Malone, Pippen headline Hall of Fame nominees

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http://www.nba.com/2009/news/feature...s=iref:nbahpt1

Malone, Pippen headline Hall of Fame nominees


Posted Nov 30 2009 11:40AM

Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen, superstar forwards who were part of dominating tandems that helped define the NBA in the 1990s, head the list of candidates for the 2010 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Nominations closed Monday with Malone and Pippen as the only locks for induction next summer amid a list that includes Dennis Rodman and Mark Jackson as possibilities sure to spark strong debate. The original Dream Team, the 1992 U.S. Olympic squad that was the first to incorporate NBA players, would also seem to have a good chance for enshrinement because of the way the group influenced the development of basketball around the world.

Malone and Pippen, meanwhile, are the definition of first-ballot inductees, with the bonus of good timing as a reminder of their special places in league history. Power forward Malone and point guard John Stockton performed duets in a way few, if any, teammates have in the NBA to lead the Jazz and coach Jerry Sloan to a pair of West les and three other trips to the conference finals in the 1990s, and now Malone is headed for Springfield a year after Sloan and Stockton got in.

Small forward Pippen was a superb complementary part to Michael Jordan as the Bulls won six championships in the decade, and now Pippen will get his chance to stand alone in Chicago glory a year after Jordan was enshrined.

Individually, Malone was a dominating physical presence during a 19-year career. The Mailman retired after 2003-04 as a Laker, the only season spent away from the Jazz. He finished as the league's second-leading scorer, a two-time MVP, a 14-time All-Star and a two-time Olympian who averaged 25 points and 10.1 rebounds in the NBA.

On his own, Pippen was a versatile wing who could win games on both ends of the court, a relative unknown when he left Central Arkansas in 1987 bound for seven All-Star appearances, eight first-team All-Defense selections, two Olympic gold medals and averages of 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 17 seasons with the Bulls, Rockets and Trail Blazers.

Among the other candidates, Warriors coach Don Nelson and former players Chris Mullin, Jamaal Wilkes and Bernard King should receive serious consideration along with Rodman and Jackson. The Nelson outcome will be particularly interesting. Nelson may pass Lenny Wilkens for No. 1 on the career coaching win list this season but, based on his two previous years as a finalist, may fall short in the secret election.

Dennis Johnson, Rudy Tomjanovich, Rick Pitino, Jerry Reinsdorf, Terry mings, Jerry Buss, Sarunas Marciulionis (with an extensive international background), Al Attles, Muggsy Bogues, Ralph Sampson (on the strength of a great college career), Tex Winter, current referee Bavetta and former referee Darell Garretson are among the other nominees with strong NBA ties. Jim Valvano is a candidate from the college field and decorated coach Bobby Hurley Sr. from the high school ranks. Oscar Schmidt is an international candidate after five Olympics as a Brazilian scoring machine best known in the United States for his 46 points in the gold-medal victory in the 1987 Pan-American Games against an American squad with college stars David Robinson, Danny Manning and Pervis Ellison.

Nominees for the all-encompassing Hall must first pass through one of four screening committees, depending on their background: North American, international, women's game and veteran's. Anyone receiving five of a possible seven votes in the secret balloting will be announced as a finalist during All-Star weekend in February. Those candidates will then be judged by a 24-member honors committee of league executives, players who have already been enshrined and media representatives, with 18 votes needed for enshrinement.

The class of 2010 will be revealed at the men's Final Four in April.

[hitmanyr2k]

I hope Scottie doesn't channel Jordan when making his HOF induction speech

[ElNono]

Role Players...

[baseline bum]

Pippen, Malone, Bernard King, and Tex Winter should get in. No one else.

[Thunder Dan]

will Malone go in as a member of the Jazz or Lakers?

[baseline bum]

will Malone go in as a member of the Jazz or Lakers?

I don't know. Will Pippen go in as a Bull or a Rocket?

[IronMexican]

I don't know. Will Pippen go in as a Bull or a Rocket?

It's between the Rockets and Blazers imo.

[Spursfan092120]

I hope Scottie doesn't channel Jordan when making his HOF induction speech

lol...almost exactly what I was going to say..though I was going to say, I hope Pippen thinks more like The Admiral and less like His Airness when delivering his speech.

[Spursfan092120]

I don't know. Will Pippen go in as a Bull or a Rocket?

I don't know. Did Jordan go in as a Bull or a Wizard?

[Amaso]

I don't know. Did Jordan go in as a Bull or a Wizard?

jordan never played for the bulls

[z0sa]

will Malone go in as a member of the Jazz or Lakers?

LOL Malone on the sewage and piss

[Spursfan092120]

and while I'm in here, I'm going to go ahead and announce my backing of Dennis Rodman...

[Slomo]

You knew this was coming

[Spurs Brazil]

Muggsy Bogues???? WTF

[Killakobe81]

I don't make Kobe is > jordan arguments that would be foolish ...
But thjose that discount Kobe for einning with Gasol or Shaq ...really need to appreciate the contributions Pippen made to to those le runs ...gaurding the best opposing player, dunking on Ewing ripping PG's in the backcourt were Scottie's gifts. Sure he never won without MJ but MJ didnt win without him either. I agree shaq was MUCH better than Pippen though NOT all-around but I would say Pippen is greater than Gasol
So those that argue Kobe needed Shaq and/or Gasol's help to win ...Mj needed Pip.

