There may never have been a better pure shooter to play the game than Reggie Miller. That’s the kind of player that should end up in the Hall of Fame.
And he might, Miller appears the most likely NBA player for induction on the ballot for the Naismith Hall of Fame, with the players nominated listed at NBA.com.
Miller has taken and made more three pointers than anyone in NBA history. He played 18 years for the Indiana Pacers, was a five-time All-Star, was the bane of the Knicks and Spike Lee’s existence for a few years, plus won Olympic gold in 1996. More than just the stats, he is as good a shooter as the game has seen, the kind of player that should be recognized by the Hall (which focuses on all aspects of the game, not just the NBA).
Another guy who could make it is Don Nelson, the winningest coach in NBA history, and before that a player for the Boston Celtics of the Bill Russell era. Nelson’s style of coaching wore out its welcome in the Bay Area last year, but to look back over the history of the game and see how he influenced the pace and style of play as a coach really should get him in. That and the whole winningest coach ever thing.
Other names on the nomination list include Chris Mullin (college star, two time gold medalist, heart of the Warriors for a decade, but that didn’t get him in the past four years he was eligible), Mark Jackson (third all time in assists), Bernard King, Dennis Rodman, Maurice Lucas, Jamaal Wilkes, Rudy Tomjanovich, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Tex Winter, Spencer Haywood, Maurice Cheeks, Ralph Sampson, Bill Fitch, referee Dick Bavetta, Rick Pitino, and more.
Chet Walker was nominated by the Veteran’s committee. Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis are on the ballot from the International committee and both really deserve to be in. The women’s committee nominated Tara VanDerveer and Teresa Edwards.
Voters for the Hall of Fame — their names are not public — will narrow this group down to a list of finalists announced All-Star weekend. Then the final voting takes place (people have to be on 18 of the 24 ballots) and those being inducted will be announced during the Final Four.
