20 NBA Hall-of-Fame careers that were cut short by injury

NBA Hall-of-Fame career cut short: Brad Daugherty

One of the most well-known and important figures in the history of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball, Brad Daugherty is not in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Playing in the golden age of NBA centers, Daugherty earned just one All-NBA selection, and when injuries cut his career short he was left without a robust Hall of Fame resume.

Daugherty starred at North Carolina alongside Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins and Kenny Smith, earning All-American honors in 1986 before being drafted first overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The seven-footer was an instant success, joining two Cavaliers teammates on the All-Rookie Team (there was only one back then) and making the All-Star Game in five of the next six seasons.

Then, suddenly, it was all gone. Back issues that had troubled Daugherty off-and-on came back in force, and after he was limited to just 50 games in 1993-94 he was unable to suit up at all in 199495 or 95-96, officially retiring after that. Making five All-Star teams in his first seven seasons, making the postseason five times, he looked set for a long and decorated career. Instead, his was cut short and he never had the chance to earn entry into the Hall.