayne Duke

Lou Dunbar

Bill Foster

Howard Garfinkel*

Harry Glickman

Marty Glickman

Simon Gourdine

Curt Gowdy

Tim Grgurich

Del Harris

Greg Heineman

Robert Indiana

Johnny “Red” Kerr

Bill King

John Kline

Red Klotz

Tom Konchalski*

Bobby Lewis

Herbert Livsey

Jack McCloskey

Jerry McHale

Johnny Most

Dennis Murphy

Joe O’Toole

Billy Packer

Jack Powers

Dee Rowe

Sam Schulman*

Zelda Spoelstra

Jim Valvano

Donnie Walsh

Jerome Williams

Early African-American Pioneers Committee Nominations (Direct-Elect Category):

Clarence “Puggy” Bell

Sonny Boswell

Bill Garrett

Inman Jackson

Clarence “Fats” Jenkins

Harry “Bucky” Lew

Davage “Dave” Minor

Hudson Oliver

Al “Runt” Pullins

James “Pappy” Ricks

Paul Robeson

Eyre Saitch

William “Wee Willie” Smith

International Committee Nominations (Direct-Elect Category):

Tal Brody

Jacky Chazalon

Alphonso Ford

Giuseppe Giergia

Dusan Ivkovic*

Semen Khalipski

Vladimir Kondrashin

Toni Kukoc

Eduardo Lamas

Marcos Leite

Shimon Mizrahi

Aldo Ossola

Amaury Pasos

Dan Peterson

Manuel Sainz

Togo Soares

Ranko Zeravica

Veterans Committee Nominations (Direct-Elect Category):

1936 U.S. Olympic Team (Team)

1964 State Department Basketball Ambassadors (Team)

1965 World University Games Team (Team)

Tom Blackburn (Coach)

Ron Boone (Player)

Sid Borgia (Referee)

Frank Brian (Player)

Joe Caldwell (Player)

Mack Calvin (Player)

Darel Carrier (Player)

Jack Coleman (Player)

Bob Dandridge (Player)

Charles Eckman (Referee)

Leroy Edwards (Player)

Leo Ferris (Contributor)

Clarence “Bevo” Francis (Player)

Buck Freeman (Coach)

Donnie Freeman (Player)

Hy Gotkin (Player)*

Travis Grant (Player)

Bob Grody (Player)

Robert Harrison (Player)

Flo Harvey (Player)

Dick Hemric (Player)

Cam Henderson (Coach)

Robert Hopkins (Player)

Lou Hudson (Player)

Warren Jabali (Player)

Jimmy Jones (Player)

Charles Keinath (Player)

Kentucky Wesleyan 1966, 1968 & 1969 (Team)

Freddie Lewis (Player)

Jim Loscutoff (Player)

Loyola of Chicago (Team)

Ed McCluskey (Coach)

Ray Mears (Coach)

Francis Meehan (Player)

Lucias Mitchell (Coach)*

Donald “Dudley” Moore (Coach)

Willie Naulls (Player)

North Catholic High School JV (Philadelphia, PA) (Team)*

Philadelphia SPHAS (Team)

Mel Riebe (Player)

Glenn Roberts (Player)

Holcombe Rucker (Contributor)

Kenny Sailors (Player)

Fred Schaus (Contributor)

Sam Schulman (Contributor)*

Kenny Sears (Player)

Frank Selvy (Player)

George Senesky (Player)

Paul Seymour (Player)

Charles Siler (Contributor)

Talvin Skinner (Player)

Elmore Smith (Player)*

Ken Suesens (Player)

Dick Van Arsdale (Player)

Tom Van Arsdale (Player)

Perry Wallace (Player)

Frank Walsh (Contributor)

Willie Wise (Player)

Max Zaslofsky (Player)

Women’s Veterans Committee Nominations (Direct-Elect Category):

Alline Banks Sprouse (Player)

Edmonton Commercial Grads (Team)

John Head (Coach)

Pearl Moore (Player)

Nashville Business College (Team)

Lometa Odom (Player)
Harley Redin (Coach)

Theresa Shank (Player)

Hazel Walker (Player)

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced which day that the Class of 2000 will be officially inducted.

A three-day induction event scheduled for May 13-15 will happen in Springfield, Massachusetts, which houses the Hall of Fame.

The 2020 Class consists of Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Rudy Tomjanovich, Eddie Sutton, Kim Mulkey and Barbara Stevens.

The induction of Bryant, will be posthumous, as he died tragically in a helicopter crash on January 26 of this year.

It is onward and upward for us at Notinhalloffame.com as we have added a new section, that of the Basketball Hall of Fame Futures for 2023.  

This is the group of former players who will be eligible for the Hall for the first time in 2023, and we have four former players in this section.

They are: 

Tony Parker:  Arguably the best player to come from France, Parker is a four-time NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs, and he was a Second Team All-NBA Selection three times.  Parker also went to the All-Star Game seven times.

Luol Deng:  From South Sudan, Deng was a two-time All-Star when he played for Chicago, and he was a Second Team All-Defensive player in 2011/12.

Dwyane Wade:  Wade went to thirteen All-Star Games and was a three-time NBA Champion, all with the Miami Heat.  He was also a First Team All-Star twice, and a Second Team and Third Team All-Star three times.

Dirk Nowitzki:  Nowitzki played his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks, the team he took an NBA Championship in 2011.  The German star was a four-time First Team All-NBA Selection, 14-time All-Star, and was the NBA MVP in 2007.

Parker, Wade and Nowitzki sounds like a pretty sweet class doesn’t it?  You can find the full page here of the 2023 eligibles here.

You know what we want you to do!

Take a. look and cast your votes and offer your opinions.

As always, we thank you for your support.

It is onward and upward for us at Notinhalloffame.com as we have updated one of our sections, that of the Basketball Hall of Fame Futures for 2022.  

This is the group of former players who will be eligible for the Hall for the first time in 2022, and we have had this up for two years, however we have now new entries that are now available for your votes and comments.

They are: 

Jameer Nelson:  Nelson was an All-American at St. Joseph’s and he would later be an NBA All-Star in 2009.

Joe Johnson:  Johnson played most of his career with the Atlanta Hawks, and he was a seven-time All-Star as well as a Third Team All-NBA Selection in 009/10.

Josh Smith:  Smith was Second Team All-Defensive choice in 2009/10.

Tony Allen:  Allen was a champion with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and a three-time First Team All-Defensive player.

Zach Randolph:  Randolph was a two-time NBA All-Star and in 2010/11 he was named a Third Team All-NBA Selection:  

They join David West, Manu Ginobili, and Richard Jefferson.

You know what we want you to do!

Take a. look and cast your votes and offer your opinions.

As always, we thank you for your support.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the NBA Finals MVP.  This time we went back to basketball, and the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is given to the player who shows the most outstanding service and dedication to the community.

While this is generally given to star players, we will not dissect the season in question as the award is not meant to be defined by stat lines and on court accomplishments.  Please also note that players do not always win this award, and those will be marked with an asterisks. 

So how many J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winners have made the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the J. Walter Citizenship Award who are eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets 1974-75                       

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Dave Bing, Washington Wizards 1976-77                       

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.

Bob Lanier, Detroit Pistons 1977-78                              

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Calvin Murphy, Houston Rockets 1978-79                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers 1982-83                     

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Dan Issel, Denver Nuggets 1984-85                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons 1986-87                          

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Alex English, Denver Nuggets 1987-88                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers 1991-92                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons 1992-94                            

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Vlade Divac, Sacramento Kings 1999-00                        

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks & Philadelphia 76ers 2000-01       

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat 2001-02                          

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs 2002-03                 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers 2003-04                           

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves 2005-06          

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns 2006-07                                

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

The following are the players who have won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award who are eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Slick Watts, Seattle SuperSonics 1975-76                      

Eligible Since 1985.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

Austin Carr, Cleveland Cavaliers 1979-80                      

Eligible Since 1987.  Ranked #66 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Glenn, New York Knicks 1980-81                          

Eligible Since 1992.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kent Benson, Cleveland Cavaliers 1981-82                    

Eligible Since 1992.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Frank Layden, Utah Jazz 1983-84                                

Non-Player.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers 1985-86 Co-Winner   

Eligible Since 1996.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rory Sparrow, New York Knicks 1985-86 Co-Winner      

Eligible Since 1998.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Thurl Bailey, Utah Jazz 1988-89                                    

Eligible Since 2005.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Doc Rivers, Atlanta Hawks 1989-90                               

Eligible Since 2002.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns 1990-91                          

Eligible Since 2006.  Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Terry Porter, Portland Trail Blazers 1992-93                 

Eligible Since 2002.  Ranked #72 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Joe O’Toole, Atlanta Hawks 1994-95                            

Non-Player.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Dudley, Portland Trail Blazers 1995-96                

Eligible Since 2009.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

P.J. Brown, Miami Heat 1996-97                                    

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith, Atlanta Hawks 1997-98                             

Eligible Since 2011.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Grant, Portland Trail Blazers 1998-99                  

Eligible Since 2012.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eric Snow, Cleveland Cavaliers 2004-05                        

Eligible Since 2014.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons 2007-08                    

Eligible Since 2018.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers 2008-09             

Eligible Since 2019.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Metta World Peace, Los Angeles Lakers 2009-10            

Eligible Since 2021.  Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Let’s update our tally, shall we?        

Award in Question	Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF	Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF.
NBA MVP	100%	100%
NHL Art Ross	100%	100%
NBA Finals MVP	91.3%	94.9%
NHL Norris	90.5%	96.4%
NBA All-Star Game MVP	89.5%	91.7%
NHL Conn Smythe	74.2%	85.4%
NFL Bert Bell Award	73.7%	71.4%
NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year	73.1%	79.4%
NFL AP MVP	68.3%	74.0%
NHL Lady Byng	63.8%	76.0%
NFL Defensive Player of the Year	60.8%	71.1%
NFL Super Bowl MVP	60.6%	64.9%
NBA Defensive Player of the Year	58.3%	56.5%
NHL Vezina	57.1%	66.3%
NBA Rookie of the Year	56.5%	56.5%
MLB MVP	55.0%	60.2%
NFL Pro Bowl MVP	52.3%	54.8%
MLB Lou Gehrig Award	51.9%	51.9%
MLB Roberto Clemente Award	47.4%	47.4%
NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award	46.0%	46.0%
MLB/NL/AL Cy Young Award	44.4%	55.4%
MLB Babe Ruth Award	37.0%	39.3%
NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy	33.3%	36.7%
MLB World Series MVP	33.3%	36.8%
MLB Hutch Award	33.1%	33.1%
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year	28.6%	28.6%
NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy	27.9%	27.9%
MLB Edgar Martinez Award	26.7%	17.2%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Designated Hitter)	25.0%	30.8%
MLB Comeback Player of the Year	25.0%	25.0%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Shortstop)	23.5%	52.6%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove	21.7%	36.8%
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year	20.6%	20.6%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Catcher)	20.0%	22.5%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Second Base)	18.8%	39.8%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Shortstop)	18.2%	35.1%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Pitcher)	18.2%	20.1%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Second Base)	16.7%	32.7%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Outfield)	16.7%	30.1%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Outfield)	15.7%	25.2%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Third Base)	14.3%	14.3%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Third Base)	13.6%	14.3%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (First Base)	13.6%	13.3%
MLB (NL/AL) Rookie of the Year	13.3%	13.3%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Catcher)	10.3%	15.2%
NBA Most Improved Player of the Year	5.3%	3.2%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (First Base)	3.8%	3.2%
NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year	0.0%	0.0%

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in the NBA who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:

Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls & Cleveland Cavaliers 2013-14

Eligible in 2023.

The following are the players who have won the NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award who are still active.

Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers 2011-12

36 Years Old,Free Agent.

Kenneth Faried, Portland Trail Blazers 2012-13

29 Years Old,Playing in China.

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls 2014-15

34 Years Old,Playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Wayne Ellington, Brooklyn Nets 2015-16

32 Years Old,Playing for the New York Knicks.

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers 2016-17

34 Years Old,Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

J.J. Barea, Dallas Mavericks 2017-18

35 Years Old,Playing for the Dallas Mavericks.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers 2018-19

29 Years Old,Playing for the Portland Trail Blazers.

This is an award based more on character, and will likely continue to yield winners all over the ability spectrum.

So, what is up next?

We return to the NFL with a similar award to this one, and the last one we will look at in that league: The Walter Payton Man of the Year.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the Art Ross Trophy.  This time we went back to basketball, and the NBA Finals MVP.

The award was first given out in 1969, and basketball is the most star driven team sport of the big four, so we should expect that it will have a higher yield than the others.

So how many NBA Finals MVPs have made the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the NBA Finals MVP who are eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers, 37.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 7.4 APG (1969)    

The first NBA Finals MVP was a Laker, which is not a shock, but with Jerry West, it was also from a losing team, as L.A. lost to the Boston in seven games.  West did everything he could, and considering he pulled his hamstring in Game 5, and was still performing at an elite level in Games 6 and 7, it was hard to award to anyone else.  In the regular season, West was a Second Team All-NBA Selection, and he was a First Team Selection in his first six seasons.  West played 14 years in the NBA, all with Los Angeles, and he was an All-Star in every single one of those years.  He would finally win his title as a player in 1972.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

Willis Reed, New York Knicks, 23.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.8 APG (1970)    

Willis Reed had a phenomenal 1969-70 year.  Reed became the first player to win the NBA MVP, the All-Star Game MVP and the Finals MVP in the same year.  Reed was injured in the Finals with a torn thigh muscle, and was forced to miss Game 6, but he willed his way to play in Game 7, where he only scored four Points, but considering he should not have been on the court at all, it was miraculous.  That display of courage helped will the Knicks over the Lakers to win the Championship.    Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks, 27.0 PPG, 18.5 RPG, 2.8 APG (1971)      

Known at the time as Lew Alcindor, Abdul-Jabbar was only in his second season in the NBA, and he followed up being the Rookie of the Year with his first MVP and Scoring Title.  Abdul-Jabbar was the undisputed best player in the game at the time, and he led Milwaukee to a four-game sweep over the Philadelphia 76ers to win his first title, and the first for Milwaukee.    Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.

Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers, 19.4 PPG, 23.2 RPG, 2.6 APG (1972)

Wilt Chamberlain was the most prolific scorers in the history of basketball, and some will say that he was the best.  “The Stilt” was near the end of his career, and at 35, and now a Laker, Chamberlain showed a more nuanced game to help Los Angeles beat the Knicks.  Over his career, Chamberlain won four MVPs, seven Scoring Titles, and two NBA Titles. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Willis Reed, New York Knicks, 16.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.6 APG (2) (1973)

Willis Reed would win his second NBA Championship this year, but his All-Star years were behind him.  While he was good in the Finals, there were other teammates (Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier and Dave DeBusschere) that could have won this. Reed’s injuries compounded, and he retried a year after.  Over his career, Reed was a five-time All-Star, a Rookie of the Year, and an MVP. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.

John Havlicek, Boston Celtics, 26.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.0 BPG (1974)   

The Boston Celtics were loaded with superstars and they won a plethora of championships in the 1960s.  Boston was still a very good team in the 1970s, and John Havlicek was part of a lot of their success, and this year was his seventh of eight NBA Titles.  The Celtic was a 13-time NBA All-Star, a four-time First Team All-NBA player and this year he helped will the Celtics over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Milwaukee Bucks.  He played his entire career with the Celtics and retired in 1978.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors, 29.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 3.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG (1975)      

The Hall of Fame career of Rick Barry was a complicated one, as he could be as moody as he was talented.  Barry began his career with the Warriors, and after a run in the ABA, he was back and he led Golden State to the title in their sweep over the Washington Bullets.  Barry would be a 12-time All-Star and he was also a six-time All-NBA and four-time All-ABA Selection.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

Jo Jo White, Boston Celtics, 21.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG (1976)       

A member of the Celtics’ 1974 Championship, Jo Jo White was an All-Star annually from 1971 to 1977.  In 1976, The Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games, with White notably scoring 33 Points in the Game 5 triple-overtime win.  White, who was also a Second Team All-NBA player twice, played until 1981, though he did not finish his career with Boston. White also played with Golden State and the Kansas City Kings.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers, 18.5 PPG, 19.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 3.7 BPG (1977)    

Bill Walton had a pro career that was constantly plagued with foot problems, so much so that the famed Grateful Dead fan missed three full years during his prime.  In 1976-77, Walton was mostly healthy, and he led Portland to an upset over the favored 76ers.  Walton, who was a two-time All-Star, won a second title with the Boston Celtics in 1985-86, when he won the Sixth Man of the Year Award.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets, 9.0 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG (1978)

Elvin Hayes was by far the better statistical performer in the Bullets’ 1978 championship, but the popular Wes Unseld won this honor on the strength of his defense.  Unseld was a five-time All-Star, and he played his entire career with the Baltimore/Washington franchise.  Unseld’s 9.0 PPG is the lowest of any NBA Finals MVP.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

Dennis Johnson, Seattle SuperSonics, 22.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 2.2 BPG (1979)

In the only NBA Championship of the existence of the Seattle SuperSonics, Dennis Johnson was an All-Star for the first of five times over his career.  This was a star-making performance for Johnson, who would later win two more NBA Titles as a member of the Boston Celtics.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers, 21.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 8.7 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG (1980)  

For the first and to date only time in the history of the NBA Finals MVP, a rookie and/or Rookie of the Year won the award. Johnson came in to Los Angeles at the start of the season as the new star of the team and the number one pick also went from NCAA Champion to NBA Champion.  The Lakers won over the Sixers in six games and Magic was now considered one of the best clutch players in the NBA.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers, 16.2 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 8.0 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG (2) (1982)      

Johnson and the Lakers again faced Philadelphia, and while Johnson’s star was rising, he had a tumultuous 12 months prior with injuries and clashes with management.  Winning cures everything, and Johnson was again money in their six-game series win.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers, 25.8 PPG, 18.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.5 BPG (1983)     

This was the first season of Moses Malone in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform after being a two-time MVP with the Houston Rockets. Malone was an NBA All-Star for the sixth of twelve straight years, and he also won his fourth of six Rebounding Titles.  Malone won his third MVP (and last MVP), and the Sixers finally won the title and Malone was incredible in their sweep over the Lakers.  He played until 1995, with stops in Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philadelphia (again) and San Antonio.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Larry Bird, Boston Celtics, 27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG (1984)        

Larry Bird was already a superstar player and an NBA Champion.  This was his fifth season in basketball, and he was an All-Star each year, but this year he was the elite player, on a championship team on a legendary franchise. Bird helped topple Magic Johnson and the favored Lakers, and he became a legend in the process.  Notably, Bird also won the MVP for the first time.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers, 25.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG (2) (1985)       

It was 14 years since Abdul-Jabbar won his first Finals MVP, and a lot happened since that first win.  The big man won five more MVPs, bringing his total to six, and he took the Lakers to titles in 1980 and 1982.  Abdul-Jabbar was no longer the best player, that was Magic Johnson, but he was still a great player, and was great in their six-game win over the Celtics.  Abdul-Jabbar played until 1989, and he was named an All-Star in all but one of his seasons.  He was also a ten-time First Team All-NBA Selection, and a First Team, All-Defensive Player five times.  At the time of his retirement, he was the all-time leader in Games Played, Points, Field Goals and Minutes Played.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.

Larry Bird, Boston Celtics, 24.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 9.5 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG (2) (1986)     

Bird won the MVP and Finals MVP in 1984, and in the year after, he was “just” the MVP.  Bird did reach the Finals, but they lost to the Lakers. Boston made it to the Finals again in 1986, with Bird winning his third straight MVP, however this time they were opposed by the Houston Rockets.  Bird and the Celtics won in six games, with Bird leading Boston to a lopsided Game Six win.  This year would be the last MVP and Title for Bird, who began to suffer back issues, but played until 1992.  Bird was an All-Star every year of his career but one, and he went on to be the only man in NBA history to win the Rookie of the Year, MVP, All-Star Game MVP, Finals MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year.  This will likely never happen again.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers, 26.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 13.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG (3) (1987)      

Magic Johnson became the first player to win the NBA Finals MVP three times, and his 13.0 APG is the most ever by a Finals MVP. Johnson’s Laker beat the Celtics in six, and this season, he was also named the league MVP.  Johnson won the MVP again in 1988 and 1990, and this year was his fourth NBA Title of five as a player.  Johnson would test positive for HIV in 1991, retiring abruptly, but he came back for the 1992 All-Star Game and briefly in 1996.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers, 22.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG (1988)     

James Worthy was the first overall pick of the 1982 Draft, and he would play his entire career with the Lakers.  The Small Forward went to his first of seven All-Star Games in 1986.  The 1988 championship was Worthy’s third (and last), but his “Big Game James” was at full-force in this seven-game series win over the Detroit Pistons.  Worthy played until 1994, and would also be a two-time Third Team All-NBA Selection.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons, 27.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG (1989)      

Joe Dumars may have been part of the “Bad Bo Pistons” but he was not exactly a player who fit that mold.  No matter.  Dumars arrived this season and was the highest scorer with his 27.3 PPG in Detroit’s sweep of the Lakers.  Dumars would later go to six All-Star Games, and he would play his entire career with the Pistons.  He retired in 1999, and would win another championship as a Pistons Executive in 2004. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons, 27.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG (1990)    

Isiah Thomas was the face of the Pistons for years, and it is fitting that he was one of the players who won the Finals MVP. Thomas the top scorer in the five-game series win over Portland, and this year he was an All-Star for the ninth time of what was 12 straight.  Thomas was a three-time First Team All-NBA choice, and he played his entire career with the Pistons, retiring in 1994.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, 31.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 11.4 APG, 2.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG (1991)

The Chicago Bulls had arrived, and Michael Jordan was their king.  We could go one step further.  Michael Jordan was the king of the entire sport.  No, one more step.  He was the king of all sports!  This was the first title for Jordan and the Bulls and Jordan won his second MVP. Jordan was Chicago’s leading scorer in the first four games, of what was a five-game series win over the Lakers.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, 35.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG (2) (1992)       

Jordan was an MVP for the third time, and while he was not the first man to become the NBA Finals MVP for a second time, he was the first to win it in back-to-back years.  Jordan and the Bulls beat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games, and he was Chicago’s leading scorer in every game.  Jordan was also the leading scorer regardless of the team in five of those games.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, 41.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG (3) (1993)       

Jordan lost out on the MVP to Charles Barkley, but Jordan was not going to lose out to Barkley in the NBA Finals.  Chicago defeated Phoenix in six games and the Bulls would “Three-peat”, a term they coined.  Jordan’s 41.0 PPG is the highest ever in NBA Finals history, and conceivable it could stay like that for decades.  Jordan became the second player after Magic Johnson to win the Finals MVP three times, but Jordan was the first to do it three consecutive years.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets, 26.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 3.9 BPG (1994)   

Hakeem Olajuwon made history this year as the first non-American born player to win the Finals MVP.  The Nigerian born Olajuwon was the key to defeating the New York Knicks in the seven-game series, as he outplayed New York’s star, Patrick Ewing. Olajuwon was also named the league MVP. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets, 32.8 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG (2) (1995)     

Olajuwon and the Rockets successfully defended their NBA Championship, and Olajuwon was statistically better in his second win than the was in the first.  The Rockets swept the Orlando Magic, who made their Finals debut.  Olajuwon played with the Rockets until 2001, and he was a 12-time All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a six-time First Team All-NBA Selection.  Olajuwon retired in 2002 after one final year with the Toronto Raptors.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG (4) (1996)       

Michael Jordan was back after an attempt to make Major League Baseball, and the Bulls were ready to dominate again.  Chicago defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in six, and Jordan won the MVP for the fourth time.  Jordan was again Chicago’s leading scorer in all of the games, and he was the first player to be named the Finals MVP on a fourth occasion.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, 32.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG (5) (1997)       

Jordan made history again with his fifth NBA Championship Ring and fifth Finals MVP.  Jordan, who was not the league MVP this year, led his Bulls to a six-game win over the Utah Jazz.  Jordan was his team’s top scorer in five games, and in assists in all of them.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, 33.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG (6) (1998)       

For the second time, the Chicago Bulls “three-peated” and Jordan did the same with his record sixth NBA Finals MVP.  Jordan had the what looked to be the final shot of his career in Game Six, as he sank the series winner over the Jazz.  Jordan was also named the league MVP for the fifth time.  Jordan retired, but came back with the Washington Wizards in 2001 for two years. Michael Jordan is the best player of all-time, and that should be an undisputed fact.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 27.4 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.2 BPG (1999)       

This was the second season of Tim Duncan’s career, and “The Big Fundamental” took over as the big star of the Spurs for David Robinson.  Duncan was the top scorer and rebounder in three of the games, which was a five-game series win over the New York Knicks.  Duncan did not go to the All-Star Game this year, but he was named a First Team All-Defensive and First Team All-NBA player.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers, 38.0 PPG, 16.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.7 BPG (2000)

This championship was the beginning of the new Lakers dynasty, starring a dominant Shaquille O’Neal and a rising Kobe Bryant. O’Neal and the Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers in six, and in every single game, was his team’s leading scorer and rebounder.  In fact, there was only one game where a Pacer had more boards (game six) than O’Neal. O’Neal was a First Team All-NBA selection, and he was named the league MVP.   Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers, 33.0 PPG, 15.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.4 SPG, 3.4 BPG (2) (2001)    

Shaq and the Lakers dispatched the Philadelphia 76ers in five games, and O’Neal was his usual dominant self, although Kobe Bryant was approaching being his equal.  O’Neal was again a First Team All-NBA Selection.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers, 36.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG (3) (2002)    

O’Neal became the second player to win the NBA Finals MVP in three straight years, and he again was a First Team All-NBA Selection, an honor, he would secure in the next four seasons.  O’Neal also was the NBA leader in PER for the fifth straight year. In this year’s Finals, Los Angeles swept the Nets, but this was the shocking end of the Kobe/Shaq dominance. They made it to the Finals again in 2004, but lost to the Pistons, and the two could no longer work together. O’Neal won a fourth title with the Miami Heat, and he would later play for Phoenix, Cleveland and Boston, retiring in 2011.   Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 24.2 PPG, 17.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 5.3 BPG (2) (2003)  

Duncan was the MVP in 2001-02, and he was named the MVP again this year, and he was in his fifth consecutive season as a First Team All-NBA selection.  In this NBA Finals, the Spurs beat the New Jersey Nets in six games, and Duncan’s 5.3 Blocks per Game are by far a Finals record.  In Game Six, Duncan was two Blocks away from a quadruple-double and replays show that he likely should have had two more Blocks.  Nevertheless, Duncan was incredible in this series.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 20.6 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.1 BPG (3) (2005)  

Duncan joined the rare three-time NBA Finals club in 2005, and Duncan led the Spurs in a seven-game series win over the Detroit Pistons.  2005 also saw Duncan named to his seventh straight First Team All-NBA.  This year ended a streak, but he earned that honor two more times.  Duncan won two more NBA Titles, was a 15-time All-Star and he played his entire career with the Spurs, retiring in 2016.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, 32.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG (2009)        

Bryant was dominant in his first NBA Championship win as the top banana.  The Lakers took out Orlando in five games, and this was a year after he won his lone MVP award.  This season also saw Bryant earn his seventh First Team All-NBA Selection.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, 28.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG (2) (2010)   

Bryant 5, O’Neal 4.  That was on the mind of many as Bryant eclipsed his former teammate in rings, and Bryant climbed another rung on the basketball pyramid. Bryant played until 2016, all of which were with the Lakers.  He would go to 18 All-Star Games, 11 First Team All-NBAs and would have a legacy where his name is spoken amongst the best basketball player ever.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

 

The following are the players who have won the NBA Finals MVP who are eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Cedric Maxwell, Boston Celtics, 17.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.2 SPG, 1.0 BPG (1981)  

Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell was Boston’s leading scorer in three of Boston’s games, and he stepped up when his teammate, Larry Bird was focused on by Houston’s defense.  Maxwell would help the Celtics win the 1984 NBA Championship, and he played until 1988.  Maxwell is the first player to win the NBA Finals MVP who never was an All-Star.  Eligible Since 1994.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons, 21.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.0 BPG (2004)       

The Detroit Pistons five-game series win over Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers will likely be the biggest upset ever in the NBA Finals, and it will always be looked more as the Lakers losing than the Pistons winning. Regardless, Billups was the Point Guard of a very balanced team, and for years, there were GM trying to mimic the Pistons title.  Billups would later be named to five All-Star Games, and he went on to play with Denver, New York, and the Los Angeles Clippers before returning to Detroit and retiring in 2004.  Billups is the most likely player on the ’04 Championship team to enter the Hall.  As of this writing, there are none.  Eligible Since 2018.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com

Let’s update our tally, shall we?

