Pre-2019-20 Rank: #36, Pre-2020-21 Rank #33, Pre-2021-22 Rank: #19, Pre-2022-23 Rank: #16, Pre-2023-24 Season Rank #18.

*Peak Period: 2017-18 to 2023-24.

Rudy Gobert’s Hall of Fame case needed last season’s success badly.

The Center was traded from Utah to Minnesota for a ransom of First-Round Picks, and his first season with the Timberwolves was not successful. This changed last season when he added his sixth First Team All-Defensive Selection and fourth Defensive Player of the Year Award, and when you log that many defensive accolades, the Hall will take notice.

More importantly, Minnesota reached the Western Conference Final last year.  If the team, now unquestionably led by Anthony Edwards, wins it all with a strong showing by Gobert, it won’t matter what they gave up to get Gobert.  That should make him the second Frenchman behind Tony Parker to enter the Hall, that is, unless a specific player named Victor Wembanyama overtakes him and Gobert stalls.

Viva la France!

Pre-2019-20 Rank: #29, Pre-2020-21 Rank: #30, Pre-2021-22 Season Rank: #30, Pre-2022-23 Season Rank: #31, Pre-2023-24 Rank: #31.

Peak Period:  From 2012-13 to 2018-19.

The Peak Period of Jordan's career is long over; nevertheless, his advanced stats are much better than his lone All-Star Game Selection reflects.  Still, Jordan will need a lot of help for Springfield enshrinement, and it would have to come in the form of multiple titles, which was bolstered by winning his first title in 2022.  

There won’t be a lot more opportunities for Jordan going forward.

Pre-2019-20 Ran: #28. Pre-2020-21 Rank: #35, Pre-2021-22 Rank: #36, Pre-2022-23 Rank: #36, Pre-2023-24 Rank: #31.

Peak Period: From 2012-13 to 2018-19

The narrative on John Wall has taken a pounding over the last few years.  Wall lost the entire 2019-20 Season due to a torn ACL, and he was surprisingly traded to the Houston Rockets, where he was decent, but he sat out the year after.  He joined the Clippers in 2022-23, but all he did was cement that he is a shell of what was once the most exciting Point Guard in the NBA.  He has not played since, and may never again.

Pre-2019-20 Rank: #26, Pre-2020-21 Rank: #19, Pre-2021-22 Rank: #17, Pre-2022-23 Rank: #17, Pre-2023-24 Rank: #13.

*Positional Note:  Butler has played significant time over his career as a Shooting Guard and Power Forward.

*Peak Period: 2016-17 to 2022-23.

Jimmy Butler is a fascinating case for the Hall of Fame.  Known for his playoff and big-game performances, Butler has not yet won an NBA Title but has led his teams (especially Miami) closer than they deserved.  Butler is A six-time All-Star, a one-time Second Team, and four-time Third Team All-NBA Selection, but he has only finished in the top ten in MVP voting once.

If you consider Butler a bubble candidate, remember that his strength defensively (he is a five-time Second Team All-Defensive Selection) should increase his chances, but it feels like Butler needs a little more to get into the Hall in his first two years on the ballot.