gold star for USAHOF
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125. Antoine Walker

With his year of eligibility pushed back from his attempts to get back in the big time through the D-League, Antoine Walker is sadly best known for his financial woes more than anything he did on the court. In his playing career, his best seasons were with Boston, where along with Paul Pierce his three pointers excited crowds (though he probably took too many) and he was a member of three All Star squads. In a reserve role, Walker had a very good season assisting the Heat in their first championship, but despite his role there, he is often the forgotten contributor on that team. Forgotten players generally don’t wind up enshrined; especially one who has become a punch line.

90. Zydrunas Ilgauskas

A longtime member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Zydrunas Ilgauskas brought his tall frame from Lithuania and became one of the top offensive rebounders in the league. He was also adept at blocking and at his prime pumped in a 15 point plus average and was often considered the top part of LeBron James’ supporting cast. The Lithuanian likely won’t make the Hall of Fame, but had Cleveland won the Finals, would he be in the conversation?

33. Peja Stojakovic

The winner of the NBA 3-Point Shootout, a three time European Player of the Year and a three time All Star, Peja Stojakovic was part of a talented Sacramento Kings roster that was a badly officiated game from the NBA Finals. The Serbian star was an amazing shooter and was deadly from behind the arc or at the charity stripe. He was also a major force in International play and anchored the Yugoslavs to the World Championship in 2002. That fact could help Stojakovic receive some additional consideration as the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recognizes International play.

139. Antonio McDyess

A powerful force in the paint, Antonio McDyess had a very good career going until 2001 when a severe knee injury rendered him only part of the player he used to be. Prior to that, he was really coming into his own with capable blocking and boarding skills and was rewarded with his first All Star appearance and a spot on the American Dream Team. He would rehab himself back into the rotation by totally reinventing his skill set and moving away from the paint to put up jumpers. It kept him in the league, but he was never the same force that he was again.