Award in Question	Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF	Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF.
NBA MVP	100%	100%
NHL Art Ross	100%	100%
NBA Finals MVP	91.3%	94.9%
NHL Norris	90.5%	96.4%
NBA All-Star Game MVP	89.5%	91.7%
NHL Conn Smythe	74.2%	85.4%
NFL Bert Bell Award	73.7%	71.4%
NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year	73.1%	79.4%
NFL AP MVP	68.3%	74.0%
NHL Lady Byng	63.8%	76.0%
NFL Defensive Player of the Year	60.8%	71.1%
NFL Super Bowl MVP	60.6%	64.9%
NBA Defensive Player of the Year	58.3%	56.5%
NHL Vezina	57.1%	66.3%
NBA Rookie of the Year	56.5%	56.5%
MLB MVP	55.0%	60.2%
NFL Pro Bowl MVP	52.3%	54.8%
MLB Lou Gehrig Award	51.9%	51.9%
MLB Roberto Clemente Award	47.4%	47.4%
MLB/NL/AL Cy Young Award	44.4%	55.4%
MLB Babe Ruth Award	37.0%	39.3%
NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy	33.3%	36.7%
MLB World Series MVP	33.3%	36.8%
MLB Hutch Award	33.1%	33.1%
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year	28.6%	28.6%
NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy	27.9%	27.9%
MLB Edgar Martinez Award	26.7%	17.2%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Designated Hitter)	25.0%	30.8%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Shortstop)	23.5%	52.6%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove	21.7%	36.8%
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year	20.6%	20.6%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Catcher)	20.0%	22.5%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Second Base)	18.8%	39.8%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Shortstop)	18.2%	35.1%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Pitcher)	18.2%	20.1%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Second Base)	16.7%	32.7%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Outfield)	16.7%	30.1%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Outfield)	15.7%	25.2%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Third Base)	14.3%	14.3%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Third Base)	13.6%	14.3%
MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (First Base)	13.6%	13.3%
MLB (NL/AL) Rookie of the Year	13.3%	13.3%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (Catcher)	10.3%	15.2%
NBA Most Improved Player of the Year	5.3%	3.2%
MLB (NL/AL) Gold Glove (First Base)	3.8%	3.2%
NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year	0.0%	0.0%

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the NBA Finals MVP in the NBA who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, 34.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG (2006)

Shaquille O’Neal won his fourth NBA Title, but it was Dwyane Wade who was the star of the show by far in Miami six-game series win over Dallas.  This was Wade’s first title, and it was also the first championship for Miami.  Years later, Wade was joined by LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and the trio would win two NBA Championships.  Wade left Miami for brief runs in Chicago and Cleveland, but he returned appropriately to the Heat to finish his career, retiring in 2019. Over his career, Wade was an All-Star 13 times, and was an All-NBA Selection eight times, with two of them being First Team.  Eligible in 2023.

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs, 24.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.0 BPG (2007)

Tony Parker was not only the first Frenchmen to win the Finals MVP, but also the first European to win it.  This season, the Spurs swept LeBron James and he Cleveland Cavaliers and Parker was the leading scorer of the series.  Parker was a six-time All-Star, a four-time NBA Champion and he played until 2019, all with the Spurs with the exception of his final year, which was in Charlotte.  Eligible in 2023.

Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics, 21.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG (2008)

Paul Pierce was the star of the Celtics for years but there was only so much he could do.  Boston’s fortune changed this year when they added Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and they won the NBA Championship by beating Los Angeles in six games.  Pierce was a ten-time All-Star, all of which occurring as a Boston Celtic.  He was with Boston until 2013, and he finished his career in 2017 after playing for Brooklyn, Washington and the Los Angeles Clippers.  Eligible in 2021.

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, 26.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG (2011)

The Dallas Mavericks were not supposed to beat James, Wade and Bosh, but they did, and were led by Dirk Nowitzki, their German star who played his entire career in Dallas.  Nowitzki was four years removed from his MVP, and while he was older, he was wiser, and the Mavericks won their first NBA Title.  Nowitzki was a 14-time All-Star and a four-time First Team All-NBA player.  Eligible in 2023.

 

The following are the players who have won the NBA Finals MVP who are still active.

LeBron James, Miami Heat, 28.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG (2012)

LeBron James finally won the big one, and he did it by taking over as the primary weapon for the Heat, eliminating any doubt between him and his friend, Dwyane Wade.  James was Miami’s leading scorer and rebounder and Miami soundly beat Oklahoma City in five.  James was also named the MVP for the third time in his career.  35 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron James, Miami Heat, 25.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 7.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG (2) (2013)

LeBron and the Heat successfully defended their title in a grueling seven-game win over San Antonio.  James did it all as he was Miami’s leader in Points, Rebounds, Assists and Steals, and he was also the league MVP.  The mileage that James logged this year was staggering but he got the job done.  35 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, 17.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG (2014)

A new star emerged with San Antonio, as Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili were getting older but with Kawhi Leonard and a team-first ethic, the Spurs beat the Heat in five.  Leonard went on to win two Defensive Player of the Year Awards, and was a First Team All-NBA Selection twice for the Spurs before he became disenchanted with the team.  He would be traded to the Toronto Raptors before the 2018-19 season.  28 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors, 16.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG (2015)

This was the first time that an NBA Finals MVP did not start every game, as Andre Iguodala was incredible in his role, though arguably Steph Curry, who outscored Iggy by almost 10 Points per Game could have won it without a backlash.  The Warriors won by beating LeBron and the Cavaliers in six.  28 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, 29.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 8.9 APG, 2.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG (3) (2016)

As impressive as LeBron was in the 2013 Finals, what James did in 2016 had to feel infinitely more fulfilling.  James finally brought the title to Cleveland, and to do so they had to defeat a powerful Golden State Warriors team.  In the seven-game series, James led all players in all five major offensive categories.  Seriously, how impressive was that?  35 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, 35.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.6 BPG (2017)

Kevin Durant won the MVP in 2014 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he was a perennial All-Star, but he grew frustrated. When he was a free agent in 2016, he jumped to the Golden State Warriors, joining a super team.  The Warriors were spectacular, and Durant led his new team to a title, despite many people cheering against KD.  31 Years Old, Playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, 28.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 7.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.3 BPG (2) (2018)

Durant repeated as NBA Champion and Finals MVP, and the Warriors would obliterate the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep.  Durant would be a First Team All-NBA Selection for the sixth time in his career.  31 Years Old, Playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors, 28.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.2 BPG (2) (2019)

The Toronto Raptors rolled the dice, trading their best player, DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard.  It was a huge gamble, as Leonard had only one year left on his contract, and was unlikely to stay in Canada.  Leonard only played the one year, but he led the Raptors to their first ever NBA Championship, and he became the first player ever to win the Finals MVP in both conferences.  28 Years Old, Playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.

It should come as no surprise that the Finals MVP yield so many Hall of Famers.  Basketball is more star driven sport than the other team sports, and it is where the best have the most opportunity due to minutes logged and the nature of the game.

So, what is up next?

We return to baseball, but it will be a quick one, as we look at the Comeback Player of the Year.  That award has only come into existence in 2005, so it won’t be a long read!

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

Hall of Fame related lists are at the forefront of what we do. Hell, it is in the name of our site; Notinhalloffame.com!

The problem (or actually our perpetual joy) is that we have to continuously revise lists, most of them annually.  With the ones in reference to the main Halls of Fame, we try to tackle the revisions immediately.  With that in mind, we are pleased to have our new Notinhalloffame.com Basketball list of those to consider for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Before we get into it, please note that this list only covers the male candidates.  We may look at doing a separate list for coaches, international, and women, but for now we will remain with this core list.

As always, the first thing we do is remove those who were chosen for the incoming class.  This involved the removal of our top three, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, all of which were in their first year of eligibility.  We should note that while Rudy Tomjanavich was also chosen for Springfield, he did so as a Coach, and in the Basketball Hall, you can enter multiple times as a Coach and as a Player.

The second thing we do is input the new entries who are now eligible and are worthy of being ranked.  

The third is look at your comments and votes and alter accordingly.

The complete list can be found here, but below are the former players who now comprise our new top ten.

Paul Pierce debuts at #1, and is our highest ranked new entry.  Pierce was a ten-time All-Star, and was chosen for four All-NBA Teams (one Second Team and three Third Team).  Pierce was a teammate of this year’s inductee, Kevin Garnett, in Boston, and he was the Finals MVP in their Championship win in 2008. 

Chris Bosh moved from #4 to #2.  Bosh was openly upset when he was not included in this list of Finalists for the 2020 Hall of Fame Class, but we suspect this was to hold him back for a class with Pierce. The former Raptor and Heat player, was an 11-time All-Star and won two NBA Championships with Miami.

Chris Webber climbs back to #3 from #5.  Webber was the leader of the Michigan’s “Fab Five”, and was the NBA Rookie of the Year. C-Webb was a five-time All-Star, and was once a First Team All-NBA Selection, as well as a three-time Second Team All-NBA Selection.  Webber was at one time ranked number one on this list.

Ben Wallace moves up two spots to #4.  Wallace was a part of the Detroit Pistons 2004 NBA Championship, and he was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.  The four-time All-Star was a three-time Second Team All-NBA and a two-time Third Team All-NBA Selection.

Shawn Kemp rose three to #5.  The former Seattle SuperSonic went to six All-Star Games, and was chosen for three-time Second Team squads.

Max Zaslofsky also went up three spots from #9 to #6.  Zaslofsky was a four-time First Team All-NBA player in the 1940s and 1950s.

Mark Aguirre climbed to #7 from #10.  The former Naismith College Player of the Year, won two NBA Championships as a Detroit Piston, and he was also a three-time All-Star.

Tim Hardaway returns to the top ten, moving up to #8.  The former five-time All-Star was a star at Golden State, and he was also a First Team All-NBA player in 1997.

Lou Hudson shot up from #16 to #9.  Hudson was a six-time All-Star.

Bob Dandridge closes the top ten, and he rose from #13.  He was a four-time All-Star, and he won two NBA Titles, one with Milwaukee and one with Washington.

There are two new entries.

Deron Williams enters at #57 and Metta World Peace (the former Ron Artest) makes his list debut at #83.

At present, the list goes to 115.  In the future, the intent is to bring it to 150, where it will be capped at that number.

You know what we want you to do!

Take a look at the new list, and cast your votes and offer your opinions.  

As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com thank you for your support.

On the weekend of what was supposed to be NCAA’s Final Four, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today their Class of 2020.

As expected, the triumvirate of Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett have all been selected for Springfield.  They comprised the top three in our most recent Notinhalloffame.com list of those to consider for the Hall.

Kobe Bryant tragically passed away along with eight other people (including his daughter, Gianna) in a helicopter crash.  Bryant played his entire pro career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would lead the Lake Show to five NBA Championships.  Individually, he would win the 2007-08 MVP, was a 15-time All-Star and was a First Team All-NBA Selection 11 times. Internationally, Bryant won the Olympic Gold Medal twice with the United States (2008 & 2012).

Like Bryant, Tim Duncan played his entire career with one team, his being the San Antonio Spurs.  “The Big Fundamental” took the Spurs to five titles, and he was a two-time MVP.  Duncan went to 15 All-Star Games, was a 10-time First Team All-NBA Selection, an eight-time All-Defensive First Team honoree, and was the Rookie of the Year. At Wake Forest, he was also the Consensus National College Player of the Year in 1997.

Kevin Garnett did not spend his career with one team, but he is easily the greatest Minnesota Timberwolves player ever.  It was in Minnesota where he won his MVP, but he would later help the Boston Celtics win the NBA Championship in 2008, while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year.  Garnett went to 15 All-Star Games, was a four-time First Team All-NBA Selection, and would be an All-Defensive First Teamer.  

Also chosen was Eddie Sutton.  With a career record of 806-326, Sutton went to three Final Fours (one with Arkansas and two with Oklahoma State), and he was a two-time AP College Coach of the Year.  Sutton was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

A five-time NBA All-Star, Rudy Tomjonavich was a Head Coach for the Hosuton Rockets from 1992 to 2003.  He took the Rockets to the NBA Championship in 1994 and 1995, and the United States to Olympic Gold in 2000.

