Tim Hardaway has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Class of 2022, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. He’ll be joined by two other NBA luminaries, former Spurs guard Manu Ginobili and longtime coach George Karl, according to Shams Charania (Twitter links).
Unlike Ginobili, who is gaining entry on his first year of eligibility, Hardaway had to wait several years before earning enough support to reach the Hall. Hardaway spent the bulk of his 13 NBA seasons with Golden State and Miami, averaging 17.7 PPG and 8.2 APG in 35.3 MPG.
He scored a total of 15,373 points while averaging more than 20 PPG for four consecutive seasons. He was a 1997 All-NBA First Team selection.
Ginobili spent most of his career as a sixth man for the Spurs and was a key member of four championship teams. He was a two-time NBA All-Star (2005, 2011) and amassed 14,043 points, 4,001 assists, 3,697 rebounds and 1,392 steals in 16 seasons. He’s one of two players (Bill Bradley) to win a EuroLeague title (2001), an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal.
Karl spent 27 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, leading the Cavaliers (1984-1986), Warriors (1986-88), Supersonics (1992-1998), Bucks (1998-2003), Nuggets (2005-2013) and Kings (2015-2016). He owns a lifetime coaching record of 1,175-824 (.588), ranking sixth all-time in career wins.
Run TMC now in the Hall. George Karl was due. Delighted for Manu as well. Diverse class.
Good for Run TMC.
As a Heat fan, I’m loving Hardaway in for his time with us as well. He and Zo made a great duo for changing the Heat into what they’ve been ever since with the Heat Culture. The only thing I wish had been different when that era of the Heat were put together was that Charlotte had taken Pat Riley’s initial trade offer for Zo which included Billy Owens instead of Glen Rice. Zo, Hardaway and G-Money would have been even more lethal, and probably gotten to the Finals at least one time.
if Riley could have been able to keep Rice and Smith… then still added PJ Brown… that team would have take down Jordan’s bulls.. especially in the 1997 season. Imagine the defensive nightmare a backcourt of Timmy and Smitty woulda been.. then a 25ppg shooter at the 3.. then Zo lol.. it would have been a monster roster.
Disagree but it would have been fun to watch.
Lol no.
People think Jordan was unbeatable so some people would disagree with you.
I love the Heat, but I don’t think they would’ve gotten past MJ’s Bulls because people forget that when any team played them, they played against MJ, Scottie, Rodman, Harper, Kukoc and David Stern’s referees. I see the Heat as possibly getting to the Finals after MJ left the Bulls…when they would’ve had to go through the Pacers and Knicks.
Tim Hardaway was a first ballot HOFer…. his naïve bigotry (that he since evolved from) kept him out for almost 15 years. (google it if you don’t know what I am referencing)…. as for Manu.. I’m sorry, hate me if you want.. the man isn’t a HOFer based on his NBA career. Add in international and.. maybe? But the guy never averaged 20ppg in his career, and his career average is only 13.3ppg (his entire role was a bench scorer, so this is a big deal for me)
To clarify… the only reason I think Manu was elected was the teams he played for.. not his individual effort. Jamal Crawford was FAR superior in the same role during the same era to me.
He got in because of his entire career to include int’l play. Same reason Kukoc, Sabonis and others are in as well. His NBA career alone isn’t HOF worthy.
What did Crawford do that was FAR superior to Ginobli?
Crawford 14.6 3.4apg and 2.2rpg on a .410/.348/.862
Ginobli 13.5 3.8apg and 3.5rpg .447/.369/.827
While what you’d call a great defender Ginobli was more than adequate where Crawford was mediocre on his best days.
“To me” means nothing. The stats speak for themselves. Your opinion doesn’t change that reality.
Jamal over Manu? wtf… Manu was better at everything.
Manu has 9 season over 20 PER – Jamals has 0, good advance stats overall. He could play more minutes in another team and pile up more individual stats, he had the offers to do so. Manu was a good defender with higher bball IQ than most of NBA players, even some star players of his era.
And even more than his great NBA career, Manu has a Golden Medal at the Olympics knocking off USA. Only 4 countries have gold medals: Argentina – USA – URSS – Yugoslavia. Two of them doesn’t exist anymore. He was clearly a first ballot, add euroliga champ and mvp.
Ginobili and Tracy McGrady are better players than Melo and Westbrook
Melo and Westbrook don’t play defense, scoring is the only thing they can do
Melo and Westbrook are 76 greatest ever because they are likeable
“Would you like to play a game?”
Ginobli is worthy hall of famer but he wasn’t exactly known for defense either.
Totally agree with you. Congrats on your first ever good take))
I think you’re too worried about stats rather than their impact to the game. Manu was a key part to one of the best, if not the best dynasties in all of sports. And like you said it’s the basketball hall of fame, not NBA hall of fame, so international has to be included, because he has was the best player on the team that beat the basically unbeatable USA team. Even without, man revolutionized the euro step, before harden it was Manu’s move. If all you’re looking at is scoring averages, than yes, he shouldn’t be included. But it’s not that simple. He was the third best player with Tim Duncan and than Tony Parker, who is arguably one of the most underrated PG’s of all time. He was in a system where he didn’t have to score or play 40 minutes a game, but when he played he made a difference especially in the playoffs where he often averaged 20 points a game, if we do bring in scoring as a factor. Also one of the most underrated passers of all time. I could keep going Manu is my favorite player of all time so I’ll defend him to the grave. Love to all tho who disagree
I’d argue that he was a better player than Parker. His game was very versatile. If you needed a scorer off the bench bring in Ginobli, if you need a playmaker to jumpstart the offense? Ginobli. If you need a bucket getter in crunch time in the playoffs.wjen offenses break down? Ginobli.
Manu was super clutch, has a lot of game winning shots, some of them at Playoffs. The 2005 finals MVP was kinda close between him and Duncan, I still think TD deserved it but still a pretty amazing feat. being a couple of votes away from a top 10 player ever is nice.
Watered down HOF. Id rather have a HOF thats strict like baseball then a HOF like basketball where everyone gets in. Makes it less special
Guess what as long as the sport continues there will be more people to induct. The game is always growing and changing.
Baseball is the sport that should be taking notes. With an aging fanbase, declining viewership, and nearly another missed season, it won’t matter how special their hall of fame is because no one will give a fart.
But this HOF is literally a hall for all of Basketball this includes international play and college play. Coopestown can be more strict because it on encompasses north american major leagues
Ginobli and Hardaway were solid. Not Hall of Famers
Weird, I could have just sworn in this very post that I read that as of today they both are.
Lol r/murderedByWords
international stats count? stephon marbury is a no brainer first ballot too right?
Starbury must be there for his NBA stats, one of the best PG’s ever, so much fun to watch than Curry, Ja & so on…!!!
The chinese league is the third or fourth best i think?
Not as impressive as eing a euroleague champ and MVP like Manu, and Gold medalist with a couple of decent runs at the FIBA World Cup while being from a marginal country where Basketball isn’t the first sport