With the NBA season on indefinite hold, we'll take the month of April to celebrate the life and career of Kobe Bryant, who passed away earlier this year. Kobe Month kicks off with the Lakers star topping our annual list of the greatest eligible NBA and ABA players that are not yet in the Hall of Fame. Along with Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, he is an obvious shoo-in to be enshrined in his first year of eligibility.
Editor's note: though the Naismith Hall of Fame considers a player's entire career, including their accomplishments in the NCAA, FIBA, Euroleague, etc., our list only takes into account a player's NBA and ABA career. Therefore, this is not a list of of who we consider the most likely Hall of Fame inductees based on the Naismith criteria. Instead, this is a list of who had the best NBA/ABA career of all players not yet inducted.
Gone from last year's list: Sidney Moncrief (#2, eligible since 1997), Bobby Jones (#11, eligible since 1992), Paul Westphal (#16, eligible since 1990), and Jack Sikma (#17, eligible since 1997) were all finally inducted into the Hall of Fame after two decades-plus of waiting.
32) Robert Horry, eligible since 2014 (last year: #31)
He was never named to an All-Star team, never awarded any accolades other than 2nd-Team All-Rookie, and averaged just 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in his career, but Horry was undoubtedly a winner. He is the only player to win seven or more NBA championships that wasn't a teammate of Bill Russell on the Celtics. And unlike Russell's running mates like Frank Ramsey and K.C. Jones that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame based almost solely on their ring collections, Horry has definitive empirical proof of his impact on his team's title success. In addition to his incredible highlight reel of clutch shots in huge playoff games, his seven steals in game two of the 1995 NBA Finals are still a single-game record, and for years he held the mark for most career three-pointers made in the Finals (he has since been bumped to third by LeBron James and Stephen Curry). Despite all that, Horry has never made the list of finalists to be considered for induction.
31) Sam Cassell, eligible since 2014 (last year: #30)
A teammate of Robert Horry on the '90s Rockets, Cassell won back-to-back championships in his first two years in the league. He played for plenty of great teams over the ensuing 13 seasons, making it as far as the Conference Finals with Milwaukee in 2001 and with Minnesota in 2004, before finally capping his career with another title with the Celtics in 2008. Though Cassell had fewer titles than Horry (three to seven), he posted more impressive stats, averaging 17+ points and six-plus assists per game in six different seasons. He was also an All-Star and 2nd-Team All-NBA for the Timberwolves in '03-'04, and finished 10th in MVP voting that year. But Cassell's reputation as a clutch performer is somewhat unfounded (his stats actually typically decreased in the postseason) and he was never more than the fifth or sixth best player on the title teams for which he played.
30) Rudy LaRusso, eligible since 1975 (last year: #29)
One of the most underrated players of the '60s, LaRusso averaged 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game over his 10-year career, and almost assuredly would be a Hall of Famer today if he had played for the Celtics. But it was the Lakers that selected him in the second round in 1959 and though LaRusso played in seven Conference Finals and four NBA Finals, he was never a title winner. He spent his last two seasons with the Warriors, averaging a career high 21.7 points per game in '67-'68.
29) Terry Porter, eligible since 2008 (last year: #28)
Always the underdog, Porter was lightly recruited out of high school, wound up at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point, was one of the final cuts from the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, and fell to the last pick of the first round of the 1985 Draft. There was never any point when Porter was considered one of the league's best point guards, but he put in seven quietly great seasons for Portland. Those years came at arguably the historical peak of NBA talent and Porter managed two All-Star appearances in the era. He was also the assists leader and second-leading scorer on the Blazers teams that reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.
28) Latrell Sprewell, eligible since 2011 (last year: #27)
Out of everyone on this list, Sprewell is arguably the least likely to ever get enshrined in Springfield, unless it's as some sort of cautionary tale. His choking attack on coach P.J. Carlesimo in a practice during the '97-'98 season is the first thing most fans think of regarding his career, especially the traditionally stodgy Hall of Fame voter base. Before the incident, Sprewell was rounding into one of the league's best scorers, averaging 24.2 points per game in '96-'97, and after serving his one-year suspension he was the leading playoffs scorer on the '98-'99 Knicks team that reached the NBA Finals. He was also 1st-Team All-NBA in '93-'94, and an All-Star four times. A relatively nondescript college career at Alabama is another strike against Sprewell's induction chances.
27) Lou Hudson, eligible since 1985 (last year: #26)
Nicknamed "Sweet Lou" for his shooting touch, Hudson was one of the better scoring wing players of his era but suffered from never playing for a legitimate contender. Drafted fourth overall by the then St. Louis Hawks in 1966, he joined a roster that was a solid playoff staple but never able to advance past the Lakers or Warriors to reach the NBA Finals. During that time he averaged 24+ points per game for five straight seasons, played in six All-Star Games, and was named 2nd-Team All-NBA for '69-'70. Traded late in his career to the Lakers, Hudson unfortunately retired in 1979, just as the team was drafting Magic Johnson and about to win their first of five titles in the '80s.
26) Glen Rice, eligible since 2010 (last year: #25)
One asset in Rice's induction resume that many players on this list lack is a legendary NCAA career. In his four seasons at Michigan he became the school's all-time leading scorer, was an All-American, won Big 10 Player of the Year for '88-'89, and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1989 NCAA Tournament, where he set the tourney record for most total points while leading the Wolverines to the national title. His NBA career never quite lived up to those lofty standards, but he was a three-time All-Star and his '96-'97 season was exemplary, averaging 26.8 points per game (third in the NBA), winning All-Star MVP, getting named 2nd-Team All-NBA, and finishing fifth in MVP voting. Rice also won a championship late in his career, as the third-leading scorer on the '99-'00 Lakers, and retired as third all-time in career three-point field goals.
25) Bill Laimbeer, eligible since 1999 (last year: #24)
This is always going to be a tough sell, maybe the toughest on this list besides Latrell Sprewell, as the prickly and arguably dirty Laimbeer was never a popular player outside of Detroit. He's also typically overlooked for his contributions to the Detroit titles in 1989 and 1990 in favor of his Hall of Fame teammates Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman. But Laimbeer was named to four All-Star teams, averaged 10+ rebounds per game for seven straight seasons (including a league-leading 13.1 per game in '86-'87), and his case has been boosted even further in recent years by the advent of advanced statistics. Many analysts and fans have been re-evaluating Laimbeer recently based on his impressive win share and usage stats that are revealing just how crucial he was to those Pistons teams. He has also rehabbed his image in recent years with his successful WNBA coaching career.
