Artis Gilmore in the HOF

[lefty]

Just announced

[peacemaker885]

Oh wow. I wonder if there will be an issue with the Spurs retiring his number. He didn't end his career over here but did spend about 5 years over here, but longer with the Bulls at 6 years (wikipedia).

[Libri]

He deserved to be there. Sad that it took so long.

[Dex]

Well deserved. :tu

[NRHector]

Finally :tu

[polandprzem]

Not spurs related































j/k


Congrats A-Train !!1

[Mel_13]

Long overdue and well-deserved.

Moves Bernard King to the top of the list of best eligible player not in the HOF.

[Doctor J]

I am so happy for him. I have been watching him since his first year with the NBA in 1977.

[baseline bum]

Congrats to Artis! Couldn't happen to a better guy.

[dbreiden83080]

About damn time...

[FromWayDowntown]

Wonderful news and long overdue.

[Maddog]

About damn time...

[Obstructed_View]

Hugely overdue.

[JR3]

Awesome!

[lurker23]

Glad to hear it, well deserving. :tu

[wontstartdumbthreads]

Interview with Artis Gilmore after learning he would be in the Hall of Fame:

Reporter: "Artis, how does it feel to know you will finally be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame?"
Gilmore: "It feels great. Something I never could have imagined when I first picked up a basketball. It's been a long road but here I am."

[Darkwaters]

Awesome to hear. Long overdue.

[wontstartdumbthreads]

Interview with Moses Malone on Artis Gilmore making it into the Hall of Fame.

Reporter: "Moses, what do you think about the A-Train being inducted into the Hall of Fame?"
Malone: "It's long overdue. We had some tough battles under the boards. Congrats to Artis."

[cherylsteele]

A-Train in the HOF....Finally!

[bigdog]

Well deserved. Congrats, Artis.

[Obstructed_View]

Is this the latest train ever?

[Libri]

Artis is the Spurs career leader in FG% with .620. :wow

[wontstartdumbthreads]

Interview with Greg Lemond

Reporter: "Greg, what's on your IPOD?"
Lemond: "Right now I've been listening to Wu-Tang Clan. Also, the Wreckers."

[bigfan]

One of the first Spurs games I ever went to at Hemisfair somehow I had great seats right under the basket almost and it happened to be Akeem Olojuwan's first game against the Spurs. I was amazed how Artis "educated" him under the hoop. Those guys were huge, I dont think people today have any idea just how damn big Gilmore was. His shot was hitting a little short dunk under the basket and I remember him leading the league in accuracy for years (he didnt take many shots, but when he did, he made them all). He will probably go in as a Bull but Im glad for the guy, he deserved it.

[dunkman]

Cool . . .

[SenorSpur]

Fantastic news!

It's about damn time and long over due!

Congrats to the A-Train - and still the strongest player to ever wear an NBA uniform ~ :tu

[SenorSpur]

One of the first Spurs games I ever went to at Hemisfair somehow I had great seats right under the basket almost and it happened to be Akeem Olojuwan's first game against the Spurs. I was amazed how Artis "educated" him under the hoop. Those guys were huge, I dont think people today have any idea just how damn big Gilmore was. His shot was hitting a little short dunk under the basket and I remember him leading the league in accuracy for years (he didnt take many shots, but when he did, he made them all). He will probably go in as a Bull but Im glad for the guy, he deserved it.

Damn right!

Gilmore was a beast. He shot damn near 60% from the field for years. In fact, he is still the NBA's all-time career leader in FG% - 59.9%

Of course, he amassed this by never having ventured outside the paint, a tactic that Shaq adopted for most of his career. When you're that big and that strong, there's really no need to venture out of the paint area.

Gilmore was a nightmare for the Spurs, when he was both a Kentucky Colonel and a Chicago Bull. He was a force during his Spurs years as he helped give Abdul-Jabber and the Fakers, all they could handle.

This honor is a long time coming and I'm so very happy for him.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Awesome...shouldn't A-Train's number be hanging in the SBC?

[ace3g]

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/2011/images/04/04/hof-t1-0404.jpg

[LakerHater]

Finally!

[polandprzem]

Awesome...shouldn't A-Train's number be hanging in the SBC?

Who knows

If it would existed though

[ChuckD]

Awesome...shouldn't A-Train's number be hanging in the SBC?

I never hear anything about him being in touch with the Spurs. He's had 4 chances to come and sit with the old timers and ride a river barge, and I don't recall him ever being there.

[pjjrfan]

Great News, I am happy for the A-Train.

[wildbill2u]

Oh wow. I wonder if there will be an issue with the Spurs retiring his number. He didn't end his career over here but did spend about 5 years over here, but longer with the Bulls at 6 years (wikipedia).

GREAT!

I think the player gets to choose his jersey for the HOF. He was one of the heroes of the ABA that made the league respectable with his skills. Artis had some good years here although he was closing out his great career.

The thing that really impressed me, however, was how well he adapted to SA and was so cordial to the fans, including the Baseline Bums. The A-Train was truly a gentle giant off the court, a gentleman, and didn't have any Superstar attitude.

(But take my word for it--DO NOT play volleyball against this guy unless you want a visit to the dentist to remove the ball.):nope

[CubanMustGo]

The A-Train has pulled into the HOF at last. Congratulations, Artis!

