Jamaal Wilkes: "I deserve to be in the Hall Of Fame."

[sonic21]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-crowe12-2009jan12,0,5302801.column


"I believe I should be in," says Wilkes, whose nomination is under consideration by the selection committee again this year. "I'm not obsessed with it, but I believe I deserve to be in."

Wilkes' opinion is shared by Hall of Famers who played with and against the former Santa Barbara High standout (Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Rick Barry) as well as Hall of Famers who coached him (John Wooden, Pat Riley).

All wrote letters to the Hall on Wilkes' behalf, as did Hall of Famer Bill Sharman, who coached the Lakers to their first NBA title in Los Angeles.

what do you think?

[m33p0]

borderline HOF. but if he doesn't get in, paul pierce doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the hall.

[Brazil]

borderline HOF. but if he doesn't get in, paul pierce doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the hall.

+1

[turiaf for president]

he and byron scott

[sonic21]

he won a title with golden state too.

[Indazone]

Robert Horry deserves it more than this scrub

[YellowFever]

The smoothest jumper I've ever seen...but at best a borderline case.

[lil_penny]

If you let him in you'll have to let guys like james posey in.. they need a rollplayers hall of fame for guys like this.

[ManuTP9]

Robert Horry deserves it more than this scrub

+1

[JamStone]

I deserve a million dollars.

*waits*

[baseline bum]

Wilkes was a pretty good supporting player, but the Hall of Fame should be reserved for dominant players. I think they already went too far putting in Robert Parish. I mean, are good players like Mark Price, Bill Laimbeer, Byron Scott, Larry Nance, Doc Rivers, Kevin Willis, Danny Ainge, Norm Nixon, and so on Hall of Famers?

[Obstructed_View]

I deserve a million dollars.

*waits*

:clap

[Biggems]

I can honestly say when it is all said and done......right now I can see 5 Spurs being HOF worthy....and remember this is the Basketball HOF not the NBA HOF.

Gervin
Robinson
Duncan
Ginobili
Parker

I do think the HOF should have a wing for clutch performers....and in that wing would be Horry and Kerr.

I think, had he kept his head on straight, Alvin Robertson would have been a surefire HOFer.

One person that intrigues me is Bruce Bowen. Offensively he definitely does not deserve the HOF, even though he did lead the league one year in 3pt shooting. However, he has been a premiere defender in this league for 7-8 years now. If he could have done this for 12-14 years, I would definitely say HOF....but unfortunately, he will have to settle for the Spurs HOF instead.

Even though I feel Bruce isn't HOF material, I strongly feel Dennis Rodman is. If he doesn't make the HOF, there is something terribly wrong with the system. Sure he was a complete ass, but he was the best rebounder since Wilt. He was a defensive stalwart. He also has 5 rings.

As far as Wilkes goes, I am not sure. I was too young when he was playing to fully remember how good he was. I will leave that for Laker fans to discuss....I think Norm Nixon was better though, not sure if they played the same position or not.

[cobbler]

In 12 professional seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers, Wilkes was a member of four NBA championship teams - one with Golden State in 1975, the season he was named Rookie of the Year - and three with the Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985). An injury kept him out of the 1984 NBA finals against the Boston Celtics, his absence being a key factor in the Lakers' seven game series loss.

For his career, Wilkes registered 14,664 points (17.7 ppg) and 5,117 rebounds (6.2 rpg), averaging 16.1 ppg in 113 postseason games. He played in the 1976, 1981, and 1983 All-Star Games and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice.

Not too shabby. One of the smoothest shots in the game and why he was nicknamed "silk". Chick Hearn called his shot... "the 20 ft layup"