One of the longest lasting and most consistent power forwards of the 80's and 90's, Thorpe was a power player all the way.  He ran the court well and finished with emphasis with huge left handed monster jams, but he made his living banging in the paint.  A solid scorer, a terrific rebounder and one of the best low post defenders in the game, Thorpe almost defined the power forward position in his day.  More importantly, he also won.  Teaming with Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston, Thorpe would go on to win an NBA title.  Traded for Clyde Drexler after the season he wasn't there for the repeat but he did finish off a very solid and productive NBA career finishing with over 17,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.

The unfortunate mid career trade for Byron Scott that took Norm Nixon from the Lakers to the Clippers may have extremely hurt his chances of getting in the Hall.  The Lakers did not need another point guard with Magic Johnson around though they did peacefully coexist through two titles together.  Nixon is number ten all time in assists per game even though he shared the ball with Magic for a few years. He was also a Laker for two of their title runs which we all tend to forget.  In his first full year in San Diego he led the league in assists and made his second All-Star game.  A solid rest of his career in the oblivion of the NBA does not highlight one of the quickest and best all around point guards of the 80's.

One of the great point guards of the 90's, Kevin Johnson could both score and distribute the ball.  A very good player at the University of California, Johnson was drafted 7th by the Cavs in the 1987 draft.  Stuck behind Mark Price, the Cavs unloaded Johnson to the Suns in a huge trade that also involved Larry Nance coming back to Cleveland.  It is with Phoenix where Johnson made his impact.  Johnson was one of the quickest guards in league history and could get to the hoop at any time getting a shot for himself or one of his teammates.  He averaged 20 points and 10 assists in his first 3 seasons in Phoenix; something only two others have done (the others being HOFers Oscar Robertson and Isaiah Thomas).  The Suns were serious title contenders throughout the mid 90's especially when they made the move to get Charles Barkley form Philly.  Johnson gladly accepted the role of second fiddle to Barkley's huge personality.  Close title runs marked this team, with the closest being a trip to the finals against eventual champion Chicago in 1993.  Ironically that looks like what his legacy will be as far as getting into the Hall. Close but no cigar.  Now the mayor of Sacramento , Johnson is the leading advocate for keeping the Kings in town.

Glen Rice just maybe the most effective outside shooter of the 90's. Reggie Miller got all the hype but Rice was actually a better scorer and was a 6 foot 7 shooting guard who was almost impossible to defend.  He was the star and leading reason the Michigan Wolverines that won the 1989 title and he set a record for scoring of 184 points in the tournament that still stands today.  Drafted number 4 overall by the Heat following the 89 season, Rice became the expansion team’s first bonafide star.