[20beastie45]

Nice!!!! Congrats!

[Spurologist]

Finally where he belongs

[FromWayDowntown]

I wonder who will present Artis in Springfield.

I also wonder if Dennis Rodman will have David Robinson as his presenter.

[baseline bum]

The thing that really impressed me, however, was how well he adapted to SA and was so cordial to the fans, including the Baseline Bums. The A-Train was truly a gentle giant off the court, a gentleman, and didn't have any Superstar attitude.

Yeah, we used to shoot the breeze with Artis before and after games sometimes. A great player and great all-around guy too. He's about as friendly a person as you'll ever meet.

[Capt Bringdown]

It's about time.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AeasLruNSwA/TNNiiVWL-NI/AAAAAAAAAp4/irN6GhWzV54/S910-R/artiscoverUSE+copy.jpg

[bigfan]

It's about time.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AeasLruNSwA/TNNiiVWL-NI/AAAAAAAAAp4/irN6GhWzV54/S910-R/artiscoverUSE+copy.jpg

The Whopper getting whopped by the A Train. Gotta dig his afro, Artis had the cool big hair back in the day.

[CubanMustGo]

http://mit.zenfs.com/207/2011/04/AG.jpg

[tlongII]

Great player and long overdue induction. Arvydas Sabonis was named to the Hall of Fame today as well.

[JR3]

Gilmore was the man. Wish he played for the Spurs more years though.

[venitian navigator]

My favourite Spurs player of all time and the reason I choose the Spurs like my favourite team.
Never understood how could they refuse to induce him in the HOF...he was one of the only players playing his position that, in his prime, was able able to carry a team on his shoulders.

[SenorSpur]

I wish he had come over in his prime. That would have been a treat for the NBA.

If the world could've seen Sarbonis in his prime, mouths and jaws would literally drop. He was a young player, with unbelievable skills and court vision.

[Capt Bringdown]

Artis still holds the NCAA Div 1 highest career rebound average of 22.7 per game.
A special player, one of the best!

[easy7]

A-train was a bad mofo... I still remember watching him play alongside of the Iceman. Great memories..

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Umm no. Wilt was.

That's debatable. Wilt and Artis weren't nearly as thick as Shaq was. Shaq in his prime was probably the most powerful player ever. Wilt was 7'1 and about 275. Artis probably never was above 265 lbs and an inch taller. Shaq played his college ball at around 300 lbs and was around 325 during his prime pro years. He would have probably powered through Wilt like he did everyone else.

Wilt was easily the most athletic of those three, though.

[polandprzem]

Wilt could lift cars. No joke.
Proof?


There have been so many stories about those days ...
Was it about Wilt that he had broken someones foot by slamming the ball through the hoop?

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Wilt could lift cars. No joke.

You very well could be right about Wilt. I only got to see him play late in his career, and on a few highlights of his earlier days. He was clearly an athletic freak of nature.

I had opportunities to get up close to Shaq early in his playing days, and he was incredibly strong as well...just huge. It always seemed like he could have gone for 40 and 25 any time he wanted to...I always questioned why he didn't on a more regular basis. I would have enjoyed seeing those two play against each other in their primes.


If I could time machine the center matchups I'd like to see in their primes would be Wilt, Russell, Robinson, Hakeem, Artis, Kareem and Shaq. I feel like those are probably the seven best centers to ever have played the game.

[SenorSpur]

Umm no. Wilt was. Still Artis should have been in a while ago. No idea why this took the decades it did.

My bad. You're right. I should've said, "one of the strongest...". I agree that Wilt was probably numero uno.

[wildbill2u]

Yeah, we used to shoot the breeze with Artis before and after games sometimes. A great player and great all-around guy too. He's about as friendly a person as you'll ever meet.

I dated Marie Ann for years. Still see her when I come into town. She took me to most of the Bum events--like the bar-b-Q at Raymond Russell park where Artis gave me a new tooth in the vollyball game with a slam putaway at the net. Just playing hard, not mean. Those guys were extremely competitive, even in a pick up game like that.

[duncan228]

227FWcC9ETI

[baseline bum]

I dated Marie Ann for years. Still see her when I come into town. She took me to most of the Bum events--like the bar-b-Q at Raymond Russell park where Artis gave me a new tooth in the vollyball game with a slam putaway at the net. Just playing hard, not mean. Those guys were extremely competitive, even in a pick up game like that.

Haha, my dad caught one of Artis' spikes to the face too.

[ambchang]

http://espn.go.com/nba/halloffame11/story/_/page/110811-Gilmore/artis-gilmore-entering-hall-fame



But beyond the court and the locker room, Gilmore is just a great human being. If you asked anyone who played with him or against him, they would tell you he's a wonderful guy. He was a great teammate and was very accountable for his professional job. In my two years coaching him, he was never fined for being late. He also has a great family and has been married almost 40 years, so this weekend will be a special time for all of them.


Spurs players just reeks of class.

[Mark in Austin]

:tu long overdue.

[Spursfan092120]

About damn time...

[Spursfan092120]

I remember when Kareem was going to kick his black ass. Artist almost cried.

Who? Artist?

http://blogs.eveningsun.com/sportingword/artist%20formerly%20known%20as%20prince.jpg

[bigfan]

A-Train was and remains a class act. Gave a very nice speech tonight at his award ceremony.