What are John Wall's Hall of Fame chances?

 

                                              (Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images) 

Last month, former Washington Wizards star point guard John Wall announced his retirement after having not played in the NBA since the 2022-23 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. During his 13 year NBA career, Wall averaged 18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. At his peak during the 2016-17 season, Wall finished 7th in the MVP voting averaging 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Wall was also the number one overall pick by the Wizards in the 2010 NBA Draft after a stellar freshman season at Kentucky in which he averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Wall and the Wildcats fell to West Virginia in the Elite Eight of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. 

There's no denying the talent that Wall had when he came into the NBA. With Rickey Green type speed, Wall had all the pieces to be a legit franchise player and when he was healthy, he was just that. He could score at an elite level, he was electric in transition, could guard the top point guards in the game, and was a fabulous facilitator. He truly had all the tools and for five straights seasons starting in 2013-14, Wall made the All-Star team. 

However, his career was marred with injuries as he had to miss two of those 13 seasons in entirety. The 2019-20 season was missed due to injury while the 2021-22 season was missed due to the Houston Rockets wanting to prioritize the development of younger players while also unable to find a team willing to take on Wall's massive contract. 

On top of having a career marred with injury and setbacks, Wall only reached the second round of the playoffs twice in his career, never reaching the conference finals. For all his talent, he was never able to lead the Wizards or any team to serious playoff success. 

Something that will start to get debated in the coming months and years is what Wall's Hall of Fame chances are: 

On the positive side, I think his peak level was certainly Hall of Fame worthy. He was definitely not a bust. He backed up the number one pick hype that he received and on top of that, he had a strong single season at Kentucky. It should also be factored into the equation that the Wizards historically are a pretty bad team and he stayed loyal to the franchise, not jumping ship for greener pastures. He took it upon himself to be the franchise player and that's commendable. 

On the negative side, you'd like to see more than five All-Star selections for his career and the lack of playoff success is unfortunate. Also, you are judged on your production and injuries are a part of the game. It is what it is.

When you at it all up, I think it's hard to make a case for why John Wall should make the Hall of Fame. While he was one of the most talented players to come into the NBA, he simply didn't sustain Hall of Fame level play for a long enough period of time. If Wall does get in, it'll likely be after several years of being on the ballot but at some point, Hall of Fame cases lose steam and while I'm sure there are some that will try to lobby a case for him, I don't see him getting enough support to clear the threshold needed to get in. 

NBALord.com on Facebook: @NBALordNation 

NBALord.com on X (Twitter): @nba_lord 

NBALord.com on Bluesky: nbalorddotcom.bsky.social 

Ben Parker on Facebook, IG, Threads, X (Twitter), YouTube, & Bluesky: @slamdunk406 

Derrick Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame

 

                                             (Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) 

The Chicago Bulls have made the decision to retire Derrick Rose's No. 1, making him the fifth player in franchise history to have his number retired: Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen are the other four. 

While he did last 16 seasons in the NBA, Rose's career is really divided into two parts: Before he tore his ACL (first four seasons) and after (final 12 seasons). 

Before he tore his ACL, Rose was the number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of Memphis and picked up Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists per game. In his third season (2010-11) at just 22 years of age, Rose averaged 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, guiding the Bulls to a league best 62-20 record. Rose became the youngest NBA MVP in league history and only the third player since the 1972-73 season to record 2,000+ points and 600+ assists in a single season. The other two were LeBron James and Michael Jordan. 

During those first four years and especially during that MVP season, Rose was one of the most electric and explosive players the NBA had ever seen. He could jump out of the gym with lightning quickness while having an amazing ability to finish and attack the rim. He had great court vision and was a true point guard all while having these amazing physical gifts. 

(Rose with the NBA MVP trophy. Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)

During the 2012 NBA playoffs in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose tore his ACL, forcing him to miss the entire 2012-13 season. From then on, Rose was never the same. He still had some productive seasons where he comfortably scored in double figures on average, but his days of being the most electric point guard in the game were done. After the 2023-24 season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Rose announced his retirement. Rose finished his career as a three-time All-Star (2010-12), an NBA Rookie of the Year (2009), and an NBA MVP (2011). 

