In a chat with Nicole Ganglani of SB Nation, former BA swingman Robert Horry made the case for his Hall of Fame eligibility. Horry says that he’s earned the honor because of the sacrifices he made to win NBA championships.
“He [Tomjanovich] said that for me and I shed a tear because a lot of people from the outside don’t know the sacrifices that players do to make things better,” Horry said. “You think about so many guys that can score and do these things but they know what they need to do in order to make a team better and I think one of the things that people forget or those that don’t know basketball is that it’s called “The Basketball Hall of Fame,” not the “NBA Hall of Fame” and if you look at my basketball career, it speaks for itself.
Three years after a player retires from their professional career, they are eligible for Hall of Fame consideration. The criteria for entry are not specific but some degree of success must have been achieved either in the NBA, college, or overseas. The final decision is made by a selection committee, which includes a panel of former players, media members, and basketball historians.
Over the years, there has been a lot of debate about which players deserve to be Hall of Famers but it’s not just the superstars who get in. Anyone who has had major contributions to a basketball success story has a chance to get in, and Robert Horry isn’t too far off from that.
While Horry would rather be a 7x champion over a Hall of Famer, it’s pretty clear that he thinks he deserves the honor. Drafted 1st overall in 1992, Horry began his journey with the Houston Rockets and he was a key piece during their back-to-back title wins in 1994 and 1995.
Horry had a short stint with the Suns before being traded to the Lakers in 1997. There, alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, Horry was a crucial role player and hit many big shots as the Lakers won three straight championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
His most legendary moment with the Lakers was in the 2002 West Finals. Horry hit the game-winning three-pointer in Game 4 which gave the Lakers the edge they needed to win the series and complete the three-peat.
Horry’s final stint was with the San Antonio Spurs. At this point, he was already past his prime but he was getting consistent minutes and he was a part of the teams that won it all in 2005 and 2007.
In total, Horry retired with 7 NBA championships across three different teams. He played with some of the greatest players ever, from Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal to Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. Over 16 years in the NBA, he worked hard and sacrificed much so he could be the player that his team needed him to be.
Ultimately, Horry’s lack of personal accolades is what kept him from the Hall of Fame (0 All-Star appearances) but he believes that his winning track record should be more than enough to prove his worth and value to the game.
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