NBA: Who Gets A Hall of Fame Pass?

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is not the NBA Hall of Fame. That would explain why people like Van Chancellor, and Drazen Dalipagic are in it. The 2007 class featured five coaches, one entire team, a referee, and not one individual player.

The entire Hall of Fame consists of only 258 players and five teams. That isn't a lot, when you consider that the Hall opened it's doors in 1960.

How exclusive is the Naismith Hall of Fame? James Worthy didn't get in the first time he was on the ballot. Neither did Dominique Wilkins. Worthy was a collegiate champion, a four-time NBA champion and a Finals' MVP. Had the United States not boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Worthy would have had his chance at a gold medal too.

How about the fact that since 1996, only nine players from the modern NBA have been enshrined who didn't have either the Lakers or the Celtics listed on the back of their basketball card. (In case you're wondering, Alex English's role as a Celtic in Amazing Grace and Chuck does not qualify him as a Celtic).

Taking a look at the current crop of NBA players, I wanted to see how great the company we are in the presence of actually is.

I went through all of the NBA rosters and came up with three lists: "In", "On The Way", and "Out".

The "In" list is reserved for the guys that if they'd played their last game yesterday, would still be voted in.

The "On The Way" list is for the guys that just need to continue progressing the way they have been (i.e. Dirk Nowitzki) or only need to add a couple more achievements to their bio (i.e. Manu Ginobili) for their ticket to be punched.

The "Out" list is reserved for the guys who are either considered Hall-worthy only by their hometown fans (i.e. Gilbert Arenas) or don't have enough years left in their careers to make a strong enough case (i.e. Chauncey Billups). Don't forget that Dennis Johnson isn't in the Hall of Fame. So if the guy you think isn't better than DJ, then don't waste your time trying to make an argument.

There's an old school of thought regarding the Hall of Fame that says if you have to think about it, then the answer is no.

Here are the six that you don't have to think about (in no particular order): 

IN

1. Kevin Garnett
2. Allen Iverson
3. Shaquille O'Neal
4. Jason Kidd
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Tim Duncan

That's it. I don't think anyone will argue that any of them aren't worthy. It's pretty amazing that the list stops at six.

Kidd is the only one who some might take issue with. In addition to a stellar amateur career, Kidd took his teams to two NBA Finals, trails only Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson in career triple-doubles (99), and is behind only Magic, Oscar, John Stockton and Mark Jackson in career assists. If he can accumulate at leat 500 assists in each of the next two seasons, he'll finish his career second only to Stockton.

Iverson is the only one who the Honors Committee might have a problem with because of his image, although none of his contemporaries would argue. The fact that he was the toughest player in the league at 6-feet and 165 pounds is all you need to know.  

ON THE WAY

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