Rose also finished his career with a ton of what ifs. He's arguably the biggest what if in NBA history, though I think Len Bias takes the cake for that distinction. At least with Rose we got to see what he was in peak form. Bias we never got to see due to his tragic passing just days after he was drafted. But still, there's a lot of questions about what Rose would have accomplished had he not torn his ACL. Would he have won an NBA championship in Chicago? Would he have won a second MVP? How many All-Star appearances would he have had? What other honors would he have garnered? We'll just never know. 

While there's a lot we don't know, if you just go off his first three seasons in the NBA, I think Derrick Rose has a strong enough resume to have a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: 

For starters, every NBA MVP has made the Hall of Fame after retirement. That alone makes a strong case for Rose. Secondly, he has the Rookie of the Year honor, which puts him in pretty elite company. And then third, he did end up playing 16 seasons in the NBA (15 if you don't include the 2012-13 season), averaging 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game for his career. 

It's not like Rose just hung up his sneakers after four seasons in the NBA. He kept playing and ended up scoring a career-high 50 points with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first game of the 2018-19 season, his 11th season in the NBA. He still had a solid NBA career even with the ACL tear. It's just that he could have had a special career and he was special for those first four seasons in the NBA. 

Switching gears from what should be a sure fire Hall of Fame case for Rose to the Bulls retiring his jersey, I think it's really cool that the Bulls are doing this. He brought an energy back to the Windy City that they hadn't had since the days of Michael Jordan and in the process energized the entire NBA. It's a no-brainer decision. Nobody else should ever wear No. 1 in Chicago Bulls history. That number belongs to Derrick Rose and now it forever will. 

NBALord.com on X (Twitter): @nba_lord 

NBALord.com on Facebook: @NBALordNation 

Ben Parker on Facebook, IG, Threads, X (Twitter), and Blue Sky: @slamdunk406 

Saturday Slam: Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming, and Allen Iverson headline 2016 Hall of Fame class

This weekend, the Basketball Hall of Fame enshrined its newest members.

#16HoopClass: Shaq, Yao, Iverson, Sheryl Swoopes, Zelmo Beaty, Darell Garretson, Tom Izzo, John McLendon, Cumberland Posey, Jerry Reinsdorf.

— InsideHoops.com NBA (@InsideHoops) September 9, 2016

All 10 people deserve Hall of Fame status, but since this is an NBA blog, I would like to reflect on Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming, and Allen Iverson.

                                          (Getty Images)

Shaquille O'Neal: Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant big men the NBA has ever seen. He won four NBA championships and reached the NBA Finals six times. He averaged 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game during his entire career and at his peak averaged close to 30 points and 14 rebounds per game. What I've liked most about Shaquille O'Neal is that he had fun along the way. While he brought his A-game every night and delivered the goods, he did it with a smile on his face and understood that the NBA is as much about entertainment as it is about competition. His understanding of this is well reflected on Inside The NBA, where he combines comedy and humor with quality insight.

                                                  (Forbes.com) 

Allen Iverson: Allen Iverson might be the greatest player to play the game at 6'0 and under. "The Answer" showed up every night and played with as much heart as anyone we've ever seen play the game. He didn't let his size prevent him from putting up big numbers. In the 2000-01 season, he was awarded with the NBA regular season MVP award due to his 31.1 points per game and ability to carry the 76ers on his back. He took the 76ers all the way to the NBA Finals and put up a remarkable performance in Game 1 to steal a game in Los Angeles before falling to the Lakers in five games. It's unfortunate that his "practice rant" became so famous because in truth, Iverson played with a tremendous amount of heart and never gave up.

Yao Ming: While his NBA career was cut short due to injury (8 seasons), Yao Ming has made a tremendous impact on the game of basketball from a global perspective. Thanks to Yao Ming, the NBA and the game of basketball has flourished in China. Without him, basketball wouldn't be nearly as global as it is now. So, while his NBA career doesn't warrant hall of fame status, his impact on the sport absolutely does warrant hall of fame status.

Daily Dunks: 4/6-4/12

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source). 

      Here is my Daily Dunks page for April 6, 2015 through April 12, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with news and scores from across the NBA until a Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Spurs power forward Tim Duncan has passed Paul Pierce to become #15 on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

#2. Nate Robinson's knee is doing ok. He is expected to strike a new deal with the Clippers (Click here for details).

#3. John Calipari, Dikembe Mutumbo, and others have been elected to the 2015 Basketball Hall of Fame (Click here for the full list).

