Sam Cassell Retrospect: Hall of Famer?

[blackstar]

So the last few pages have been you setting up nonsensical straw man points to argue against.

NO ONE who knows ball thinks Horry is a hall of famer, so kill that noise first of all.

Secondly, the original quote was the guy saying Cassell was a roleplayer on his championship teams, which he was. You even took that into account in your reply, but for some reason, you've completely ditched that and made it out like the guy was calling Cassell a roleplayer for his whole career.

Come on now. Sam Cassell is not hall of fame worthy. Very good PG though. and lol @ Cassell being better than Brand on that team. There are two ends of the floor my friend.

Read through the thread again.

The original quote most certainly sounded like he was saying Cassell was a role player over his career. I gave him an out, but I'm pretty sure that's what he meant. Then a mod came along and made it clear that he thought Cassell was a role player over his career, and the rest of my posts had been directed at him and a few other people that agreed with that sentiment. It's been pointed out by more than a few people that that notion is pretty ridiculous given his stats in his prime, the fact that he played leading roles on winning teams (no, not the title winning teams), and that he was considered part of big 3's (by general concensus) in his prime.

[BadBoys23]

One of the most underrated players in the league when he played but nope, not even borderline.

[Wont Trade]

He was a role player for his entire career. Depending on how high you set the bar for 'role player'.

[kingkirk]

I don't think so.

He had some really great years in NJ and Milwaukee, and had a nice run in Minny as well, but he is in a tier below a HOF selection imo.

Perhaps if he was putting up those numbers on the championship Houston teams, then perhaps.

[Sark]

If Bernard King is not in the Hall of Fame, then there is no way Sam Cassell should be.

[Baseline Runner]

Did you watch basketball around that time? Search "Cassell Allen Robinson big three" on Google and you can still find articles, discussions, and websites about it. Whether you personally agree with it or not, it was clearly a well-accepted big 3 around the league.

Yeah there was clearly a big three and all three players, Cassell, Allen and Big Dog were viewed as about equal to each other. I don't know what that other guy is smoking, or he just didn't follow basketball during that time.

Using career statistics is pretty disingenuous. A 20/8 point guard is in no way, no how a "role player". Yes he may have been a role player during his rookie seasons and at the end of his career which drags his career stats down, but he was a pretty damn good one even at those stages of his career, elevating great teams that much better

Cassell is a borderline type of HOFer like a Rasheed Wallace. They were big winners throughout their career but were never really superstars to the extent they would get recognition in something like the Hall.

[BJGOAT3]

If Bernard King is not in the Hall of Fame, then there is no way Sam Cassell should be.

Bernard KİNG is not in the hall of fame!??!
I seriously didn't know that, while it is shameful that people just try to undermine Cassell as a benchwarmer in title teams, he isn't HOF material due to the fact that he was never marketed as a great player in the league. When you refer to Milwaukee's Big 3, is Glenn Robinson HOF worthy? I don't think so. Being in a big3 is not enough to be in the HOF unless you win championships. Cassell's first year in Minny is the only year I would consider a HOF worthy performance, second option to one of the most dominant MVP's of all time.

HOF is a joke anyways if Bernard King still can't get in.

[aroba]

The HoF is becoming a joke. Cassell was a very solid player but the fact that somebody can pose this question and not get absolutely flamed for it says a lot about the current state of the HoF. This is not a dig at the OP at all, just at the HoF and the lax criteria they have now.

THIS
Are you guys serious???
HOF is for only the very best players, the superstars. And sometimes for top, elite defenders like Rodman, etc.

Last summer Team USA only had like 3 future Hall of famers in the team: Kobe and Lebron for sure, most probably Durant.
The rest shouldn't get votes unless CP3 wins a championship.
That is realistic HOF. But you hear the likes of Sam Cassell or Andre Miller for HOF consideration in this forum...jeeeez, are we nuts?? They are not even allstar game material!!

[GeorgeDillion]

By this same criteria Rashard Lewis should get in the Hall if he wins 2-3 rings.

[Tumakapac713]

The HoF is becoming a joke. Cassell was a very solid player but the fact that somebody can pose this question and not get absolutely flamed for it says a lot about the current state of the HoF. This is not a dig at the OP at all, just at the HoF and the lax criteria they have now.