All five male Finalists got in, as did all three female finalists, which were Tamika Catchings, Kim Mulkey and Barbara Stevens:

Tamika Catchings won four Olympic Gold Medals for the United States, and took the Indiana Fever to a WNBA Title in 2012.  Individually in the WNBA, Catchings went to 11 All-Star Games, was a one-time MVP, and a five-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Kim Mulley has led the Baylor Bears to three championships as their Head Coach, and she also won as a player and Assistant Coach.  She was the Coach of the Year in 2012.

Barbara Stevens was a five-time Division II Coach of the Year, and was the fifth female coach to win 1,000 Games.

Patrick Baumann enters as a Contributor.  He Swiss executive was the President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations and the Secretary General of FIBA. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 51 due to a heart attack.

We will begin the reworking of our Notinhalloffame.com Basketball List.  Look for that later this month.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

When the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced their Finalists, Chris Bosh was left off of it.  This is his first year of eligibility after being forced to retire due to issues with blood clots in 2014.  He had this to say on his Instagram:

"I'm going to be honest with you. I'm a competitor, man. I've been competing my whole life. A lot of people don't really know that about me, but I'm a fierce competitor. Losing bothers me. Coming up short bothers me. It always has, you know, since the moment I started playing basketball and it kind of bleeds over into everything that I do. So I'll just get ahead of it, and so you hear this from me: I'm disappointed."

Only five men (down from ten) were named as Finalists this year, with three of those being former players (Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett).   The conspiracy theory in us feels like Bosh (and other previous finalists like Chris Webber and Ben Wallace) were put on the shelf for now to clear the path for Bryant, Duncan and Garnett.  With all due respect to Bosh, he is the clear number four behind those three.  The delay of Bosh also gives the Hall a headliner for the 2021 Class, and let’s be honest, they need to sell tickets to.

As always, we will be watching.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced their North American Finalists, as is tradition before the NBA All-Star Weekend.

It is a reduced number of Finalists from previous years, though this is nothing new as the Hall has never been consistent with their amount of Finalists as there are only five men and three women on this short list.  Last year, there were 10 men and three women who made it this far last year.

The five male North American Finalists are:

Kobe Bryant:  Many outlets interpreted the statement by Hall of President, Jerry Colangelo, who said he had “no doubt Kobe (will) be honored as he deserves” as acknowledgement that he is already in.  He isn’t, but there was never any doubt that he would be.  Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash last month, and the impending ceremony will likely be a tribute to the “Black Mamba.”  As a player, Bryant played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and would lead them to five NBA Championships.  He would go to 18 All-Star Games, was a 15-time All-NBA Selection and was the 2008 MVP.  The two-time United States Olympic Gold Medalist is fourth all-time in Points.

Tim Duncan:  Playing his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan would take his squad to five NBA Championships.  “The Big Fundamental” was a 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA Selection and was a two-time MVP.  The only player to win 1,000 Games with one team, Duncan is in the top ten in Rebounds and Blocks.  Collegiately, he played at Wake Forest and was the Consensus Player of the Year in 1987.

Kevin Garnett:  Garnett was a 15-time All-Star who would win the NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008.  KG played most of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves and over his NBA career, he also won the MVP (2004), Defensive Player of the Year (2008) and was a nine-time All-NBA Selection.  Internationally, he was a member of the 2000 Olympic Gold Medal team for the United States.

Eddie Sutton:  Nominated last year, Sutton was a Head Coach with a record of 805-326 with stops at Creighton (1969-74), Arkansas (1974-85), Kentucky (1985-89) and Oklahoma State (1990-2006).  He appeared in three Final Fours, and was a four-time National Coach of the Year.

Rudy Tomjanovich (Coach):  A five-time NBA All-Star with the Houston Rockets, Tomjanovich is nominated as a Coach, and he would helm the Rockets to two NBA Titles (1994 & 1995).  He also led the United States to the Olympic Gold Medal in 2000.

The three female North American Finalists are:

Tamika Catchings:  An NCAA Champion at the University of Tennessee in 1998, Catchings played her entire WNBA career with the Indiana Fever.  She would be the league MVP in 2011, and was a five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.  Catchings would take the Fever to a title in 2012, and she is a four-time Olympic Gold Medal winner with the United States.

Kim Mulkey (Coach):  Mulkey has been the Head Coach at Baylor where she has taken them to three NCAA Division I Titles.  She is a two-time NCAA Coach of the Year.

Barbara Stevens:  Stevens has won over 1,000 Games in College, and took Bentley to a Division II Title in 2014.

While we have no issues with the smaller number of Finalists, the lack of consistency is frustrating.  Notable Finalists from last year, Chris Webber, Marques Johnson and Ben Wallace did not return.  Another interesting turn of events, is that Chris Bosh, who was also eligible, did not appear as a Finalist.  Not that Bryant, Duncan and Garnett needed a clear path for entry, it is next to impossible to conceive that any of those three will not be part of the Class of 2020.  

If the Hall inducts all of the Finalists from the North American male pool, it would still be less than last year.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class will be announced during the Final Four.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the men and women who made it this far.

As much as we love Halls of Fame, we have often been critical about the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.  One of our criticisms is that the powers that be in Springfield are not very transparent, and does not even provide even the briefest bios of their many candidates.  We are going to provide more context those who will be considered for Hall of Fame Class of 2020.  

North America Committee Nominations:

Rick Adelman(Coach):  Adelman played eight years in the NBA, and would become the Head Coach of Chemekata CC in 1977.  He served in that role until 1983, when he joined the Portland Trail Blazers as an Assistant Coach.  He took over as their Head Coach in 1989, serving in that capacity until 1994.  He would later coach Golden State (1995-97), Sacramento (1999-06), Houston (2007-11) and Minnesota (2011-14).  His coaching record is 1,042-749, highlighted by taking Portland to the Finals in 1990. 

Fletcher Arritt(Coach):  Arritt was the Basketball Coach at Fork Union Military Academy from 1970 to 2012.  More than 200 players under Arritt would compete in Division I.  As a coach, Arritt went 890-293.

Johnny Bach(Coach):  Bach played his college ball at Fordham, and he would play briefly in the NBA for the Boston Celtics in 1948-49.  He would return to Fordham as a Coach from 1950 to 1968, and he would then take the reins of Penn State for 11 years.  He would move to the NBA as an Assistant Coach for Golden State, and would become their Head Coach in 1983.  His combined coaching record in the college ranks was 387-314.

Chauncey Billups:  A Consensus Second Team All-American at the University of Colorado, Billups played in the NBA from 1997 to 2014.  He was a five-time NBA All-Star, and would twice make the All-NBA Third Team.  The best run of his career was with the Detroit Pistons, where he led them to an NBA Championship in 2004 where he was named the Finals MVP.  Billups also won a Gold Medal for the United States in 2010 at the FIBA World Championship. He is ranked #14 on our latest Notinhalloffame.comlist for consideration.

Chris Bosh:  Bosh was the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year at Georgia Tech, and he would be part of the greatest draft class ever joining the Toronto Raptors and the fourth overall pick. “CB4” would later sign with the Miami Heat, creating a superteam with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and won two NBA Titles.  Individually, he was an 11-time All-Star with one Second Team All-NBA Selection.  Bosh also won an Olympic Gold Medal representing the U.S. in the 2008 Games.  He is ranked #4 on our latest Notinhalloffame.comlist for consideration.  

Kobe Bryant:  Kobe Bryant is in his first year of eligibility, and it is a forgone conclusion that he will headline the Class of 2020.  Playing his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant took them to five NBA Championships, and the 18-time All-Star was the league MVP in 2008.  Bryant won two scoring titles, and was an 11-time First Team All-NBA Selection.  With Team U.S.A., Bryant won two Olympic Gold Medals (2008 & 2012).  He is ranked #2 on our latest Notinhalloffame.comlist for consideration.       

Rick Byrd(Coach):  Byrd was the Head Coach for Lincoln Memorial from 1983 to 1986, and for Belmont from 1986 to 2019.  He won the NAIA National Coach of the Year Award in 1995.  Byrd had a Head Coaching record of 805-402.

Muggsy Bogues:  Small in stature, Bogues stood at 5’ 3” making him the shortest player to compete in the NBA, a league he played in for 15 years.  Previously, he was a First Team All-ACC selection at Wake Forest, and he was a Gold Medalist for the United States at the 1986 FIBA World Championships.

Irv Brown(Referee):  Brown was a referee in six Final Fours.

Jim Burch(Referee):  Burch was the first African-American referee in the ACC, when he wore the stripes in 1969.  He began officiating games at the high school level a decade before.

Marcus Camby:  Camby was National College Player of the Year in 1996, and his #21 would be retired at UMass. Camby had a long pro career with stops in Toronto, New York, Denver, Los Angeles (Clippers), Portland and Houston. Camby may never have been an All-Star, but he was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, and he was twice a member of the All-Defensive First Team.  He also led the NBA in Blocks four times.  Ranked #65 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tim Duncan:  While Tim Duncan is not likely to be the headliner for the Class of 2020 (Kobe Bryant will be), we have Duncan ranked above him at #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.  Playing his entire pro career with San Antonio, Duncan arrived to Texas as the Consensus National College Player of the Year when he was at Wake Forest. Duncan was a two-time MVP, five-time NBA Champion, 15-time All-Star, a 10-time First Team All-NBA Selection and was an eight-time First Team All-Defensive choice.  His number has been retired by both Wake Forest and San Antonio.

Mark Eaton:  A star at UCLA, Mark Eaton played his entire NBA career with the Utah Jazz, and he was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.  He was also a three-time All-Defensive First Team choice and a four-time leader in Blocks.  

Dale Ellis: Ellis was a two-time SEC Player of the Year at Tennessee, and he was also a Consensus First Team All-American in 1983.  Ellis would go on to play 17 years in the NBA playing for Dallas, Seattle, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Denver and Charlotte.  As a SuperSonic in 1989, he was an All-Star and a Third-Team All-NBA Selection.  Ellis is ranked #90 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Hugh Evans(Referee):  Evans was an NBA referee from 1972 to 2001.  He officiated 1,969 Regular Season NBA Games, and 35 NBA Finals Games.

Michael Finley:  Finley would set the since broken all-time scoring record at the University of Wisconsin, and he went on to play 16 seasons in the NBA.  Finley was a two-time All-Star as a Dallas Maverick, and was a member of the 2007 NBA Championship Team with the San Antonio Spurs.  He also played for Phoenix and Boston.   He is ranked #55 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Fisher(Coach):  Fisher was the Head Coach for Michigan from 1989 to 1997, and he led them to three Final Fours, and an NCAA Championship in 1989.  He would later take over San Diego State from 1999 to 2017.  Fisher had a record of 495-288 and was named the Naismith College Coach of the Year in 2011.

Cotton Fitzsimmons(Coach):  The 1970 Big Eight Coach of the Year at Kansas State, Cotton Fitzsimmons would leave the NCAA for the NBA and the Phoenix Suns.  He was the Suns Coach from 1970-72, and then would move to Atlanta (1972-76), the Buffalo Braves (1977-78), and then to the Kansas City Kings (1978-84), where in 1979, he was named the NBA Coach of the Year.  He would have a two-year stop in San Antonio, and then was the Head Coach for Phoenix again (1988-92), and he won his second NBA Coach of the Year Award in 1989).  He has a 34-20 record in college and an 832-775 record in the NBA.

Kevin Garnett:  In his first year of eligibility, Garnett went from high school to the NBA in 1995. KG began his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he was named the league MVP in 2004.  Garnett asked to be traded, and his wish was granted, as he landed with the Boston Celtics, and he would win a championship in his first year there.  He would also play for the Brooklyn Nets, and returned to Minnesota to finish his career. He was a four-time First Team All-NBA Selection, a 15-time All-Star, and was the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year. Garnett would also capture a Gold Medal for the United States at the 2000 Games.  He is ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Hamilton:  Hamilton led the UConn Huskies to an NCAA Championship in 1999, and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.  The two-time Big East Player of the Year, played for the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls of the NBA, and his run in Detroit saw him go to three All-Star Games and he was a member of their 2004 NBA Championship Team.  Hamilton is ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tim Hardaway:  Hardaway played at UTEP and was the WAC Player of the Year in 1989.  Professionally, he was a part of Golden State’s “RUN TMC” trio with Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond, and later he starred with the Miami Heat. He was a five-time All-Star and was a one-time All-NBA First Team Selection.  Hardaway also played for Dallas, Denver and Indiana.  He was also a member of the United States 2000 Olympic Team that won the Gold Medal in Sydney.  Hardaway is ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ed Hightower(Referee):  Hightower was a long-time college referee, who refereed 12 NCAA Division 1 Final Fours.  

Bob Huggins(Coach):  At present, Huggins is the Head Coach of West Virginia, which is a job he has had since 2007.  He had previously been the Head Coach at Akron (1984-89), Cincinnati (1989-05) and Kansas State (2006-07).  His record is 861-363, and he won the Conference USA Coach of the Year three times, OVC Coach of the Year, and the Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Mark Jackson:  Jackson was a Consensus Second Team at St. John’s in 1986, and he was the NCAA Assists leader that year.  The following season, he was the NBA Rookie of the Year (with the Knicks), and he would be an All-Star two years later.  He also played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana, Denver, Toronto, Utah and Houston.

Herman Johnson(Coach):  Johnson is a multi-decade youth basketball coach in Baltimore.

Marques Johnson:  An NCAA Champion at UCLA in 1975, Marques Johnson was the Pac-8 Player of the Year and National College Player of the Year in 1977.  Johnson was a five-time NBA All-Star, his first four coming with the Milwaukee Bucks.  With Milwaukee, he was an All-NBA First Team Selection in 1979.  He would go to his fifth All-Star Game as a Los Angeles Clipper.    Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

George Karl(Coach):  A five-year pro with the San Antonio Spurs, George Karl had a long career as a Head Coach in the NBA.  His stops included Cleveland (1984-86), Golden State (1986-88), Seattle (1992-98), Milwaukee (1998-03), Denver (2005-13), and Sacramento (2015-16).  Named the Coach of the Year in 2013, Karl had a record of 1,175-824.

