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 

1. LeBron James
2. Manu Ginobili
3. Dwight Howard
4. Dirk Nowitzki

It's difficult to fathom the "On The Way" list having more names on it than the "In" list.

Ginobili is on the list because of what he's accomplished in Europe, the NBA, and in International play. I wouldn't be surprised if he made it and I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't.

All of the other guys on the list, including Dirk, have the chance to redefine their respective positions. 

OUT

1. Gilbert Arenas
2. Chauncey Billups
3. Tracy McGrady
4. Paul Pierce
5. Steve Nash
6. Vince Carter
7. Jermaine O'Neal
8. Chris Webber
9. Alonzo Mourning
10. Michael Finley
11. Baron Davis
12. Robert Horry

Horry is only included on the list because some people have actually dared to mention his name due to his history of big shots in big games. Unfortunately for Big Shot Rob, the regular season counts. I'm as big a Laker fan as you'll ever meet and I'll be the first to tell you that the notion of Robert Horry in the Hall of Fame is laughable, to say the least. I'd have no problem if the Hall had a TV dedicated to Horry that just ran all of his big shots on a continuous loop. 

Nash might be the only guy on the list you can make a legitimate case for. If he were 30 and not 34, like his buddy Dirk, you could say he was on the way. Had Nash had a more stellar college career and done anything internationally, then you could make an even stronger case for him. Unless he wins a ring or two and another MVP award, he's on the "Out" list. Either of those two and he's definitely in.

Other than Nash, I think McGrady is the only other guy that still has a chance to upgrade onto the "On The Way" list. That's because he's still relatively young. If he can stay injury-free and take his team deep in the playoffs two or three times he could be on his way. Although I wouldn't bet on either of those things happening.

Had Chauncey Billups made the same leap over his first five years as he has over the last five then he'd be considered "On The Way". Unfortunately, he's 31. It looks like it's just too late for him. Another Finals' MVP and he might get voted in by the Veterans' Committee around 2027.

Mourning is interesting because he was one of the best defensive centers in the history of the game and an amazing college player. Anybody who remembers Zo at Georgetown can attest to that. Is that enough to get him to Springfield, though? I don't think so. Kidney ailments caused him to miss nearly two full seasons off of his career. Who knows what might have been had he been able to stay healthy.

I've decided to add a fourth list. We'll call it "The Fringe". This list is for the guys that are three or four more seasons of excellence away from being "On The Ways". These are the guys that have accomplished enough to keep an eye on and are young enough to still make the leap.

THE FRINGE

1. Chris Bosh
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Dwyane Wade
4. Chris Paul
5. Tony Parker

The most glaring thing about this list is what it says about LeBron James. Three of the five on this list were taken in the same draft and yet he's already 'on the way' after just four-and-a-half seasons.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has a fantastic website. I encourage all of you to take a look at it. You'll also find the list of the 2008 nominees. They include Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Pat Riley, Don Nelson, Pistons' owner Bill Davidson, Chris Mullin, Adrian Dantley, Cathy Rush, Richie Guerin and Dick Vitale.

Voting is done by an Honors Committee of 24 members. Nominees need 18 of the 24 votes for enshrinement.

I won't say which person on that list I think doesn't deserve to be on it. I'll give you a hint. His name rhymes with "Rick Kitale".

Tex Winter has been a finalist six times for enshrinement, and even though he's received the John Bunn Award from the Hall, he's never been voted in. If that Bozo gets in before him I'm afraid it might kill the 86-year-old Winter. Tex's contributions to the game of basketball far outweigh Vitale's enthusiasm for it.

Let's hope that Dennis Johnson gets in this year, posthumously. The winners will be announced at the Final Four in San Antonio in April.

I'll revisit this a year from now. Just to see if the list(s) have changed.