24) Larry Foust, eligible since 1968 (last year: #23)
Though many players from the NBA's early years have made it in without real Hall worthy numbers, such as Jack Twyman, Harry Gallatin, Tom Gola, and Bobby Wanzer, there are several who still stand at the precipice of induction, chief amongst them Foust. His eight All-Star appearances is the record amongst non-inductees, and the longtime Pistons center averaged 14.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in his first 10 seasons, which is impressive for his era. Though he never won a title, Foust played in five NBA Finals, two with the Pistons (1955 and 1956), one with the Lakers (1959), and two with the Hawks (1960 and 1961). He also retired in 1962 as the second all-time leading rebounder, behind only Dolph Schayes. If/when Foust ever gets inducted into Naismith, it will be posthumous, as he passed away young, at age 56 in 1984.
23) Mark Price, eligible since 2004 (last year: #22)
It's a race against time at this point for Price to beat out LeBron James as the first player whose prime came with the Cleveland Cavaliers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was one of the premier point guards of the '90s, a four-time All-Star, 1st-Team All-NBA in '92-'93, 3rd-Team All-NBA three times, and finishing in the top 10 in assists per game five times. Price was also one of the greatest free throw shooters of all-time, leading the league in free throw percentage three times, including the sixth (94.8% in '92-'93) and seventh (94.7% in '91-'92) best single-season totals in league history. His 90.39% career free throw shooting mark was the all-time record for almost two decades, and still sits second behind only Steve Nash. Perhaps most impressive is that Price is one of just seven members of the 50-40-90 club, meaning he's shot 50% from the field, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% from the free throw line in a season, and all six other members are either Hall of Famers already (Nash, Larry Bird, Reggie Miller) or surefire future ones (Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki).
22) Shawn Marion, eligible since 2019 (last year: #21)
Of the 65 players newly eligible last year, Marion had the best NBA resume according to our metrics, followed by Carlos Boozer, Kenyon Martin, and Jason Richardson. But beyond the 21 players rated higher than him on this list, Marion's induction chances are further hampered further by his lack of accolades during his team at UNLV, and his Olympics experience coming with the disastrous 2004 U.S. team that settled for bronze. He spent 16 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Suns, for whom he was a four-time All-Star and 3rd-Team All-NBA twice. Nicknamed "The Matrix" for his versatility, Marion averaged at least 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block per game in four different seasons. He was a key part of the Suns teams that lost back-to-back Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006, then a tough second round series against the Spurs in 2007, then later finally won a title as a bench combo forward for the '10-'11 Mavericks. With so many players ahead of him already in terms of resumes, and several greats, including his longtime teammate Amare Stoudemire, gaining eligibility this year, Marion will likely be waiting a while.
21) Horace Grant, eligible since 2010 (last year: #20)
Perceived as mercurial and avaricious, Grant was never particularly popular with sportswriters, which is obviously a major requisite of having any chance of induction. A star player could certainly get away with it, but Grant was an All-Star just once in his career, in 1994, and never better than the third-best player on any team for which he played. Granted, he played for some great teams, starting with the Bulls, with whom he won three consecutive titles, then making an NBA Finals appearance with the Magic in 1995 before capping his career winning a fourth ring with the Lakers in 2001. Though he was overshadowed by his star teammates Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Grant was also a great defender in his own right, and was named 2nd-Team All-Defensive for four straight years as a result. He also averaged 13.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game over a consistent 10-year prime. It's the kind of resume that's gotten many of Bill Russell's teammates into the Hall, so things could eventually work out for Grant if voters start to assess Jordan's best teammates.
20) Richard Hamilton, eligible since 2018 (last year: #19)
Newly eligible in 2018, Hamilton was present on the initial list of eligible candidates but missed the cut for finalists, let alone inductees. Starting shooting guard and often the leading scorer for the Pistons during the '00s, Hamilton was traded to Detroit from Washington in 2002, and played in six consecutive Conference Finals with the team. That streak included a championship in 2004, and an additional NBA Finals appearance in 2005. There's an argument to be made that Hamilton deserved to win Finals MVP over Chauncey Billups for his performance in the 2004 upset over the Lakers, as he led the Pistons in scoring with 21.4 points per game, and was second in assists. That trophy certainly would have greatly improved his Hall chances, as Jo Jo White's recent induction leaves Billups and Cedric Maxwell as the only eligible Finals MVPs that are not yet enshrined. That leaves Hamilton's three All-Star appearances as his only NBA accolades, but his college career at Connecticut boosts his case. In leading the Huskies to the 1999 NCAA title, he was named Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, an All-American, and the Big East Player of the Year.
19) Buck Williams, eligible since 2004 (last year: #18)
A teammate of Terry Porter on the 1990 and 1992 Portland teams that reached the NBA Finals, Williams also has a similar Hall resume with his former fellow Blazer. With a prime that was spread across the mid-to-late '80s and early '90s, he's often overlooked compared to peers at power forward like Charles Barkley and Karl Malone. But Williams had his moments, especially early in his career with the Nets, when he was Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star, and finished in the top five in rebounds per game for seven straight seasons. His years with the Trail Blazers include not only the Finals trips, but also two designations as 1st-Team All-Defensive, and back-to-back seasons leading the NBA in field goal percentage. He's one of just 16 players to total over 13,000 rebounds in his career, and the other 15 players on that list are either Hall of Famers already or surefire future ones. Yet Williams wasn't even on the list of eligible players for induction in 2018. One thing going against Williams' case is that his Olympics dreams were scuttled in 1980, when he was named to the U.S. team only to have the entire delegation boycott due to the Soviets hosting. He has had his jersey retired by the Nets, and as a former NCAA star at University of Maryland, was inducted into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.
18) Terry Cummings, eligible since 2006 (last year: #15)
Maybe the most underrated forward of the '80s, Cummings was Rookie of the Year in '82-'83, and finished fifth in MVP voting in '84-'85. But despite averaging 22.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game over his first eight seasons, he was an All-Star only twice, and named 2nd-Team All-NBA just once. Drafted second overall in 1982 after a star turn at DePaul, Cummings wasted his first two years on terrible Clippers teams before getting traded to a contender in Milwaukee. He led the Bucks in playoff scoring and rebounding as they reached the Conference Finals in '85-'86, but despite spending most of his prime with solid teams in Milwaukee and San Antonio, that's the furthest he would ever make it in the postseason. Cummings never played on an NBA Finals team, making it as far as the Conference Finals just one more time, with the Spurs in 1995. Like Buck Williams, he's wildly overshadowed by the glut of power forward talent that took the NBA by storm in the late '80s and early '90s.
