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The Whiteboard: Should there be an NBA Hall of Fame?

By Ti Windisch

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Jared Greenberg introduces the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame finalist during the 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announcement at STAPLES Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Jared Greenberg introduces the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame finalist during the 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announcement at STAPLES Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bruce Yeung/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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No NBA Hall of Fame currently exists. Is there a need or use for one?

Manu Ginobili’s retirement announcement this week led to some talk of Manu’s Hall of Fame status. He is certainly in based on his NBA accomplishments, thanks to his role as the best sixth man in NBA history across four title teams.

Even if that weren’t enough, Ginobili is an international icon with one of the most storied basketball careers ever. Because the Hall of Fame central to this discussion is not limited to NBA basketball, that matters.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is located in the United States, but that doesn’t preclude it from considering non-NBA and non-North American achievements and players. Part of the Hall’s mission statement references the global aspect that basketball has developed:

Since its creation in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891, basketball has reached across all boundaries and become an iconic international game.

Since the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame casts such a wide net, no organization exists to enshrine solely players based on NBA accomplishments.

Other American pro sports Hall of Fames operate differently. The National Baseball Hall of Fame requires inductees to play for a certain amount of time in the Major Leagues, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame has just one inductee who never played in the NFL (he played in the AFL prior to the merger).

Should there be an National Basketball Association Hall of Fame to serve in a similar capacity? Honestly, probably not.

Adam Silver has carried on David Stern’s legacy of spreading the game internationally, and the league clearly takes pride in how many international players make it to the Association. Both NBA and G League players take part in international competitions across the world. That global link is important for the NBA, and having that reflected in the Hall of Fame is only right.

Also, the current system does not discriminate by gender. Around 20 women have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame thus far, with more certainly coming based on some of the players dominating the WNBA right now. The forward-thinking NBA has no reason to start a boy’s club to keep out deserving players.

#Content you can’t miss

The GOAT sixth man; Jacob Goldstein argues Manu might have been the greatest bench player of all time

Let’s get semantic; Amaar Burton names 10 superstars who aren’t considered superstars

Freedom is always cool; Nick DePaula reports that the NBA has loosen restrictions on shoe color in game

Chaos is a ladder; Kendall Garriss examines three Spurs who will benefit from the minutes created by Manu stepping down

Let’s go number crunching; Neil Johnson and Seth Walder take a look at their 2018-19 NBA BPI (basketball power index) projections

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