#4. Brook Lopez and James Harden won player of the week honors (Click here for details).

#5. The Celtics waived forward Shavlik Randolph and signed guard Chris Babb to a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#6. Suns point guard Brandon Knight is likely done for the season due to a bone bruise in his heel (Click here for details).

#7. Kings forward Carl Landry got a one-game suspension for the leaving the bench during an altercation with the Jazz (Click here for details).

#8. Hawks power forward Paul Millsap (shoulder sprain) won't play Tuesday or Wednesday (Click here for details).

#9. Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard scored 36 points.

#10. Nets center Brook Lopez scored 32 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Nets 106  Trail Blazers 96.

Monday's NCAA National Championship: 

Duke 68 Wisconsin 63.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Timberwolves signed forward Arinze Onuaku for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#2. Kings forward Rudy Gay dropped 33 points on the Timberwolves in his return from a concussion. However, he is still experiencing headaches, so he won't play on Wednesday against the Jazz (Click here for details).

#3. Pistons center Greg Monroe is returning on Wednesday to face the Celtics after practicing on Monday (Click here for details).

#4. Pelicans small forward Tyreke Evans hit the game-winning free throws to defeat the Warriors after a phantom foul call on Andre Iguodala. The Pelicans now have the #8 seed in the West with the Thunder's loss (Click here for a video).

#5. Spurs point guard Tony Parker is dealing with tightness in his right Achilles (Click here for details).

#6. The Kings may shut down DeMarcus Cousins for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#7. Clippers shooting guard Jamal Crawford (calf) returned on Tuesday. He played 19 minutes.

#8. Many NBA executives expect Brook Lopez to opt out of his contract this summer (Click here for details).

#9. 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan is done for the season with a strained foot (Click here for details).

#10.  Point guard Jorge Gutierrez signed a multi-year deal with the Bucks (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Pelicans 103 Warriors 100. Kings 116 Timberwolves 111. Hawks 96 Suns 69. Heat 105 Hornets 100. Spurs 113 Thunder 88. Clippers 105 Lakers 100.

Tuesday's D-League playoff scores: 

Mad Ants 104 Red Claws 103. Jam 117 Spurs 79. Mad Ants and Jam lead their series' 1-0.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose returned. He played 19 minutes and scored 9 points.

#2. The Mavericks hope to have Chandler Parsons back before the playoffs (Click here for details).

#3. Mikhail Prokhorov says he isn't looking to sell the Nets (Click here for details).

#4. Pacers small forward Chris Copeland, his former fiancé, and another woman were stabbed outside of a NYC night club. Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic of the Hawks were arrested for obstruction of justice and quarreling with some police officers (Click here for details).

#5. Suns forwards Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris are under investigation for assault (Click here for details).

#6. The Knicks signed guard Ricky Ledo for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#7.The Nuggets claimed forward Shavlik Randolph off waivers from the Celtics (Click here for details).

#8. Rockets center Donatas Motiejunas (back) is done for the season (Click here for details).

#9. Report: Vlade Divac is now the #1 decision making guy in the Kings' organization (Click here for details).

#10. The Cavaliers have clinched their first Central Division title since 2010.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 110 Pelicans 74. Jazz 103 Kings 91. Trail Blazers 116 Timberwolves 91. Magic 105 Bulls 103. Wizards 119 76ers 90. Raptors 92 Hornets 74. Celtics 113 Pistons 103. Hawks 114 Nets 111. Pacers 102 Knicks 86. Cavaliers 104 Bucks 99. Spurs 110 Rockets 98. Nuggets 119 Lakers 101. Mavericks 107 Suns 104.

Wednesday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Charge 119 Skyforce 93. Warriors 105 Blue 98.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor has officially declared for the NBA draft (Click here for details).

#2. Hawks guard Thabo Sefolosha is out for the season after breaking his ankle in an altercation with a cop (Click here for details).

#3. Bucks head coach Jason Kidd decided not to play Giannis Antetokounmpo for reasons unknown (Click here for details).

#4. Gerald Green and Jeff Hornacek aren't getting along in Phoenix (Click here for details).

#5. A whole bunch of Kentucky guys leave for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#6. Rockets center Donatas Motiejunas has undergone back surgery. His season is over (Click here for details).

#7. Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler is dealing with a left calf injury. He didn't play on Thursday (Click here for details).

