shakes wrote:
veganfan21 wrote:
I'm a huge Toni guy and even I think this is crazy. I think he's getting in based on his cumulative achievements across the NBA and European leagues. Even so, there must be a special designation for people who aren't getting in just on the merits of their achievements in the NBA. Maybe there is. I know it's not the NBA HOF - it's the basketball HOF - but still the presence of guys like Kukoc and others degrade the distinction one receives when being admitted to the HOF. The best I could say about him was that he was a fringe all star when he played in the league.
you sure you know that? From the bolded it sounds like you don't realize it's not the NBA HOF.
Kukoc is one of the most decorated Euro's of all time. Below are his accomplishments. The bolded are all significant from a HOF perspective. Kukoc obviously belongs in the HOF, it's really not even debatable. Should've been picked already.
3× NBA champion (1996–1998)NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1996)NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1994)
FIBA World Championship MVP (1990)FIBA EuroBasket MVP (1991)FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991)5× Euroscar Player of the Year (1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998)
4× Mister Europa Player of the Year (1990–1992, 1996)
3× EuroLeague champion (1989–1991)
3× EuroLeague Final Four MVP (1990, 1991, 1993)
EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer (1990)
FIBA European Selection (1991)
50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors (2008)Italian League champion (1992)
Italian Cup winner (1993)
4× Yugoslav League champion (1988–1991)
2× Yugoslav Cup winner (1990, 1991)
3× Croatian Sportsman of the Year (1989–1991)
Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport (1992)
FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP (1987)Then shouldn't this guy be in?
FIBA Club World Cup champion (1986)
FIBA European League champion (1995)
3× USSR League champion (1985–1987)
2× ACB League champion (1993, 1994)
LKL champion (2004)
Spanish Cup winner (1993)
FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991)
50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors (2008)
6× Euroscar Player of the Year (1984, 1985, 1988, 1995, 1997, 1999)
2× Mr. Europa Player of the Year (1985, 1997)
4× Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year (1984–1986, 1996)
EuroBasket MVP (1985)
FIBA European League Final Four MVP (1995)
EuroLeague Regular Season MVP (2004)
EuroLeague Top 16 MVP (2004)
All-EuroLeague First Team (2004)
2× Spanish League Finals MVP (1993, 1994)
2× Spanish League MVP (1994, 1995)
2× Spanish All-Star Game MVP (1991, 1992)
2× EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer (1986, 1995)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1996)
No. 11 retired by Žalgiris Kaunas
EDIT: He is in. But he was a far greater player internationally than Kukoc.