Hall O' Fame Voting: Nelson and Mullin

by Fantasy Junkie on Oct 20, 2006 8:41 AM PDT in Links

Chris Mullin and Don Nelson are now eligible to be voted into the Hall of Fame. Mullin played out his greatest years as a Warrior and will forever be remembered for his role in Run TMC and beyond. Nelson's 1200 wins speak for themself.

On Mullin:

"Absolutely," Nelson said when asked if Mullin was Hall-worthy. "The guy was a great player. But I don't know what they go by." To Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan, who faced Mullin dozens of times as a guard for the Seattle SuperSonics, the fact that Mullin's sweet left-handed jumper still resonates in the minds of fans is a sign of his quality.

"Any time you can call a guy's name and people can recall when they played and how they played -- evidently, they did something special," McMillan said. "Chris was a great shooter, a great competitor. He knocked down big shots and you feared him on the court."

On Nelson:

"He's changed basketball a few different times with his style of coaching, just basically changing the mind-set of what you can do with players on a court," McMillan said. "Coaching against him is very difficult, because a lot of what he does, no one else in the league does. They may try, but it's not the same."

The Hall's current rules prohibit active coaches from being considered until they have put in 25 years as a head coach; this will be Nelson's 28th season. Last year, Nelson was one of 10 North American finalists but fell short in the Honors Committee. He's automatically up for reconsideration by the North American committee this year.

I can't believe Nelson isn't a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame. The man has the second most number of wins ever by a coach. He's turned around 3 franchises and about to do it again. As far as Mullin, it's not as clear to me. He was definitely a great player but was he one of the greatest of all time? That's tough to say, and maybe this is biased, but I think he deserves it. He's an original Dream Teamer and was a scoring machine. I don't think he gets in on the first ballot, but eventually I think he will get in.

Do you think Mullin and Nelson are Hall of Fame worthy?

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Comments

Tough call

I give the nod to Nelson just based on his win totals alone. Mullin I'm not so sure about...his career numbers don't really jump out at you.

http://www.nba.com/history/players/mullin_stats.html

His 5 All-Star appearances are nice, and he was one of the faces of the league for many years, but being a member of the Dream Team doesn't grant you an automatic spot in the HOF (see Christian Laettner).
I have always loved Mullin as a player but I just don't know about this one...it would be tight if they could make a special consideration and put up a Run TMC plaque or whatever they put up there, because together they were incredible but alone, I'm not sure if they meet the requirements.

by MoUpInTheO on Oct 20, 2006 10:08 AM PDT reply actions

Maybe

they should all get their heads transplanted onto one body, and then they would qualify! Would be difficult deciding whos body they'd use though.

And if Mullin can do well as a GM, he should get into the hall of fame. I, personally, think hes done a....fair job getting good talent so far. But if he ends the playoff draught and we can be consistently good (not just one good year) then he'll definately be in the hall.

by Zorgon on Oct 20, 2006 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions

agreed... questionable

He did average 25+ points a game for 5 straight seasons, and was a career 51% shooter from the field and 87% shooter from the line. I think the fact that he didn't lead the W's deep into the playoffs hurts his chances. I think he only made it past the 2nd round of the playoffs with the Pacers, when he was a role player. No doubt a great player, but I don't know if he'll make it.

by LancerEvoV on Oct 20, 2006 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions

No

he made it to the finals, and, sadly, lost to the Lakers. Was an exiting series though.

by Zorgon on Oct 20, 2006 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Read what I wrote.

That's what I wrote. Maybe I should clarify what I meant: The only time he made it past the 2nd round of the playoffs was when he was with the Pacers, as a role player.

by LancerEvoV on Oct 20, 2006 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions

OH, lol

Sorry dude.

by Zorgon on Oct 20, 2006 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Dream Team Qualification

Being an original dream team member doesn't guarantee a spot in the HOF for sure, but look at the other players on that roster. Jordan, Magic, Bird, Stockton, Malone, Barkley, Pippen, Drexler, D. Robinson, and Ewing. Laettner didn't deserve to be there, he was only there because they wanted a college player. So he didn't make the team because he was a top player in the league.

My point is that there was a reason Mullin was on that team with all of those other sure-fire Hall of Famers. It's because he was good enough and commanded that much respect. I'd vote him into the HOF not based solely on him being on the Dream Team, but that certainly helps his case.

by Fantasy Junkie on Oct 21, 2006 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions

All Great Players

This is my take on that roster:

I put Jordan, Bird, and Magic as the top echelon.

Drexler, Barkley, Stockton&Malone, Pippen, Robinson, and Ewing all lead their team to the finals and/or won. Robinson and Pippen are the only two that weren't the top player on their team when they won. (Drexler took the Blazers to the Finals twice, but won with Hakeem.)

There is a reason Mullin was on the single greatest team ever assembled in the history of the world. And he belonged on that team. But he just wasn't a true "franchise" or cornerstone player like the rest. At least in my opinion.

On another note; if Isiah Thomas had been on the team instead of Laettner, I don't think it could have been any better. But Jordan hated him.

by LancerEvoV on Oct 21, 2006 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

hall of fame

yes for nellie...but im not so sure for mullin

by nfisch88 on Oct 20, 2006 8:51 PM PDT reply actions

Hall of Fame...

Yes on Nellie definately... I can't believe this guy is getting stiffed! As a coach he's done what aspiring coaches could only dream of... Start a different style of basketball and make it stick. He's turned around 3 franchises and is about to turn around the second one a second time. As for Mully... I really think that he doesn't qualify for the Hall. Mo said it right when he stated that Mullin's numbers just don't jump out at you outside of the 5 straight 25 plus ppg seasons. Dominique had a more fufilling career and got stiffed the first time he was up. It would be great for us Warriors fans to have a modern time player enter the Hall... but is it realistic... not really.

by mightymadskillz on Oct 20, 2006 11:12 PM PDT reply actions

Don't put Nelson in HoF!

- not yet! we need a hungry coach and hungry young roster, Nelson came back because he's still got something to prove (not that he doesn't belong in the HoF) and the added motivation couldn't hurt. The flip side, that being a HoF coach will give him more cred with players, is now moot since apparently they respect him (following Monty that shouldn't be a surprise).

Mully had a great career, but there are loads of great players who don't make the HoF. If he's in, where's the bar for the rest? Sorry, gotta agree with those above, no on Mullin.

by hardcore on Oct 21, 2006 9:20 AM PDT reply actions

Nellie Yes, Mullin No

Nellie- no question.

Mullin- Nope. Great player and great guy, but not someone you build a team around. He wasn't the type of player that could singlehandedly lead a team deep into the playoffs.

But maybe Mullin can get in as a front office man- HAHA, just kidding.