why isn't Christian Laettner in the Hall of Fame?

[jzek]

I know he's in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame but not the big one, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He's the only one out of the 12 original Dream Team members to not make it... which is funny because the reason why he was chosen over other college guys like Shaq or CWebb was because at the time, he was the GOAT college player; and that alone should have been enough to vote him into the Naismith HoF. Even today, he's still regarded as one of the best if not the best college basketball player ever based on his accomplishments at Duke.

[Bandito]

Man if it wasn't for his glass knees Laettner could've killed in the NBA. He was really effective the time he got some playing time on MJ's Wizards. I use to be a fan of his, I loved his game. Very high IQ. I was always expecting him to teach dumb Kwame some moves but something happened that he didn't learn sh1t. I hate Kwame so much...

[CoastalRyan]

Had he only played College ball I think the argument might be stronger. But he competed on multiple levels and only reached elite status on one of those levels. Injuries hurt him greatly.

He wasn't defining or significant to the Dream Team.

[fpliii]

I know he's in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame but not the big one, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He's the only one out of the 12 original Dream Team members to not make it... which is funny because the reason why he was chosen over other college guys like Shaq or CWebb was because at the time, he was the GOAT college player; and that alone should have been enough to vote him into the Naismith HoF. Even today, he's still regarded as one of the best if not the best college basketball player ever based on his accomplishments at Duke.

Hmmm not sure that I'd agree. SI did a special top 10 players (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292660) in NCAA tournament history for the 75th anniversary ad came up with:

1 Lew Alcindor
2 Bill Walton
3 Bill Russell
4 Oscar Robertson
5 Larry Bird
6 Wilt Chamberlain
7 Bill Bradley
8 Magic Johnson
9 Christian Laettner
10 Jerry West

I know you qualified your statement later, but I don't think he has any case against the top 3 guys. They're probably accepted in some order universally, or as close as you can get to it. Disclaimer - this is based only on tournament play, so take that FWIW.

That being said, I expect him to get inducted eventually down the line anyway.

[jzek]

Hmmm not sure that I'd agree. SI did a special top 10 players (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292660) in NCAA tournament history for the 75th anniversary ad came up with:

1 Lew Alcindor
2 Bill Walton
3 Bill Russell
4 Oscar Robertson
5 Larry Bird
6 Wilt Chamberlain
7 Bill Bradley
8 Magic Johnson
9 Christian Laettner
10 Jerry West

I know you qualified your statement later, but I don't think he has any case against the top 3 guys. They're probably accepted in some order universally, or as close as you can get to it. Disclaimer - this is based only on tournament play, so take that FWIW.

That being said, I expect him to get inducted eventually down the line anyway.

Look at that list you posted. All but Laettner is in the HoF. I don't get the bias against him. :confusedshrug:

[fpliii]

Look at that list you posted. All but Laettner is in the HoF. I don't get the bias against him. :confusedshrug:

Well, Bradley aside, they were all legendary NBA players as well. Bill, whose arrival in the pros was widely anticipated, didn't have a spectacular career in basketball after graduation, but the NY bias, plus his accomplishments afterwards (most notably being voted in as a Senator a couple years after his retirement). Outstanding college player, and won a medal in the Olympics as one of the best players on the team, and won two rings with the Knicks.

[SilkkTheShocker]

OP makes some terrible threads :facepalm

[Fresh Kid]

Chrstian laettner didnt reached his full potential, sad to say.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I think there's an NCAA HOF, and that's where he belongs. But if you're going to put him in you almost have to put in Tyler Hansborough. An American male basketball player that was not great in the NBA doesn't belong in the Hall.

[GrapeApe]

I think there's an NCAA HOF, and that's where he belongs. But if you're going to put him in you almost have to put in Tyler Hansborough. An American male basketball player that was not great in the NBA doesn't belong in the Hall.

I agree. I know collegiate performance is factored into the HOF, but even so I don't think his overall body of work warrants him getting in.

[Fresh Kid]

OP makes some terrible threads :facepalm
It seems like you the one that makes alot of terrible threads

[Clifton]

Man if it wasn't for his glass knees Laettner could've killed in the NBA. He was really effective the time he got some playing time on MJ's Wizards. I use to be a fan of his, I loved his game.
So did I. Laettner was the only player besides MJ on that team I liked. He never missed an 18 footer. That said, he also never did anything besides take 18 footers. He wasn't "really effective", but he was okay.

[TheBigVeto]

Certainly a major oversight. His college career is greater than Jordan's, Bird's and Magic's combined. Must be his skin color that's causing him not in the HoF. It's embarrassing. We have clowns like Rodman in HoF and a well deserving guy like Laettner didn't make it.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Certainly a major oversight. His college career is greater than Jordan's, Bird's and Magic's combined. Must be his skin color that's causing him not in the HoF. It's embarrassing. We have clowns like Rodman in HoF and a well deserving guy like Laettner didn't make it.
You forgot the white text?

[MisterAmazing]

OP makes some terrible threads :facepalm

i know you're worried about competition but don't be, your threads are still worse.

[hawkfan]

He was a good player in his prime, but he never had a period where he was one of the best.

[Clifton]

Um, by the way... Christian Laettner as an NBA player, in case you all have forgotten and/or are serious in this thread.... he was... not good.

Nobody had a good thing to say about him when he was in the L. He was such an inconsequential player that it would strike people who remember as hilarious if he made the HOF. From an NBA fan's POV it would be like... Andrei Kirilenko making the HOF. 16/8 player on a bad team in his prime who had some glory days in an inferior league. Comparing him to Magic Johnson and Jerry West because he did a lot in college is kind of a head-scratcher. I think the argument for Manu because of his play overseas is much stronger.

[jzek]

I think there's an NCAA HOF, and that's where he belongs. But if you're going to put him in you almost have to put in Tyler Hansborough. An American male basketball player that was not great in the NBA doesn't belong in the Hall.

There are a lot of coaches here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_coaches_in_the_Naismith_Memorial_Basketbal l_Hall_of_Fame - who never coached or played in the NBA but are in the Naismith HoF. Going by what you said, they should be in the NCAA HoF only (but they're not). So is it double standards now by the voting committee?

[AboutBuckets]

There are a lot of coaches here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_coaches_in_the_Naismith_Memorial_Basketbal l_Hall_of_Fame - who never coached or played in the NBA but are in the Naismith HoF. Going by what you said, they should be in the NCAA HoF only (but they're not). So is it double standards now by the voting committee?


Coaches, not players. Coaches who created and sustained cultures of excellence for 10+ years and created the dynastic reputations of the schools we still love to watch today. 'Basketball schools' these days (UNC, Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, etc.) wouldn't be where they are today without the foundation and groundwork those HOF coaches put into place years ago.

[sportjames23]

Laettner got exposed in the NBA. He was the only flaw with the Dream Team. Should've been Shaq on that team, not pvssy ass Laettner.

[deja vu]

'Coz he's white.

[Fresh Kid]

'Coz he's white.
Nomination of one of the dumbest things said on insidehoops.

[Bigsmoke]

'Coz he's white.

Vin Baker, Derrick Coleman, and Shawn Kemp were even better players that weren't selected yet :hammerhead:

[DMV2]

He's in the HOF as a member of the 1992 Dream Team . :lol

[Real Men Wear Green]

There are a lot of coaches here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_coaches_in_the_Naismith_Memorial_Basketbal l_Hall_of_Fame - who never coached or played in the NBA but are in the Naismith HoF. Going by what you said, they should be in the NCAA HoF only (but they're not). So is it double standards now by the voting committee?"Basketball player," not "coach." People get inducted into the Hall for a variety of different roles.

[2LeTTeRS]

I'm sure his horrible business dealings haven't helped. The guy brought in multiple athletes and celebrities into a project that was supposed to renovate downtown Durham that went belly-up after receiving tens of millions of dollars in investments.

[deja vu]

Nomination of one of the dumbest things said on insidehoops.
I'm just kidding yo!

[Fresh Kid]

I'm just kidding yo!
I apologize my white friend.

[JohnnySic]

Laettner's college career was legendary, but injuries prevented him from doing enough in the league to make tha hall.

[Stringer Bell]

He was a pretty good pro player for 5 years, then tore his Achilles and was never the same. 1 All-Star Game, 18/8 guy in his prime, no significant playoff performances.

Not HOF worthy despite his great college career.

[senelcoolidge]

Laettner is deserving to be in the College Basketball HoF, but come on he's not a NBA Hall of Famer.

[Eric Cartman]

Ginobili without a question is a hall of famer. His play alone in the NBA alone makes his case, add to that the international play for Argentina and overseas adventures.

[TheMan]

Certainly a major oversight. His college career is greater than Jordan's, Bird's and Magic's combined. Must be his skin color that's causing him not in the HoF. It's embarrassing. We have clowns like Rodman in HoF and a well deserving guy like Laettner didn't make it.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug:facepalm

[TheBigVeto]

1 Lew Alcindor
2 Bill Walton
3 Bill Russell
4 Oscar Robertson
5 Larry Bird
6 Wilt Chamberlain
7 Bill Bradley
8 Magic Johnson
9 Christian Laettner
10 Jerry West


From that list, Laettner should be 4th or 5th. When we're talking college, his college career >>>>>>>>> Bird + Magic + Jordan combined,

[sportjames23]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug:facepalm

I know, right? How dude could even make his fingers type that shit is beyond me.

[sportjames23]

From that list, Laettner should be 4th or 5th. When we're talking college, his college career >>>>>>>>> Bird + Magic + Jordan combined,


Man, please just STFU. Your posting privileges here need to be revoked.