NBA Hall of Fame - Knocking on the Door

These NBA players with 10+ years of service are border-line Hall of Famer candidates who need to play at their current level for a few more years in order to secure their HOF entry.

Dirk Nowitzki - The 2006-2007 NBA MVP is the anchor of a stellar Dallas Mavericks team that won 67 games last year but was beaten in the first round by the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors. He had taken the Mavs to the NBA Finals the previous year and has career averages of 22.3 PPG and 8.6 RPG while shooting an impressive 47% from the field, 38% from three and 87% from the line. Another NBA Finals and maybe a title would help propel Dirk into the Hall.

Tracy McGrady - The injury prone “T-Mac” is devastating when on the court. He is a seven-time NBA All-Star and a two-time scoring champion with impressive career numbers of 22.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.6 APG and 1.4 SPG. His major knock, aside from his health, is his lack of playoff success. McGrady has played in six playoff series but has yet to exit the first round. More games played and significant playoff achievements are needed to bolster his candidacy.

Steve Nash - Nash is the ultimate playmaker and teammates love playing with him. In 12 seasons he has career numbers of 14.1 PPG, 7.7 APG, 48.4% FG, and 89.8% FT - all impressive but not Hall of Fame stats. For Nash it is imperative to examine his last three-and-a-half seasons in Phoenix. With the Suns Nash is averaging an impressive 17.1 PPG, 11.3 APG, 51.5% FG, 44.4% 3PT and 90.5% FT. These three-plus seasons also include two NBA MVP awards and a Western Conference Finals appearance. If Nash keeps up his level of play he won’t be kept out of the Hall.

Vince Carter - “Vincanity” is a prolific scorer and tremendous athlete in his 10th year. “Half Man, Half Amazing” is an eight-time All-Star and boasts career numbers that are the envy of most: 24.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 4.1 APG. His limited playoff success and lack of defensive prowess, however, hurt his candidacy.

Ray Allen - Allen is a tremendous shooter, one of the best in NBA history, and is second all-time in three pointers made (trailing only Reggie Miller). The former U Conn star has had a stellar NBA career, being named an All-Star seven times and posting impressive stats: 21.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, 39.6% 3PT and 88.9% FT. His teams have made the playoffs only four times in his 11+ year career, making one Eastern Conference Finals. Allen has averaged an impressive 24.9 PPG and shot 43.5% from three-point range in the playoffs. Continued offensive success and a few impressive playoff runs with the Celtics over the next few years would help overcome his lack of defense and improve Allen’s HOF chances.

Grant Hill - Grant Hill was Co-Rookie of the Year (with Jason Kidd) in 1995 and had an unbelievable first six years of his career, averaging 21.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 6.3 APG, and 1.6 SPG. In that span he was an Eastern Conference All-Star starter five times and joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to lead their teams in points, rebounds and assists three times. Hill then had a serious ankle injury, several procedures and setbacks, and has never been the same. From 2000-2006 with Orlando Grant Hill played more than 30 games only once - in the 2004-2005 season (67 games). Though Hill may not make the Hall of Fame, when healthy he was one of the best and most versatile players.