Sidney Moncrief has the single most intriguing Hall of Fame case in NBA history. I’m not one to speak in hyperbole, so understand that I say this with genuine, fact-based belief.
Moncrief’s star-caliber play lasted a grand total of five seasons. In those five years, he was one of the best players on the planet and became one of the greatest two-way guards ever.
Longevity is a factor in almost all cases, but Moncrief deserves to be an exception; he deserves to make the Hall of Fame.
Quite frankly, it’s a shame that he hasn’t already.
For those unfamiliar, Moncrief spent 10 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and one with the Atlanta Hawks. His career averages won’t blow you away at 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals, but his case is bigger than numbers.
From 1981 to 1986, Moncrief was one of the genuinely elite.
Postseason Success
Individual success on Sidney Moncrief’s level is often recognized with a trip to the Hall of Fame. What often guarantees a spot amongst the elite, however, is coupling individual greatness with deep runs in the playoffs.
Moncrief never won a championship, but he made three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals with the Milwaukee Bucks.
In 1982-83, Moncrief led the Bucks to a sweep of the Larry Bird and Robert Parish-led Boston Celtics. The following season, Moncrief was the star of a Bucks team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals.
In 1984-85, he and the Bucks defeated Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. He outscored Jordan in Game 1 and averaged 26.5 points while also serving as the lead perimeter defender.
In 1985-86, Milwaukee made one last trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. That run included a series win over the Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Charles Barkley and Maurice Cheeks-led Philadelphia 76ers.
Milwaukee went 1-3 in that series when Moncrief was absent with a heel injury and 3-0 when he was active.
Between he and Terry Cummings, Milwaukee had one of the better—albeit briefly successful—1-2 punches in NBA history. What separates Moncief and makes him a Hall of Famer is what he did individually.
In five seasons, Moncrief achieved as much as many stars have in 10.
The Resume
From 1981 to 1986, Sidney Moncrief displayed elite balance as a guard. He was a high-caliber scorer, a quality facilitator and one of the very best perimeter defenders in NBA history.
The accolades speak for themselves.
Moncrief was a five-time All-NBA honoree with one First Team and four Second Team nods. The only guards consistently held in higher regard than he were Hall of floor generals Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas.
Moncrief was a five-time All-Defensive Team selection, with four First Team and one Second Team selection. As a player who didn’t record the highest number of steals, this was a testament to his genuine dominance as a defender.
The icing on the cake: Moncrief was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He’s the only perimeter player in NBA history to receive the award on multiple occasions.
Throw in five All-Star Game selections and Moncrief has a resume that includes recognition as one of the league’s elite players, a pair of prestigious awards and recognition as one of the greatest defenders ever.
It’s the most unconventional of realistic cases, but Moncrief deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Next: Could the next Sidney Moncrief be found in the 2015 NBA Draft?
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