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Does the NBA need its own HOF?

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:11 am
by dc
I constantly see questions about whether a guy like Webber or Grant Hill or Mourning is deserving of Hall of Fame. These subjects get pored over and debated over several pages.

Do people stop and realize how many people are in the Basketball Hall of Fame who's accomplishments the average poster on this board wouldn't give a damn about? This includes womens players and guys who played in Europe back in the 50s who never played in the NBA. Nobody debates the merits of these guys.

So that brings the question: How can you objectively compare the accomplishments of someone like Webber with some female player who played in college and then maybe one set of Olympic games?

The Baseball HOF in Cooperstown is almost exclusively about Major League Baseball, with the exception of some recognition given to a few Negro League players. The Pro Football HOF in Canton is dedicated almost exclusively to NFL/AFL players. When baseball considers HOF enshrinement, you know they're comparing a candidate to other players in MLB only. Same with football and the NFL.

The Basketball HOF considers candidates from women's leagues, Euro Leagues, college as well as the NBA. So when you're considering who's eligible for the hall, you're essentially pitting the accomplishments of people like Webber vs. the accomplishments of people like Nancy Liberman Kline. How can you compare those?

Ironically, the NBA is the only institution without its own HOF. College basketball, FIBA and women's basketball have their own HOFs.

If the NBA had its very own HOF, then you could make more valid comparisons of whether a guy like Webber (just as an example) deserves to get in.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:34 am
by Rox_Nix_Nox
Yes it does. Mostly because I don't agree with college coaches being in the HOF. (Check Pat Summit)

Very nice post.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:10 am
by ljp24
Rox_Nix_Nox wrote:Yes it does. Mostly because I don't agree with college coaches being in the HOF. (Check Pat Summit)

Very nice post.


Are you serious? :rofl: :rofl: Not putting Pat Summit? How about Bob Knight? John Wooden?

You just lost all cred. I'm serious.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:28 pm
by MagicMadness
Yes, there should be a seperate NBA HOF.

I'd say put the NBA players already in the current HOF into this new NBA one, and then go from there.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:49 pm
by candy for lunch
No because if it was NBA-only Arvydas would never get in :(

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:02 pm
by MagicMadness
supersteve wrote:No because if it was NBA-only Arvydas would never get in :(


He could still enter the regular bball HOF.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:10 pm
by DaFan334
pretty easy one here.... YES

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:14 pm
by Magz50
Dude no one outside of the world gives two craps about the NFL or Baseball. Basketball however is a worldwide sport.

As for the original question i think the NBA should have it's own recognition as well.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:18 pm
by greenbeans
no, they dont need a new one.
they just need to do a better job of promoting the one they have now. they should have 3 wings: Pro, College and International.
i live an hour drive and have never been there, they dont do s*** out there, its pathetic.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:21 pm
by a-rod
It's Not Gonna Happen .....

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:49 pm
by Red Robot
The regular Hall of Fame serves the NBA just fine. An NBA HOF would presumably let more players in. Otherwise, what's the point? Just to drive out the women and international players? None of that is necessary IMO. What about all the NBA'ers who are already in the Hall? How would their accolade be compared to players who later make the NBA-only HOF? It would be a shame to see the Hall diluted like that.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:23 pm
by dc
Red Robot wrote:The regular Hall of Fame serves the NBA just fine. An NBA HOF would presumably let more players in. Otherwise, what's the point? Just to drive out the women and international players? None of that is necessary IMO. What about all the NBA'ers who are already in the Hall? How would their accolade be compared to players who later make the NBA-only HOF? It would be a shame to see the Hall diluted like that.


I see your point, but one of the points I'm making is that:

-College basketball has its own HOF. So guys like Kareem and Walton are in it. Does that dilute the regular HOF, which both guys are already in?

-Women's basketball also has its own HOF. So does that dilute Pat Summit's accomplishments of being in both those halls?

-I'd ask the same question about FIBA.

So you're saying its ok for all these other entities to have their own HOF, but if the NBA establishes its own HOF, it's a slap in the face and a ploy to drive out international players and women?

I don't get that.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:28 pm
by tsherkin
I think there must absolutely be an NBA HoF; then there wouldn't be concerns about Euroleague proponents worrying about inducting too many NBA players, you wouldn't get random guys in the HoF on account of college careers, etc.

I would like to see a HoF dedicated to recognizing greatness from the NBA; not the ABA, not the NCAA, not the Euroleague, but the NBA.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:47 pm
by MagicMadness
Red Robot wrote:The regular Hall of Fame serves the NBA just fine. An NBA HOF would presumably let more players in. Otherwise, what's the point? Just to drive out the women and international players? None of that is necessary IMO. What about all the NBA'ers who are already in the Hall? How would their accolade be compared to players who later make the NBA-only HOF? It would be a shame to see the Hall diluted like that.


Again, put the NBA'ers who are already inducted into the current HOF, into the new NBA HOF.

Then, keep the current Basketball HOF open to all accomplished players/coaches outside of the NBA.

Seems pretty easy to me.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:39 pm
by dc
MagicMadness wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Again, put the NBA'ers who are already inducted into the current HOF, into the new NBA HOF.

Then, keep the current Basketball HOF open to all accomplished players/coaches outside of the NBA.

Seems pretty easy to me.


Yep, that seems pretty simple to me too.

I don't think anyone is bothered by the fact that Pat Summit is already in two different HOFs (Basketball HOF and Women's Bball HOF) and will later probably be named to a third (Collegiate BBall HOF) one after she retires.

If you've already got that, I fail to see how having an NBA HOF would be insulting or diluting to anyone.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:28 pm
by ilikecb4
well if you actually look at the list of players in HOF they're pretty impressive

guys like Drazen Petrovic, one of the most unstopabble offensive players
ever to play this game...

too bad he didn't get to show off his talents in the NBA..

It was a thrill to play against Drazen. Every time we competed, he competed with an aggressive attitude. He wasn't nervous; he came at me as hard as I came at him. So, we've had some great battles in the past and unfortunately, they were short battles

Michael Jordan on Drazen


In '93 he averaged 23 ppg on 52% shooting. He was just getting started. Not to mention he won everything in International Basketball you can possibly win.

The list of players in HOF is impressive. All the guys deserve to be in there.

I don't like the idea of a separate HOF.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:29 pm
by sp6r=underrated
Magz50 wrote:Dude no one outside of the world gives two craps about the NFL or Baseball. Basketball however is a worldwide sport.

As for the original question i think the NBA should have it's own recognition as well.


You should that tell that to people in East Asia and Latin America that no one cares about baseball.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:47 pm
by greenbeans
just better the one we have, is that so hard?? one good, unified HOF, with halls for the different forms of ball

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:07 pm
by TheKingOfVa360
We need a NBA Hall of Fame

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:22 pm
by dc
ilikecb4 wrote:The list of players in HOF is impressive. All the guys deserve to be in there.

I don't like the idea of a separate HOF.


That's part of my point:

There ALREADY ARE seperate HOFs for FIBA, college basketball and women's basketball. Is it wrong for them to exist? I don't see anyone complaining.

If there's nothing wrong with that, then what's wrong with an NBA HOF?