2008 HOF class

[Gargamel]

Riley:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-hall8apr08,1,2880023.story

Akeem/Hakeem:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5680537.html

Dantley:
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_8836672

Ewing:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/sports/basketball/08fame.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin


Good to see Dantley finally make it in, he was usually judged solely upon his NBA career. However, he was 1976 POY in college and was part of the Notre Dame team that broke UCLA's 88 gm win streak. He was ROY in the NBA, gold medal in the 76 Olympics. Narrowly missed out on 2 titles, traded by LA to Utah before Magic's rookie season. He was squeezed out of Utah after the arrival of Malone. Went to Detroit, lost in 7 to LA in 1988 and was promptly booted from Detroit for Isiah's buddy Mark Aguirre (thanks to the efforts of Isiah). This is probably the crowning achievement of his NBA career.

Fitting that Ewing and Olajuwon make it in at the same time. Olajuwon is generally considered a number of notches above Ewing because of the 2 NBA titles. Before that, however, Hakeem's resume had about as many notorious defeats as Pat's.

Riley is the lucky Irishman. He was in the historic Kentucky vs Texas Western game. He was on the 72 LA team that won 33 straight. He was there when Westhead got fired and coached the Lakers to 4 more titles. He showed the Phil Jackson ability to lead stacked teams and egos to titles (and not every coach can...SVG). He also showed the Larry Brown ability to turn wannabes into title contenders. As far as 2008 goes, you're wise not to put all your eggs into Shaq's basket. Riles is guilty of that, but he's got enough good stuff in the bank to override the tank job going down in Miami right now.

 

[Dave McNulla]

dantley is still less deserving than artis gilmore.

http://www.autographedtoyou.com/Artis-Gilmore-biography.htm

Biography:
Widely known as one of the best big men in the history of basketball, Artis Gilmore’s professional basketball career spanned 18 years, including 12 years in the NBA, 5 years in the ABA, and one year in Italy. Following a stellar collegiate career in which he, almost single-handedly, led Jacksonville University to the 1970 NCAA Championship game, Artis decided to go to the ABA rather than the NBA, and was a 1972 first round selection by the Kentucky Colonels. Gilmore made an instant impact his rookie season as he racked up Rookie of the Year honors, was selected to the ABA’s All-Rookie team, was selected as an ABA All-Star, and was named the ABA’s Most Valuable Player. Over the next 4 years, Gilmore would offer encore performances by receiving multiple ABA honors. These honors include being selected to the ABA All-Defensive Team for the 1973 season through the 1976 season, being named as an ABA All-Star for the 1973 season through the 1976 season, leading the ABA in rebounding from 1972-1974 and then again in 1976, and he was also named the MVP of the 1974 ABA All-Star Game. Furthermore, he would lead the Kentucky Colonels to the 1975 ABA Championship, be named the MVP for the 1975 Championship Series, and be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. In 1977 the ABA and NBA merged and Artis became a first round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls. He would spend the next 6 ½ years in Chicago, where he would lead the team in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, blocked shots, and minutes played. In 1982, he would leave for San Antonio where he would spend 5 years and play alongside George Gervin. During his 5 years in San Antonio, he ranked 3rd in scoring, 1st in rebounding, 1st in field goal percentage, and led the team in minutes played. In 1987, his NBA career would take him full circle as he returned to Chicago to play with Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Within this same year 1987, would be in Boston with the Celtics as he played his final year in the NBA. His NBA career was a notable one as he was a six time NBA All-Star and still holds the record for the best field goal percentage in NBA history. Gilmore would spend one more year playing professional basketball by taking his game, and his family, to Bologna, Italy.

and...
http://www.basketballreference.com/leaders/leadershof.htm

check out the column to the right. there are five guys above dantley (just based on the nba contributions, forget college and aba).

 

[Gargamel]

None of them beyond Hakeem and Ewing are first ballot types anyway, they'll get in in due time.

I have a REALLY hard time considering Paul Westphal before Dantley, Gilmour, or DJ. Dennis will definitely (posthumously) make it in sooner than Dantley. Haywood and Bernard King have had scrapes with drugs and the law, I don't know how much that stuff is remembered when it's time to vote. Haywood was actually banned from the league for the 1981 season for drugs. I'd say your boy is up for 2009.