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T-fo is Medium Pimpin' said 01/14, 09:33 AM
I've looked over your three submissions, and tend to agree with the others, but the late great Dennis Johnson belongs in the Hall of Fame. Some players get in because they are compilers of huge numbers, others because of their involvement in multiple championships. Still others get in because of their great defensive prowess.

DJ was a combination of all of the above.

He was a part of 3 championship teams...once in Seattle and twice with the Celtics. (winning Finals MVP with the Sonics)

Although he wasn't a huge compiler of any individual stats, but when he retired, he was one of only ELEVEN NBA players to have amassed more than 15,000 points and 5,000 assists. That's pretty rare company.

In addition to his offensive skills, DJ was well known for his defensive prowess, being named for nine consecutive years to the NBA All-Defensive team.

Sometimes, you need to look at a players entire spectrum of a career to determine their status in history. Dennis Johnson belongs in the Hall of Fame.

T-fo is Medium Pimpin' said 01/14, 10:12 AM
I would once again ask that you look at his career as a whole, not at individual categories...

Look at Big Game Bob's entire career, not just his rings...the same as Williams and Longley. Poof...up in smoke, because there is nothing else compelling about their case.

Don't just look at his points per game, look at the double threat he was in both points AND assists. Off the top of my head, I'll use Brian Westbrook as an example. If you only looked at his rushing stats you might not think too much, but when you look at both his rushing and receiving stats together you begin to see that he is truly a stud.

I also need to correct an error on your part...DJ played only 13 years (according to NBA.com), not 14.

5-time all-star, 2-time all NBA, 9-time all-defensive team, 3 time NBA champion, one of only 11 players with 15,000 points and 5,000 assists. The big picture says he's a Hall of Famer.

But you don't have to listen to me, once again, from NBA.com - In Sports Illustrated, teammate Bird, who was not known for lightly tossing around compliments, called Johnson "the best I've ever played with."

T-fo is Medium Pimpin' said 01/14, 12:41 PM
Latrell Sprewell - zero championships
Alvin Robertson - zero championships
Jeff Hornacek - zero championships
Derek Harper - zero championships

Dennis Johnson - three championships...and not just as a role player, as a KEY player.

In leading Seattle to their only title, DJ was named MVP of the Finals.

With the Celtics he was part of some epic finals, including the Lakers in 1984, when he was handed the assignment of handling Magic Johnson and basically shut him down.

You can't just compare career numbers of a bunch of players, you also have to take a look at what that player did to excel during their career. DJ was a clutch performer, a shooter you could depend on when you need a basket, a defender who could go toe to toe with the best and shut them down, and a guy who flat out hustled with all he had to give. He was a major player on some of the biggest stages the NBA had to offer. Don't just honor the compilers, honor the effort of a man worthy of the Hall of Fame.