NBA: Who Gets A Hall Pass?

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is not the NBA Hall of Fame. That would explain why people like Van Chancellor, Mendy Rudolph and Drazen Dalipagic are in it. The 2007 class featured five coaches, one entire team, a referee, and not one individual player. The entire Hall of Fame consists of only 258 players and five teams. That isn't a lot when you consider that the Hall opened it's doors in 1960. How exclusive is the Naismith Hall of Fame? James Worthy didn't get in the first time he was on the ballot. Neither did Dominique Wilkins. Worthy was a collegiate champion, a four-time NBA champion and a Finals' MVP. Had the United States not boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Worthy would have had his chance at a gold medal too. How about the fact that since 1996, only 9 players from the modern NBA have been enshrined who didn't have either the Lakers or the Celtics listed on the back of their basketball card. (In case you're wondering, Alex English's role as a Celtic in Amazing ... [link]