Hoops Habit
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NBA: 6 players on the bubble of Hall of Fame entry

By Luke Duffy

BOSTON - MAY 02: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics tries to keep Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls from passing the ball in bounds in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 2, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Bulls 109-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON - MAY 02: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics tries to keep Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls from passing the ball in bounds in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 2, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Bulls 109-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Naismith Hall of Fame
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4. Derrick Rose

It is a sad state of affairs that Derrick Rose is even on this list, or that his potential induction one day is seriously up for debate, but here we are. The pros bode very well for him, and being the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA is a great way to start. Before that devastating ACL injury in the 2012 playoffs, Rose was a generational talent.

The problem being, however, that his unfortunate knee injury occurred in his fourth season. That means that Rose as a franchise guy lasted three seasons really (although he did average 16.8 points and 6.3 assists as a rookie so have no problem if you want to include that first season too) before his body betrayed him.

As a result of this he only ever made three All-Star teams, but being the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year certainly helps his cause. Looking at the totals so far, and 11,185 points and 3,334 assists aren’t enough to get it done (perhaps this is outside influence speaking, but they say having 20,000 points and either 10,000 assists/rebounds depending on position is favorable).

Here is where the outlook for Rose gets better though. He is still only 31. Right now there are two things that could conceivably happen to get him into the hall, with one being much more likely than the other. Since leaving the Chicago Bulls, where he was a first overall pick, Rose has had stops with the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and is currently with the Detroit Pistons.

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His time in New York and Cleveland was sad and filled with lots more injury woe. But quietly, and away from the limelight, Rose started to get some of his old swagger back. He is in no way as explosive as he used to be. But with the Timberwolves, and especially now with the Pistons, he has turned himself into a solid point guard who occasionally shows flashes of the past.

Last year Rose averaged 18 points per game with the Timberwolves. With the Pistons it was 18.1 before the stoppage of games, and really he was one of the only good things about a team going nowhere. If he could somehow win the Sixth Man of the Year award, that would really help his case. Right now it looks possible too.

Actually winning a championship would seem a stretch, and won’t happen in his current situation, but with his personal numbers sure to rise a few notches before calling it a day, on top of the awards he already has and a sixth man gong, plus what he meant to the city of Chicago, the case for Rose is already actually quite strong.