Gene Keady(Coach):  Keady played his college ball at Kansas State, and he would later become the Head Coach at Western Kentucky (1978-80), and then for Purdue from 1980-05. Keady was a five-time National Coach of the Year and seven-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.  His coaching record is 550-289.

Ken Kern(Coach):  Kern was the Head Coach at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York for 29 years. Winning 375 Games, Kern was considered a mentor to many promising players in the New York City area.

Shawn Marion: “The Matrix” came from UNLV to the Phoenix Suns, and would be a four-time All-Star and two-time Third Team All-NBA Selection while playing in Arizona.  Marion would later assist the Dallas Mavericks win the 2011 NBA Championship.  He is ranked #18 on our Notinhslloffame.comlist.

Rollie Massimino(Coach):  Massimino was a college coach for many years, most notably with Villanova (1973-92) and took the Wildcats to a NCAA Championship in 1985.  He also was at the helm of Stony Brook, UNLV and Cleveland State, and he would have a NCAA coaching record of 816-462.

Bob McKillop(Coach):  McKillop has been the Head Coach at Davidson since 1989, and was the NABC Coach of the Year in 2008.  He has a coaching record of 578-351 as of this writing.

Danny Miles(Coach):  Miles was the Head Coach at Oregon Tech from 1971 to 2016, and took them to three Division II Championships (2004, 2006 & 2012).  He retired with a record of 1,040-437.

Steve Moore(Coach):  Moore was the Head Coach at Muhlenberg College (1981-87), and has been the Head Coach at Wooster since 1987.  He is an eight-time NCAC Coach of the Year and he has a record as of this writing of 846-245.

Dick Motta(Coach):  Motta was the Head Coach at Weber State from 1962 to 1968, where he was the Big Sky Coach of the Year in 1971.  He then went to the NBA where he was the Head Coach of Chicago (1968-76), Washington (1976-80), Dallas (1980-87 & 1994-96), Sacramento (1990-91) and Denver (1996-97).  Motta was the Coach of the Year in 1971, and won the NBA Title in 1978, and had a record of 935-1,017.

Jake O’Donnell(Referee):  O’Donnell was an NBA referee from 1967 to 1995 and he refereed 279 Playoff Games and 39 Finals Games.

Jim Phelan(Coach):  Phelan was the Head Coach from 1954 to 2003 at Mount St. Mary’s, and was the NCAA College Division Champion in 1962.  He had a record of 830-524.

Digger Phelps(Coach):  Phelps was the Head Coach at Fordham from 1970-71, but really cut his teeth helming Notre Dame from 1971 to 1991.  Phelps was an analyst from 1993 to 2014.  As a Coach, he had a record of 419-200.

Jere Quinn(Coach):  Quinn has been the Head Coach at St. Thomas More since 1978, and has won over 1,000 Games.

Lamont Robinson:  A high school star who played pro in Denmark, the man nicknamed “Showboat” would be a Harlem Globetrotter, a Harlem Road King, and would form and play for the Harlem Clowns.  Robinson is considered to be one of the best “comedy” players ever.  He has played more than 5,000 Games.

Bo Ryan(Coach):  Ryan was the Head Coach from 1984 to 1999 at Wisconsin-Platteville, and he would win four Division III Championships (1991, 1995, 1998 & 1999).  Ryan would then Coach for Wisconsin-Milwaukee for two years, and then stay in state helming the Wisconsin Badgers from 2001-15. He would be named a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and had a coaching record of 747-233.

Bob Saulsbury(Coach):  Saulsbury was the Head Coach for 30 years at New Haven’s Wilbur Cross High. He led his school to nine state championships.

Norm Sloan(Coach):  Sloan was a Head Coach in the NCAA from 1956 to 1989.  He coached The Citadel (1965-60), Florida (1960-66 & 1980-89) and NC State (1966-80), where he took the Wolfpack to a NCAA Championship in 1974.  He was a three-time ACC Coach of the Year and also was once an SEC Coach of the Year. He retired with a record of 627-395.

Eddie Sutton(Coach):  Sutton had a long coaching career in the NCAA, which began at Creighton in 1969.  He would then go to Arkansas (1974-85), where he was the SWC Coach of the Year four times, and took the Razorbacks to a Final Four.  Sutton then went to Kentucky for four years, winning the SEC Coach of the Year in 1986), and his longest run would then come at Oklahoma State (1990-2008). He would lead the Cowboys to two Final Four appearances and was a three-time conference Coach of the Year.

Rudy Tomjanovich(Coach):  A five-time All-Star as a player, Rudy Tomjanovich would coach the Houston Rockets from 1992 to 2003, and he would twice lead them to an NBA Championship.  He later coached the Los Angeles Lakers for a year.  As a Coach, his record was 527-416, and he was also the Gold Medal winning Coach for Team U.S.A. in 2000.  Tomjanovich is ranked #26 on our list as a player.

Ben Wallace:  Wallace was an undrafted player from Virginia Union, and he would shatter all expectations as he would tie the mark for the most NBA Defensive Players of the Year with four.  All of those accolades took place as a Detroit Piston, where he would also win the NBA Championship, and would win two Rebounding and one Blocking Title.  “Big Ben” also was a three-time Second Team and two-time Third Team All-NBA Selection.  Wallace also played for Washington, Orlando, Chicago and Cleveland. He is ranked #6 on our Notinhalloffame.comlist.

Chris Webber:  Webber was a star at the University of Michigan, but an ill-advised timeout and the scandal with boosters means that technically his time as the leader of the Fab Five is not considered by the Hall.  As a pro, Webber was the 1994 Rookie of the Year, a five-time All-Star, and a three-time Second Team All-Star.  He is ranked #5 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Willie West(Coach):  West coached Crenshaw High School for 37 years, and would win 28 League Titles. 

Buck Williams:  A college star at Maryland, Buck Williams would later be a Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star, and a First Team NBA All-Defensive Player as a member of the New Jersey Nets.  Williams would also play with the Portland Trail Blazers and New Jersey Nets.   He is ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jay Wright(Coach):  Wright was the Head Coach for Hofstra from 1994 to 2001 and afterward, he took over the reins at Villanova, which he still holds today.  He is a two-time Naismith College Coach of the Year.

Women’s Committee Nominations:

Leta Andrews (Coach):  Andrews was a high school coach at Granbury High School in Granbury, Texas for 52 years. She recorded more wins in high school basketball than anyone else with 1,416.

Jennifer Azzi:  Playing her college ball at Stanford, Jennifer Azzi was the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1989 and 1990.  She represented the U.S. in the 1996 Olympics winning the Gold Medal, and won two Gold Medals at the FIBA World Championship (1990 & 1998).  She later would be the Head Coach for the University of San Francisco women’s team from 2010 to 2016.

Swin Cash:  Cash was a two-time champion at UConn, where she was the 2002 Tournament MOP.  Professionally, she was a four-time WNBA All-Star, and three-time WNBA Champion (two with Detroit, and one with Seattle).  Cash also has two Olympic Gold Medals (2004 & 2012), and FIBA World Championship (2010).

Tamika Catchings:  An NCAA Champion at Tennessee (1998), Catchings played fifteen seasons for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA.  She was the league MVP in 2011, a WNBA Champion in 2012, and was a ten-time WNBA All-Star.  Catchings was also a five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.  With the United States, she won four Gold Medals (2004, 2008, 2012 & 2016), and two World Championship Gold Medals (2002 & 2010).

Becky Hammon:  A three-time All-American at Colorado State, Hammon would be a six-time WNBA All-Star and was also twice a First Team All-WNBA choice.  She played her entire WNBA career with the San Antonio Stars, and was a Bronze Medalist at the 2008 Olympics.  Hammon made history becoming the first full-time assistant coach in the NBA, when she signed on in that role with the San Antonio Spurs.

Susie McConnell: McConnell played at Penn State, and was an Olympic Gold Medalist in the 1988 Olympics, and in the 1986 FIBA World Championship.  She would play later for the Cleveland Rockers of the WNBA.  McConnell transitioned into coaching and she took over the reins of the Minnesota Lynx, and was the WNBA Coach of the Year in 2004. She would later run the Duquesne and Pittsburgh programs.  

Debbie Miller-Palmore:  Miller-Palmore played for Boston University from 1977 to 1981, and she would later compete professionally in Europe.  Miller-Palmore would also run multiple basketball clinics.

Kim Mulkey(Coach):  After winning a NCAA tourney as a player, Mulkey became the first woman to win a NCAA title as a player, an Assistant Coach and a Head Coach.  As an Assistant, the NCAA Title happened in 1988 with Louisiana Tech, and as a Head Coach, she won three titles with the Baylor Bears.  She is still the Head Coach for the Bears, and she is a seven-time Big 12 Coach of the Year.  Her current record is 585-100.

Kim Mulkey:  This is not a misprint.  Mulkey is nominated as both a coach and a player.  As a player, Mulkey would take Louisiana Tech to a National Championship in 1982, and she was a member of both the United States 1983 Pan American and 1984 Olympic Gold medal team.

Marianne Stanley(Coach):  Stanley is already in as a member of the Immaculata Team that won three straight National Championships (1972-74).  As a Coach, she ran programs at Old Dominion (1977-87), Penn (1987-89), USC (1989-93), Stanford (1995-96), and California (1996-00).  She would go to the WNBA as an Assistant, and was the Head Coach of the Washington Mystics for two seasons, winning the WNBA Coach of the Year in 2002.  After being an Assistant for many years, she will coach the Indiana Fever next year.

Barbara Stevens(Coach):  Stevens has been a college coach since 1977.  She has helmed Clark University (1977-83), UMass (1983-86), and Bentley (1986-present), and has a current record of 1,039-282.  Stevens took Bentley to a Division II Championship in 2014, and is a five-time Division II Coach of the Year.

Valerie Still:  Still was a superstar at the University of Kentucky (1979-83), and she would play a dozen seasons in the Italian League.  She would later play for the Columbus Quest of the ABL, and the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.

Marian Washington(Coach):  Washington was the Head Coach at Kansas from 1973 to 2004 and had a record of 560-363.

Direct-Elect Category:  Contributor Committee Nominations:

Marv Albert:  Albert was the voice of the New York Knicks from 1967 to 2004, and is now the lead announcer on NBA on TBT.  He also worked for the New Jersey Nets and NBC in the past for NBA games, and he has also covered NCAA games.

Dick Baumgartner:  A former coach at Richmond, his shooting camps were one of the best attended in the country.

Bill Bertka:  Bertka was an Assistant Coach in the NBA (predominantly with the Lakers) and won seven NBA Title in that role.  He is currently a basketball consultant for the NBA, and is known for his pioneering role in scouting, player development and analytics.

Henry Bibby:  Bibby played in the NBA for ten years, and coached for ten years at USC.  He was a three-time NCAA Champion as a player at UCLA, and an NBA Champion with the Knicks.

Marty Blake:  Blake was the longtime Director of Scouting for the NBA, and was a former General Manager of the Atlanta Hawks.

Vic Bubas:  Bubas took Duke to three Final Fours (1963, 1964 & 1966) and would later serve as the school’s administrator.  He would later become the first commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference.

Wayne Duke:  Duke served as the Commissioner of the Big Eight Conference from 1963 to 1971, and later as the Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference from 1971 to 1989.

Lou Dunbar:  “Sweet” Lou Dunbar played for the Harlem Globetrotters for 27 years, and he is their current Director of Player Personnel.

Bill Foster:  Foster coached at Rutgers (1963-71), Utah (1971-74), Duke (1974-80), South Carolina (1980-86) and Northwestern (1986-93), and compiled a record of 467-409.  He was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 1978. He would later become the Chairman of the Hall of Fame Board of Trustees from 1996 to 1998.

Harry Glickman:  The “Father of Professional Sports in Oregon”, Harry Glickman was one of the founders of the Portland Trail Blazers.  He would later serve as the team’s President from 1987 to 1994.

Marty Glickman:  Glickman was the voice of the New York Knicks for 21 years, and he would also do broadcasts for the NBA and the New York Nets.  He would win the Curt Gowdy Media Award in 1991.

Simon Gourdine:  Gourdine joined the NBA in 1970 and four years later he was named the NBA Deputy Commisioner, making him the highest ranking African American Executive in sports at the time.  He was part of the collective bargaining agreement in 1976, and helped oversee the NBA-ABA merger.

Curt Gowdy:  In addition to his work as a broadcaster, Gowdy was the President of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for many years.  He was the first recipient of the Hall’s Media Award, which was named after him.

Tim Grgurich:  Grgurich was a head coach at the University of Pittsburgh, and was an Assistant Coach during UNLV’s 1990 NCAA win.  He would later be an Assistant Coach and Consultant for many NBA teams, which includes Seattle, Portland, Dallas, Denver, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Detroit.

Del Harris:  Harris began his coaching career at Earlham College, and he would work his way to the NBA as an Assistant with the Houston Rockets.  Harris would later take over as the Head Coach (1979-83), and would also have the helm with Milwaukee (1987-91) and the Los Angeles Lakers (1994-99), where he was named the Coach of the Year in 1995.  Harris’ coaching record was 556-457.

Greg Heineman:  Heineman bought the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 1993, which he still owns today.  The Skyforce is one of the most successful minor league basketball teams ever.

Robert Indiana:  Arguably the most bizarre nominee, Robert Indiana, the American artist associated with the pop art movement.  His contribution to basketball was his design of the Milwaukee Bucks’ court in the MECCA Arena.  This did inspire other teams to do something similar with their home courts.

