NBA HoFers

[Jack of Arcades]

Where do guys like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Chris Mullin fit in? Jordan and Magic hurt by leaving early?

Is the case for Laettner more or less contingent on two shots and his team's success? I know he was a very good player, no doubt about it, but that link basically just mentions his two shots and Duke's success.

[THAY3R]

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Dennis Rodman is not going to the [censored] Hall of Fame, for Christ's sake.

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He [censored] better.

[DrewDevil]

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Drew, go ahead and make a list of the top 10 best college players ever, please.

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This is off the top of my head, with no surfing:

Pistol Pete
Big O
Bird
Walton
Alcindor
Laettner
David Thompson
Jordan
Bill Russell
Ralph Sampson

Magic, Isiah and many others would have made the list if they hadn't left early, I guess. I put Jordan up there instead of Tim Duncan b/c of the title only. Bob Knight says Jerry Lucas is the best player in the history of the Big 10, but I never saw him play or any film on him, so I dunno.

[TheNoodleMan]

Is Bird really one of the best college players ever? He tore up a nothing conference and was older than most of the competition due to taking a year off. Obviously he was very good but I'm not sold on his top 10 status.

[Taraz]

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Is Jordan really one of the best college players ever? Obviously he was very good but I'm not sold on his top 10 status.

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FYP

[DrewDevil]

My list is perhaps compromised by the fact that it's prejudiced against early exiters. Magic, Isiah and some other people came in, won titles, and left. Wilt and Jerry Lucas are guys who might belong but I never got to see any film on them.

Jordan left early but won a championship (actually hit the winning shot) and then was the best player in the game for his sophomore and junior years. Or at worst the second best after Ralph. And this was in a great era for college players.

I'm a Duke guy, so it pains me to include him, but I think he belongs in the top 10.

[Assani Fisher]

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is Dirk really a lock HOFer? I think Nash is.

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All NBA 7 years in a row

All NBA First team 3 years in a row

MVP



yes, that makes him a lock imo. Other impressive stats:

#14 PER all time
#23 win shares all time
#40 true shooting % all time
#20 FT % all time

Those last 2 give him a legit shot at the unique claim of "greatest shooting big man of all time." Obviously 'big man' is subjective, but I still think that it only helps him.

[Pudge714]

I don't think Dirk is a lock, right now. ie if he retired tomorrow I don't think he would make it (unless he made it because of international play), however I think he will make it. Assani keep in mind stats like PER and FT% overrate Dirk because he hasn't declined yet.

[Assani Fisher]

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Thats correct Drew, but Rice and Johnson were far better players than Laettner (sp?) in college. Christian had amazing talent surrounded by him while Rice and LJ were superstars in college. If Laettner nevers hits that shot against Kentucky is college career isnt as highly regarded. Also, LJ and Rice were great players in the NBA and legitament all stars for a few years while Laettner was never anything special in the pros and was forgotten about after a few years.

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Read any objective list of the greatest college players in history and you'll always see Laettner in the top 5. Rice and LJ are nowhere in that discussion.

LJ's surrounding talent at UNLV was just as good as Laettner's, if not better.

Yes, both were better pros, but Laettner did make the all-star team once and played for a long time.

And if my aunt had nuts she'd be my uncle.

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anyone else shocked by this?

Also, his points per game really aren't that bad at all in the NBA.

[kidcolin]

yeah I was surprised too.

I share Pudge's assessment of Dirk. He wouldn't make it if he suddenly couldn't play anymore (his reputation as a softy wouldn't help, either).