Horry is invaluable, but he's no Hall of Famer

[Stone Cold is Bout It, Bout It]

It all began innocuously enough.

 
After Game 5, a colleague who shall remain nameless wondered out loud whether Robert Horry's penchant for making game-winning shots during the postseason and his six titles with three different teams made him worthy of the Hall of Fame.

He wasn't advocating Horry's immediate canonization in Springfield (so he says), just throwing the topic out there for discussion.

But then the question started making the rounds throughout professional sports' sounding board — a.k.a. talk radio. Soon after, every talking head on cable television gladly took up the cause.

The next thing you know, 38,212 of you had voted (as of this writing) in a FOXSports.com poll asking about Horry's Hall-of-Fame credentials. And while our users weren't quite ready to give Big Shot Rob the nod, it was awfully close; 49 percent of you said Horry was a Hall of Famer.

To which I say the following ...

Are you kidding me?

This is not to denigrate Horry, who has consistently elevated his game in the harsh glare of the postseason spotlight. He has a collection of game-winning shots to rival those of even the greatest superstars. And he is an amiable fellow, one who has been content to spend most of his career (that is to say, until the playoffs roll around) outside the limelight, overshadowed by some of the biggest names to ever play the game — Hakeem and Clyde, Shaq and Kobe, Duncan.

But none of those traits — while admirable — make Horry worthy of the Hall.

Perhaps if Horry was on the fringe of induction, his six championships — not to mention the crucial role he played in each and every one of them — would be enough to put him over the top.

But he isn't. Not even close.

 
In 13 NBA seasons, Horry has averaged double figures in scoring just three times, pouring in a career-high 12.0 points per game in 1995-96. He's never made an All-NBA first, second or third team. Nor has he been a first or second team all-defensive selection. His next All-Star appearance — not a likely occurrence at this point of his career — will be his first.

The lone individual honor in Horry's career? He was on the NBA All-Rookie second team in 1992-93, alongside such luminaries as Clarence Weatherspoon, Richard Dumas and Walt Williams.

In fact, for more than half of his 934 regular season games, Horry wasn't even in the starting lineup. That means for more than half his career, Horry wasn't even considered the best power forward on his team. So how can he be seriously considered one of the premier players of his generation?

Here's a hint. He can't.

Make no mistake. If not for Horry, the Pistons would be back-to-back champions. The Lakers' threepeat would most likely have been merely a repeat were it not for his heroics against Sacramento. And without him, the Rockets probably wouldn't have been the first team to win a title as a No. 6 seed.

That's no small accomplishment and it will guarantee Horry a place in NBA history. But that's where the accolades — and this preposterous debate — should stop.

Todd Behrendt is a senior editor for FOXSports.com.


http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3708456

[Wild_Elmo]

yup, i agree with that 100%

[Javier]

Any basketball fan should just know what Horry has done during his career.  He doesnt need to be in the HOF for people to recognize him.  Obviously he doesnt have the numbers to get in but fans know who Horry is and he will be remembered

[Stone Cold is Bout It, Bout It]

Let the man in.who cares..all those big shots he hit,youknow?..he saved the Lakers ass a couple of times,just let him in he has 6 championships

[Javier]

A lot of people will care if he gets in the HOF.  Guys will be feeling robbed

[hisairness]

The HOF is what you do over a career, not just in the playoffs.

Horry is one of the best clutch shooters in the NBA playoff history.  But, like was said, in the regular season he never has done much.

I really like the guy, but he shouldn't be in the HOF.

[acbaylove]

6 rings in 3 different teams, being decisive all the times. He doesnt need to be an official Hall Of Famer. He already is.

[ecrazy]

Any basketball fan should just know what Horry has done during his career. He doesnt need to be in the HOF for people to recognize him. Obviously he doesnt have the numbers to get in but fans know who Horry is and he will be remembered

Yeah....Robert Horry Will Always Be My Favorite Basketball Player Of All time.....He was the first player i followed, and tried to shoot like....I was a Rocket fan untill he left them

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Horry is dank...I dunno how players like Dominique Wilkins would feel if he made the Hall of Fame though.

[TeeRaySix9Teen]

Horry isnt a hall of famer at all IMO. But like someone else said on here, any real basketball fan knows his contributions. And in 6 different video tapes of NBA finals.....theyll see Horry playing a big role.

[ecrazy]

Horry said himself On PTI that he is not a hall of famer, he's not a all star, but he contributes what he can....he says the only reason that people consider him to the HOF is because he actually contributes in someway or another to each championship team - "Unlike John Salley who just joins a team and does not do anything, but still gets a championship" (HE SAID THAT TOO!).....

[TeeRaySix9Teen]

Horry said himself On PTI that he is not a hall of famer, he's not a all star, but he contributes what he can....he says the only reason that people consider him to the HOF is because he actually contributes in someway or another to each championship team - "Unlike John Salley who just joins a team and does not do anything, but still gets a championship" (HE SAID THAT TOO!).....

lol funny thing is...Salley is the one who pretends like he was some sorta major contribution to all those teams. I like Salley....but cmon...lol

[ecrazy]

Horry said himself On PTI that he is not a hall of famer, he's not a all star, but he contributes what he can....he says the only reason that people consider him to the HOF is because he actually contributes in someway or another to each championship team - "Unlike John Salley who just joins a team and does not do anything, but still gets a championship" (HE SAID THAT TOO!).....

lol funny thing is...Salley is the one who pretends like he was some sorta major contribution to all those teams. I like Salley....but cmon...lol

Yea...this is why Horry is my favorite player of all time...he's humble, yet he aint afraid to tell the truth....

[TeeRaySix9Teen]

Horry said himself On PTI that he is not a hall of famer, he's not a all star, but he contributes what he can....he says the only reason that people consider him to the HOF is because he actually contributes in someway or another to each championship team - "Unlike John Salley who just joins a team and does not do anything, but still gets a championship" (HE SAID THAT TOO!).....

lol funny thing is...Salley is the one who pretends like he was some sorta major contribution to all those teams. I like Salley....but cmon...lol

Yea...this is why Horry is my favorite player of all time...he's humble, yet he aint afraid to tell the truth....

favorite of all time? damn....u should make a fan club lol. You could even send lil emails to yourself. 

[Wild_Elmo]

hahah I give Horry props for saying that. Horry always makes me laugh. When I think Divac said he made a lucky shot. "He better read them papers"