17) Tom Chambers, eligible since 2005 (last year: #14)
The 1987 All-Star Game in Seattle was a true spectacle, featuring future Hall of Famers Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Alex English, James Worthy, Dominique Wilkins, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale at the height of their powers, plus still-relevant old timers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, and Moses Malone, and young up-and-comers Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Hakeem Olajuwon. The game ended with the West prevailing 154-149 in overtime. The MVP? Hometown hero Tom Chambers. It was the first of Chamber's four All-Star appearances in a career that also featured over 20,000 career points (placing him still in the top 50 all-time), being named 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, finishing fourth in the NBA in scoring in '89-'90 with 27.2 points per game, and finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting twice. He was also the sixth man for the '92-'93 Suns team that reached the NBA Finals, and played in Conference Finals with the Sonics (1987), Suns (1989 and 1990), and Jazz (1994). The knocks against Chambers are his lack of accolades at the NCAA level while playing for Utah, and the fact that he was never the star player on his own team, always seemingly co-starring alongside another All-Star, or playing second fiddle. Setting aside Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett, Chambers is one of just two players with 20,000+ career NBA points not in the Hall of Fame, along with Antawn Jamison.
16) Walter Davis, eligible since 1998 (last year: #13)
Though he's 16th on this list based solely on his pro accolades, Davis would be arguably the biggest head-scratcher when viewing his overall career in a vacuum. Not only did his 15-year pro career include a Rookie of the Year award, six All-Star appearances, two times as 2nd-Team All-NBA, a fifth-place finish in MVP voting, and over 19,000 career points, he was also a decorated amateur star. Davis played under Dean Smith both in the NCAA and the Olympics, named 1st-Team All-ACC on the '76-'77 North Carolina team that reached the Final Four, and winning gold for the U.S. in Montreal in 1976. So what's the catch? Like so many of his peers, Davis had an unfortunate cocaine addiction that led to rehab and suspensions, tarnished his image forever, and in retrospect obviously hampered his late career output. He would later repair his relationship and image with the Suns, who retired his jersey in 1994, but Naismith voters still seem allergic to his induction. One of the best pure scorers of his era, Davis averaged 20+ points per game in six different seasons, and his 19,521 career points trails only Tom Chambers, Antawn Jamison, and Clifford Robinson as the most for an eligible player not yet in the Hall.
15) Marques Johnson, eligible since 1996 (last year: #12)
A rare case on this list of a player with serious accolades at the collegiate and pro levels, but still no call from the Hall. Johnson was the last great star of the John Wooden era at UCLA, leading the team to the 10th and final NCAA title of Wooden's career in 1975, then winning the Naismith Player of the Year award in '76-'77. He was the third overall pick of Milwaukee in 1977 and the second big star of the franchise's history after his fellow Bruins alumnus, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson was 1st-Team All-NBA in '78-'79, 2nd-Team All-NBA the next two seasons, an All-Star five times, and averaged as many as 25.6 points per game in '78-'79, which was good for third in the league. After leading the Bucks to back-to-back Conference Finals in 1983 and 1984, his career was forever changed by a trade to the snakebitten Clippers (for Terry Cummings). After two decent seasons with the Clippers, Johnson injured his neck so severely that his career was basically over as he barely escaped permanent paralyzation. Thus, while he packed a lot into his career, it truly only lasted nine seasons, and his peak came at what was arguably the nadir of the NBA in the late '70s. After two-plus decades of eligibility, he finally made the list of finalists in 2019 but didn't get the call to Springfield.
14) Gus Williams, eligible since 1993 (last year: #10)
Just a few scant years before there was "Magic" Johnson we had "The Wizard" Williams, a master play maker that was arguably robbed of the 1979 Finals MVP trophy and missed an entire season in his prime sitting out over a contract dispute. Williams teamed in the back court with Dennis Johnson (a player inducted in the Hall of Fame much too late) on the Sonics teams that reached back-to-back NBA Finals in 1978 and 1979, winning in the latter. Williams was absolutely dominant in the 1979 victory over Washington, averaging 28.9 points per game, leading Seattle in scoring in all five contests, but watching the Finals MVP trophy handed to the more well-rounded Johnson. Though the Sonics crumbled in the early '80s, he was twice an All-Star and 1st-Team All-NBA for the '81-'82 season, over fellow point guards Magic Johnson, Sidney Moncrief, and Tiny Archibald. His Hall case is obviously hurt by having missed the entire '80-'81 season due to a contract holdout.
13) Penny Hardaway, eligible since 2014 (last year: #9)
The man with the unique nickname "Penny" and the even more unique style of play looked to be on the cusp of greatness in the summer of 1996. His Orlando Magic were almost undoubtedly the league's second best team, and had as good a chance as anyone of slowing down the Chicago Bulls juggernaut. Hardaway was 1st-Team All-NBA in '95-'96, third in MVP voting, and was named to the U.S. Olympic team in Atlanta. Then Shaquille O'Neal was traded from Orlando to the Lakers, and Hardaway started to struggle with knee injuries that would eventually define his career as much as anything. He was never the same player, and his attitude would always be called into question after he led a coup against Orlando head coach Brian Hill during the '96-'97 season. Still he finished his 14-year career with four All-Star appearances, was 1st-Team All-NBA twice, and starred in the 1995 NBA Finals for the Magic. One of just three players enshrined in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame, along with O'Neal and Nick Anderson, Hardaway's Naismith resume has not yet led to him even making the list of finalists since his eligibility started in 2014.
12) Bob Dandridge, eligible since 1988 (last year: #8)
On two title teams, almost an entire decade apart, Dandridge managed to be the unsung star. In 1971 he was the x-factor for a Bucks team headlined by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson that won the only title in franchise history. That feat was repeated in 1978, when Dandridge took third billing on the Bullets behind Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld, but was arguably the team's best player throughout those playoffs as Washington won their first and only title. Having also appeared in the NBA Finals with the Bucks in 1974 and the the Bullets in 1979, Dandridge scored more Finals points than any other player in the '70s. The players who have accomplished that feat in every other decade - George Mikan, Jerry West, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James - are all in the Hall or well on their way. Similar to Gus Johnson or Richard Hamilton, Dandridge's case would have been vastly improved if he had won Finals MVP in 1978, when he arguably deserved the trophy over Unseld. As it stands, he was 2nd-Team All-NBA once, 1st-Team All-Defensive once, an All-Star four times, finished as high as fifth in MVP voting, and ended his career with impressive final stats of 18.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
11) Chris Bosh, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
He missed out on the finalists list for 2020, but expect Bosh to make one in the near future and have his potential induction be hotly debated. On paper, he's probably on the wrong side of the line, with 11 All-Star appearances and two championships but only one 2nd-Team All-NBA honor, only one top 10 MVP finish, and career stats that are impressive but certainly not bowling anyone over. Bosh both benefits and is hampered by his association with the LeBron James/Dwyane Wade Heat, as he can fall back on his title rings but is remembered mainly for his third fiddle status. He does also have a gold medal as part of the "Redeem Team" in 2008.
