Even with over 30 years of NBA history in the books since his retirement, Lanier is still top 75 in career points and rebounds. Smith works with the hitters and focused. The Enshrinement ceremony will takeplace in Springfield, Mass., September 9-10, 2022. Although Smith's points, assists, steals and minutes per game declined for the fifth straight season, he was still productive in 199596. The NFL's 2023 Hall of Fame Game will feature the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, the Hall announced Tuesday. Someone like Steve Kerr wouldn't be able to use his playing career in addition to his coaching to get into the HOF? A complete list of eligible candidates can be found below. He inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. [16] Smith finished 17th in voting for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, just ahead of teammate Hakeem Olajuwon. He did something most athletes cant do he made a name for himself with a second act. He played nine seasons in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings (1987-90), Atlanta Hawks (1990), Houston Rockets (1990-96), Detroit Pistons (1996), Orlando Magic (1996-97) and Denver Nuggets (1997). SPRINGFIELD, MA - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame . Inside the NBA is entering its 34th season and has its own spot in both the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Ginobili introduced some necessary chaos into the mix. Little did he know, that in 2016, that same fresh faced centerfielder would be immortalized in baseball history, as a member of the Hall of Fame. [12][13], Smith was selected as a 6'3" 170 lb point guard by the Sacramento Kings with the sixth pick of the 1987 NBA draft. What makes those numbers even more impressive is the fact that Dantley stands 6'5" and did the overwhelming majority of his damage inside the three-point line. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. . It was much more difficult to guard a guy like that.". If instead of the mean, you look at the median, the . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Smith averaged 9.1 points and 5.0 assists per game, and the Tar Heels lost to Indiana in the regional semifinals of the 1984 NCAA tournament. ABC. For example, the deterrence that a rim protector like Dikembe Mutombo generates by merely being on the floor doesn't show up in the box score (at least not explicitly). #22HoopClass, : https://t.co/QCITOO5LpK pic.twitter.com/ZdklJZa2uR, Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) December 21, 2021. He later developed the Bobby Lewis Basketball Skills Development Program, a training regimen that he presented at basketball camps around the country. Sacramento Kings, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 1987 NBA Draft, More Kenny Smith pages at Sports Reference. He was a key role player, at best. I love how he balances out Chuck's crazy claims with intelligent analysis. In 57 playoff games during the same period, Smith had nearly identical averages of 11.6 points and 4.3 assists, shooting .456 from three-point range. Kenny Smith is 41 years old. And, like Bellamy, he was able to dominate with more than just his size. A press conference announcing the Finalists from the North American and Womens committee for the Class of 2022 will be held during NBA All-Star Weekend, which is scheduled for Friday, February 18th in Cleveland, Ohio. During the decade of the 90's, Lofton generated more value than several of his Hall-worthy contemporaries including: Mark McGwire (44.3), Roberto Alomar (43), Cal Ripken (42.3), and Mike Piazza (39.8). Is Kenny Smith in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Honorable Mentions: Sparky Lyle, Robb Nen, Dan Quisenberry. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Newly Eligible Candidates for the Class of 2022. Points per game grabs much more attention than numbers like rebounds, blocks, steals and defensive-rating swing. What's more, much of what happens on defense isn't specifically measured anywhere. The following 12 (presented in alphabetical order by last name) have some of the strongest such arguments. Genuinely curious. In 1987, he was drafted in what was considered a weak class as the 6th pick by the Sacramento Kings. [1] Through 2016 Smith held the Denver Nuggets franchise record for career three-point percentage (.425), and ranked among the all-time leaders in several categories for the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets. The five inductees in the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame's 2023 class have impacted the sport from the top professional levels to the junior game. A plane crash ended Thurman Munson's life shortly after his 32nd birthday when he was still in the prime of his career as the captain of the New York Yankees. In the 198889 season Smith was fifth in the league in minutes played, seventh in minutes per game, and tenth in total assists. The list itself didn't feature a ton of surprises. Born in Queens, New