Johnny “Red” Kerr:  A Third Team All-American in 1954 at the University of Illinois, Kerr would play with the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers for over a decade where he would be named an All-Star three times and was an NBA Champion in 1955.  Kerr would later coach the Chicago Bulls, where in 1967 he was named the Coach of the Year.  After a stint coaching the Phoenix Suns, he became the main broadcaster for the Bulls for decades, calling the Michael Jordan dynasty.

Bill King:  King became the primary broadcaster for the Warriors from 1962 to 1983.  He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, after receiving the Ford C. Frick Award in 2017.

John Kline:  Kline played for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1953 to 1959, and he would found the Black Legends of Professional Basketball Foundation.  The intention was to recognize and establish retirement plans for the game’s early players.

Red Klotz:  A college player at Villanova, Klotz played for the Philadelphia Sphas, and Baltimore Bullets, but he would later form and play for the Washington Generals.  Yes, those Washington Generals.

Bobby Lewis:  Lewis was twice a First Team All-ACC Selection when he was at the University of North Carolina, and he would help them reach the Final Four in 1967.  He would play at the professional level for four years with the San Francisco Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Herbert Livsey:  Livsey has been an NBA Scout since 1998, working for Portland, Atlanta and Denver.  

Jack McCloskey:  McCloskey coached at Penn, Wake Forest and with the Portland Trail Blazers, but he would have greater success as an executive.  He would later be the General Manager of the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.  Notably, his Pistons won the 1989 and 1990 NBA Championship.

Jerry McHale:  McHale made the protective mask that would be worn by Bill Laimbeer, a prototype for future players in the NBA.

Johnny Most:  Most was the voice of the Boston Celtics from 1953 to 1990, and called a plethora of championships.  He would win the Curt Gowdy Media Award in 1993.

Dennis Murphy:  Murphy helped to co-found the American Basketball Association.  Notably, he helped create the World Hockey Association. 

Joe O’Toole: O’Toole was a long time former head athletic trainer for the Atlanta Hawks. He is regarded as the father of the NBATA.

Billy Packer:  Packer was a college analysist from 1974 to 2008.

Jack Powers:  Powers played at Manhattan, and would later become their Head Coach with a record of 142-114.

Dee Rowe  Rowe was the Head Coach of the University of Connecticut Men’s Basketball program from 1969 to 1976, ad had a record of 103-78.

Zelda Spoelstra:  Spoelstra worked for the NBA for many decades in various capacities.

Jim Valvano:  “Jimmy V” famously coached NC State to the 1983 Division I Championship.  He had an overall coaching record of 346-210.

Donnie Walsh:  Walsh was an assistant coach in the NCAA and NBA, and would later become the President of Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks.  He would later perform the same role for the Indiana Pacers.

Jerome Williams:  Known as the “Junkyard Dog” as a player, Williams would become a basketball ambassador through his work with Basketball Without Borders. He would later serve as the President of the Young3, which is a youth basketball tournament for kids aged 9 to 14.

Direct-Elect Category:  Early African-American Pioneers Committee Nominations:

Clarence “Puggy” Bell:  Bell played for the New York Rens, and was the MVP of the 1939 World Professional Basketball Tournament.

Sonny Boswell:  Boswell played for the Harlem Globetrotters and New York Rens, and was considered one of the first great long-range shooters.  He was the MVP of the 1940 World Professional Basketball Tournament.

Bill Garrett:  Garrett made history as the first African American player in the Big Ten when he joined the University of Indiana in 1947.  He would later play for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Inman Jackson:  Jackson helped in the evolution of the Harlem Globetrotters to a basketball/comedy act, and he was the first to assume the role as the “clown prince” of the team. He played with them from 1940 to 1945, and after he stopped playing, he remained with the team in various capacities.

Clarence “Fats” Jenkins:  Also playing for the Negro Leagues in Baseball, Jenkins played for the St. Christopher’s Club Youth Team, which were considered the best black team in the last half of the 1910s.  He would later captain the legendary New York Rens, and Chicago Crusaders later in his career.

Bucky Lew:  History shows that Lew was the first black player to be an integrated basketball game, which happened in 1902 in the New England Professional Basketball League. Like most black players, he would participate in barnstorming teams for years after.

Davage “Dave” Minor:  After being an All PCC Selection twice at UCLA, Minor became one of the first black players signed by the NBA, when he joined the Baltimore Bullets in 1951.  The jump shot specialist would also play for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Hudson Oliver:  Prior to the 1910s, Hudson Oliver was considered one of the best African American basketball players.  He was a four-time winner of the Colored Basketball World Championship with three different teams: The Smart Set Athletic Club, The Washington 12 Streeters and Howard University.  He would become a doctor after his playing days.

Al “Runt” Pullins:  Standing at only 5’ 8”, Pullins played for the Harlem Clowns and later helped to set up the Harlem Globetrotters.

James “Pappy” Ricks:  Ricks is already in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the New York Rens. He was an original member, playing for them from 1932 to 1936.

Paul Robeson:  Robeson was a star player in the 1910s, and he played for the St. Chrotopher Team. He was also an elite player in football.

Eyre Saitch:  Saitch played for the New York Rens and was part of the first all-black team to win a world championship.

William “Wee Willie” Smith:  Smith played for the New York Rens from 1931 to 1942, and is in the Hall of Fame as a member of the Rens.

Direct-Elect Category:  International Committee Nominations:

Patrick Baumann:  Baumann was a Swiss player, who would later be the President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations and the Secretary General of FIBA.

Tal Brody:  Playing his college ball at Illinois, Brody would move to Israel and play for Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he would help them win 10 Israeli League Champions and the EuroLeague in 1977.

Jacky Chazalon:  From France, Chazalon played professionally in Europe from 1960 to 1976, and represented her country in many tournaments.  She led France to a Silver Medal in the 1970 EuroBasket Tournament.

Alphonso Ford:  From the United States, Ford had a cup of coffee in the NBA, but became a star in the European Leagues.  After playing one year in the Spanish League, he bounced through four teams in the Greek League (Papagou, Sporting, Peristeri & Olympiacos), and he was the top scorer in the Greek four times and twice in the EuroLeague.  He was the Greek League MVP in 2001.

Giuseppe Giergia:  Giergia played his entire pro career with Zadar of the Yugoslavian League, and he would represent Yugoslavia Internationally.  He would win the Silver Medal twice in the FIBA World Cup (1963 & 1967) and another Silver in the 1965 EuroBasket.

Semen Khalipski:  From Belarus, Khalipski would coach the national team for years.

Vladimir Kondrashin:  Kondrashin played for Spartak Leningrad, who he would later coach from 1967 to 1995. He would also coach the Soviet Union, and would win Gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics, 1974 FIBA World Cup, and the 1971 EuroBasket.

Toni Kukoc:  Before Kukoc arrived to the Chicago Bulls, he had already won three EuroLeague Championships. With the Bulls he was a three-time NBA Champion and won the Sixth Man of the Year in 1996.  With Yugoslavia, he would lead his country to Gold in the 1990 World Cup, and both the 1989 and 1991 EuroBasket Title.  He also took the Yugoslavian team to a Silver Medal in the Seoul Olympics.

Marcos Leite:  Leite played for Brazil and he would take his country to three FIBA South American Championships (1971, 1973 & 1983) and Gold at the 1971 Pan American Games.  He also played in Brazil’s 1970 Silver Medal and the 1978 Bronze Medal World Cup team.  Leite also played at Pepperdine, and was the 1976 WCAC Player of the Year.

Shimon Mizrahi:  Mizrahi became the Chairman of Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1969, which would become the most successful basketball team in Israel.  Since he entered that role, the team won 42 Israeli Super Leagues and five EuroLeagues.

Aldo Ossola:  Ossola played his pro career in Italy (1964-80), and was a five-time Euro-League Champion. He would also lead his respective teams (Milano 1958 & Varese) to seven Italian League Championships.

Amaury Pasos:  Pasos played 20 years in the Brazilian League, and he would take his club team to two Brazilian Championships.  Pasos would take Brazil to two FIBA World Cup Gold Medals (1959 & 1963), and four FIBA South American Championships (1958, 1960, 1961 & 1963).  He was named the World Cup MVP in 1959.

Dan Peterson:  After coaching at Delaware, Peterson coached Vitrus Bolgna (1973-79) and Olimpia Milano (1979-88).  He would coach Milano to a EuroLeague Championship in 1987, which was the same year he was the European Coach of the Year.  He would also win the Italian League five times.

Manuel Sainz: From Spain, Sainz played his pro ball in his country, and represented Spain multiple times.  He was a four-time Euro-League Champion as a player and twice as a Coach.

Togo Soares:  From Brazil, Soares was a very successful coach in the Brazilian League.  Internationally, he won the FIBA World Cup twice (1959 & 1963), and was a five-time FIBA South American Champion.

Ranko Zeravica:  Zeravica was a Head Coach in the Yugoslavian League and for Yugoslavia itself.  He would lead his country to a Gold Medal in the Olympics in 1980 and 1970 FIBA World Cup.

Direct-Elect Category:  Veterans Committee Nominations:

1936 United States Olympic Team:  The Americans won the first official Gold Medal in the sport at the Berlin Games.  They defeated Canada in the Gold Medal Game.  The team was comprised of Sam Balter, Ralph Bishop, Joe Fortenberry, Tex Gibbons, Francis Johnson, Carl Knowles, Frank Lubin, Art Mollner, Donald Piper, Jack Ragland, Willard Schmidt, Carl Shy, Duane Swanson & Bill Wheatley.

1964 State Department Basketball Ambassadors:  This was a goodwill tour of NBA stars that played 19 games in the former Iron Curtain, and two games in Egypt.  It is the first tour of comprising of NBA players in history.  It was coached by Red Auerbach, and comprised of Bill Russell, Tom Heinohn, KC Jones, Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Bob Pettit and Tom Gola.  

1965 World University Games Team:  This was the first time the United States participated and they went 8-0 at the games in Budapest, Hungary.  The team was coached by John Kundla, and comprised John Austin, Bill Bradley, Bill Buntin, Billy Cunningham, Joe Ellis, Fred Hetzel, Lou Hudson, Jim Jarvis, Ollie Johnson, Floyd Theard, Dick Van Arsdale and Tom Van Arsdale.

Tom Blackburn(Coach):  Blackburn was the Head Coach at the University of Dayton from 1947 until be passed away in 1964.  His record was 352-141, and took the Flyers to a NIT Championship win in 1962.

Ron Boone: Boone played his college ball at Idaho State, and joined the ABA, playing for Dallas, Utah and the Spirits of St. Louis.  He was a four-time ABA All-Star and a Champion with the Chaparrals in 1971. He was in the NBA for five years after. He is ranked #91 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sid Borgia(Referee):  Borgia was a referee in the NBA from 1946 to 1964, and would serve as a Supervisor of Officials for two years.  He would later have that role in the ABA.

Frank Brian:  Brian played at LSU, and would later win the NBL Title with the Anderson Packers.  He would later play for the Fort Wayne Pistons and was a two-time NBA All-Star.

Joe Caldwell:  Caldwell was a two-time First Team All-WAC selection at Arizona State, and represented the U.S. in their 1964 Olympic Gold Medal run.  Caldwell would play for the Detroit Pistons and St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks in first six seasons as a pro, where he would be named two All-Stars. He would later play in the ABA for the Chicago Cougars/Spirits of St. Louis, and he was twice an All-Star in that organization.

Mack Calvin:  Calvin played at USC, and would join the ABA in 1969, where he debuted for the Los Angeles Stars.  He would be named an All-Star annually from 1971 to 1975, when he played for the Floridians, Carolina Cougars and Denver Nuggets respectively.  The Point Guard would also be a three-time First Team All-ABA Selection.  He finished his career with the Virginia Squires, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Darel Carrier:  A three-time First Team OVC Selection at Western Kentucky, he would be a three-time ABA All-Star with the Kentucky Colonels.  He would play one more season with the Memphis Tams.

Jack Coleman:  Coleman played at the University of Louisville, and he was a two-time NBA Champion, the first with the Rochester Royals in 1951, and the second in his final season, the St. Louis Hawks in 1958.  He was also an All-Star in 1955.

Bob Dandridge:  Dandridge was a star at Norfolk State, and he would play his first eight seasons in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks.  In Wisconsin, he was a three-time All-Star and won the NBA Title in 1971.  Later, with the Washington Bullets, he went to his fourth All-Star Game, and was a Second Team All-Star in 1979.  The year before he won the NBA Title as a Bullet.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Eckman( Referee):  Eckman was the Head Coach of the Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons from 1954 to 1957, and he was an elite referee before and after that coaching stint.  He retired in 1967, and refereed over 3,500 Games at the college and pro level.  Eckman is the only person who officiated games in the NIT, NCAA and the NBA Finals.

Leroy Edwards:  An All-American in 1935 at the University of Kentucky, Edwards played for 12 years in the NBL with the Oshkosh All-Stars.  He was a three-time NBL MVP, three-time scoring champion, and two-time NBL Champion.

Leo Ferris(Contributor):  Ferris was a sports executive, who is best known for inventing the 24-second shot clock.  He was the General Manager of the Syracuse Nationals, and he is also credited for being the first GM to come up with halftime shows.

Clarence “Bevo” Francis: Francis was one of the greatest scorers in college history, twice topping the 100 Point mark in a game.  Playing at Rio Grande, he would average 48.3 Points per Game in 1953, and 48.0 Points per Game in 1954.  He played for the barnstorming team, the Boston Whirlwinds for a bit, but elected not to play in the NBA.

Buck Freeman(Coach):  Freeman was the Head Coach at St. John’s from 1927 to 1936, and he had a record of 179-32.  He would later be the school’s Director of Athletics.