10) Ben Wallace, eligible since 2017 (last year: #7)
9) Chauncey Billups, eligible since 2018 (last year: #6)
Two Pistons teammates that won a title together in 2004, Billups and Wallace have very different, very intriguing cases for induction. Billups was the MVP of those 2004 NBA Finals, a shocking upset of the Lakers, and he is one of just two eligible Finals MVPs not in the Hall, along with Cedric Maxwell. There was never a time during his 17-year career when Billups would be listed amongst the NBA's best players, but he certainly gets points for longevity and consistency. He averaged 16+ points and five-plus assists per game for eight straight seasons in his prime, a stretch during which Detroit reached six consecutive Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and won the aforementioned 2004 title. Billups was also 2nd-Team All-NBA once, 3rd-Team All-NBA twice, and an All-Star five times. As for Wallace, his Hall case is built also on his success with the Pistons (he was there for the first four Conference Finals appearances, including the two NBA Finals trips and the title), but also his argument as one of the greatest defensive players in league history. He won Defensive Player of the Year four times, a feat that is only matched by 2015 Naismith inductee Dikembe Mutombo. Wallace was also 1st-Team All-Defensive five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, an All-Star four times, led the NBA in rebounds per game twice, and in defensive win shares four times. If inducted, he would be the first member of the Hall of Fame to never average 10+ points per game in a single season. Though most would argue that Billups has the better case (and our metrics bear that out as well), it's Wallace who was a finalist in 2019. Neither made the list for 2020.
8) Shawn Kemp, eligible since 2009 (last year: #5)
He was unleashed on the NBA straight out of high school like a wrecking ball in the early '90s, but even after his inevitable burnout, Kemp compiled a career worthy of Hall consideration. He played just 14 seasons in the NBA, but totaled over 15,000 points and 8,000 rebounds, and during a too-brief prime, Kemp averaged 18+ points and 10+ rebounds per for four straight seasons. The most notable of those campaigns was '95-'96, when a still only 26-year-old Kemp was unleashed in the NBA Finals, arguably outplaying Scottie Pippen as the Sonics put up a fight against the Bulls. But less than three years he had basically eaten and smoked his way out of the league, disgruntled by Sonics management's contract offers, then giving lackadaisical (but still, at times, spectacular) performances for the Cavaliers and Blazers. Named 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, Kemp was also an All-Star six times, and twice lead all players in postseason rebounds per game. Though his numbers and accomplishments merit serious consideration, his lack of amateur experience and seeming disdain for the sport is unlikely to win over Naismith committee members.
7) Tim Hardaway, eligible since 2009 (last year: #4)
The last of the Run-T.M.C. member to not yet be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Hardaway actually clocks in far ahead on our list of enshrined Warriors teammates Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. One of the premier point guards and play makers of the '90s, Hardaway is one of just 16 players to compile 7,000 career assists, and one of just 17 retired players to record 1,500 three-point field goals. He was also 1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, an All-Star five times, and averaged 20+ points per game in five seasons. One accolade that Hardaway never added to his resume was playoff success, as his teams reached the Conference Finals just once, in 1997 with Miami. It's understandable why Mullin, as an NCAA star and member of the 1992 Dream Team (Hardaway also won Olympic gold, but on the much less renowned 2000 team), made it in ahead of him, but we're not sure why Richmond got the nod before him. Hardaway has been a finalist twice now, and will assuredly make it into Springfield eventually.
6) Kevin Johnson, eligible since 2006 (last year: #3)
His resume as a pro is nearly impeccable, but if there's one thing Johnson's career lacked, it was a signature moment of greatness. There were certainly sustained runs of exemplary play, especially starting in '88-'89 when Johnson kicked off four straight seasons of averaging 19+ points and 10+ assists per game. He was the unquestioned leader of the '89-'90 Suns team that reached the Conference Finals, but by the time Phoenix played in the 1993 NBA Finals, Johnson was second banana behind the newly acquired Charles Barkley. 2nd-Team All-NBA four times and an All-Star three times, Johnson's teams missed the playoffs only once, in his rookie year, and he certainly deserved to be enshrined ahead of fellow point guards and recently inductees Maurice Cheeks and Charlie Scott. Though he's been eligible since 2006, Johnson made his first appearance on the list of finalists in 2014. It's possible that the committee is passing over him due to his tumultuous political career as mayor of Sacramento, which has includes multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
5) Amare Stoudemire, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
With Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett surely getting inducted this year, and Paul Pierce as the only realistic first time eligible player next year, it may well come down to Stoudemire and/or Chris Webber in 2021. The former Sun star may well be still active when he eventually gets inducted, as he's currently playing in his third season in the Israeli Premier League and showing no signs of slowing down. Back in his NBA days, Stoudemire burst onto the scene in '02-'03, winning Rookie of the Year at age 19. He was 1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA four times, an All-Star six times, and arguably the best player in the NBA in 2005 when he tore cartilage in his knee and was never the same after the ensuing surgery. He didn't run up nearly the same career numbers as Webber, but Stoudemire had the better prime and should be eventually inducted.
4) Chris Webber, eligible since 2014 (last year: #1)
Unlike baseball, where the squabbles of the steroid era have dominated Hall of Fame discussions the past few years, the Naismith Hall of Fame has remained mainly controversy free. One large exception to that is Webber, whose eligibility in 2014 has placed him firmly atop this list for several seasons now. Despite a career that easily warrants inclusion into the Hall, Webber wasn't even a finalist in his first three years of eligibility. He finally made the short list in 2017, 2018, and 2019, but was passed over for lesser resumes in each instance. Then, in 2020, he was left out of the finalists completely. It goes without saying that Webber's skirting of the sham rules of NCAA amateurism during his time at Michigan have contributed heavily to his disbarring from Springfield. An All-American that led the Wolverines to back-to-back Final Fours, Webber later admitted to accepting illicit cash and gift donations from a high profile booster, leading to sanctions against the school and lengthy ban from official NCAA activities for Webber. His pro career was also not without controversy, as Webber was often accused of loafing it on the court, and not doing enough to earn the perceived overly pricy contracts that he received. He also never reached the NBA Finals, coming closest in reaching the Conference Finals with the Kings in 2002 and the Pistons in 2007. But if you took his name off the resume, Webber's stats and accolades would speak for themselves as Hall worthy. He was Rookie of the Year in '93-'94, a five-time All-Star, 1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and finished his career with over 17,000 points and over 8,000 rebounds.
