NBA players work endlessly on their craft to one day be atop the basketball world as champions. Considering only one team can win a championship every season, many legendary players go through their careers without ever winning a title. However, their excellent individual play gets rewarded through the seasons via All-Star and All-NBA appearances, which one day could lead to a Hall of Fame induction.
Being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame is the final accomplishment of every player’s basketball career. We saw the likes of Tim Hardaway and Manu Ginobili get inducted this year and we will most likely see Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki be inducted next year in their first year of eligibility.
But what about current players? The Athletic decided to name the 15 players who could retire today and be locks for the Hall of Fame. It includes obvious names like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant along with names like Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, and Dwight Howard, among others. The lack of Paul George’s inclusion created a huge stir on social media, as fans debated why PG13 was left off the list.
Which active NBA players are surefire locks for the Basketball Hall of Fame?@ShotDrJr examines the criteria, then identifies 15 players who are more than likely headed for enshrinement in Springfield.
More: https://t.co/HYjBcIftuq pic.twitter.com/SoUMGg7qH0
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) September 12, 2022
T-Mac is in the hall of fame and he never left the first round
Paul George is 7x All Star, 6x All NBA, 4x All-Defensive
and been to the conference finals going 7 games against Bron and the Suns when Kawhi went down https://t.co/hTGgkQZ9CZ
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) September 12, 2022
Jimmy Butler and Paul George gotta be on this list to be honest https://t.co/fnPTKD2Bn9
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) September 12, 2022
when y’all put damian lillard in stuff even tho paul george has a better resume it legit confuses me. What am I missing. https://t.co/bW9fahRNfg
— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) September 12, 2022
Paul George is very comfortably the most underrated/under appreciated star/super-star player of his generation
— Jay (@feeling3000_) September 12, 2022
Paul George isn’t a lock for the Hall of Fame? But Dame and Klay are?
Yo are y’all serious 😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/FBHvvJeXet
— Justin W. (@LAClippersFilm) September 12, 2022
There's no universe where Damian Lillard is a Hall of Fame lock and Paul George isn't. I really don't get where all this Dame love coming from. Great player, but past the Thunder and Rockets shot, resume is rather thin. https://t.co/lyGx9XK3aH
— Richard Staple, BSN, RN🇯🇲 (@RichStapless) September 12, 2022
We legit need to discuss the anti PG agenda going on right now. I mean like round up all these "basketball experts"in the media and have a town hall style discussion on why they hate @Yg_Trece so much https://t.co/eLdsLA1Fib
— Cinnabon Clark (@HansonClark1) September 12, 2022
if they retired today, no chance Kyrie, Embiid, and Paul George don’t make the hall of fame. Especially with who’s been getting in recently.
— Phil (@FilipmyCup) September 12, 2022
PG probably the most disrespected active player when it comes to all time status https://t.co/YvalghCTbE
— in due time hk🤲🏿 (@a4nhk) September 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/NMekkatt/status/1569394214764695554
People cry about Paul George in the playoffs on here all the time even tho he’s better in the playoffs than guys like Damian lillard but he top 75.
PG been conference finals 3 times but “playoff p” meanwhile carmelo wins 3 playoff series in 20 years and he a goat. 🥱 https://t.co/mlqBmWhYNF
— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) September 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/KXNGMUNDO/status/1569378009345572864https://twitter.com/KornHoops/status/1569350935331196931
Paul George And Other Hall Of Famers Snubbed?
Paul George has had a sensational NBA career so far. He is a 7-time All-Star, 6-time All-NBA, 4-time All-Defense, 2013 Most Improved Player, and 2019 steals leader. PG13 has been excellent for years, even though he has never made an NBA Finals. His resume says he is on his way to the Hall of Fame, but calling him a lock might be a little more challenging.
International players like Luka Doncic and Rudy Gobert could be considered locks for the Hall of Fame as well. Luka might just be 23 years old but has won everything he could in Europe before coming to the NBA, where he has already made it 3 All-NBA First Teams in his first 4 seasons.
Outside George, other possible deserving players like Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, Rajon Rondo, and Blake Griffin were also snubbed. Maybe The Athletic set a high bar, but it is hard to say that Damian Lillard is a Hall of Fame lock when Paul George isn’t.
