One of the great power forwards of all-time, Buck Williams was a blue collar player who excelled under the boards.  A solid low post scorer, Williams is best remembered for his ability to rebound and defend.  Although not as flashy as some of his generation, his long career is a testament to hard work.  Tenth all time in games played and one of only seven players to score 16,000 points and grab 13,000 rebounds, Williams never played on a championship team but was a huge part of some very successful teams.  More importantly he played the game the way it was supposed to be played and always showed up for battle.

Maurice Lucas played college basketball for Al McGuire at the University of Marquette leading the team to the finals of the 1974 NCAA tournament.  Lucas led the Warriors with 21 points and 13 boards in a loss to North Carolina State and future ABA-NBA superstar David Thompson.  Chosen high by both the NBA and ABA in their drafts, Lucas decided to go play in the newer ABA.  He had two solid years in the ABA and when the league merged with the NBA he was selected number two in the dispersal draft of players by the Portland Trail Blazers.  Portland had traded two solid veterans for a chance to get Lucas and Coach Jack Ramsey quickly made him their power forward playing next to their franchise player Bill Walton.  The Blazers gelled quickly and made an improbable run through the playoffs in their first season after the merger. 

While Rasheed Wallace was known mostly for getting technical fouls, he was so much more than just that. Rasheed cut his teeth with the North Carolina Tar Heels and the former first rounder would make waves with the Portland Trail Blazers, emerging as the team’s leader and whether you liked him or hated him, his passion for the sport of basketball was undeniable. The four time All Star may not have been considered the best at his position at any point of his career but he was a vital member of the shocking Detroit Pistons team that won the title in 2004. That is something that men with better regular seasons cannot boast.

Simply put how in the heck did Rod Strickland never make an All-Star Game?  He is easily one of the best ten point guards in league history. Strickland is in the top ten for all time assists and 54th all time in games played.  14,000 points and almost 8,000 assists are pretty good career numbers.  Sure he bounced around a lot playing with a total of ten teams in his career but that just shows how malleable he was.  Strickland was a very good player who knew how to run a team and really knew how to get the ball to his teammates but never really learned how to get along that well with others and never was on a consistent winner; but he should have made at least one All-Star Game.

Terry Porter is one of the best NBA players ever to come from a Division II school.  He was so highly regarded form tiny Wisconsin-Stevens Point that he was invited to the 1984 Olympic trials where he almost made the team; but was in the final cut with Charles Barkley and John Stockton.  A solid career followed for Porter in the NBA primarily with the Portland Trail Blazers where he teamed with Clyde Drexler to form one of the best backcourts in the league for almost a decade.  He would make two Finals appearances but failed to earn a ring despite being one of the best shooting point guards ever.  Porter will be remembered for those great appearances in the Finals and a long career but is a long shot to get in.  Of course he was a long shot to even make the league too.

Sidney Wicks was the UCLA big man who led the Bruins to numerous NCAA titles and was selected College Player of the Year.  He would be drafted by the Blazers and would become the centerpiece of the franchise.  Later went to Boston where he was a solid contributor.  No it’s not Bill Walton; it’s the forgotten star of the UCLA dynasty, Sidney Wicks.  Wicks is one of those great 70s players that time has seemingly forgot.  A four time All-Star and consistent 20/10 guy for the Blazers, Wicks was a dominant big man.  A three time champion at UCLA who was the star of the teams in between Alcindor and Walton, Wicks never got their publicity.  The obstacles holding him back from the Hall is a shortened career and playing for bad teams that happened to get a lot better right after he left.

Pau Gasol has just enough on his NBA merits alone to make a Hall of Fame case, but when you add his accomplishments for Spain, he should have no problem getting in.  He is 40, and he does not have a lot left in the tank, but he should be a second or third year ballot Hall of Fame inductee.  He could even be in the first ballot is there are not many heavyweights around him in his first year of eligibility.  As of this writing, Gasol is not on any team, and could be retiring this year.  Previous Rank: #9.

Lillard is not discussed much in terms of the Basketball Hall of Fame, but small-market Portland has one of the best players that few people talk about. Lillard is now a five-time All-NBA player, and after his last year, he sped past three of our thresholds, despite the fact that the MPA numbers rose.  If you don’t watch the Trail Blazers, you are missing out, as his star is still rising.  Previous Rank: #19