3) Kevin Garnett, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
2) Tim Duncan, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
1) Kobe Bryant, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
It will be a bittersweet Hall of Fame ceremony this year, with Bryant getting inducted posthumously after his tragic January death. He'll be part of arguably the most impressive class in Naismith history, with Bryant and Duncan surely two of the 10 greatest players of all time and Garnett undeniably in the top 25. Only 2009 can really even compare, when Michael Jordan was inducted alongside John Stockton and David Robinson. These three players combined for four MVPs, five Finals MVPs, 11 championships, and 48 All-Star appearances.
Gone from last year's list: Sidney Moncrief (#2, eligible since 1997), Bobby Jones (#11, eligible since 1992), Paul Westphal (#16, eligible since 1990), and Jack Sikma (#17, eligible since 1997) were all finally inducted into the Hall of Fame after two decades-plus of waiting.
32) Robert Horry, eligible since 2014 (last year: #31)
He was never named to an All-Star team, never awarded any accolades other than 2nd-Team All-Rookie, and averaged just 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in his career, but Horry was undoubtedly a winner. He is the only player to win seven or more NBA championships that wasn't a teammate of Bill Russell on the Celtics. And unlike Russell's running mates like Frank Ramsey and K.C. Jones that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame based almost solely on their ring collections, Horry has definitive empirical proof of his impact on his team's title success. In addition to his incredible highlight reel of clutch shots in huge playoff games, his seven steals in game two of the 1995 NBA Finals are still a single-game record, and for years he held the mark for most career three-pointers made in the Finals (he has since been bumped to third by LeBron James and Stephen Curry). Despite all that, Horry has never made the list of finalists to be considered for induction.
31) Sam Cassell, eligible since 2014 (last year: #30)
A teammate of Robert Horry on the '90s Rockets, Cassell won back-to-back championships in his first two years in the league. He played for plenty of great teams over the ensuing 13 seasons, making it as far as the Conference Finals with Milwaukee in 2001 and with Minnesota in 2004, before finally capping his career with another title with the Celtics in 2008. Though Cassell had fewer titles than Horry (three to seven), he posted more impressive stats, averaging 17+ points and six-plus assists per game in six different seasons. He was also an All-Star and 2nd-Team All-NBA for the Timberwolves in '03-'04, and finished 10th in MVP voting that year. But Cassell's reputation as a clutch performer is somewhat unfounded (his stats actually typically decreased in the postseason) and he was never more than the fifth or sixth best player on the title teams for which he played.
30) Rudy LaRusso, eligible since 1975 (last year: #29)
One of the most underrated players of the '60s, LaRusso averaged 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game over his 10-year career, and almost assuredly would be a Hall of Famer today if he had played for the Celtics. But it was the Lakers that selected him in the second round in 1959 and though LaRusso played in seven Conference Finals and four NBA Finals, he was never a title winner. He spent his last two seasons with the Warriors, averaging a career high 21.7 points per game in '67-'68.
29) Terry Porter, eligible since 2008 (last year: #28)
Always the underdog, Porter was lightly recruited out of high school, wound up at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point, was one of the final cuts from the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, and fell to the last pick of the first round of the 1985 Draft. There was never any point when Porter was considered one of the league's best point guards, but he put in seven quietly great seasons for Portland. Those years came at arguably the historical peak of NBA talent and Porter managed two All-Star appearances in the era. He was also the assists leader and second-leading scorer on the Blazers teams that reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.
28) Latrell Sprewell, eligible since 2011 (last year: #27)
Out of everyone on this list, Sprewell is arguably the least likely to ever get enshrined in Springfield, unless it's as some sort of cautionary tale. His choking attack on coach P.J. Carlesimo in a practice during the '97-'98 season is the first thing most fans think of regarding his career, especially the traditionally stodgy Hall of Fame voter base. Before the incident, Sprewell was rounding into one of the league's best scorers, averaging 24.2 points per game in '96-'97, and after serving his one-year suspension he was the leading playoffs scorer on the '98-'99 Knicks team that reached the NBA Finals. He was also 1st-Team All-NBA in '93-'94, and an All-Star four times. A relatively nondescript college career at Alabama is another strike against Sprewell's induction chances.
27) Lou Hudson, eligible since 1985 (last year: #26)
Nicknamed "Sweet Lou" for his shooting touch, Hudson was one of the better scoring wing players of his era but suffered from never playing for a legitimate contender. Drafted fourth overall by the then St. Louis Hawks in 1966, he joined a roster that was a solid playoff staple but never able to advance past the Lakers or Warriors to reach the NBA Finals. During that time he averaged 24+ points per game for five straight seasons, played in six All-Star Games, and was named 2nd-Team All-NBA for '69-'70. Traded late in his career to the Lakers, Hudson unfortunately retired in 1979, just as the team was drafting Magic Johnson and about to win their first of five titles in the '80s.
26) Glen Rice, eligible since 2010 (last year: #25)
One asset in Rice's induction resume that many players on this list lack is a legendary NCAA career. In his four seasons at Michigan he became the school's all-time leading scorer, was an All-American, won Big 10 Player of the Year for '88-'89, and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1989 NCAA Tournament, where he set the tourney record for most total points while leading the Wolverines to the national title. His NBA career never quite lived up to those lofty standards, but he was a three-time All-Star and his '96-'97 season was exemplary, averaging 26.8 points per game (third in the NBA), winning All-Star MVP, getting named 2nd-Team All-NBA, and finishing fifth in MVP voting. Rice also won a championship late in his career, as the third-leading scorer on the '99-'00 Lakers, and retired as third all-time in career three-point field goals.
25) Bill Laimbeer, eligible since 1999 (last year: #24)
This is always going to be a tough sell, maybe the toughest on this list besides Latrell Sprewell, as the prickly and arguably dirty Laimbeer was never a popular player outside of Detroit. He's also typically overlooked for his contributions to the Detroit titles in 1989 and 1990 in favor of his Hall of Fame teammates Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman. But Laimbeer was named to four All-Star teams, averaged 10+ rebounds per game for seven straight seasons (including a league-leading 13.1 per game in '86-'87), and his case has been boosted even further in recent years by the advent of advanced statistics. Many analysts and fans have been re-evaluating Laimbeer recently based on his impressive win share and usage stats that are revealing just how crucial he was to those Pistons teams. He has also rehabbed his image in recent years with his successful WNBA coaching career.
24) Larry Foust, eligible since 1968 (last year: #23)
Though many players from the NBA's early years have made it in without real Hall worthy numbers, such as Jack Twyman, Harry Gallatin, Tom Gola, and Bobby Wanzer, there are several who still stand at the precipice of induction, chief amongst them Foust. His eight All-Star appearances is the record amongst non-inductees, and the longtime Pistons center averaged 14.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in his first 10 seasons, which is impressive for his era. Though he never won a title, Foust played in five NBA Finals, two with the Pistons (1955 and 1956), one with the Lakers (1959), and two with the Hawks (1960 and 1961). He also retired in 1962 as the second all-time leading rebounder, behind only Dolph Schayes. If/when Foust ever gets inducted into Naismith, it will be posthumous, as he passed away young, at age 56 in 1984.
