I admired Ben as a player and a person during his playing days with the Pistons. His career here has been one of effort and leadership. However, he spent several years away playing for other teams going mostly unnoticed. Do you think he will be considered for the HOF? No poll...Please comment.
Based solely on his statistics, he has 0.002 chance (according to basketball-reference.com). What else has he done? 4 DPOY 4 All-Star games 1 NBA Championship 1 season leading league in blocks 2 seasons leading league in rebounding Great career. Arguably, one of the greatest defensive players of all time. Good enough for the Hall of Fame? Personally, I don't think he'll ever get in.
Good question. I dont think he will get in though. Ben Wallace is one of my favorite pistons, so Im trying not to be biased. I do believe he is one of the top defensive players to ever play the game though. His effort and leadership can not be put into stats.
He's an inspirational role model that proved that with hard work you can be one of the top players in the game. His work ethic and the way he elevated his game to carry the Pistons is undeniable. He represents a very different type of success in the NBA and I think he fully deserves to be there. I really hope it happens. I doubt it, but I really hope it does. PS: He was on the cover of NBA live in 2005, wasn't he? Doesn't that mean he's a lock for HOF? :nerd2:
If he is one of the top defensive players to ever play the game, he should definitely be in the Hall.
If pistons were a championship contender this year, he could've been in the HOF with the way he is playing now...
who knows... I still have hope JoeD works his magic once more and gets someone to put the team over the hump like Sheed did back in '04. Given the free agent frenzy next year, the cap situations with many teams and the fact that some rosters are unbalanced, I think he should turn the team at least into a threat for the eastern conference finals.
Next year might be a little too late for Ben. He is already playing like he is on 'roids for a 35yr old man.
Ralphi's talking about this year. There's gotta be some GM out there willing to give up a lot in hopes of landing one of the marquee free agents next year.
I think when you don't put up gaudy offensive statistics and "merely" prevent the other guy from putting up gaudy offensive statistics...then...it is easier for a rich man to get into heaven than for a DPOY to get into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Retire his jersey though. No doubt about that. I was one of the people who was all on his case for leaving the team. Now that he is back and playing with all of his heart, I am certain that I misjudged his motives. I think I now realize how deeply hurt he was by everything going on around him. Sorry big guy.
This all comes down to the bias of offensive achievement over defensive achievement. If Ben would have affected the same in the exact same way net, but would have done so by being good offensively and below average defensively, then he probably would have been in twice as many all-star games and would be a lock for the HOF.