[Darrin]

I'm with it for Rodman, too.

[Killakobe81]

Rodman is not first ballot sorry ...great defender in Detroit UNBELIVABLE rebounder in Sa and chicago but was way overrated defensively when he left detroit he flopped and hustled on D and all he did was rebound the hekk out of the ball ...granted he did that better than most anyone but does that make ben wallace a first ballot HOF'er also?

[Chef Boyardee]

This is not about Pippen or Malone. In the history of the NBA they are but footnotes. This is all about one of the best players to ever come out of California - Jamaal Wilkes and the best team owner of the last 30 years in ANY sport - Jerry Buss finally getting their due. This hall of fame ceremony will once again be the celebration of the most important franchise IN ALL OF SPORTS - your Los Angeles Lakers.

[Chef Boyardee]

There's no precedent for a player like Rodman getting into the HOF. Defense/rebounding are great, but you have to have at least SOME offensive game. I can't believe people even think it's a possibility.

[Mel_13]

There's no precedent for a player like Rodman getting into the HOF. Defense/rebounding are great, but you have to have at least SOME offensive game. I can't believe people even think it's a possibility.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...joneskc01.html

[Killakobe81]

Let's see. He was the defensive anchor on every team he played on. He was a rebounding beast. Even in his last season, he put up 14 boards a game, something no one in the league today can do. He was the ultimate selfless teammate, he could guard positions 2-5, and even some big PG's. And he has 5 rings. The only aspect of the game Malone, Barkley, and Duncan had on Rodman was scoring, Yet he retired with more rings then all of them combined.

again I agree with the defense EARLY in his career but AGAIN ...REMEMBER he was NOT EVEN the 6th man for the le winning Pistons ...
Yes he was a of a rebounder once he became a starter but if we are going to elect role players in the HOF what about Byron scott or mike cooper or Robert Horry? How about Mario Elie?
I know you will argue stats but I dont think Rodman's great rebounfing later in his career makes it an open and shut case ...his defense overrated ...even in his prime Worthy, Bird, Nique (all destroyed him) granted those are HOF'ers but I think his defense is greatly overrated good not, great. Especially compared to Pippen cooper or any of the greats of his era ...not saying he shouldnt go but Bernard is more deserving IMHO Rodman was 1.5 dimensional great rebounde above average defender ...Bowen was great defender great role player good 3 point specialist and has rings let's include him in I think bowen's work on defense especially against Nash and Lebron led to at least 2 les ...send him also!!

[Mel_13]

again I agree with the defense EARLY in his career but AGAIN ...REMEMBER he was NOT EVEN the 6th man for the le winning Pistons ...

He was 4th in minutes played behind Thomas, Dumars, and Laimbeer on both championship teams.

[cornbread]

I hope Scottie doesn't channel Jordan when making his HOF induction speech

The real questions is will he rock the pirate hoop earring?

[Killakobe81]

I'm just going to assume you never actually saw him play judging from your post. The simple fact that you said he wasn't even the sixth man for the Pistons is what adds to his legacy. How many 7th or 8th men off the bench could average 8-11 boards, and 8-10 points during those early Piston years? Name me one? Pau and Bynum struggle just to get 8-9 boards with major minutes, and both are 7fters. Like I said before, he could guard 2-5, and for like 5 years, he averaged like 16-18 boards. Cooper got his ass torched too, and so did Bowen, but not one of those guys were as aggressive as Rodman. Bowen could get consideration if he had a full career of being a defensive stopper, but he was on his way out of the league until he joined a championship Spur team.

Vinne Johnson was the 6th man for the Pistons on most nights. Rebound numbers were skewed due to high possesion counts in the 80's ...
Now his 90's numbers are more impressive because they were less possesions but teams were shooting worse ...
Yes, i saw him play and of course he played a lot on the winning le teams beacuse Worthy was destroying their frontline ... against Portland he had to gaurd Drexler and Kersey ...yes I watched the Pistons I have been watching ball since 1980 ...

My 6th man point was he was role player a great one but a role player still ...
Lakers may have won les without Horry but no 3peat ...and I can argue Pistons and Bulls would of won without Rodman as well ...so what is your point? You dont think MJ & Pipp (who won before he got there) or Isiah and Dumars who were in ECF Rodman's rookie year and the year before ...would not of won without Rodman?! Seriously?

[Killakobe81]

Look luva respect your passion...but how did MJ and Pipp and Isiah etc not make him better? All he had to do ...eSPECIALLY on bulls was rebound and take some flop charges? They did not need his scoring. Now he was a pretty good passer in teh triangle and a ...great rebounder and provided energy those are valuable and maybe they are even HOF worthy ...but if rodman was on crappy teams what value would he have? He was only valuable to elite teams because they allowed him the freedom to specialize on the boards... on other lessor teams his crappy FT shooting and poor offense would be detrimental ...I will say this YOUNG rodman showed some offensive game but he decided to not develop it ...
Think he was great role player but ultimately not HOF worthy but the NBA one is easiest to get in to so maybe he should be in it.