23) Mark Price, eligible since 2004 (last year: #22)
It's a race against time at this point for Price to beat out LeBron James as the first player whose prime came with the Cleveland Cavaliers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was one of the premier point guards of the '90s, a four-time All-Star, 1st-Team All-NBA in '92-'93, 3rd-Team All-NBA three times, and finishing in the top 10 in assists per game five times. Price was also one of the greatest free throw shooters of all-time, leading the league in free throw percentage three times, including the sixth (94.8% in '92-'93) and seventh (94.7% in '91-'92) best single-season totals in league history. His 90.39% career free throw shooting mark was the all-time record for almost two decades, and still sits second behind only Steve Nash. Perhaps most impressive is that Price is one of just seven members of the 50-40-90 club, meaning he's shot 50% from the field, 40% on three-pointers, and 90% from the free throw line in a season, and all six other members are either Hall of Famers already (Nash, Larry Bird, Reggie Miller) or surefire future ones (Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki).
22) Shawn Marion, eligible since 2019 (last year: #21)
Of the 65 players newly eligible last year, Marion had the best NBA resume according to our metrics, followed by Carlos Boozer, Kenyon Martin, and Jason Richardson. But beyond the 21 players rated higher than him on this list, Marion's induction chances are further hampered further by his lack of accolades during his team at UNLV, and his Olympics experience coming with the disastrous 2004 U.S. team that settled for bronze. He spent 16 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Suns, for whom he was a four-time All-Star and 3rd-Team All-NBA twice. Nicknamed "The Matrix" for his versatility, Marion averaged at least 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block per game in four different seasons. He was a key part of the Suns teams that lost back-to-back Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006, then a tough second round series against the Spurs in 2007, then later finally won a title as a bench combo forward for the '10-'11 Mavericks. With so many players ahead of him already in terms of resumes, and several greats, including his longtime teammate Amare Stoudemire, gaining eligibility this year, Marion will likely be waiting a while.
21) Horace Grant, eligible since 2010 (last year: #20)
Perceived as mercurial and avaricious, Grant was never particularly popular with sportswriters, which is obviously a major requisite of having any chance of induction. A star player could certainly get away with it, but Grant was an All-Star just once in his career, in 1994, and never better than the third-best player on any team for which he played. Granted, he played for some great teams, starting with the Bulls, with whom he won three consecutive titles, then making an NBA Finals appearance with the Magic in 1995 before capping his career winning a fourth ring with the Lakers in 2001. Though he was overshadowed by his star teammates Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Grant was also a great defender in his own right, and was named 2nd-Team All-Defensive for four straight years as a result. He also averaged 13.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game over a consistent 10-year prime. It's the kind of resume that's gotten many of Bill Russell's teammates into the Hall, so things could eventually work out for Grant if voters start to assess Jordan's best teammates.
20) Richard Hamilton, eligible since 2018 (last year: #19)
Newly eligible in 2018, Hamilton was present on the initial list of eligible candidates but missed the cut for finalists, let alone inductees. Starting shooting guard and often the leading scorer for the Pistons during the '00s, Hamilton was traded to Detroit from Washington in 2002, and played in six consecutive Conference Finals with the team. That streak included a championship in 2004, and an additional NBA Finals appearance in 2005. There's an argument to be made that Hamilton deserved to win Finals MVP over Chauncey Billups for his performance in the 2004 upset over the Lakers, as he led the Pistons in scoring with 21.4 points per game, and was second in assists. That trophy certainly would have greatly improved his Hall chances, as Jo Jo White's recent induction leaves Billups and Cedric Maxwell as the only eligible Finals MVPs that are not yet enshrined. That leaves Hamilton's three All-Star appearances as his only NBA accolades, but his college career at Connecticut boosts his case. In leading the Huskies to the 1999 NCAA title, he was named Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament, an All-American, and the Big East Player of the Year.
19) Buck Williams, eligible since 2004 (last year: #18)
A teammate of Terry Porter on the 1990 and 1992 Portland teams that reached the NBA Finals, Williams also has a similar Hall resume with his former fellow Blazer. With a prime that was spread across the mid-to-late '80s and early '90s, he's often overlooked compared to peers at power forward like Charles Barkley and Karl Malone. But Williams had his moments, especially early in his career with the Nets, when he was Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star, and finished in the top five in rebounds per game for seven straight seasons. His years with the Trail Blazers include not only the Finals trips, but also two designations as 1st-Team All-Defensive, and back-to-back seasons leading the NBA in field goal percentage. He's one of just 16 players to total over 13,000 rebounds in his career, and the other 15 players on that list are either Hall of Famers already or surefire future ones. Yet Williams wasn't even on the list of eligible players for induction in 2018. One thing going against Williams' case is that his Olympics dreams were scuttled in 1980, when he was named to the U.S. team only to have the entire delegation boycott due to the Soviets hosting. He has had his jersey retired by the Nets, and as a former NCAA star at University of Maryland, was inducted into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.
18) Terry Cummings, eligible since 2006 (last year: #15)
Maybe the most underrated forward of the '80s, Cummings was Rookie of the Year in '82-'83, and finished fifth in MVP voting in '84-'85. But despite averaging 22.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game over his first eight seasons, he was an All-Star only twice, and named 2nd-Team All-NBA just once. Drafted second overall in 1982 after a star turn at DePaul, Cummings wasted his first two years on terrible Clippers teams before getting traded to a contender in Milwaukee. He led the Bucks in playoff scoring and rebounding as they reached the Conference Finals in '85-'86, but despite spending most of his prime with solid teams in Milwaukee and San Antonio, that's the furthest he would ever make it in the postseason. Cummings never played on an NBA Finals team, making it as far as the Conference Finals just one more time, with the Spurs in 1995. Like Buck Williams, he's wildly overshadowed by the glut of power forward talent that took the NBA by storm in the late '80s and early '90s.
17) Tom Chambers, eligible since 2005 (last year: #14)
The 1987 All-Star Game in Seattle was a true spectacle, featuring future Hall of Famers Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Alex English, James Worthy, Dominique Wilkins, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale at the height of their powers, plus still-relevant old timers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, and Moses Malone, and young up-and-comers Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Hakeem Olajuwon. The game ended with the West prevailing 154-149 in overtime. The MVP? Hometown hero Tom Chambers. It was the first of Chamber's four All-Star appearances in a career that also featured over 20,000 career points (placing him still in the top 50 all-time), being named 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, finishing fourth in the NBA in scoring in '89-'90 with 27.2 points per game, and finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting twice. He was also the sixth man for the '92-'93 Suns team that reached the NBA Finals, and played in Conference Finals with the Sonics (1987), Suns (1989 and 1990), and Jazz (1994). The knocks against Chambers are his lack of accolades at the NCAA level while playing for Utah, and the fact that he was never the star player on his own team, always seemingly co-starring alongside another All-Star, or playing second fiddle. Setting aside Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett, Chambers is one of just two players with 20,000+ career NBA points not in the Hall of Fame, along with Antawn Jamison.
