Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: 50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame

By Maxwell Ogden

AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Piston celebrates with the fans after the Pistons defeated the Lakers 100-87 to win the 2004 NBA championship final, in Auburn Hills, MI, 15 June 2004. The Pistons won the best-of-seven NBA championship series 5-1 and Billups was the series MVP. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Piston celebrates with the fans after the Pistons defeated the Lakers 100-87 to win the 2004 NBA championship final, in Auburn Hills, MI, 15 June 2004. The Pistons won the best-of-seven NBA championship series 5-1 and Billups was the series MVP. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
14 of 51
Next
NBA star Latrell Sprewell
MINNEAPOLIS – APRIL 21: Latrell Sprewell #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Denver Nuggets on April 21, 2004 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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) /

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 38. Latrell Sprewell

Polarizing as he may have been, there’s no possible way to deny the tremendous talent that Latrell Sprewell possessed. Over the course of 13 seasons, Sprewell emerged as a dynamic scoring threat, a dominant on-ball defender, and a team leader in minutes played during a trip to the NBA Finals.

There were certainly highs and lows, but when Sprewell was on his game, there were few wings as imposing during the 1990s and early 2000s as Spree.

Sprewell made four All-Star Game appearances during his 13-year career, including an explosive season in 1996-97. He appeared in 80 of 82 games for the Golden State Warriors, averaging 24.2 points and 6.3 assists while shooting a commendable 35.4 percent from beyond the arc.

That was three seasons after he was named to the All-NBA First Team alongside Hall of Fame inductees John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon.

After a controversial 1997-98 campaign, Sprewell reestablished himself as a force to be reckoned with in 1998-99. He led the New York Knicks in minutes as they became the only eight-seed in Association history to reach the NBA Finals.

Throw in a Western Conference Finals appearance with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2003-04, and Sprewell proved that he played winning basketball with multiple franchises.

He could break down his opponent, finish with power or finesse at the rim, and play lockdown defense when the situation called for it.

The Hall of Fame may not be on the horizon for Sprewell, but he showed great perseverance as he overcame adversity to carve out a lengthy and successful career.