York City, Mr. Kenny The Jet Smith is a long-time member of TNTs Inside the NBA studio show. Larry Bird is the only player in league history who matches or exceeds all of Jokic's career regular-season marks of 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.1 steals. The latter two were all about fundamentals and structure. Kenneth Ray Rogers entered country music with a broad musical background. The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame other wise known as the Kentucky Sports Hall of fame, is a non-profit organization funded by the Kentucky Lottery and owned . He wasn't on Inside the NBA and he's not at the Hall of Fame Ceremony. Toronto Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia has been immortalized in basketball history after being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's inaugural superfan gallery on May 15, making him one of the first fans to have received this honour. Smith began his NBA career playing for Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who was head coach for Kings until he was fired 58 games into the '87-88 season. inQueens,New York Adrian Dantley is one of the most prolific and efficient scorers of all time. Smith ranks second in University of North Carolina school history with 768 assists, including 86 assists in NCAA tournament play. All rights reserved. It was much more difficult to guard a guy like that. Over the last 10 seasons of his career, Carter's raw numbers understandably tailed off, but his teams were still better with his veteran presence on the floor. But its more than basketball coverage. [17], Head Coach Don Chaney was fired after posting a record of only 2626 in the 199192 season. He hit .357/.378/.496 in 135 postseason plate appearances and won back-to-back titles in 1977 and 1978. They were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. The Friday night party took place on the lot of Hollywood's Paramount Studios yep, the place where movies and TV shows are made giving the annual party that authentic Hollywood feel. His true shooting percentage over that stretch was 7.3 points better than the league average. From humble thanks to a sense of accomplishment, the 2021 Class brought its own brand of emotion. He played in the NBA from 1987 to 1997 as a member of the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets. Some of you seem to be forgetting it is the Basketball-related HoF, playing is somewhat irrelevant and he could make it on broadcasting/commentator, there is precedent for it already. Breen the longtime voice of the New York Knicks as well as the NBA on ESPN and ABC was one of the honorees Friday night by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, one of the Curt . After his playing career . 1965 In fact, he was one of the few tabbed as the "next" MJ. View Bio. Ernie and Sager will get in for sure. Lanier had soft touch on his jumper and hook shot, and even provided some playmaking from the frontcourt. In terms of players who were rejected by the voters, there are a number of standouts from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s who are worthy of another look, and Graig Nettles sits atop that list. And some, like Kobe Bryant, were stars from the very beginning. Bellamy's highlight dunks gave him attention at the time he played, but it was that well-rounded game that led to top-75-worthy production. Bryant himself acknowledged that. . 982 Cheyney University NCAA Final Four Team (team)*, Kentucky Wesleyan 1966, 1968, 1969 (Team), North Catholic High School Junior Varsity (Philadelphia, PA) (team), 2022: Sonny Boswell, Swin Cash, Larry Costello, Hugh Evans, Manu Ginobili, Tim Hardaway, Del Harris, Lou Hudson, Bob Huggins, Inman Jackson, George Karl, Radivoj Korac, Albert Pullins, Theresa Shank-Grentz, Marianne Stanley, Lindsay Whalen, 2021: Val Ackerman, Rick Adelman, Chris Bosh, Bob Dandridge, Lowell Fitzsimmons, Howard Garfinkel, Yolanda Griffith, Lauren Jackson, Clarence Jenkins, Toni Kukoc, Pearl Moore, Paul Pierce, Bill Russell, Ben Wallace, Chris Webber, Jay Wright, 2020: Patrick Baumann, Kobe Bryant, Tamika Catchings, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kim Mulkey, Barbara Stevens, Eddie Sutton, Rudy Tomjanovich, 2019: Al Attles, Carl Braun, Charles "Chuck" Cooper, Vlade Divac, Bill Fitch, Bobby Jones, Sidney Moncrief, Jack Sikma, Tennessee A&I teams from 1957 to 1959, Wayland Baptist University teams of 1982-84, Teresa Weatherspoon, Paul Westphal, 2018: Ray Allen, Maurice Cheeks, Charles "Lefty" Driesell, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Tina Thompson, Dino Radja, Charlie Scott, Ora Mae Washington, Rod Thorn, Rick Welts, Katie Smith, 2017: Robert Hughes, Tracy McGrady, Bill Self, Rebecca Lobo, Muffet McGraw, Mannie Jackson, Tom Jernstedt, Jerry Krause, Zack Clayton, Nick Galis, George McGinnis, 2016: Zelmo Beaty, Darell Garretson, Allen Iverson, Tom Izzo, John McClendon, Yao Ming, Shaquille O'Neal, Cumberland Posey, Jerry Reinsdorf, Sheryl Swoopes, Dirk