Donnie Freeman:  Freeman played at the University of Illinois, and he began his pro career in the ABA, where he played for five teams (Minnesota Muskies/Miami Floridians, Utah Stars, Texas/Dallas Chaparrals, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs). He was a five-time ABA All-Star, and was a champion with the Pacers in 1973.  Freeman also had one year with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Travis Grant:  Grant was a superstar at Kentucky State where he would lead the institution to three NAIA Titles.  He would average 33.4 Points per Game for the school.  He would play four years in the professional ranks, for the Los Angeles Lakers, San Diego Conquistadors, Kentucky Colonels and Indiana Pacers.

Bob Grody:  Grody played in the 1920s and 30s for multiple teams in multiple organizations, and was considered one of the most well-rounded athletes of his day.

Robert Harrison:  A college player at Michigan, Robert Harrison would win three NBA Championships with the Minneapolis Lakers, and was an All-Star in 1956 when he was with the St. Louis Hawks.  He finished his career with the Syracuse Nationals.

Flo Harvey:  Harvey played 20 years (1905-25) for independent teams in the New England area.

Dick Hemric:  Hemric was a two-time ACC Player of the Year at Wake Forest, and was a Consensus Second Team All-American as a Senior in 1955.  Hemric is the all-time ACC leader in rebounds.  He played two years with the Boston Celtics, winning an NBA Title in 1957.

Cam Henderson(Coach):  A true innovator (he is credited with developing the fast break), Henderson coached Muskingum College (1920-22), Davis & Elkins College (1923-35) and Marshall (1935-55), and had a record of 621-234.  He would simultaneous serve as those school’s football coach.

Robert Hopkins:  Hopkins played at Grambling State (1952-56) where he would average 29.8 Points per Game. He would later play for the Syracuse Nationals for four seasons.

Lou Hudson:  A star at the University of Minnesota, Hudson would become a bigger name with the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks.  He would be a six-time All-Star and was an All-NBA Second Team Selection in 1970.  Both the Golden Gophers and Hawks would retire his number.  He is ranked #16 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Warren Jabali:  Jabali was a three-time First Team All-MVC Selection at Wichita State, and he would play his entre professional career in the ABA.  While there, he played for the Oakland Oaks, Washington Caps, Indiana Pacers, The Floridians, Denver Rockets and the San Diego Conquistadors.  He was the ABA Rookie of the Year, a four-time ABA All-Star, and was a Champion with the Oaks in 1969.

Jimmy Jones:  A college star at Grambling State, Jones was a three-time First Team All-ABA, and six-time ABA All-Star in a career with the New Orleans Buccaneers, Memphis Pros and Utah Stars.  He would also play three years with the Washington Bullets in the NBA.

Charles Keinath:  Keinath was a four-time All-American at Penn (1906-09), where he would be a two-time National Champion (1906 & 1907).  He was also a champion for the Quakers in Football.

Kentucky Wesleyan:  This is for the Division II Championship Teams in 1966, 1968 & 1969.

Freddie Lewis:  Lewis was a First Team All-WAC Selection at Arizona State, and he would later be a three-time ABA Champion with the Indiana Pacers.  He was also a four-time ABA All-Star.

Jim Loscutoff: “Loscy” was a First Team All-PCC player at Oregon in 1955, and he would play for the Boston Celtics from 1955 to 1964. With the Celtics, Loscutoff was a seven-time NBA Champion.

Loyola of Chicago:  This is in reference of the Ramblers 1963 Division I Championship Team.

Billy Markward(Contributor):  Markward was the Head Coach for Roman Catholic High School Team in Philadelphia for many years after he was a semi-pro player from 1900 to 1907. He would coach one of the first integrated teams, and is credited in helping develop the passing game.  

Ed McCluskey(Coach):  McCluskey was the head coach for 28 years at Farrell High in Pittsburgh. He would lead his school to seven State Titles and had a record of 698-185 after also coaching Burgettstown and Kennedy Christian High.

Ray Mears(Coach):  Mears was the Head Coach at Wittenberg from 1956-62, but it was at Tennessee where he achieved his greatest success.  Coaching the Volunteers from 1962 to 1977, he would win three SEC Tournaments and was a two-time SEC Coach of the Year.  Mears retired with a record of 399-135.

Francis Meehan:  Nicknamed “Stretch” for being one of the first truly tall men in the game (he was 6’ 7”), Francis Meehan starred at Seton Hall on the college level.  He would play for multiple pro teams on the pro level across the American Northeast. 

Donald “Dudley” Moore(Coach):  Moore was a Head Coach at Duquesne from 1948 to 1958, and he would lead his school to a NIT Championship in 1955.  He would later take over at LaSalle from 1958 to 1963.  Moore’s overall record was 270-107.

Willie Naulls:  Naulls was a First Team All-PCC Selection at UCLA, and would later win three NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics (1964-66) and was also a four-time All-Star.  Naulls also played for the St. Louis Hawks, New York Knicks and San Francisco Warriors.  Ranked #87 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Philadelphia SPHAS:  The Sphas were formed in 1917, and they would win 12 Championships in their respective leagues, most notably the Eastern Basketball League and the American Basketball League.

Mel Riebe:  Riebe played his pro ball in the National Basketball League (1943-45) and the Basketball Association of American (1946-49).  He was the 1944 NBL Rookie of the Year, and was twice the league scoring champion.

Glenn Roberts:  One of the first players to utilize the jump shot, Roberts went from Emory and Henry to the NBL, where he took the Akron Firestone Non-Skids to a league title in 1939.

Holcombe Rucker(Contributor):  Rucker was the playground director for Harlem from 1948 to 1964.  In that time, he founded the New York City Pro-Am. It became a legendary tournament, and a famed court in Harlem still bears his name.

Kenny Sailors:  Sailors was a huge star at the University of Wyoming, where he took the Cowboys to the NCAA Championship in 1943.  That year he was a Consensus First Team All-American and was the NCAA Tournament MVP. As a pro, he was an All-BAA Second Team Selection as a Providence Steamroller in 1949.  

Fred Schaus(Contributor):  Before he was a college coach, Schaus was an NBA All-Star (1951). He would then coach West Virginia from 1954 to 1960, and would be named the SoCon Coach of the Year four times. He would later coach the Los Angeles Lakers from 1960 to 1967, and won an NBA Championship with them as an Executive in 1972.  Schaus returned to the coaching ranks with Purdue from 1972 to 1978.  His college coaching record is 250-97, and his NBA Coaching record is 315-245.

Kenny Sears:  A two-time WCC Player of the Year at Santa Clara, Sears would become a an All-Star twice with the New York Knicks.  He was the first basketball player to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.  

Frank Selvy:  Selvy played his college ball at Furman, where he would set a mark for a 100 Point Game. He was a two-time NCAA Scoring Champion (1953 & 1954), two-time SoCon Player of the Year (1953 & 1954), and was a Consensus All-American in 1954.  He would go on to appear in two NBA All-Star Games (1955 & 1962), and he played for Baltimore, Milwaukee/St. Louis, Minneapolis/Los Angeles, New York and Syracuse.  

George Senesky:  Senesky was a Division I Scoring Champion and Consensus First Team All-American in 1943. He would later play for the Philadelphia Warriors in the BAA, then NBA, and he was a champion in 1947.  He would later become their Head Coach, and would lead them to an NBA Title in 1956.

Paul Seymour:  Seymour played for the Toledo Jeeps, Baltimore Bullets and the Syracuse Nationals, where he played the majority of his career (1948-60).  With Syracuse, he was an NBA Champion (1955), and was a three-time All-Star (1953-55).  While he was with the Nationals, he became a player/coach from 1956-60.  He also would coach the St. Louis Hawks (1960-62), Baltimore (1965-66) and the Detroit Pistons (1968-69).

Charles Siler(Contributor):  Siler helped with the game’s origins by developing some of the game’s rules.

Talvin Skinner: Skinner was twice a First Team All-MEAC Selection at Maryland Eastern Shore, and would lead them to an NIT invitation.  That marked the first time that a Historically Black College participated. Skinner would later play two seasons for the Seattle SuperSonics.

Ken Suesens:  A Guard at the University of Iowa, Suessens played in the NBL for the Sheboygan Red Skins (1938-49), and took them to a title in 1943.  He was a Second Team All-NBL Selection twice.

Dick Van Arsdale:  Playing his college ball at Indiana, Dick Van Arsdale would begin his pro career with the New York Knicks in 1965.  He would later be chosen by the Phoenix Suns in the 1968 Expansion Draft, where he would play nine seasons and go to three All-Star Games.

Tom Van Arsdale:  The twin brother of Dick Van Arsdale, Tom Van Arsdale also played at Indiana.  He was a three-time All Star during his time with the Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City Kings.  He would also play for Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Phoenix.

Perry Wallace:  Wallace broke down the barrier when he became the first African American player to play in the SEC, when he suited up for Vanderbilt in 1967.  He would be a Second Team All-SEC selection in 1970, and his number was retired by the Commodores in 1970.

Frank Walsh:  Actually, we could use some help on this one!

Willie Wise:  A member of the All-Time ABA Team, Wise played for the Los Angeles Stars/Utah Stars from 1969 to 1974, where he went to two All-Star Games, was named to one All-ABA Second All-Team, and won an ABA Championship.  He went his third ABA All-Star Game as a Virginia Squire in 1974. 

Max Zaslosky:  Zaslofsky came from St. John’s to the NBA’s Chicago Stags where he was the scoring champion in 1948 and was a First Team All-Star in the first four seasons of his career. He would later play for the New York Knicks, and was an All-Star in 1952.  Zaslofsky finished his career with the Baltimore Bullets, Milwaukee Hawks and Fort Wayne Pistons.  He is ranked #9 on our Notinhalloffame.comlist.  

Direct-Elect Category:  Women’s Veterans Committee Nominations:

Alline Banks Sprouse:  Sprouse played for Nashville Business College in the AAU for 12 years.

Edmonton Commercial Grads:  Playing for 25 years (1915-40), the Grads were multi-time National and International Champions.  They would win 95 percent of their games.  Their Coach, Percy Page, would later serve as the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

John Head:  Head was the Head Coach of Nashville Business College, where he was at the helm from 1948 to 1969.  He would have a record of 68-94 and won 11 AAU Championships.  Internationally, he was the Head Coach for the U.S., and would take the Women’s Team to Gold Medals in the FIBA Titles (1953 & 1957) and the 1963 Pan American Games.

Pearl Moore:  Moore was a scoring machine at Francis Marion University and the New York Stars of the Women’s Professional Basketball League.

Nashville Business College:  NBC was led by John Head (also nominated) and would win 11 Titles from 1950 to 1969.

Lometa Odom:  Odom played at Wayland Baptist from 1953 to 1956, and while she was there the team went 115-5.  She would also win the Gold Medal with Team U.S.A. at the 1955 Pan American Games.

Harley Redin:  Redin was the Head Coach of the Wayland Baptist University team from 1955 to 1973. He had a record of 429-63.

Teresa Shank:  In the college ranks, Shank was the Head Coach of Saint Joseph’s (1974), Rutgers (1976-85), Illinois (1995-07) and Lafayette (2015-17).  She also coached the U.S. Women’s team to Bronze in the 1992 Olympics, and Gold at the 1990 FIBA Championship.

Hazel Walker:  Walker would take Tulsa Business College to an AAU National Championship in 1934, and would later play for the All-American Red Heads Team.  She would form her own barnstorming team, the Arkansas Travelers.

We will be watching to see which of these Nominees will advance to Springfield as the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020.

44 years after he was named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Bill Russell finally accepted his Hall of Fame ring.  

In a tweet, he said that “in ’75 I refused to be the 1^stblack player to go into” the hall as he “felt others before me should have that honor.”  He referenced Chuck Cooper in that tweet, who was chosen earlier this year.  Cooper was the first African-American to play in the NBA in 1950.

Russell mentioned that he received the ring in a private ceremony, which was attended by his wife and close friends, which included Alonzo Mourning and Bill Walton.  

Walton was an 11-time NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics, a two-time NCAA Champion with the University of San Francisco and an Olympic Gold Medalist with the United States.  He was a five-time MVP, eleven-time All-NBA selection and twelve-time All-Star.

Suddenly, the Basketball Hall of Fame seems so much more relevant.  

 

We initially were not going to comment on this but based on the buzz it is generating, and the fact that we are Notinhalloffame.com, we have decided to give our pair of pennies.

In an interview with Today on NBC’s Today on why Steph Curry would not be on his dream five-man pick-up team. His answer was:

“He’s still a great player…Not a Hall of Famer yet, though.  He’s not.”

Keep in mind this was said in a playful tone, so we have no idea whether this was done with a wink, and whether he actually meant it.  We have to believe that he didn’t and was just playing, or perhaps if he did, it is not by his “hall of fame standard”.

If he does mean it, he is in the minority, as he is a two-time MVP and three-time NBA Champion with six All-Stars and a scoring title.  

As for our opinion, in our new section that ranks active basketball players based on their existing Hall of Fame resume, we have Curry ranked #5, and feel that he is already a Hall of Fame lock.

Either way, it generated a few comments in the 24-hour news cycle of sports and will be forgotten tomorrow.  

Until Curry brings it up in his Hall of Fame speech.

 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com are always looking to add new sections to our website.  Last month, we uploaded our top 100 active NFL players and how their Hall of Fame resumes stack up.  

We are doing the exact same thing with the NBA.

As opposed to 100 like we did in Football, we are going with only 50 in Basketball.  

We liked the idea that we used in Football with a modern “Modern Positional Average”, so we are doing something similar here.  With advanced analytics, we decided that we don’t have to isolate based on position so they are all on one list.

