A few of our fellow Bloguin NBA bloggers collaborated with Jeff Fox of Hoops Manifesto to discuss which current NBA players deserve a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Listed among the locks to make it is San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan.
Like the guys over at Hoops Manifesto, I doubt I have to increase the word count of this post validating their decision to list him as a lock.
But I might have to include another Spur that should be a lock.
Manu Ginobili is among the players listed as toss-ups. For anyone who has followed Ginobili’s entire basketball career, and not just his NBA career, there’s no denying that Ginobili has earned a spot in Springfield.
Ginobili has won on every level, from the Euroleague, to the NBA and even Olympic gold. I can count so many players in the Hall of Fame who weren’t lucky enough to win a single championship. With Ginobili, luck played no part in the success he’s had, and it looks like I’m not the only one with that opinion.
Hall of Fame Consensus: IN
“IN. Might be a surprising choice, but he’s the only man to win an Olympic gold medal, a Euroleague championship and a NBA championship. Plus he’s a damn good player to boot.” – Jeff Fox
“IN. Yes as well. Manu is aided by his International play here.” – College Wolf
“IN. He’s a bigger international stud than Parker, and he’s got a Sixth Man award to boot.” – Ezra
“OUT – not a long enough career or high enough peak.” – Dan Bonk
“No way you keep Manu out. All kinds of awards, honours and results for Argentina, in Italy and with the Spurs. IN.” – brumbygg
“Manu’s achievements internationally, in Europe and in the NBA make this one of the easier choices: IN.” – Don
While the voting was a little closer when it came to Tony Parker, it looks like the guys have Parker going in as well.
Hall of Fame Consensus: IN
“OUT. Not yet, but buoyed by his Finals MVP I can see him getting in when his career is done (after all, he’s not even 30-years-old yet.” – Jeff Fox
“IN. I’ll give him the nod.” – College Wolf
“IN. He’s got some international pedigree, but his strong ties with Tim Duncanand Popovich will carry him to Springfield.” – Ezra
“OUT, but this was my closest no. NBA Finals MVP is never anything to sneeze at, and I’m guessing almost all of them are in the Hall (editor’s note: only two retired Finals MVPs aren’t in the Hall – Jo Jo White and Cedric Maxwell).” – Dan Bonk
“Benefits from playing in the Timmy D era. Solid results with France, three rings, a Finals MVP. Hard to keep him out. IN.” – brumbygg
“Three-time NBA champion, Finals MVP and a European player of the Year. It’s a near thing, but the guy’s IN.” – Don
Make sure to visit Hoops Manifesto for the list of all of the current NBA players that should be headed to the Hall.
But what do you have to say about the results? Think Manu is a lock for the Hall of Fame? What about Parker?