vs. the Heat's Big 3: Relive the drama of the 2011 NBA Finals (2:45), Basketball Hall of Fame: Class of 2023 finalists, schedule and more, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Kerr touts 5-0 homestand: Dubs 'turned a corner', KD: Mavs tilt, Kyrie meeting 'just another game', Owner: Snyder, Fields will bring Hawks success, Isaac has surgery on adductor, done for season, Clips' Powell out at least a week to treat shoulder, LeBron to have tendon injury checked in 3 weeks. Discovery Sports to continue as a host on Inside the NBA. The enshrinement ceremony will take place the following day in Springfield's historic Symphony Hall. AllstatscourtesyofBasketballReference. They did use a first-round pick in the 2022 . However, since he's still on the ballot, he was not eligible to be the choice here. Kenny Smith was born in Queens, New York. Kenny Smith, Class: 2002 Induction: 2013 Sport(s): Football - Kenny Smith Football 2000-2002 2002 First-Team All-American and All-DAC 10 Helped . The unpredictability of Ginobili was exactly the change of pace San Antonio needed in most games and helped secure four NBA titles. Edit: Although the few that have made the HoF as broadcasters, are incredibly revered which is why I doubt Smith has much of a chance. In the same stretch, his teams were plus-3.4 points per 100 possessions with T-Mac on the floor and minus-3.9 with him off. Kenny Smith is a veritable punching bag of sorts on Inside the NBA - at least most of the time. Here, you might have found an equal, since Smith won championships and had more assists. I love how he balances out Chuck's crazy claims with intelligent analysis. UNCASVILLE, Conn. Mike Breen remembers the way he was taught the game of basketball, and quickly learned that it is best when the five players on the floor work as one. He won two scoring titles, including one in 2002-03 when he had one of the greatest offensive seasons of all time. He won't because it isn't nearly enough body of work unless he does it for maybe another 15 years and becomes synonymous with his NBA commentary beyond occasional comedic relief. Kenny Smith, Co-Executive Producer. "He was probably more difficult to guard (than the traditional post-up centers)," former teammateJim Washington told NBA.com's, were much like the centers of today, where they could shoot the outside shot and take the ball to the basket. Cleveland great Kenny Lofton only last one year on the Hall of Fame ballot before falling off, but here is why he deserves another shot at Cooperstown. Data Provided By The Hall of Fame will also reveal the full Enshrinement schedule at this time. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Read more: Rob Thomson says opposing managers calls CBP "four hours of hell" >> Brian Kenny also praised Chase Utley at the end of this video, who will find his name on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2024. Over eight seasons from 2000-01 to 2007-08, McGrady averaged 26.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.7 threes and 1.4 steals. Enshrinement weekend will begin at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Friday, Aug. 11, with the tip-off celebration and awards gala, inclusive of the Class of 2023 jacket and ring presentation and the annual Hall of Fame Awards. Three men have been chosen to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022 . As Smith has described, Barkley brings the flashlight, but Smith is the floodlight. New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame 52nd Annual Induction & Award Ceremonies - Photos taken by Samad Haq & James Brandon . Honorable Mentions: Bill Freehan, Jason Kendall, Lance Parrish, Jorge Posada. Get the latest kenny smith news, articles, videos and photos on the New York Post. Like many of the Hall of Fame inductees, Dave enjoyed a variety of interests and was a man of many talents. The . Some never make it in their chosen field. For the most part, Hall of Fame voters have done a solid job recognizing the best relievers in the history of the game, assuming Billy Wagner eventually punches his ticket. He was named an All-Star in seven of those eight campaigns. [44], NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, "Famous Stanners: Kenny Smith, Class of 1983", "Jack Curran, a Mentor in Two Sports, Dies at 82", "Kenny Smith recognizes former Bartram High star Bobby Lewis", "Syracuse vs North Carolina, March 21, 1987", "Carolina Basketball: 2015-16 Fact & Records Book", "1986 World Championship for Men. Lofton produced six seasons with a bWAR of 5.0 or more, including his 1994 season when he led the American League with a . Press J to jump to the feed. From 1999-00 to 2008-09, Carter averaged 23.9 points (and never fell below 20 for a season), 5.