One of the greatest goaltenders of hockey’s early era, Charlie Gardiner’s greatness was curtailed at the age of 29 by a brain hemorrhage that took him away only weeks after his greatest triumph.

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.

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?

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.