Hall of Fame Class 2012
Earlier in the week we saw the introduction of the 2012 Hall of Fame Class… the inductees were:
Lidia Alexeeva
All American Red Heads
Don Barksdale
Mel Daniels
Phil Knight
Katrina McClain
Reggie Miller
Don Nelson
Hank Nichols
Ralph Sampson
Chet Walker
Jamaal Wilkes
I had to look up at least half.
Are there too many each year? Did anyone of note miss out?
Good speeches? Bad ones?
And who do we have to look forward to next class?
Courtside Notes 
jk41 8:04 am on September 14, 2012 Permalink |
This years class seems like a lot, and I’m in the same boat with not knowing who half of them are.
I’m ok with Reggie, Don Nelson and Chet Walker.
Ralph Sampson had a good college career, but never set the NBA on fire. All American Red Heads for historical significance, fair enough. Jamaal Wilkes seems like stretch. And what’s with a Nike exec up there? No Bernard King, but a dude who made his money off all these NBA players?
I liked Reggie’s speech–although I did think it was a bit of a Cheryl Miller love fest–but it’s his moment so whatever. Don Nelson’s was pretty good too, seems like a chill dude living in Hawaii. There seemed like there were a lot of LeBron shout outs for some reason. Didn’t Dirk go through just as much pain of not winning a championship and also not acting like a jerk about it and sticking with the Mavs? So what’s the big deal? (we might need a tag for my #LeBronRants!)
As for next year’s class, I’ll probably focus on guys I know even though there are probably plenty of deserving old timers like Orlando Woolridge, Bernard King, Spencer Haywood etc. Here are a few of my picks:
Gary Payton – The Glove. Multiple all-stars, DPOYs, was 1a if not 1 on those Sonics teams, got a ring late in his career.
(Wow, looking through the list: http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/hof.cgi, it’s kind of hard!)
Maybe Christian Laettner for his college career? Ron Harper – 5 rings as PG on those Bulls/Lakers teams? Mitch Richmond – great scorer, late championship? I don’t know, I’m not too sold.
You have any other ideas??
naturalbornanalysts 9:21 am on September 23, 2012 Permalink |
I watched the red carpet interviews and it seemed that just about everyone was huge on Jamaal ‘Silk’ Wilkes… which surprised me because I didnt know a lot about him.
There is always a lot of love between the Millers. Great that they are both in now!
Haha, I agree that we might need a LeBron hate thread for you. I agree that Dirk should get more love than he does though. Future 1st Ballot HOF?
Agree with GP. Definitely think guys like Bernard King should be straight in. Spencer and Orlando possibly. Paul Silas? Doc? Tom Chambers? Hornacek?
Christian Laettner I would pass on. Possibly Ron Harper…
Mitch will be eventually but not right away. Its harder than I thought.
jk41 3:13 am on September 24, 2012 Permalink |
Yep, I think Dirk is a definite for 1st Ballot:
1 ring
Finals MVP
’07 Regular Season MVP
11 (!) time All-Star
4-time NBA First Team
….2010 Shooting Stars Champ lol!
I think the reason it could be hard is because like some people have said, we’ve only now entered this great new golden age of stars. Post-Jordan it was kind of a lull of ‘next-Jordans’ who never quite made it and the Lakers and Spurs dominating over the next decade with their locked in Hall of Famers (Shaq, Kobe, Duncan).
Now, it seems like the star power is a bit more spread out throughout the league and with the competition a bit more even? Or is that a result of a lot of young great players coming up but having not yet proved themselves into greatness? E.g. We know players like KD, Rose, Love, Westbrook are great, but they haven’t had enough time to prove they are consistent at that level.
Who are your early picks for HOF? Top 5 guys off the top of your head who when they become eligible are first ballot? (Can be active players if you want) I got:
1. Shaq
2. Kobe
3. Duncan
4. AI
5. LBJ
naturalbornanalysts 12:07 pm on September 26, 2012 Permalink
Wow I didnt know that Dirk was an 11 time MVP.
Yeah it is true that with the two great Western Powers (besides a brief Detroit interlude) there wasnt a lot of star power. I guess that the number one thing that defines star power is success. There is the current older crop of guys like the ones mentioned above (and undoubtedly they are some of the greatest of all time; Garnett, Kobe, Duncan, Nash, Allen etc), who are at the end of their careers, and the new breed of seemingly more humble who still need to finish the race before we can elevate them to greatness. Its like a 72 Hole golf championship…. you dont declare the winner after the front 9.. you need to see the final putt.
Im going to break it into the top 5 older generation active players and the top 5 younger players who I think will be locks.
Older:
1. Kobe
2. Duncan
3. Garnett
4. Dirk
5. Kidd
Billups/Nash/Manu/Allen/Gasol (All get in easily)
Younger:
1. LBJ
2. Wade
3. Dwight
4. KD
5. Rondo
(CP3/Rose/D-Will/Carmelo/Love are all up for debate)
I can see why it would be difficult and I would like to know the criteria for entry.
In other news…. Does OKC keep Harden? Surely they cant resign him without shuffling the deck a little. Will he sign the extension or just run to Free Agency next summer?
jk41 1:11 pm on September 30, 2012 Permalink
Rondo’s an interesting one. I think he’s someone you can definitely see greatness in him right now, but still yet to leave his legacy. Definitely like him for the aloofness, jerk superstar kind of factor!
I think you can afford to ship Harden and get a scoring 4, someone like Gasol/Aldridge would be nice next to Ibaka. You’ve probably got enough on the perimeter with KD and Westbrook which I suppose is a lot of the reason he’s coming off the bench.
The season is not far now!