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 threes. Lewis averaged 30.9 points per game and was a First Team Division II All-American as a senior at South Carolina State. The Country Music Hall of Fame had a "catch-up" year in 2001, in which they had 12 honorees (rather than the usual three). Hall of Fame:UNC's Bill Guthridge named to Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame. How much did Kenny Smith weigh when playing? View Bio. He's 78th in blocks and 32nd in BPM. Paul Kennedy/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images. On Friday, March 24, the Hall of Fame will host the 2023 All-Star event on the Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams at the Hall of Fame. Honorable Mentions: Dick Allen, Norm Cash, Carlos Delgado, Steve Garvey, Keith Hernandez, Gil Hodges, Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, John Olerud, Rafael Palmeiro, Boog Powell. The 2021 MLB Hall of Fame voting results were released Tuesday evening, and for the first time since 2013, no players on the ballot received the requisite 75 percent of the vote to earn enshrinement. [34], On the August 26, 2020 edition of Inside the NBA, Smith left the set as a show of solidarity with the six teams that elected to boycott the day's games in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake. Smith averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 assists while playing just under twenty minutes per game. Smith is a two-time Emmy nominee for Best Analyst. George Foreman is a perfect example of this he earned more money from his grill than he did as a boxer. Jack Morris, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, Frank . "He always seems to know where that crack in the wall is," former Celtics coach K.C. Kenneth Smith Instead, we turn our attention to an integral member of the Big Red Machine in Dave Concepcion, who played his entire 19-year career with the Cincinnati Reds. The win against the Lakers also marked the final NBA game for Magic Johnson, who returned to the NBA that season after a five-year absence. RAY SMITH WILLIE SMITH STEVE SMOGER . In his first five full seasons in the majors, he hit .316 with a .382 on-base percentage and led the AL in steals every year, swiping 325 bases in 395 attempts. We know that. He was selected by Sacramento in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft with the sixth overall pick, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team with the Kings. Kenny [1][6], Kenny Smith credits former South Carolina State star Bobby Lewis with his development as a shooter and ballhandler. Longevity (or lack thereof) is the only possible explanation for Nikola Jokic's omission from the 75th Anniversary Team, but even that gets pretty flimsy when you consider that Shaquille O'Neal had only played four seasons when he was named to the top 50 in 1996. For his entire career, the Hall of Famer made seven All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams. He had the best influence in terms of my workout regimen without question. Primary Menu Sections. It's not the Basketball Commentary Hall of Fame. Hill is68th in career BPM,and there are only five players in NBA history who match or exceed all of his career marks in assist percentage, rebounding percentage, steal percentage and true shooting percentage: Larry Bird, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Nikola Jokic and Ben Simmons. Barkley is often Smiths best sparring partner and helped bring the willingness to engage in more non-sports topics to the show. Like Hill, Tracy McGrady's career and top-75 resume were thoroughly affected by injuries. The Class of 2023 is "loaded" with star power as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame finalists were announced Friday as part of NBA All-Star weekend. Will Kenny Smith make the HoF? Howard is on track for a third straight season with single-digit averages in points and rebounds, but he had a five-year peak in which he was one of the most physically dominant players the game has ever seen. He's 69th in career box plus/minus (BPM is a "basketball box score-based metric that estimates a basketball players contribution to the team when that player is on the court," according to Basketball Reference), and that includes over a decade of post-peak years to pull that mark down. His peak is every bit as impressive, though. It's not always about a player's final counting numbers when it comes to Hall of Fame candidacy. Galante has an important Knoxville connection as he signed Kenny Chesney at the beginning of his music career. "It was just a matter of growing into it." In 2022, Smith was inducted into the North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame. His dunk contest commentary is legendary. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks defeat LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. Enshrinement Speech. Members from the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2020 were inducted alongside the Class of 2022 due to the cancelation of the 2020 ceremony. 