HOF Candidates

[penbeast0]

The following player candidates have been announced for the HOF (plus coaches Don Nelson and Pat Riley) . . .

Adrian Dantley
Patrick Ewing
Dennis Johnson
Chris Mullin
Hakeem Olujawon

Artis Gilmore is still not even a candidate; however he is the bar I will set up for admission. How many of these candidates do you feel are better HOF candidates than Artis Gilmore?

[Teddy KGB]

I would take Ewing, Dantley and Hakeem over Gilmore for sure. I would take Gilmore over Mullin tho

[penbeast0]

For me,

Hakeem was clearly superior to Gilmore, more dominant, more titles, a better player.

Ewing is the next best candidate but although his NBA career might be judged superior to Gilmore's (Gilmore was the higher percentage scorer and better post defender; Ewing the more versatile player on both ends; Gilmore the better passer, neither won championships but Ewings teams were superior overall) . . . but when Gilmore's ABA dominance and championships are considered, AS THEY SHOULD BE, Artis was the more dominant player in his period and should be in the Hall first.

Nonetheless, Ewing was a great player and is probably a lock.

Dennis Johnson was also a lesser star than Gilmore, never considered close to the best player in the league. A very fine player with championship pedigree, he is comparable to James Worthy who is in (but who also was never on a par with Gilmore).

Dantley was one of the greatest scorers in history. That's it. Not an all around player, didn't lead his teams anywhere. Even considering only Gilmore's NBA career, Gilmore was clearly superior.

Chris Mullin was a fun and very good player. Not a Hall of Famer and doesn't belong in this discussion.

[tkb]

Hakeem is obviously the best in the discussion, and he was better than Gilmore.

I'd probably take Ewing over him too, but that's about it.

[hermes]

hakeem
ewing
gilmore
dantley
johnson
mullin

[Warspite]

Dont just use NBA carreers when you compare them.

NCAA careers
FIBA (Olympics)

Hold more weight than NBA career. Scoring 20ppg at the Pan Am games is more impressive than 20ppg in the NBA to the voters (Im not saying its right but thats the way it is).

Ewing and Mullin were Dream Teamers and that has more weight than anything Gillmore ever did. In fact Mullin was the 2nd leading scorer on that team. Add in his Final 4 and I think hes in.

What you do in INT competitions is more imporatnt than NBA so I cant see how any Dream Teamer (yes even Leattner) is going to be kept out of the HoF.

[penbeast0]

Strongly disagree Warspite. The Dream team was basically an exhibition run, like the old NBA/ABA exhibitions. Not useless as a measure of a player but close enough to have little meaning; every game was a massive blowout. Gilmore's ABA championships and the fact that he was arguably (with Dr. J) the best player in that league and one of the main reasons for the merger (Chicago held up the merger until they worked out a deal to shut down Kentucky and get Gilmore then pushed the merger through) means more to the history of the league and any evaluation of those player's impact on basketball than the Dream team does.

What is keeping him out is just someone with lingering resentment of the whole ABA role in exploding the price of player contracts blackballing all the old ABA stars except Doc (and for some reason David Thompson).

[Tesla]

1. Hakeem - to me cleary the best player, and best career.
-
2. Patrick Ewing - I put him a hair over Gilmore because of his college career, but I'd say their peaks are quite equal (arguable on either side).
3. Artis Gilmore - Should be in the hall
-
4. Adrian Dantley - one of the most impressive offensive players ever.
5. Dennis Johnson - great defender, and a winner.
6. Chris Mullin - one of the best shooters in NBA history.

[Myth_Breaker]

Strongly disagree Warspite. The Dream team was basically an exhibition run, like the old NBA/ABA exhibitions. Not useless as a measure of a player but close enough to have little meaning; every game was a massive blowout. Gilmore's ABA championships and the fact that he was arguably (with Dr. J) the best player in that league and one of the main reasons for the merger (Chicago held up the merger until they worked out a deal to shut down Kentucky and get Gilmore then pushed the merger through) means more to the history of the league and any evaluation of those player's impact on basketball than the Dream team does.

What is keeping him out is just someone with lingering resentment of the whole ABA role in exploding the price of player contracts blackballing all the old ABA stars except Doc (and for some reason David Thompson).

Pen, I think Warspite was just trying to be sarcastic. Anyway, I would rank these guys like that, including also chemistry:
1) Hakeem
2) Gilmore/Ewing
4) Mullin (Come on! It's West Coast's Larry Bird!)
5) Dennis Johnson
6) Dantley.

[MagicFan3]

Hakeem and Ewing are locks... then again, you would think Gilmore would be a lock to at least be nominated as well.

Johnson should've gotten in before now, and unfortunately whether he does or not, it's too late for him to enjoy it (RIP).

Mullin... maybe not this year.

I'm fairly sure Dantley will have to wait until next year.

[writerman]

I would take Ewing, Dantley and Hakeem over Gilmore for sure. I would take Gilmore over Mullin tho

anyone who would take Ewing over Gilmore either never saw Gilmore play or just doesn't know squat about the game.

Gilmore > Ewing

It's an injustice Gilmore wasn't voted in long ago.