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Aspiring for the Basketball Hall of Fame begins the moment a young player hits the basketball court, aiming for a recognition that transcends the NBA to celebrate basketball’s global heritage. Though entering the NBA is a significant milestone, ascending into the Hall of Fame’s stands as an ultimate achievement. Today, we pay tribute to exceptional NBA talents who have come close to securing their place in basketball’s pantheon, but, for now, remain just outside of basketball’s most exclusive club.
Shawn Marion
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Career Accolades/Stats: 4-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA, 2011 NBA Champion
Marion would have been an All-Star in any era. His versatility on both ends made him a particularly unique player. A great athlete with a rangy 6-foot-7 frame, Marion was often tasked with defending the opposing team’s best player. From 2001-08, Marion averaged 18.9 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.4 BPG while playing for the best offense in the league with the Phoenix Suns.
He solidified his place among the top players of his era in 2011 as a 32-year-old vet, starting all 21 playoff games for the eventual NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks. During that run, Marion defended the likes of Brandon Roy, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.
Tim Hardaway
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Career Accolades/Stats: 5-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA
Any time there’s a former player still mentioned today, it likely means they deserve a look at Hall of Fame candidacy. To this day when fans discuss a young player with a quick crossover dribble the name Tim Hardaway is eventually mentioned. Hardaway’s famed “UTEP 2 Step” remains the golden standard in terms of devastating dribble moves. The five-time All-Star was the leader of one of the league’s most explosive offenses during his “Run-TMC” days in Golden State. Hardaway later proved he could captain a more methodical attack when he helped lead the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals in ’97.
Stephon Marbury
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Career Accolades/Stats: 2-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA
It’s easy to dismiss Marbury as another scoring guard possessing more flash than substance. But let’s not forget he was one of the top point guards in the league for several years during his athletic prime. Marbury was named to just two All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams throughout his career, but not all awards and accolades are created equal. In 2001, Marbury was one of the top guards in the entire NBA, and he put that on full display in an emphatic effort in the 2001 NBA All-Star game — one of the most competitive and memorable All-Star games in NBA history. His efforts post-NBA cannot be overlooked as well, as Marbury continued to have success in the China Basketball Association where he won multiple CBA titles.
Rasheed Wallace
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Career Accolades/Stats: 4-time All-Star, 2004 NBA Champion
Wallace had some ups and downs in the NBA, but his talent is unquestioned. The four-time All-Star was an offensive force who was nearly impossible to guard on his best day. Wallace was also no slouch on the defensive end, handling himself well against the top power forwards across the stacked Western Conference of the 2000s. His longevity cannot be overlooked. Wallace was arguably the best player on the 2000 Portland Trail Blazers (lost in Western Conference Finals to the Lakers), the x-factor for the 2004 Detroit Pistons title win (defeated the Lakers in five games), and even started Game 7 of the Finals for the 2010 Boston Celtics (in a loss to — you guessed it — the Lakers).
Shawn Kemp
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Career Accolades/Stats: 6-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA
As ferocious a dunker in NBA history, Kemp rocked the stadium whenever he threw down a thunderous slam. Running with Gary Payton on a Sonics team that made the 1996 NBA Finals, Kemp was a special athlete who was downright frightening in transition. Kemp and Payton gave Michael Jordan and the Bulls all they could handle in that Finals series, extending it to six games while Kemp led Seattle in scoring, rebounds, and blocks.
Kevin Johnson
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Career Accolades/Stats: 3-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA, 1989 Most Improved Player
The former Mayor of Sacramento is still waiting for his call to the Hall of Fame despite boasting some impressive numbers. From 1989-97, Johnson averaged 19.8 points and 10.0 assists per game over nine seasons. He stunningly only made three All-Star appearances over that time, but was named to five All-NBA teams over his career. From ’89-91, Johnson made three consecutive All-NBA Second Teams while the First Team guard spots were occupied by two guys named Magic and Michael. His 9.1 career APG is the highest among all eligible players not yet inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Elton Brand
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Career Accolades/Stats: 2-time All-Star, 1-time All-NBA, 2000 Rookie of the Year
Brand is one of the great, overlooked big men of his era. Playing in a time with so many all-time great power forwards, Brand quietly dominated for a Clippers team that constantly outperformed expectations. The former Duke Blue Devil (1999 National College Player of the Year) was a double-double machine who could score on the low block and defend at a high level. 2006 was Brand’s breakout season, being named to the All-NBA Second Team and leading the Clippers to a first-round playoff victory over Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets.
Jermaine O’Neal
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Career Accolades/Stats: 6-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA, 2002 Most Improved Player
For half a decade, Jermaine O’Neal was up there with KG, Duncan, Dirk, and the rest of the talented forwards in the NBA. O’Neal went to six-straight All-Star games from 2002-07 and finished third in MVP voting following the 2004 season (ahead of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and LeBron James). Although he was never able to capture that elusive title, O’Neal was a member of several relevant teams throughout his impressive career.
Chauncey Billups
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Career Accolades/Stats: 5-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA, 2-time All-Defensive, 2004 NBA Champion and Finals MVP
Mr. Big Shot absolutely deserves a spot in Springfield. The 2004 NBA Finals MVP was a stalwart throughout his career. There weren’t many guards during his era who could match Billups’ shot-making and toughness. He was the lead guard on a team that made six straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances including back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals. Detroit traded Billups in 2009 and finished the season 39-43. Billups arrived in Denver and the Nuggets reached the Western Conference Finals in his first season. A clutch performer through and through (fifth all-time in free throw percentage), Billups should get his call sooner rather than later.