2020 is the year to correct that. Kenny joined Crystal in 2011 as a member of its underwriting and portfolio management team. [18][19] The Rockets won back-to-back championships in 199394 and 199495 with Smith as the starting point guard. Playing alongside some of the game's prolific Steroid Era sluggers, Fred McGriff was one of the sport's most feared home run hitters and has never been linked to PEDs. Kenny Smith walked off the TNT "Inside the NBA" set Wednesday night as a show of solidarity with the NBA players not playing games in protest of the Jacob Blake shooting. [1] He finished in the NBA top ten in three-point percentage three times (199293, 199394, 199495), and top ten in free throw percentage twice (199293 and 199394). [14] Smith was traded to the Atlanta Hawks midway through the 198990 season, where he was a reserve player for the first time in his career, averaging 7.7 points per game while only starting five of thirty-games he played for the Hawks as a backup to team captain Doc Rivers. While Smith has an above-average career, he wasnt at the level of his costars. "My life was set," he said. They have two children together. Arguably the greatest sixth man in NBA history, Manu Ginobili ranks 23rd in NBA history in career BPM. Baseball Champions 1965. Scott Rolen belongs in the Hall of Fame, and with another nice bump of support in 2021, he appears to be well on his way to getting there before his time on the ballot comes to an end. Smith girls basketball hosts Triton in the NCHSAA second round of the playoffs on Thursday, Feb . Since 1970, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) has honored Music City's top tunesmiths - some of the greatest writers ever to pick a guitar, play a piano or put pencil to paper in search of the perfect song. Had he played longer, his case obviously would've been stronger. . After retiring from playing, Smith became a basketball commentator for the Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA on TNT. Of the eight players who had more wins over replacement player than Carter over that stretch, only Tracy McGrady failed to make the 75th Anniversary Team (more on him later). In 2021, Mr. Smith received the 16th Annual National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award for his dedication and significant contributions to civil and human rights, the social justice movement, and for laying the foundation for future leaders through their careers in sports. He's 20th in career rebounds, second in career blocks and 44th in career games. SPRINGFIELD, MA The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today announced the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2022, including numerous high-profile first-time nominees includingManu Ginobili,Tom ChambersandLindsey Whalen, as well as candidates who have previously been on the ballot inChauncey BillupsandSwin Cash. It is the best basketball show ever. Basketball-Reference has his Hall of Fame probability at 38.5 percent.. Marques Johnson, SF December 21, 2021 12:31 PM. Smith is an analyst, alongside Charles Barkley, Shaquille ONeal and Ernie Johnson, host Inside the NBA, which has won four (4) Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Show Daily. - The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the team rosters for the 2023 Western Massachusetts Senior High School All-Star Games. Kenny Smith was born on March 8, 1965. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Kenny Smith is not in the Hall of Fame. Some sports stars become famous over time. It is Texas Southern Universitys distinct pleasure to have a living basketball legend as our guest speaker. Kenny Lofton is a 17-year major leaguer whose time on the Hall of Fame ballot lasted only one year. Kenny Smith currently works for the Turner Network Television (TNT) as a professional TV analyst. As a member of the Chicago Packers, Chicago Zephyrs, Baltimore Bullets and New York Knicks in that time, Bellamy averaged 26.8 points, 16.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Nominee. He joined an extremely crowded ballot in 2013, and that no doubt contributed to his one-and-done exit. He is a crucial part of the and most entertaining sports show ever. He also makes far more than Smith could ever dream of at least if you count up his net worth $400 million compared to $20 million. A Career Before Country Music. Honorable Mentions: Mark Belanger, Bert Campaneris, Bill Dahlen, Nomar Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Maury Wills. Smith was born in Queens in 1965. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. In order to be considered for this list, players must have appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot and since fallen off by way of failing to reach 75 percent before hitting the year limit or the 5 percent needed to stick around on the ballot. Mariano Rivera, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, and the late Roy Halladay were voted in over the winter while Lee Smith and Harold Baines were . Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Gregg Popovich headline the class. 