If Pacers win, would they be the first-ever championship without a HOFer

[Slimjimzv]

Looks like someone forgot about T.J. McConnell.

[bkkrh]

Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups were never referred to as future HOFers during their careers

If so than it's more related to people not caring that much about things like that. I still strongly disagree about Wallace. And if you were a person that actually checks every year who makes the Hall Of Fame, you'd expected it for both.

I think the question implies, at the time the championship was won. And no, neither Billups nor Wallace were yet considered HOF players at the time they won it in 2004.

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During 2004 I agree that they weren't considered HOF's but OP stated in this reply "that they were never referred to as future HOFers during their careers."´

And that also generally makes sense, since all 5 Piston starters were between between 23 to 29, so at an age where it often might still be a bit early to tell.

In Indiana's case their best or 2nd best player (depending on who you value higher) is just 24 and in his 5th season. There aren't many players in league history that were clear HOF players at that point.

To go with other teams, the main reason this is the case is that all other Champions had an established player that had to wait for his moment (Dirk, Hakeem, Giannis), or it was a team with an established or multiple Superstars.

The Warriors in 14/15 would be a similar case if Curry wouldn't have won MVP as well that season. You can argue that he was still not a sure lock, at least until we know how the HOF will handle Derrick Rose.

So yeah, if something like that was OPs intention with the thread he is of course right. At the same time there are quite a few finals teams that fit that narrative as well. it's more related to the actual title often going to the same players. Since 79-80 38 titles went to teams who had players that won multiple Championships in their careers and were for almost all of them already clear HOF locks at that point already.

[mastermixer]

If the Pacers win, would they be the first “Treadmill Team” to win a Championship?

[LoveMyRaps]

Siakam is a HOF'er.

[Percentsign]

Siakam is a HOF'er.

Is Lamarcus Alridge a HOFer too? Because all stats indicate that Aldridge > Siakam

[djsunyc]

Siakam is a HOF'er.

Is Lamarcus Alridge a HOFer too? Because all stats indicate that Aldridge > Siakam

i think chip and another finals trip adds a lot of weight.

[Cavsfansince84]

The premise of the thread is flawed because as soon as a player is a top 2 player on a title team their chances of making the hof increase drastically. For Siakim that would be his 2nd title as a top 2 or 3 player. If Haliburton were to get fmvp and stay relatively healthy for the rest of his prime his chances of making the hof would be around 98% imo.

[jkvonny]

If the Pacers win, would they be the first “Treadmill Team” to win a Championship?

No.
2019 Raptors, 2011 Mavs, 2020 bubble Lakers team, etc.

Also, these Pacers aren't a treadmill team. Lol

[TheGeneral99]

Haliburton is just 25 years old, is a 2 time all-star, 2 time all-NBA team player, a gold medalist, and just led his team to the conference finals last year and the finals this year. As long as he makes another 2-3 all-star teams, he's a lock to make the HOF. The dude will likely have a hall of fame resume before he is 30.

Siakam is also making a strong case for the hall of fame...he's 31 years old, a 3 time all-star, made the all-NBA 2nd team, MIP, Champion and EMVP making his 2nd finals appearance..he's pretty close to a HOF already. He may need another all-star appearance to cement it, but if he produces at an all-star level for another 2-3 seasons, he's a lock.

[TheGeneral99]

Siakam is a HOF'er.

Is Lamarcus Alridge a HOFer too? Because all stats indicate that Aldridge > Siakam

Yes Aldridge is easily a a HOF...you don't see 7 time all-stars and 5 time all-NBA players not make the HOF.

Aldridge beats Siakam on individual accolades, Siakam beats Aldridge on winning/team accolades, so I give Aldridge the edge, but I think they are pretty close.

[oldncreaky]

Siakam is a HOF'er.

Is Lamarcus Alridge a HOFer too? Because all stats indicate that Aldridge > Siakam

Yes Aldridge is easily a a HOF...you don't see 7 time all-stars and 5 time all-NBA players not make the HOF.

Aldridge beats Siakam on individual accolades, Siakam beats Aldridge on winning/team accolades, so I give Aldridge the edge, but I think they are pretty close.

Aldridge and Siakam are a decent comparison. They have very similar stats and personal accolades through their respective age 30 seasons, with Siakam having the edge of the 2019 Championship

Aldridge is one of the better players to not make the HOF, and still might in the coming decade. His case was hurt a lot by injuries cutting short his career, and not having the luck of being on a championship team. He had 2 all-NBA nods after his age 30 season.

