duncan228
04-03-2009, 12:58 PM
Another benefit of winning MVP: A spot in the Hall of Fame (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=nba_com-mvprace-nba-20090403&prov=nba_com&type=lgns)
By Rob Peterson, NBA.com
On Monday, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will announce its Class of 2009 out of a group of finalists which include Michael Jordan, David Robinson, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Bernard King, Dennis Johnson and Don Nelson among others.
You could bet all of the $1.1 trillion in international bailout money pledged by the G20 on Thursday that you'll see two more NBA MVP's—Jordan and Robinson—enter the Hall in their first year of consideration.
As a matter of fact, word has already leaked that Robinson, the 1995 NBA MVP, a two-time NBA champ and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has received a call from the Hall.
And if you think that Jordan, a five-time NBA MVP, a six-time Finals MVP, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the greatest per-game scorer in NBA history (30.1 ppg), will need to buy a ticket to walk through the Hall's doors in Springfield, Mass., … well, you're on the wrong website. We kindly ask you to leave.
For those of you who are staying, we can tell you that, in addition to death and taxes, the only other inevitability in this life is that, if a player wins an MVP, he will be a Hall of Famer.
From the first NBA MVP, Hawks legend Bob Pettit, to Rockets great Hakeem Olajuwon, who won the Maurice Podoloff trophy in 1994, every Hall-eligible candidate who has won the NBA's Most Valuable Player trophy—17 men in all—is in the Hall of Fame.
Every. Single. One. That total should increase to 19 when Robinson and Jordan make Monday's cut.
So, when a player enters the exclusive club of Most Valuable Players——he is also on the fast track to hoops immortality.
Of the eight NBA MVPs who aren't in the Hall of Fame, seven are still active—Shaquille O'Neal (2000), Allen Iverson (2001), Tim Duncan (2002-03), Kevin Garnett (2004), Steve Nash (2005-06), Dirk Nowitzki (2007) and Kobe Bryant (2008). The eighth, two-time NBA MVP Karl Malone (1997 and 1999), is eligible next season.
So what about them? Do they belong? We argue yes, absolutely.
Karl Malone: In addition to the two MVPs, Malone is the No. 2 overall scorer in NBA history with 36,928 points. A lock.
Shaquille O'Neal: One MVP, four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs and the seventh-leading scorer in NBA history with 27,524 points. If that doesn't make O'Neal a lock, I don't know what does.
Allen Iverson: Iverson could be the toughest case. He's the only NBA MVP, in or out of the Hall, with only one MVP and no NBA titles. Bob McAdoo won one NBA MVP, but he won two titles with the Lakers in the '80s. The case for Iverson is that he's closing in on the top 20 in all-time scoring (21st with 23,983 just behind Patrick Ewing's 24,815). Artis Gilmore is the only member of the top 20 scoring list who is eligible and not in the Hall (and that's for another column).
Tim Duncan: A two-time MVP and a four-time NBA champ. Possibly the greatest power forward ever. Lock.
Kevin Garnett: We can apply the Oscar Robertson principle here: one NBA MVP, one NBA title. Plus, at No. 31 on the all-time scoring list, Garnett should be in. Every eligible player in the top 33—other than Gilmore—is in the Hall.
Steve Nash: If every NBA MVP is in the Hall, what does that say about two-time winners? You got it. Lock. Plus, as a Canadian, you must take into account his international contributions.
Dirk Nowitzki: See also, Steve Nash minus one MVP. Being one of the first international players to make a huge impact on the NBA should guarantee his place in Springfield.
Kobe Bryant: A three-time NBA champ, only 30 years old and already 23rd on the all-time scoring list? Lock.
Outside Looking In (OLI) 11. Pau Gasol 12. Paul Pierce 13. Dirk Nowitzki 14. Joe Johnson 15. Tony Parker 16. Ray Allen 17. Mo Williams 18. Kevin Garnett 19. Devin Harris 20. Carmelo Anthony
By Rob Peterson, NBA.com
On Monday, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will announce its Class of 2009 out of a group of finalists which include Michael Jordan, David Robinson, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Bernard King, Dennis Johnson and Don Nelson among others.
You could bet all of the $1.1 trillion in international bailout money pledged by the G20 on Thursday that you'll see two more NBA MVP's—Jordan and Robinson—enter the Hall in their first year of consideration.
As a matter of fact, word has already leaked that Robinson, the 1995 NBA MVP, a two-time NBA champ and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has received a call from the Hall.
And if you think that Jordan, a five-time NBA MVP, a six-time Finals MVP, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the greatest per-game scorer in NBA history (30.1 ppg), will need to buy a ticket to walk through the Hall's doors in Springfield, Mass., … well, you're on the wrong website. We kindly ask you to leave.
For those of you who are staying, we can tell you that, in addition to death and taxes, the only other inevitability in this life is that, if a player wins an MVP, he will be a Hall of Famer.
From the first NBA MVP, Hawks legend Bob Pettit, to Rockets great Hakeem Olajuwon, who won the Maurice Podoloff trophy in 1994, every Hall-eligible candidate who has won the NBA's Most Valuable Player trophy—17 men in all—is in the Hall of Fame.
Every. Single. One. That total should increase to 19 when Robinson and Jordan make Monday's cut.
So, when a player enters the exclusive club of Most Valuable Players——he is also on the fast track to hoops immortality.
Of the eight NBA MVPs who aren't in the Hall of Fame, seven are still active—Shaquille O'Neal (2000), Allen Iverson (2001), Tim Duncan (2002-03), Kevin Garnett (2004), Steve Nash (2005-06), Dirk Nowitzki (2007) and Kobe Bryant (2008). The eighth, two-time NBA MVP Karl Malone (1997 and 1999), is eligible next season.
So what about them? Do they belong? We argue yes, absolutely.
Karl Malone: In addition to the two MVPs, Malone is the No. 2 overall scorer in NBA history with 36,928 points. A lock.
Shaquille O'Neal: One MVP, four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs and the seventh-leading scorer in NBA history with 27,524 points. If that doesn't make O'Neal a lock, I don't know what does.
Allen Iverson: Iverson could be the toughest case. He's the only NBA MVP, in or out of the Hall, with only one MVP and no NBA titles. Bob McAdoo won one NBA MVP, but he won two titles with the Lakers in the '80s. The case for Iverson is that he's closing in on the top 20 in all-time scoring (21st with 23,983 just behind Patrick Ewing's 24,815). Artis Gilmore is the only member of the top 20 scoring list who is eligible and not in the Hall (and that's for another column).
Tim Duncan: A two-time MVP and a four-time NBA champ. Possibly the greatest power forward ever. Lock.
Kevin Garnett: We can apply the Oscar Robertson principle here: one NBA MVP, one NBA title. Plus, at No. 31 on the all-time scoring list, Garnett should be in. Every eligible player in the top 33—other than Gilmore—is in the Hall.
Steve Nash: If every NBA MVP is in the Hall, what does that say about two-time winners? You got it. Lock. Plus, as a Canadian, you must take into account his international contributions.
Dirk Nowitzki: See also, Steve Nash minus one MVP. Being one of the first international players to make a huge impact on the NBA should guarantee his place in Springfield.
Kobe Bryant: A three-time NBA champ, only 30 years old and already 23rd on the all-time scoring list? Lock.
Outside Looking In (OLI) 11. Pau Gasol 12. Paul Pierce 13. Dirk Nowitzki 14. Joe Johnson 15. Tony Parker 16. Ray Allen 17. Mo Williams 18. Kevin Garnett 19. Devin Harris 20. Carmelo Anthony