Ewing, Hakeem headline 2008 Naismith Hall of Fame class
Associated Press


SAN ANTONIO -- Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, coach Pat Riley and four others have been elected to basketball's Hall of Fame.

Also among the Class of 2008 are Adrian Dantley, coach Cathy Rush, broadcaster Dick Vitale and NBA team owner Bill Davidson.

The announcement was made Monday in San Antonio, site of the men's Final Four.

Induction is Sept. 4-6 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Why did it take so long for A.D. 2 get in?

Graycap23 said:

Probably because, as great and deserving a player as he is, he lacked the stature and championship credentials of many of his contemporaries. When you play in an era with Dr. J, Magic, Bird, and Jordan, not to mention Isaiah, Barkley, Nique, Ewing, et al., you're gonna get lost in the shuffle. His situation kinda reminded me of Art Monk's in the NFL.

We need to abandon sports.

Graycap23 said:

He wasn't "great" per se, but he was damn good, and that's why it took so long.

namepeace said:

True.

It is with great pride that I beam because AD finally got his due, 12 years too late.

See this thread for more details!

Graycap23 said:

Dick Vitale????? What a f-cking joke. Dude is an NCAA shill, and knows sh!t about basketball. His NBA coaching record says it all.

I'm happy for my boy Patrick. Great career, in college and in the pros.
[Edited 4/8/08 6:40am]

The basketball I saw Hakeem Olajuwon play in the 1993 - 94 season was the best basketball I've ever seen played by anyone.

RodeoSchro said:

Didn't watch Jordan much.....

Graycap23 said:

Naw, it sounds like maybe you didn't watch Olajuwon much.

RodeoSchro said:

Love "A" keem.....but no one entertained on the hoop court like Mr. Jordan.

Graycap23 said:

"Akeem" was a misspelling of his name. He corrected that when he got to the NBA (I think in his second year). "Hakeem" is his correct name.

Jordan probably did entertain better, but I wasn't talking about entertainment.

That said, 15 years later I'd rather watch Hakeem Dream Shake Hall of Famer David Robinson out of his shorts than see a Jordan dunk.

IMHO, the greatest Jordan shots weren't dunks. There was the switch-handed layup against the Lakers; the game-winner against the Cavs in the playoffs; and the Finals winner against the Jazz.

RodeoSchro said:

Now, Hakeem's '93-'94 season was one of the most dominant seasons I've ever seen. He destroyed his competition in the pivot. Hall of Fame competition.

But I'd say Magic's seasons in 1987 and 1989 and Bird's 1985-86 season were a notch above.

And I will say no one -- no one -- played at Jordan's level. At least no one I've seen in the decades I've been watching the Association.

I bet Kareem, Wilt and Russell might have something to say about your statement too.


[Edited 4/8/08 7:05am]

RodeoSchro said:

I'm pretty sure everyone knows about "H" keems real name.
Jordan's greatest shots were his ENTIRE career.

namepeace said:

Co 2 tha sign.

namepeace said:

Good points. I didn't say Hakeem was the greatest player ever. He wasn't.

I'm just saying that I - a Rockets season ticket holder for over 30 years - never saw anyone play a better season of basketball than Hakeem's '93 - '94 season.

IMHO, Wilt's 50-point average season has to be the most dominant season ever, but I didn't get to see any of those games.

RodeoSchro said:

Wilt also led the league is assists one year - THAT'S domination.

Wilt was the greatest ever, followed by Jordan, Russell, Oscar, Kareem, Magic, Hakeem, Bird, Baylor & West. Those are my top ten.

Hakeem's performance in the 1995 playoffs was legendary. He schooled The Admiral.

uPtoWnNY said:

Loved Wilt.....but did u peep his competition?

uPtoWnNY said:

Yeah, good point about the assist year. He got tired of people saying he was a one-dimensional offensive player, so he did something no other center has ever done.

Incredible player.

Graycap23 said:

That's a bad argument. The NBA was much tougher back then, wasn't watered down with expansion teams, and players were more sound fundamentally. Remember, the league changed the rules to make it tougher for Wilt(not so for Jordan). The man got hammered on a nightly basis, and some refs looked the other way.

This says it all. Read the "watered down by expansion" article

http://pweb.netcom.com/~b...hbulls.htm
[Edited 4/8/08 8:17am]

namepeace said:

Kobe's run of 8-straight 40pt games; Kobe's 81 points; Kobe 4-straight 50pts games - Some of you cats need to start recognizing this kid as one of the GOATS.

uPtoWnNY said:

Good point. Wilt had to play Russell, what? 10 - 15 times a year? There's probably the same number of decent centers today as there were in Wilt's time, but with fewer teams, Wilt had to face better players more often.

Wilt also never fouled out of a game, which is just an incredible stat.

MuthaFunka said:

Goat, or great? No doubt he's great.

RodeoSchro said:

With this post, I understand, quite literally, your argument, which cannot really be refuted since it's based on your actual experience.

As a season ticket holder, you saw more Olajuwon games than most any other fan, and got to see many of the stars I mentioned.

uPtoWnNY said:

Wilt was the greatest of HIS era but you have to consider his level of competition (or lack there of). No way in hell he averages 50 a game for an entire season playing in THIS era, nor would he ever lead the NBA in dimes as a center.

uPtoWnNY said:

No, it's a very valid argument and the NBA wasn't a lot tougher because it had less great athletes. Wilt was a freak of nature in his era because no one matched his athleticism and size. Had he played in this era, he'd be great but he wouldn't have anywhere NEAR his gaudy numbers he had in his weaker era. The centers he faced AVERAGED 6'8. That's no competition.