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Good to see Walter Davis get the nod in 2024 but a bit sad he will receive it post posthumously.

KJ and the Matrix, maybe two of the best Suns players ever, are waiting their turns for a HOF selection. Apparently, 2025 is a pretty weak year in terms of obvious selections. Hoping one of these two, if not both, make the cut. Two others that are worth consideration are Hornacek and Amare.

Thoughts!

Both of those guys should obviously make it. KJ won't because of the allegations and rumors. The NBA wants to distance themselves from that stuff. I can understand it but I do feel when making decisions about whether a basketball player should make the hall of fame, they should just focus on basketball/on the court stuff.

Matrix should certainly make it as well but it feels like he has been kind of underrated over time.

bwgood77 wrote:Both of those guys should obviously make it. KJ won't because of the allegations and rumors. The NBA wants to distance themselves from that stuff. I can understand it but I do feel when making decisions about whether a basketball player should make the hall of fame, they should just focus on basketball/on the court stuff.

Matrix should certainly make it as well but it feels like he has been kind of underrated over time.

NBA paraded out Karl Malone on National TV and the criticism then NBA took was relatively minor (haha pun intended) compared to the crime he committed.

So you never know, although I think a lot of people would prefer KJ didn't since this is the ring of honor.

sunskerr wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:Both of those guys should obviously make it. KJ won't because of the allegations and rumors. The NBA wants to distance themselves from that stuff. I can understand it but I do feel when making decisions about whether a basketball player should make the hall of fame, they should just focus on basketball/on the court stuff.

Matrix should certainly make it as well but it feels like he has been kind of underrated over time.

NBA paraded out Karl Malone on National TV and the criticism then NBA took was relatively minor (haha pun intended) compared to the crime he committed.

So you never know, although I think a lot of people would prefer KJ didn't since this is the ring of honor.

KJ's already in the Ring of Honor. This is the Hall of Fame. There has been more Karl Malone backlash. MIchael Jackson and Kobe are of course icons. So I guess it depends on popularity.

TBH - Why does KJ deserve HOF? I love the guy and one of my fav suns but I don't think he has a HOF Resume. Same with Shawn Marion. The one NBA championship may put him in there, but the resume isn't strong.

Would you even consider Booker on track for HOF?

KdoubleDees23 wrote:TBH - Why does KJ deserve HOF? I love the guy and one of my fav suns but I don't think he has a HOF Resume. Same with Shawn Marion. The one NBA championship may put him in there, but the resume isn't strong.

Would you even consider Booker on track for HOF?

I think Booker is probably on track but if his career ended now, he wouldn't get it.

KJ led the non Barkley Suns, as a 2nd year player, to the WCF (losing to Magic and the Lakers, who won it all). The following year they went to the WCF again, met the #1 seed defending champion Lakers, with Magic as MVP, at the height of Magic's career, and knocked them out in 5, with 3rd year KJ outplaying Magic.

Then they had the finals loss. KJ in years 2-5 was a better player than Book has ever been, and led the Suns while on a rookie contract, to two consecutive WCF, They won 28 games the year they traded for him at the deadline when he was a rookie, but he killed it then.

He basically did the same thing Nash did, far earlier in his career, but also made the finals. He was a dynamic scorer and a crazy good assist guy.

Unfortunately injuries hampered his career after year 7 or so...and he declined a bit, especially when Barkley took over and wanted the ball to go through him. The only real argument against him (unless you consider off the court stuff) is he didn't have a lot of longevity in his career, but he went head to head against greats like Magic, MJ, Bird, Hakeem (dunking over him). The west was brutal then too with the Lakers and Magic, Worthy, etc, the Blazers with Drexler and that stacked squad, Houston with Hakeem, the Sonics with Payton and Kemp, the Spurs with Robinson, Elliott and Rodman, Utah with Stockton, Malone, etc, and as a 2nd/3rd year player he was leading them team to the WCF, losing to more stacked teams..with more vets and stars.

I am up for Shawn to make it to the HOF. KJ shouldnt be anywhere close to being honored.