Every offseason, as a new wave of players join the NBA and veteran players move closer to leaving it, a familiar debate tends to make the rounds: “Is player x a lock for the Hall of Fame?”
Big man Al Horford and point guard Rajon Rondo were recently the subject of analysis by Business Insider’s Scott Davis. The former is poised to add to that resume with the Celtics in 2022-23.
Let’s take a look at Davis’ arguments regarding both.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 15, 2022
Rajon Rondo - 2x NBA champ, 4x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 4x All-Defensive
Rondo had a strong first half of his career, followed by a journeyman arc,” began Davis on the one-time Kentucky standout’s case. He is seen as having a 60.6% chance of making the Hall per Basketball Reference.
“From 2008-2014, he won a championship, made four All-Star teams, led the NBA in assists twice, and became one of the top point guards in the league. But after a falling-out in Boston, Rondo got traded to the Mavs and has since played for eight different teams, never staying anywhere more than one season. Still, he was an important piece of the Lakers’ 2020 championship team.”
“While the analytics community has criticized his shooting and on-/off-court numbers, teams continually employ him, and he has a reputation as a strong postseason player, which matters,” writes the BI analyst.
All but one of Boston’s usual starting five makes the cut, along with two players who will almost certainly spend most of next season coming off of the bench for the Celtics. https://t.co/HkxqieFuVh
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 14, 2022
Al Horford - 2x NCAA champ, 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA, 1x All-Defensive
“Horford boasts an impressive resume — stronger than some of those with better Hall of Fame probabilities,” offers the Business Insider writer of the one-time Florida star’s case, which is oddly seen as being just 12.2% likely to go down per Basketball Reference.
“Horford has long been known as a team player and one who makes all of his teams better. His selfless play hasn’t always led to big stats, but Horford has always had an impact on winning. He’s played in the playoffs in all but two years of his career, made the conference finals three times, and the Finals once. Is a championship the missing piece? “
“The Celtics are championship contenders this year, so Horford may be able to capture that elusive ring and move closer to the Hall,” adds Davis.
We think they have Tatum about where he should be, though there’s easily a case he deserves the top spot. https://t.co/e6o3J8dKsg
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 14, 2022
Our assessment
While it is fair to say the Hall is not made for good players but great ones, the careers of Horford and Rondo are both extraordinary. Rondo’s two titles, longevity (16 seasons), and other accolades make for a fairly solid case.
Horford, too, has a very good case with two NCAA titles before he even joined the league, and being a key performer on every team he has played for. That is also an exceptionally rare accomplishment, particularly when weighed against his longevity (15 seasons) and awards.
The Texas A&M product needs consistency to his excellency to make the leap still, it is argued. https://t.co/qUUu1vexnk
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 14, 2022
With many players possessing far inferior resumes already in the Hall, we expect both to be in serious consideration whenever either decides to hang it up for good as a player.
Another NBA title for either would go a long way toward making that happen. Given their circumstance, that advantage is squarely in Horford’s court. Ultimately, we think the Dominican big man gets in; Rondo’s situation is less certain.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 14, 2022
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