Inspired by Jay Jaffe’s JAWS statistic that looks at the best seven-year stretch of a baseball player according to bWAR, we are doing the same with current basketball players.  Specifically, we compiled the average PER, Win Shares and VORP for each of the past Hall of Famers based on their best seven-year period.  The additional thinking behind this is that in Basketball, there is an additional focus on periods of greatness as opposed to sports like Baseball, where compiling statistics is more glorified.

To keep everything modern, the average we used is the last 14 inductees, but only the ones who were Modern Era Inductees.  This excludes Direct-Elect Candidates (contributors, Early African-American Pioneers, International and Veterans).  The only exception is Vlade Divac, who was chosen via the International Committee, but has a healthy NBA career to draw upon.

As of this writing, the 14 players from the last four induction classes who we are using for the composite averages are:

Ray Allen, Maurice Cheeks, Vlade Divac, Bobby Jones, Grant Hill, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Sidney Moncrief, Steve Nash, Shaquille O’Neal, Jack Sikma and Paul Westphal. 

While we are not looking at traditional statistics, we are averaging out All-Star Games and All-NBA Selections.  With the latter, we are looking at this in weighted fashion.  In terms of Third Team All-NBA Selections, one point will be assigned, Second Team All-NBA Selections will have two points will be granted, and First Team All-NBA Selections will have three points.  

Here are the averages:

Based on their elite seven-year stretch the average PER of the last 14 Modern Era Hall of Famers is 21.5.

Based on their elite seven-year stretch, the average Win Shares of the last 14 Modern Era Hall of Famers is 65.1.

Based on their elite seven-year stretch, the average VORP of the last 14 Modern Era Hall of Famers is 27.8.

With All-Star and All-NBA Selections, we look at the entire career of the player.  

The average All-Star Selections of the last 14 Modern Era Hall of Famers is 7.4.

The average All-Pro Selections (based on the pointed average of one for a Third Team, two for a Second Team and three for a First Team Selection) is 9.8.

We are also adding NBA Championships. Often,  players in this team sport more than any other (except for NFL Quarterbacks) are judged by the number of rings they have.  Perhaps, that shouldn't be as regarded as it is, considering the average amount of titles of our last 14 Modern Era Hall of Famers is less than 1.  Specifically, it is 0.79.

Wrapping this up in a bow, the six variables we are looking at Elite Period PER, Elite Period Win Shares, Elite Period VORP, All-Star Games, Weighted All-Pro Selections, NBA Championships.

This will be a regular feature on Notinhalloffame.com, and we will be updating this at the end of the season.

You can find our new section HERE.

As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com thank all of you for your support!

Three (people) come to mind immediately in terms of what we consider the Hall of Fame elevator.

Marc Gasol:  Elevator up.  Gasol made history as the second player (after Lamar Odom) to win an NBA Championship and a World Cup Gold Medal in the same calendar year.  Gasol made the all-tournament team is a three-time All-Star from his time in Memphis and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2012-13. The Spanish star was also a former First Team All-NBA Selection in 2014-15.

Luis Scola:  Elevator up.  Currently playing in the Chinese League, Scola was also an all-tournament team selection. Representing Argentina on the International level, Scola would become the second leading scorer (behind Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt) in World Cup Scoring and he won his second Silver Medal in this tournament.  He has also won a Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympics, Bronze in the 2008 Olympics, Gold at the Pan-American Games and in the AmeriCup, he had two Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and three Bronze Medals.

Team U.S.A.:  All of them on a stalled elevator where anyone of them would have rocketed two floors.  When star after star pulled out of Team U.S.A., they were expected to falter, but a seventh-place finish is disastrous.  Had the Americans won Gold with one (or multiple) players leading the charge that player(s) would have a major feather in their cap taking an underdog U.S. team to a title.

We are also in the process of unveiling are top 50 active Basketball Players for Hall of Fame consideration.  It will be in a similar format of our Football List, which we uploaded last month.

Andre Iguodala, who is in the middle of going after his fourth NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors about his chances for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in an interview with Ethan Strauss f the Atlantic. Based on his comments, it is a topic he never thinks about it, nor think is even worth consideration: Iguodala had this to say: I don't care. None of it matters. Does anyone remember any of those speeches other than Jordan's? See, here's how it works. One day, you're replaced. Then it's some other motherf--ker in there. And then there's another motherf--ker. And another after that. Nobody remembers anything. None of it matters!" Normally, we don’t believe it when players say it doesn’t matter in regards to the Hall of Fame, but we tend to believe Iguodala on this one…although we care! On the surface, Andre Iguodala is not a name that stands out. He has only been an All-Star once, and he isn’t likely to gain a second. Throw in that he was never an All-NBA Selection and it becomes even harder. Still, this is a player who was a former Finals MVP, whose play in 2015 likely won Golden State the championship. His Gold Medal for Team U.S.A. in 2012 doesn’t hurt either. He probably won’t get into the Hall of Fame, thus robbing of us a speech that could rival Jordan’s (whose oration was memorable for the wrong reasons) but he is not as far away as many people would think. We will certainly be giving him a solid rank once he is Hall of Fame eligible.

Following our last piece on the six names (Al Attles, Chuck Cooper, Vlade Divac, Bobby Jones, Sidney Moncrief and Paul Westphal  leaked by Adrian Wojnarowski the Basketball Hall of Fame has announced the full class. The additional members are:

Carl Braun:  Braun played at Colgate University and played 12 of his 13 seasons with the New York Knicks where he was a five time All Star (1953-57).  He would win the NBA Championship in his last year as a player, 1962 with the Boston Celtics.

Bill Fitch:  Fitch coached at Coe, North Dakota, Bowling and Minnesota before jumping to the pro ranks where he helmed the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1970 to 1979 and was the organization’s first Head Coach.  He would later take over in Boston and he took them to the title in 1981.  He finished out his career with coaching stints in Houston, New Jersey and the Los Angeles Clippers and had a career record of 944-1,106 and was a two time Coach of the Year (1976 & 1980)

Jack Sikma:  A two time NAIA All-American at Illinois Wesleyan, Jack Sikma split his pro career for the Seattle SuperSonics and the Milwaukee Bucks where he helped the latter win the NBA Championship in 1979.  He was a seven time All Star.  He was ranked #3 on our last Notinhalloffame.com list.

Teresa Weatherspoon:  Witherspoon led Louisiana Tech to the NCAA Title in 1988 and won the Wade Trophy along the way as the nation’s top player.  She was a six time Italian League All Star and a four time WNBA All Star and was twice named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.  She also helped the United States win Olympic Gold in 1988.

Also inducted are the 1957-59 Tennessee A&I Men’s Team and the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens Women’s Program.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2019.

Six names for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame have been revealed byESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowskiand let’s just get right to who they are:

Al Attles:  Attles played for the Philadelphia /San Francisco Warriors for over a decade but midway through the 1969/70 Season he would become the Warriors Player/Coach making him one of the first African-American Coaches in the National Basketball Association.  He hung up the shoes a year later but was their Head Coach until 1983 where he would take them to the Championship in 1975 and compiled a 588-548 record.

Chuck Cooper:  Cooper made history as the first African-American to be drafted in the NBA, which occurred when Boston Celtics chose him with their Second Round Pick (14^thOverall) in 1950.  Cooper played for Duquesne collegiately and was in the NBA for seven seasons (Boston 1950-54), Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954-56) and Fort Wayne (1956).  Cooper faced intense prejudice as he would often have to stay in separate hotels and dine separately from his teammates. Cooper was chosen by the direct-elect Early African-American Pioneers Committee.

Vlade Divac:  An NBA All Star in 2001, Vlade Divac had over 13,000 Points over his career and would take Yugoslavia to many championships, most notably a win at the 1990 World Cup. Divac is Serbian and has been known for his humanitarian efforts and he is currently the General Manager of the Sacramento Kings.  He was ranked #24 by us on Notinhalloffame.com and he enters via the International Committee. 

Bobby Jones:  A Second Team All American from North Carolina, Bobby Jones began his pro career with the Denver Nuggets of the ABA in 1974 and would later join the Philadelphia 76ers until he retired in 1986.  Jones would go to four All Star Games was named to eight First Team All Defensive squads was the first ever Sixth Man of the Year and in 1983 he helped the Sixers with the NBA Title.  Jones was ranked #14 on our latest Notinhalloffame.com list.

Sidney Moncreif:  Moncrief was a First Team All-American and SWC Player of the Year in 1979 and in the NBA he was a two time Defensive Player of the Year (1983 & 1984) and was a five time All Star (1982-86). Moncreif played 12 of his 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and he was ranked #2 on our latest Notinhalloffame.com list.

Paul Westphal:  Westphal would help the Boston Celtics win the 1974 NBA Championship and from 1977 to 1981 he was named an All Star with three of those seasons (1977, 1979 & 1980) seeing him named a First Team All Pro while he was with the Phoenix Suns. He was ranked #15 on our last Notinhalloffame.com list.

Wojnarowski also announced that Chris Webber, Ben Wallace and Marques Johnson were not chosen.

For us Webber’s induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame is long overdue and we are guessing that they are wiping out his accomplishments at the University of Michigan due to the booster scandal he was involved in. 

Next year is absolutely loaded as Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh and Kevin Garnett are now eligible. We will be updating our Notinhalloffame.com Basketball list next month.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the six men who have been reported to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

In an interview with Hoops Hype, Tim Hardaway stated that the reason that he was not in the Basketball Hall of Fame was due to an interview he had with Dan LeBetard which was anti-gay.

He had this to say to Hoops Hype:

"Well, you know, the reason I'm not in is because of what I said in 2007 about gay people.  That's why I'm not in right now, and I understand it. I hurt a lot of people's feelings and it came off the wrong way and it was really bad of me to say that. Since then, I've turned a wrong into a right. My parents used to always tell me, 'If you do something wrong, look it in the eye. Don't back down from it and be scared of it. Go make it right and make people understand that you made a mistake.”

For those who may have forgotten what he said in 2007, take a look below:

You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States.

(In regards to having a gay teammate) First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team. And second of all, if he was on my team, I would, you know, really distance myself from him because, uh, I don't think that's right. And you know I don't think he should be in the locker room while we're in the locker room. I wouldn't even be a part of that.

Pretty brutal right? 

The reaction against Hardaway was swift and he was removed from that year’s All Star festivities. Hardaway has been contrite since that time and has been active in LGBTQ rights since then.

The question now that has to be asked is Tim Hardaway right?

Hardaway has a strong resume as he was part of the famed Run TMC Offense on Golden State with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin who are both already inducted.  A five time All Star, in our eyes it is more significant that he is a five time All-NBA Selection with one First Team, three Second Teams and one Third Team.  Stat wise he is solid with five 20 Point per Game seasons and three 10 Assist per Game seasons, but it should be pointed out that he never led the NBA in any statistical category, his highest MVP finish was fourth and he was never in the top 15 in PER.  

Basically, we are talking about a player who had excellent numbers but they did not reach the level where he could not be ignored.  Hardaway is ranked #8on our most recent Basketball list.

As is tradition every NBA All Star Weekend, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announces the Finalists for their impending Hall of Fame Class.

The Finalists are:

Hugh Evans (Referee):  Evans officiated nearly 2,000 regular season games and 170 playoff games in the NBA from 1972 to 2001.

Bill Fitch (Coach):  Fitch coached in the NBA for 25 seasons and he was named the Coach of the Year in 1976 and 1980.  In 1981, he would take the Boston Celtics to the NBA Championship.  

Marques Johnson (Player):  A five time All Star and First Team All NBA Selection in 1979, Marques Johnson was a champion at UCLA in 1975 and was named the National College Player of the Year in 1977.  He is ranked #29on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bobby Jones (Player):  Jones was named an All Defensive First Team player eight times (1977 to 1984) and was a member of the Philadelphia 76ers 1983 Championship Team.  Collegiately, Jones took the University of North Carolina to a Final Four in 1972.  He is ranked #14on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Sidney Moncrief (Player):A five time All Star (1982 to 1986), Sidney Moncrief was a two time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1983 & 1984) was also an All-American at the University of Arkansas.  He is ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jack Sikma (Player):Sikma was chosen for seven straight All Star Games (1979 to 1985) and would help the Seattle SuperSonics win the NBA Championship in 1979.  He is ranked #3on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Eddie Sutton (Coach):Sutton is a four time National Coach of the Year (1977, 1978, 1986 & 1995) and he made history as the first coach to take four different schools to the National Tournament.  At present he is seventh all time in wins in the NCAA.

Ben Wallace (Player):  Wallace is a four time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005 & 2006) and a four time All Star (2003-06) would help the Detroit Pistons shock the world when they won the NBA Championship in 2004.  He is ranked #4on Notinhalloffame.com

Chris Webber (Player):  The leader of Michigan’s “Fab Five” would become a five time All Star (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003) and a two time First Team All-NBA Selection.  He is ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Paul Westphal (Player):  Westphal would help the Boston Celtics win the NBA Championship in 1974 and would later be chosen for five NBA All Star Games (1977-81) and earned three First Team All NBA Selections (1977, 1979 & 1980).  He is ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Women’s Committee Finalists are:

Leta Andrews (Coach):  Andrews coached high school basketball for over 50 years and would win multiple championships at that level.

Barbara Stevens (Coach):  Stevens is a veteran of college coaching for over 40 years and she has been a Division II National Coach of the Year five times and was a National Champion in 2014 with Bentley University.

Teresa Weatherspoon (Player):  A five time WNBA All Star (1999-2003), Weatherspoon was also a two time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.   She was also a champion in the NCAA (Louisiana Tech 1988) and the Olympics (United States 1988)

The Naismith Class of 2019 will be announced during the Final Four.

With Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh and Kevin Garnett on the horizon this is the year that the former players who are Finalists this year need to get enshrined for fear of a much longer waiting period.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com will certainly be paying close attention to what transpires next at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame!