Hall of Fame slices requirements by a year; Shaq and Yao now eligible in 2016

[benji]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14367 ... rs-4-years

Basketball players will now be eligible for the Hall of Fame four years after they retire, which creates the potential for Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming to headline a powerful class of 2016.

This is one of the new rules for the Springfield, Massachusetts, shrine. The previous requirement was that a player be retired for five full seasons. Because of the enshrinement calendar, that meant players would be out of the game for six years before they could be inducted.

O'Neal, a four-time NBA champion and one of the game's most dominant centers, and Yao, the No. 1 pick of the 2002 draft whose success was a catalyst for basketball's growth in China, both retired after the 2010-11 season.

In other changes, the Hall shut down its ABA committee. Hall chairman Jerry Colangelo said the group has served its purpose. Another change was to allow the women's screening committee to name four finalists instead of two.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will announce its candidates for next year's enshrinement ceremony next week. Finalists will be announced during the NBA All-Star weekend in February, and the inductees will be unveiled April 4 in Houston on the day of the NCAA championship game.

[Andrew]

Fair call. Four full seasons retired, to allow for enshrinement around the five year mark.

[Sauru]

does yao ming really belong in the hall of fame? is this going to be a selection based on the face that he brought in chinese fans?

[Andrew]

He was also a very good player, before injuries took their toll. I think his performance in his prime in the NBA and at the international level is worthy of recognition.

[Sauru]

i think he had the talents to make the hall of fame but i am unsure his career was long enough to do it. i mean i am positive he will get it i just personally would not vote him in

[Andrew]

Drazen Petrovic's in the Hall of Fame, with an even shorter NBA career and less gaudy numbers. His career in Europe and significance as an international player finding success in the NBA helps his case, though.

[benji]

Don't forget Yao's Olympic and Chinese (he completely tore the leagues apart at ages 16-22 and they altered their rules many times Wilt style) careers though. He's got a better case than a lot of these other picks, especially considering his NBA career was no slouch when healthy.

Plus if they use Yao as the "token" pick they're required to make maybe they can fit in another deserving Hall of Famer instead of making them wait another year.

I'd consider him like Sabonis as somebody who impacted the game internationally and did it while being a major franchise player everywhere he played. Even if it was only for shorter periods in each area than somebody like Shaq who dominated just one league. Even if it was the best league. It's not like Yao wasn't a franchise player in the NBA. (And Sabonis would have been one too.)

[deihatein]

i think he had the talents to make the hall of fame but i am unsure his career was long enough to do it. i mean i am positive he will get it i just personally would not vote him in

bill walton?

[benji]

Amusingly I remember some Bill Walton comparisons going into that draft. Though Yao was never the passer he was supposed to be.

My favorite draft comparisons are still Nene = a more athletic Rodman/Shawn Kemp. When almost the only thing they share is great hands. (And maybe an unselfishness on the offensive end.)

[shadowgrin]

Yao making it to the HoF is a disgrace to the sport.