16) Walter Davis, eligible since 1998 (last year: #13)
Though he's 16th on this list based solely on his pro accolades, Davis would be arguably the biggest head-scratcher when viewing his overall career in a vacuum. Not only did his 15-year pro career include a Rookie of the Year award, six All-Star appearances, two times as 2nd-Team All-NBA, a fifth-place finish in MVP voting, and over 19,000 career points, he was also a decorated amateur star. Davis played under Dean Smith both in the NCAA and the Olympics, named 1st-Team All-ACC on the '76-'77 North Carolina team that reached the Final Four, and winning gold for the U.S. in Montreal in 1976. So what's the catch? Like so many of his peers, Davis had an unfortunate cocaine addiction that led to rehab and suspensions, tarnished his image forever, and in retrospect obviously hampered his late career output. He would later repair his relationship and image with the Suns, who retired his jersey in 1994, but Naismith voters still seem allergic to his induction. One of the best pure scorers of his era, Davis averaged 20+ points per game in six different seasons, and his 19,521 career points trails only Tom Chambers, Antawn Jamison, and Clifford Robinson as the most for an eligible player not yet in the Hall.
15) Marques Johnson, eligible since 1996 (last year: #12)
A rare case on this list of a player with serious accolades at the collegiate and pro levels, but still no call from the Hall. Johnson was the last great star of the John Wooden era at UCLA, leading the team to the 10th and final NCAA title of Wooden's career in 1975, then winning the Naismith Player of the Year award in '76-'77. He was the third overall pick of Milwaukee in 1977 and the second big star of the franchise's history after his fellow Bruins alumnus, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson was 1st-Team All-NBA in '78-'79, 2nd-Team All-NBA the next two seasons, an All-Star five times, and averaged as many as 25.6 points per game in '78-'79, which was good for third in the league. After leading the Bucks to back-to-back Conference Finals in 1983 and 1984, his career was forever changed by a trade to the snakebitten Clippers (for Terry Cummings). After two decent seasons with the Clippers, Johnson injured his neck so severely that his career was basically over as he barely escaped permanent paralyzation. Thus, while he packed a lot into his career, it truly only lasted nine seasons, and his peak came at what was arguably the nadir of the NBA in the late '70s. After two-plus decades of eligibility, he finally made the list of finalists in 2019 but didn't get the call to Springfield.
14) Gus Williams, eligible since 1993 (last year: #10)
Just a few scant years before there was "Magic" Johnson we had "The Wizard" Williams, a master play maker that was arguably robbed of the 1979 Finals MVP trophy and missed an entire season in his prime sitting out over a contract dispute. Williams teamed in the back court with Dennis Johnson (a player inducted in the Hall of Fame much too late) on the Sonics teams that reached back-to-back NBA Finals in 1978 and 1979, winning in the latter. Williams was absolutely dominant in the 1979 victory over Washington, averaging 28.9 points per game, leading Seattle in scoring in all five contests, but watching the Finals MVP trophy handed to the more well-rounded Johnson. Though the Sonics crumbled in the early '80s, he was twice an All-Star and 1st-Team All-NBA for the '81-'82 season, over fellow point guards Magic Johnson, Sidney Moncrief, and Tiny Archibald. His Hall case is obviously hurt by having missed the entire '80-'81 season due to a contract holdout.
13) Penny Hardaway, eligible since 2014 (last year: #9)
The man with the unique nickname "Penny" and the even more unique style of play looked to be on the cusp of greatness in the summer of 1996. His Orlando Magic were almost undoubtedly the league's second best team, and had as good a chance as anyone of slowing down the Chicago Bulls juggernaut. Hardaway was 1st-Team All-NBA in '95-'96, third in MVP voting, and was named to the U.S. Olympic team in Atlanta. Then Shaquille O'Neal was traded from Orlando to the Lakers, and Hardaway started to struggle with knee injuries that would eventually define his career as much as anything. He was never the same player, and his attitude would always be called into question after he led a coup against Orlando head coach Brian Hill during the '96-'97 season. Still he finished his 14-year career with four All-Star appearances, was 1st-Team All-NBA twice, and starred in the 1995 NBA Finals for the Magic. One of just three players enshrined in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame, along with O'Neal and Nick Anderson, Hardaway's Naismith resume has not yet led to him even making the list of finalists since his eligibility started in 2014.
12) Bob Dandridge, eligible since 1988 (last year: #8)
On two title teams, almost an entire decade apart, Dandridge managed to be the unsung star. In 1971 he was the x-factor for a Bucks team headlined by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson that won the only title in franchise history. That feat was repeated in 1978, when Dandridge took third billing on the Bullets behind Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld, but was arguably the team's best player throughout those playoffs as Washington won their first and only title. Having also appeared in the NBA Finals with the Bucks in 1974 and the the Bullets in 1979, Dandridge scored more Finals points than any other player in the '70s. The players who have accomplished that feat in every other decade - George Mikan, Jerry West, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James - are all in the Hall or well on their way. Similar to Gus Johnson or Richard Hamilton, Dandridge's case would have been vastly improved if he had won Finals MVP in 1978, when he arguably deserved the trophy over Unseld. As it stands, he was 2nd-Team All-NBA once, 1st-Team All-Defensive once, an All-Star four times, finished as high as fifth in MVP voting, and ended his career with impressive final stats of 18.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
11) Chris Bosh, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
He missed out on the finalists list for 2020, but expect Bosh to make one in the near future and have his potential induction be hotly debated. On paper, he's probably on the wrong side of the line, with 11 All-Star appearances and two championships but only one 2nd-Team All-NBA honor, only one top 10 MVP finish, and career stats that are impressive but certainly not bowling anyone over. Bosh both benefits and is hampered by his association with the LeBron James/Dwyane Wade Heat, as he can fall back on his title rings but is remembered mainly for his third fiddle status. He does also have a gold medal as part of the "Redeem Team" in 2008.