If Siakam has better injury luck than Aldridge in his 30s, a couple more all-NBA nods, plus an Indiana championship as FMVP, I think he'd move into the lock category. But that's a lot of "ifs", so too soon to tell.

[TheGeneral99]

Is Lamarcus Alridge a HOFer too? Because all stats indicate that Aldridge > Siakam

Yes Aldridge is easily a a HOF...you don't see 7 time all-stars and 5 time all-NBA players not make the HOF.

Aldridge beats Siakam on individual accolades, Siakam beats Aldridge on winning/team accolades, so I give Aldridge the edge, but I think they are pretty close.

Aldridge and Siakam are a decent comparison. They have very similar stats and personal accolades through their respective age 30 seasons, with Siakam having the edge of the 2019 Championship

Aldridge is one of the better players to not make the HOF, and still might in the coming decade. His case was hurt a lot by injuries cutting short his career, and not having the luck of being on a championship team. He had 2 all-NBA nods after his age 30 season.

If Siakam has better injury luck than Aldridge in his 30s, a couple more all-NBA nods, plus an Indiana championship as FMVP, I think he'd move into the lock category. But that's a lot of "ifs", so too soon to tell.

Isn't Aldridge only eligible for the hall of fame in 2026 since he retired in 2022?

He may not be a 1st ballot hall of famer but he will make it.

Not always accurate but according to basketball reference, Aldridge is ranked 4th in terms of hall of fame odds after guys like Marion and Horace Grant.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/hof.fcgi

2026 won't be a strong crop of players so Aldridge may actually have decent odds.

[oldncreaky]

Yes Aldridge is easily a a HOF...you don't see 7 time all-stars and 5 time all-NBA players not make the HOF.

Aldridge beats Siakam on individual accolades, Siakam beats Aldridge on winning/team accolades, so I give Aldridge the edge, but I think they are pretty close.

Aldridge and Siakam are a decent comparison. They have very similar stats and personal accolades through their respective age 30 seasons, with Siakam having the edge of the 2019 Championship

Aldridge is one of the better players to not make the HOF, and still might in the coming decade. His case was hurt a lot by injuries cutting short his career, and not having the luck of being on a championship team. He had 2 all-NBA nods after his age 30 season.

If Siakam has better injury luck than Aldridge in his 30s, a couple more all-NBA nods, plus an Indiana championship as FMVP, I think he'd move into the lock category. But that's a lot of "ifs", so too soon to tell.

Isn't Aldridge only eligible for the hall of fame in 2026 since he retired in 2022?

He may not be a 1st ballot hall of famer but he will make it.

Not always accurate but according to basketball reference, Aldridge is ranked 4th in terms of hall of fame odds after guys like Marion and Horace Grant.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/hof.fcgi

2026 won't be a strong crop of players so Aldridge may actually have decent odds.

Yeah, you're right Aldridge's voting window is just opening-- it just seems like he has been retired for longer!

But I'd have Aldridge in the Sheed/Stoudamire level of HOFer: basically a coin flip, not a lock. We'll see.

[Bucks4005]

I feel if you consider Chris Paul a HOF you can’t not see Halliburton as on the trajectory of one.

Halliburton isn’t in Chris Paul’s league

Why not exactly? Statistically, their career stats are basically identical. They have many of the same strength, an efficient scoring game, but not high volume, hovering around that 20 PPG mark. An assist turnover ratio that generally crushes their peers. Similar team success so far. Both have made 1 Fibals. As long as Haliburton stays healthy, what’s this gulf separating them exactly? The only thing I could see is defense obviously, but as young as Haliburton is, based on projection, team success could easily lean in his direction. And I feel offensive stats, which they seem like basically the same player, have much more emphasis in terms of HOF resume,

[MrTribbiani]

I feel if you consider Chris Paul a HOF you can’t not see Halliburton as on the trajectory of one.

Halliburton isn’t in Chris Paul’s league

Why not exactly? Statistically, their career stats are basically identical. They have many of the same strength, an efficient scoring game, but not high volume, hovering around that 20 PPG mark. An assist turnover ratio that generally crushes their peers. Similar team success so far. Both have made 1 Fibals. As long as Haliburton stays healthy, what’s this gulf separating them exactly? The only thing I could see is defense obviously, but as young as Haliburton is, based on projection, team success could easily lean in his direction. And I feel offensive stats, which they seem like basically the same player, have much more emphasis in terms of HOF resume,

Haliburton needs to make way more All-NBA teams before you start acting like he's comparable to Chris Paul. I'll go ahead and make a prediction: Haliburton won't finish his career with at least 4 All-NBA First Team selections and at least 5 All-NBA Second Team selections.

Let's see if he can actually score a field goal tonight