Which players exactly have been inducted that make it a joke? Which players have gotten in under the lax criteria?

Mullin, Wilkes and Sampson for starters.

[Superhuman]

I peed next to Cassel in the urinals during the vegas summer league. He was talking to himself and cussing for some reason. I was like what's wrong with this guy

[Texas Chuck]

The "big 3" argument is the stupidest thing I ever heard. The Wolves were 1 MVP candidate, a washed up Spreewell, and Cassell getting his first all star appearance and all NBA honors.



He was a non all star his entire career until one very good season where he got put next to a dominant MVP.

So sad that KG stans still want to give him all the credit for the 04 run to the WCF. Even tho without Cassell he couldnt even win a single playoff series in Minny and after Cassell left couldnt even make the PS again. Sure KG was clearly the alpha on that team but Cassell was a HUGE part of their success.

Oh and he was part of a big 3 in Milw not Minny. And yeah he was every bit as big a part of those teams as Big Dog and RayRay.

I dont know if he belongs in the Hall. I wish the HOF was far more selective but it isnt so dealing with the HOF we have and not the one I want then I think Cassell at least deserves consideration. There is something to be said for being part of the best Minny teams ever, the best Clipper teams over a 25 year span, the best Milw teams of the last 25 years, the Rockets best teams ever, and the best Celtics team of the last 25 years. He clearly is doing something right and with the exception of Boston he was a key member of every one of those teams. It boggles the mind that anyone would think his team results are mere coincidence. Heck the only time FSU basketball was relevant was when he was there. The guy wins games. Period.

[Hoopz Afrik]

Being from Baltimore, I love Sam Cassell as a player but I doubt he belongs in the HOF. He carved out a great career in the NBA but HOF screams legendary to me.

[MagicMadness]

Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis were once part of a Big 3, as well.

Cassell was a very efficient, near-star PG, but ultimately not HOF-worthy.

What do you call Cassell, btw? I assumed he was a 'role player' as well, but I guess the term 'role player' is a very broad term. I mean, he wasn't an all-star, but he certainly wasn't an average starter, either.

High-level starter?

[dice]

not even close. cassell was at no point an elite point guard, his titles came as a role player and he really only had a 7 year run as a really good player (the 2nd year of which he missed due to injury)

[dice]

If Bernard King is not in the Hall of Fame, then there is no way Sam Cassell should be.

Bernard KİNG is not in the hall of fame!??!

3 years as an excellent scorer, then 2 more as an ELITE scorer, then got injured. never won jack

[Higga]

I love Sam I Am but no way. He was a good player on some great teams. That doesn't make you a Hall of Famer. He will never be looked at as one of the best ever at his position.

[Tubal]

The HoF is becoming a joke. Cassell was a very solid player but the fact that somebody can pose this question and not get absolutely flamed for it says a lot about the current state of the HoF. This is not a dig at the OP at all, just at the HoF and the lax criteria they have now.

Which players exactly have been inducted that make it a joke? Which players have gotten in under the lax criteria?

Mullin, Wilkes and Sampson for starters.

It's the basketball hall of fame. Not the NBA hall of fame.

Mullin had a TON of college accolades, and was a dream teamer. Plus he was a 5x All Star. Mullin deserved to get in easily.

I can't speak for the others, because I never saw them play.

[Clyde Frazier]

Cassell clearly wasn't a role player for most of his career. More of an underrated borderline all star.

When you compare his career totals and averages to other players, he's in nice company:

Averages - http://bkref.com/tiny/1pgkp

Career totals - http://bkref.com/tiny/rAIi1

As you can see, though, there are a handful of players in there who simply aren't HOFers.

He and Rod Strickland have to be the king of the AS snubs over the years. Very solid above average PG, but no HOFer.

[Mykhyn]

I really liked Cassel. I think he was definitely better than "just a role player". Of course, that doesn't mean he is anywhere near HoF caliber.

I don't think it's entirely crazy to put Cassel up their with Parker and Billups (who I think are a HoF lock and a legit possibility, respectively), but at the end of the day Cassel just wasn't quite good enough. For me a player of his caliber needs a title during their prime to get consideration. Role player on title teams + fringe all star on mediocre teams is not enough.

When was Cassell ever a MVP candidate? When did Cassell come close to winning finals MVP, let alone win it? Where are Cassells international contributions?

He's not even close to them.