Steve Kerr will be a Hall of Fame lock…but that is as a Coach.

…and he should be.

As a Head Coach, Kerr captained the Golden State Warriors to four NBA Championships, was a two-time Coach of the Year, and was named to the top 15 NBA Coaches in NBA History.  That places him in Hall of Fame air, but this list is about what you do as a player, and nobody understood his role better than Steve Kerr.

Kerr might be one of the greatest sharpshooters behind the arc of all time, and as of this writing, he holds the highest 3-point Field Goal Percentage ever, and in the right system, he was electric.  Luckily for Kerr, he found that often, aiding Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls win their second three-peat and the San Antonio Spurs capture their first two titles.  

Kerr’s high-end court vision, selfishness, and leadership made Kerr one of the most valuable teammates of the 1990s and early 2000s, and even though he was no superstar, he knew better than anyone how to work with them.

The Gronk.

Half football player/half frat boy but all phenomenal, Rob Gronkowski was a 2010 second-round pick from Arizona and was the perfect fit to help Tom Brady and Bill Belichick add a new chapter to their dynasty.

Gronkowski became an immediate fan favorite in New England and captured the attention of everyone throughout the NFL.  While other Tight Ends would generate more yardage than Gronkowski, they were not as large as Gronk, who used his size to become the best blocking Tight End of his era.  This added skill set made life easier for the Pats, as Gronk was often more physically intimidating than the defensive studs trying to get to Brady.

Despite his size, Gronkowski had sure hands.  Gronkowski rarely dropped a ball; once he had it, he was a load to take down.  Gronkowski amassed 7,861 Yards for the Pats over nine seasons but had 79 Touchdowns, showing how perfect he was for clutch and short-yardage situations.  The charismatic superstar helped New England win three Super Bowls and was a four-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection.  With nothing left to prove, Gronkowski retired in 2018, and two years later, he was named to the 2010s All-Decade and NFL 100^th Anniversary Team.

The lure of a new challenge brought Gronkowski out of retirement, and he joined Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.  It worked, and Gronkowski won another Super Bowl.  He retired for good after 2021 with 9,286 Yards and 92 Touchdowns.

Gronkowski is a lock to enter on his first attempt, and we can’t wait to see his acceptance speech!

Richard Jefferson may never have been an NBA All Star but it can certainly be argued that he was on the cusp of it in multiple seasons.  The best seasons of Jefferson’s career took place with the New Jersey Nets where twice he averaged over 22 Points per Game and another 19 PPG campaigns.  Later in his professional career as a reserve player with the Cleveland Cavaliers he would win a NBA Championship.

Playing his entire twelve-year career with the Chicago Bears, Lance Briggs was often in the shadow of teammate Brian Urlacher, but he was nevertheless a star in the National Football League. Briggs made seven consecutive Pro Bowls and had a versatile skill set, but his name is never mentioned in Canton circles.  It is more likely that the Hall will not advance him past the Preliminary stage.

Possibly the most intriguing possibility for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 is “Agent Zero”, Gilbert Arenas. For a three year stretch, Arenas was an All Star and averaged over 25 Points per Game with a PER over 20 in those three seasons. He was lights out behind the arc and earned three post season All-NBA nods (one Second Team and two Third Teams) and was the man in Washington. Sadly after a few controversial moments and a torn MCL, Arenas may have performed his way out of a Hall of Fame spot. We are very curious to see what support he receives for Springfield.