Piece by: Zach Milaszewski
The highest honor a basketball player can earn is a spot in the hall of fame. It is no easy task. Only the best of the best are able to cement their legacies among the games greatest. Lets take a look at what active players are headed to the hall after their career is over.
LeBron James: I mean this ones the most obvious. One of, if not the greatest player the NBA has ever seen. 4 NBA championships, 2003-04 ROY, 16x all star, I could keep going but you get the point. The guy has been the best player in the NBA for the majority of his career. Even into his mid-late thirties he is dominating the game. He continues to evolve as a player, his passing, his three point shooting are all better now than when he was in his prime in Miami. These are going to help him continue to keep playing at a high level even if (or when) his athleticism ever starts to deteriorate.
Kevin Durant: One of the most lethal scorers ever. Standing at damn near 7 feet tall and can dribble and shoot with the best guards in the league. An MVP, a 4x scoring champion, 2 rings (yes they count don’t discredit greatness). Durant is one of the only players who has had a serious argument to be the best player in the league while Lebron has been there. Durant is not the strongest or most athletic player, but his skillset is second to none. With his size and scoring ability he one of the most unstoppable players ever.
Steph Curry: Curry came into the NBA has an undersized guard who could shoot the three. Curry has been a huge reason the NBA is where it is now. He is without a doubt the greatest three point shooter ever. A 3x NBA champion, 2x MVP (one unanimous) and he will most likely hold the most three pointers made record within a few years. Curry is the most exciting player to watch when he gets hot. Pulling up from the logo, turning around before the shot goes in, hell even his warmups were a sight to behold when the Warriors were running the league.
Carmelo Anthony: Carmelo Anthony’s biggest knock for his career is never getting that coveted ring. But there are already hall of famers with no rings. Melo beat out Kevin Durant for the 2012-13 scoring title, has made 10 all star teams and 6 all nba teams. That’s no slouch. He has always been a phenomenal scorer. His game may have been better suited for a different era, but nonetheless he still dominated the NBA for many years. His days with the Nuggets and Knicks were when he was at his best. From his rookie season in 2003, all the way up to the 2016-17 season he was scoring 20+ points per game. He may not have the same accolades as some hall of famers, but he is still for sure a first ballot hall of famer. Even into his older seasons, Melo has adjusted his game to be a role player and continues to be a good NBA player.
Dwight Howard: Dwight Howard quietly has an incredible HOF resume. His years in Orlando were unreal, he was going toe to toe with Lebron. He led a less than star powered team to the NBA finals in 2009. Dwight is a 5x rebound leader, 8x all NBA,, 3 DPOYs, and 5x all defense. He was DOMINANT. A double double machine and a defensive menace. He finally got his coveted ring in 2020, after a few years of bouncing around and being traded, he embraced his role as a backup big man. He was an MVP caliber player at his peak, though he never won the award.
Chris Paul: The point god. One of the best to ever do it at his position. An incredible defender, an incredible passer and floor general. He is averaging just under 10 assists a game for his career. over 15 years in the league. A 4x assist champion, a 6x steal champion, and a 10x all-star. One of the best two way players the game has ever seen. Paul is one of the smartest players, whether it’s knowing the rule book or making the right, Paul knows what he’s doing.
James Harden: James Harden catches a lot of hate for his play style. But there is no denying that he is one of the best offensive players of all time. He’s received the sixth man award as well as an MVP, a feat that only Harden and Bill Walton have achieved. Harden is also a 3x scoring champ and a 1x assist champ. He is still looking for his championship, but he has a good chance this season as he joins Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in Brooklyn. Regardless of the ring or lack there of Harden will go down as an all time great player.
Russell Westbrook: Westbrook is one of the most explosive NBA players in history. Mr. Triple double. He may not be the most efficient or team friendly player. But his legacy can’t be overlooked by that. He is an MVP, a 2x scoring champ, and a 2x assist champ. It would be asinine to keep a player whose career averages through 12 years are 23/7/8. There are already hall of Famers who have worse averages than that.
Borderline Hall of Fame Players.
This is a list of players who are close to being worthy of the HOF or could get in after their first year of eligibility.
Andre Iguodala: Iggy only made one all-star game in his career. But his 3 NBA championships and 1 finals MVP give him a bump most players don’t have.
Kyle Lowry: Lowry was a late bloomer in terms of most NBA players. He didn’t make his first all-star game until his age 28 season. After that he strung together 6 all-star appearances in a row. He won a championship in 2019.
Damian Lillard: Lillard is only 30 years old. He is one of the best scorers in the NBA right now. Lillard won rookie of the year in 2012-13. A 5x all-star and 5x all-NBA player, but that isn’t enough on its own to warrant a spot in Springfield. His career path is on the way to becoming a hall of famer.
Anthony Davis: Davis has a hell of a resume for a 27-year-old. An NBA champion for starters. Also, a 7x all-star, 3x block champ, 4x all defense, and 4x all NBA. A dominant big whose brightest days may still be ahead of him.
Kyrie Irving: One of the best ball handlers ever. Kyrie has a championship under his belt. Also, a 6x all-star and 2x all NBA player. Kyries off the court “issues” should not have an effect on the voting process.