#8. Knicks head coach Derek Fisher thinks his team can win 63 games next season (Click here for details).

#9. Matt Barnes says Lakers management is why free agents don't come to join the Lakers (Click here for details).

#10. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 45 points and 9 assists. Also, he broke the NBA's record for most three-point shots made in a season, a record previously held by himself.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 116 Trail Blazers 105. Bulls 89 Heat 78.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Nuggets signed guard Jamaal Franklin for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#2. The Kings have signed point guard David Stockton to a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#3. Rockets guard James Harden is campaigning for MVP (Click here for details).

#4. Allen Iverson used to spend tons of money at strip clubs (Click here for details).

#5. Trail Blazers shooting guard Arron Afflalo is out 1-2 weeks with a shoulder strain (Click here for details).

#6. Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday returned from his leg fracture on Friday. He played 16 minutes and is on minutes restrictions (Click here for details).

#7. The NBAPA is investigating whether or not Thabo Sefolosha is the victim of police brutality (Click here for details).

#8. Report: Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah will have their minutes restrictions lifted in the playoffs (Click here for details).

#9. The Grizzlies-Jazz game ended in a very controversial fashion (Click here for details).

#10. The Charlotte Hornets have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 89 Jazz 88. Lakers 106 Timberwolves 98. Raptors 101 Magic 99. Hawks 104 Hornets 80. Celtics 99 Cavaliers 90. Pacers 107 Pistons 103. Nets 117 Wizards 80. Bucks 99 Knicks 91. Pelicans 90 Suns 75. Spurs 104 Rockets 103. Thunder 116 Kings 103. Mavericks 144 Nuggets 143 (2OT).

Friday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Warriors 109 Blue 97. Warriors win series 2-0.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio will undergo left ankle surgery. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#2. The Clippers signed guard Lester Hudson to a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#3. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley has a sprained foot. His injury could linger into the playoffs (Click here for details).

#4. Magic GM Rob Hennigan is determined to re-sign Tobias Harris (Click here for details).

#5. According to Frank Isola of the NY Daily News, Greg Monroe to the Knicks is essentially a done deal (Click here for details).

#6. The Suns signed guard Jerel McNeal through the 2015-16 season (Click here for details).

#7. The Kings are shutting down DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay for the season (Click here for details).

#8. Lakers guard Jeremy Lin is dealing with knee soreness (Click here for details).

#9. Tarik Black may or may not be back with the Lakers next season (Click here for details).

#10. 76ers head coach Brett Brown expects Joel Embiid to play Summer League (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Clippers 94 Grizzlies 86.  Jazz 111 Trail Blazers 105. Warriors 110 Timberwolves 101. Knicks 80 Magic 79. Raptors 107 Heat 104. Bulls 114 76ers 107.

Saturday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Spurs 98 Jam 86. Series tied 1-1. Mad Ants 121 Red Claws 111. Mad Ants win series 2-0.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook picked up his 16th technical foul. The league rescinded it, which means he won't be suspended for Monday's game (Click here for details).

#2. The Pacers and Nets are tied for 8 in the Eastern Conference and the Pelicans and Thunder are tied for 8 in the Western Conference. The Pelicans and Nets have the tiebreakers.

#3. The Spurs have now jumped up to the #2 seed, Grizzlies fall to the #5 seed. Spurs up by just half a game.

#4. The Bucks clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

#5. Wisconsin forward Frank Kaminsky wins the John R. Wooden Award (Click here for details).

#6. Ohio State freshman guard D'Angelo Russell will declare for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#7. Rockets shooting guard James Harden scored 30 points.

#8. Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried scored 30 points and had 7 rebounds.

#9. Spurs power forward Tim Duncan had 22 points and 10 rebounds on Sunday.

#10. Bucks guard O.J. Mayo had 17 points off the bench on Sunday.

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Celtics 117 Cavaliers 78 *. Bucks 96 Nets 73. Pistons 116 Hornets 77. Nuggets 122 Kings 111. Pacers 116 Thunder 104. Wizards 108 Hawks 99. Rockets 121 Pelicans 114. Spurs 107 Suns 91. Mavericks 120 Lakers 106. *LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and J.R. Smith rested for the Cavaliers.

Sunday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Spurs 90 Jam 88: Final. Spurs forward Jonathan Simmons had 28 points. Spurs win series 2-1.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news