Peja Stojakovic
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Career Accolades/Stats: 3-time All-Star, 1-time All-NBA, 2011 NBA Champion
One of the best pure shooters ever, Stojakovic was an offensive assassin during his 13-year career. From the moment Stojakovic cracked the starting lineup in Sacramento, he instantly became a 20-point-per-game scorer who could fill it up from all levels of the floor. Though Chris Webber is often credited as the best player for the great Kings teams of the mid-’00s, Stojakovic was often their go-to scorer as well as being a gifted playmaker. The 6-foot-10 Croatian played like a superstar in 2004 during an injury-riddled season for Webber, leading the Kings to 55 wins and a first-round victory over the Hornets. Stojakovic undoubtedly ended his career as a three-point specialist for the title-winning 2011 Dallas Mavericks.
Amar’e Stoudemire
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Career Accolades/Stats: 6-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA, 2003 Rookie of the Year
Stoudemire was in the league for 15 years, but he was only healthy for about half of those. His run in Phoenix was sensational. Stoudemire spent eight years in Phoenix as a focal point for Mike D’Antoni’s “Seven Seconds or Less” offense. Oftentimes, Stoudemire was the only traditional big man on the floor for the Suns, as he ran around and jumped over giant plodders in the paint. The chemistry he built with Steve Nash in the pick-and-roll created some of the most memorable moments of that era. Since his NBA run has ended, Stoudemire has continued his basketball career in Israel where he was named the league’s Finals MVP in 2020.
Mark Jackson
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Career Accolades/Stats: 1-time All-Star, 1988 Rookie of the Year
Based on individual stats, there are far more compelling candidates than Jackson who couldn’t manage to average double-digit points throughout his career. However, Jackson’s contributions on the floor went far beyond the stat sheet. Jackson was another coach on the court. He directed teammates, controlled the pace, and generally made winning plays at all times. Jackson is one of just five players to tally over 10,000 assists and the only one to not be named to the Hall of Fame. His contributions as both a coach and as a commentator could also play a role in Jackson eventually making it in.
Robert Horry
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Career Accolades/Stats: 7-time NBA Champion
Winning is paramount in the NBA, and few won more than Robert Horry. The seven-time NBA Champion was never a star player, but he played his role well and consistently came up clutch in big moments. Not everyone can be Hakeem Olajuwon or Kobe Bryant, and Horry understood how to play alongside some of the game’s all-time greats. In a sport that has such little room for error, Horry single-handedly turned the tide in several playoff series — the 1995 NBA Finals, the 2002 Western Conference Finals, and the 2005 NBA Finals all come to mind.
Marques Johnson
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Career Accolades/Stats: 5-time All-Star, 3-time All-NBA
A forgotten star of the ’80s, UCLA’s Marques Johnson was a scintillating scorer for the Milwaukee Bucks and later the Los Angeles Clippers. He has come close on a couple of occasions to make the Hall of Fame, but voters haven’t fully committed to his enshrinement just yet. Looking at his resume next to other inductees, it’s easy to see why many believe Johnson has a strong case for making it one day. A 20-plus PPG scorer who made five All-Star teams in eight seasons, Johnson could easily earn an induction in the coming years.
Lou Hudson
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Career Accolades/Stats: 6-time All-Star, 1-time All-NBA
‘Sweet’ Lou Hudson was an absolute dynamo for the Hawks throughout the 70s. Hudson made six-straight All-Star teams with the Hawks while averaging 25.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 2.5 SPG during that stretch. Hudson was named All-NBA Second Team in 1970 in a rare year where the second team (which also included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson) would have likely beaten the First Team had they been pitted against each other.
Mark Price
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Career Accolades/Stats: 4-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA
Price doesn’t get nearly enough credit for his style of play during an era that emphasized slowing it down and playing hard-nosed defense. Price was a gifted scorer and playmaker who could rain pull-up threes and run a fastbreak like Steve Nash. He’s one of the most efficient shooters ever (third all-time free throw percentage) and is one of just eight members of the 50-40-90 club.
Kiki Vandeweghe
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Many fans today recognize Vandeweghe for his executive career, but the former Denver Nuggets general manager had a mighty fine playing career. Vandeweghe was a gunning swingman for the Nuggets and Blazers in the 80s and was capable of putting together monster scoring totals on any given night. He’s one of the best players in Denver’s illustrious history and furthered his contributions to the organization when he drafted Carmelo Anthony third overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.
Larry Foust
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Career Accolades/Stats: 8-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA
Foust was a dominant low-post force during the early days of the league. The Fort Wayne Piston was named an All-Star in eight of his first nine seasons, averaging a hefty 15-point/11-rebound double-double during that span. He gets overlooked oftentimes but should be included when discussing the stars of past eras.
Bill Laimbeer
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Career Accolades/Stats: 4-time All-NBA, 2-time NBA Champion
As tough as nails, Laimbeer was a relentless competitor who operated as an enforcer for the “Bad Boy” Pistons. While Laimbeer wasn’t the low-post scoring threat like some of the other star centers of his era, he made an impact in several different ways. He boasted a competent jump shot and was one of the best free-throw shooters — regardless of position — in the league. Laimbeer was also a gifted passer and screener, allowing Detroit to run certain offensive sets through the skilled big man. A key cog on two title-winning teams, Laimbeer certainly deserves a look at possible enshrinement.