12 on that list was left-hander John Franco. He finished 15th on the all-time list with 622 steals, but he was more than just a speedster, showcasing elite on-base skills with a .372 career on-base percentage and playing a terrific center field on his way to four Gold Glove Awards. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will enshrine a new class of legends in Springfield, Massachusetts, this summer. As the NBA on TNT crew sent the production to a commercial break right after the final name (Russell Westbrook) was revealed, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith yelled, "Shout out to Chris Mullin!". In the future, he has mentioned wanting to own either an NBA team or even the TNT studios. Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare and the late "Cowboy" Jack Clement-- three men whose influence still ripples across the surface of modern music -- are now members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.. High School, Class: St. Katherine Drexel, D. High School: St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH) Possessing a powerful combination of size, speed and football intellect, Luke Kuechly "looked like Clark Kent and played like Superman." He amassed the second-most career tackles in the NCAA record books, becoming the most decorated defensive player in Boston College history. High School: Oscar F. Smith (Chesapeake, VA) Pro Career: 7 seasons, 89 games. 306, is indeed grateful to be among your ranks tonight, and I thank you for welcoming me into . If Kenny continues for 10 years, maybe. The entireClass of2022, including those selected by the direct elect committees, will be unveiled during the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans, Louisiana, in early April. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Smith played college basketball with the North Carolina Tar Heels, earning consensus first-team All-American honors as a senior in 1987. But I'd like to see him there one day because of his contribution to the game of basketball via TNT. Published Jan. 30, 2014 5:00 p.m. EST. [33], While on the Scoop B Radio Podcast in 2017, Smith told Brandon Scoop B Robinson that the 1994 Houston Rockets would have beaten Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had they faced each other in the NBA Finals. The Kings werent a great team though, with a record of 24-58, giving the rookie a record 35 minutes of court time per game. Some of the players named to the 75th Anniversary Team who trail Jokic on that list include Kawhi Leonard, Willis Reed, Jason Kidd, George Gervin, Bob Cousy and more. I expect he will do a great job in passing that knowledge . When was Kenny Smith born? March 8, Smith began his NBA career playing for Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who was head coach for Kings until he was fired 58 games into the '87-88 season. Kenny Lofton is still on the outside looking in. Is Kenny Smith in the Hall of Fame? Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. His assist numbers look pretty tame in comparison to today's big playmakers like Nikola Jokic and Bam Adebayo, but Gasol's career assist percentage ranks third among players 7'0" and taller. "He never seemed to step onto the court with a fully fleshed-out plan, or to have decided on a movewhether to shoot, to dribble, or to zing some oddball pass, fishy with Englishuntil he was already partway through the motion that made it possible.". Prior to the rise of the Bad Boys Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s, Bob Lanier was a bruising big man who dominated in the Motor City. Honorable Mentions: Bobby Grich, Willie Randolph. The Fayetteville Sports Club has announced the addition of six new members to its Hall of Fame. A nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner, he also took home a pair of Silver Slugger Awards and tallied 2,326 hits and a .267 career batting average at a time when shortstop was still a defensive-focused position. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. With 68.4 career WAR, he falls well within Hall of Fame range, ahead of Duke Snider (66.0), Andre Dawson (64.8), Dave Winfield (64.2), Billy Williams (63.7), Vladimir Guerrero (59.5), Willie Stargell (57.5) and several other legends. ", "He always seems to know where that crack in the wall is," former Celtics coach K.C. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, 2021 Class made many stops en route to Springfield, Gratitude, pride mark 2021 Hall of Fame on 9/11, Ex-NBA player Morrow facing assault charges, Durant passes 'Big O' for 13th in career points, NBA Fantasy: Under-the-radar additions for playoffs, Magic's Isaac (torn adductor) out for rest of season, Triple-double win streak shows Jokic dominance, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays and strategy for March 3, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His career today is only relevant due to Hakeem's dominance leading the Rockets to a back-to-back championship which results to him being a 2x NBA champion, while Chuck Barkley has never won.