10) Ben Wallace, eligible since 2017 (last year: #7)
9) Chauncey Billups, eligible since 2018 (last year: #6)
Two Pistons teammates that won a title together in 2004, Billups and Wallace have very different, very intriguing cases for induction. Billups was the MVP of those 2004 NBA Finals, a shocking upset of the Lakers, and he is one of just two eligible Finals MVPs not in the Hall, along with Cedric Maxwell. There was never a time during his 17-year career when Billups would be listed amongst the NBA's best players, but he certainly gets points for longevity and consistency. He averaged 16+ points and five-plus assists per game for eight straight seasons in his prime, a stretch during which Detroit reached six consecutive Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and won the aforementioned 2004 title. Billups was also 2nd-Team All-NBA once, 3rd-Team All-NBA twice, and an All-Star five times. As for Wallace, his Hall case is built also on his success with the Pistons (he was there for the first four Conference Finals appearances, including the two NBA Finals trips and the title), but also his argument as one of the greatest defensive players in league history. He won Defensive Player of the Year four times, a feat that is only matched by 2015 Naismith inductee Dikembe Mutombo. Wallace was also 1st-Team All-Defensive five times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, an All-Star four times, led the NBA in rebounds per game twice, and in defensive win shares four times. If inducted, he would be the first member of the Hall of Fame to never average 10+ points per game in a single season. Though most would argue that Billups has the better case (and our metrics bear that out as well), it's Wallace who was a finalist in 2019. Neither made the list for 2020.
8) Shawn Kemp, eligible since 2009 (last year: #5)
He was unleashed on the NBA straight out of high school like a wrecking ball in the early '90s, but even after his inevitable burnout, Kemp compiled a career worthy of Hall consideration. He played just 14 seasons in the NBA, but totaled over 15,000 points and 8,000 rebounds, and during a too-brief prime, Kemp averaged 18+ points and 10+ rebounds per for four straight seasons. The most notable of those campaigns was '95-'96, when a still only 26-year-old Kemp was unleashed in the NBA Finals, arguably outplaying Scottie Pippen as the Sonics put up a fight against the Bulls. But less than three years he had basically eaten and smoked his way out of the league, disgruntled by Sonics management's contract offers, then giving lackadaisical (but still, at times, spectacular) performances for the Cavaliers and Blazers. Named 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, Kemp was also an All-Star six times, and twice lead all players in postseason rebounds per game. Though his numbers and accomplishments merit serious consideration, his lack of amateur experience and seeming disdain for the sport is unlikely to win over Naismith committee members.
7) Tim Hardaway, eligible since 2009 (last year: #4)
The last of the Run-T.M.C. member to not yet be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Hardaway actually clocks in far ahead on our list of enshrined Warriors teammates Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. One of the premier point guards and play makers of the '90s, Hardaway is one of just 16 players to compile 7,000 career assists, and one of just 17 retired players to record 1,500 three-point field goals. He was also 1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, an All-Star five times, and averaged 20+ points per game in five seasons. One accolade that Hardaway never added to his resume was playoff success, as his teams reached the Conference Finals just once, in 1997 with Miami. It's understandable why Mullin, as an NCAA star and member of the 1992 Dream Team (Hardaway also won Olympic gold, but on the much less renowned 2000 team), made it in ahead of him, but we're not sure why Richmond got the nod before him. Hardaway has been a finalist twice now, and will assuredly make it into Springfield eventually.
6) Kevin Johnson, eligible since 2006 (last year: #3)
His resume as a pro is nearly impeccable, but if there's one thing Johnson's career lacked, it was a signature moment of greatness. There were certainly sustained runs of exemplary play, especially starting in '88-'89 when Johnson kicked off four straight seasons of averaging 19+ points and 10+ assists per game. He was the unquestioned leader of the '89-'90 Suns team that reached the Conference Finals, but by the time Phoenix played in the 1993 NBA Finals, Johnson was second banana behind the newly acquired Charles Barkley. 2nd-Team All-NBA four times and an All-Star three times, Johnson's teams missed the playoffs only once, in his rookie year, and he certainly deserved to be enshrined ahead of fellow point guards and recently inductees Maurice Cheeks and Charlie Scott. Though he's been eligible since 2006, Johnson made his first appearance on the list of finalists in 2014. It's possible that the committee is passing over him due to his tumultuous political career as mayor of Sacramento, which has includes multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
5) Amare Stoudemire, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
With Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett surely getting inducted this year, and Paul Pierce as the only realistic first time eligible player next year, it may well come down to Stoudemire and/or Chris Webber in 2021. The former Sun star may well be still active when he eventually gets inducted, as he's currently playing in his third season in the Israeli Premier League and showing no signs of slowing down. Back in his NBA days, Stoudemire burst onto the scene in '02-'03, winning Rookie of the Year at age 19. He was 1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA four times, an All-Star six times, and arguably the best player in the NBA in 2005 when he tore cartilage in his knee and was never the same after the ensuing surgery. He didn't run up nearly the same career numbers as Webber, but Stoudemire had the better prime and should be eventually inducted.
4) Chris Webber, eligible since 2014 (last year: #1)
Unlike baseball, where the squabbles of the steroid era have dominated Hall of Fame discussions the past few years, the Naismith Hall of Fame has remained mainly controversy free. One large exception to that is Webber, whose eligibility in 2014 has placed him firmly atop this list for several seasons now. Despite a career that easily warrants inclusion into the Hall, Webber wasn't even a finalist in his first three years of eligibility. He finally made the short list in 2017, 2018, and 2019, but was passed over for lesser resumes in each instance. Then, in 2020, he was left out of the finalists completely. It goes without saying that Webber's skirting of the sham rules of NCAA amateurism during his time at Michigan have contributed heavily to his disbarring from Springfield. An All-American that led the Wolverines to back-to-back Final Fours, Webber later admitted to accepting illicit cash and gift donations from a high profile booster, leading to sanctions against the school and lengthy ban from official NCAA activities for Webber. His pro career was also not without controversy, as Webber was often accused of loafing it on the court, and not doing enough to earn the perceived overly pricy contracts that he received. He also never reached the NBA Finals, coming closest in reaching the Conference Finals with the Kings in 2002 and the Pistons in 2007. But if you took his name off the resume, Webber's stats and accolades would speak for themselves as Hall worthy. He was Rookie of the Year in '93-'94, a five-time All-Star, 1st-Team All-NBA once, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and finished his career with over 17,000 points and over 8,000 rebounds.
3) Kevin Garnett, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
2) Tim Duncan, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
1) Kobe Bryant, eligible since 2020 (last year: NR)
It will be a bittersweet Hall of Fame ceremony this year, with Bryant getting inducted posthumously after his tragic January death. He'll be part of arguably the most impressive class in Naismith history, with Bryant and Duncan surely two of the 10 greatest players of all time and Garnett undeniably in the top 25. Only 2009 can really even compare, when Michael Jordan was inducted alongside John Stockton and David Robinson. These three players combined for four MVPs, five Finals MVPs, 11 championships, and 48 All-Star appearances.