With North Carolina legend Charlie Scott’s recent ascent into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, we thought it would be fun to evaluate the candidacy of some other former Tar Heels not yet enshrined.
We selected seven players and will run this series in seven segments. Understand that the Naismith Hall of Fame isn’t an NBA hall, it’s for all of basketball. Dean Smith and Roy Williams, as examples, are in.
So are players such as Bill Walton and Bill Bradley. Walton was one of the greatest college players ever, but aside from a couple of very good NBA seasons, his pro numbers may not measure up to most players inducted. His career was massively affected by injuries, but they are part of the game, and he was a bit overrated after returning from missing a lot of time.
That he won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 1986 averaging 7.6 points and 6.8 rebounds is an example. The media liked him and propped him up, this building up his aura.
Bradley was an outstanding college player and a good NBA player. But his numbers weren’t that great, yet he played for the New York Knicks and the media loved him, too. And one has to wonder if there was some element of bias in his induction, give his post-basketball career in politics.
So, with all of that in mind, we're looking at eight former Tar Heels and their candidacies for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. We will explore one player a day,
So far we’ve done:
(Note: We want your thoughts on each player, as well)
Bobby Jones
An All-America in 1974, first-team All-ACC the same season, second-team in 1973.
Jones was a very good college player, but it’s his NBA resume that will get him into the Hall, if he’s to ever get in.
He made five all-star teams (4 NBA, one ABA), was on the All-Defensive team 11 times (8 in the NBA), won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 1983, played on an NBA champion in 1983, and for his career, Jones averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game.
A 6-9 forward, Jones is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in NBA history who wasn’t a center. That ought to mean something, but despite Bradley being in, it likely won’t ever be enough to earn Jones enshrinement.
