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

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 32. Deron Williams

Fans of the era will remember that there was a time when many argued that Deron Williams was the best point guard in the NBA. An absolute master of the pick and roll, as well as a three-level scoring threat, Williams struck fear into the hearts of teams all around the Association.

Injuries added up to cost Williams the prime of his career, but the former Utah Jazz star was almost a foreshadowing example of what NBA point guards would one day accomplish.

Williams made the All-Star Game in three consecutive seasons between 2010 and 2012, and made the All-NBA Second Team in 2007-08. He also made the All-NBA Second Team in 2009-10. More importantly: He played in 90 games during the postseason and started 72 of them.

That includes a somewhat under-appreciated tenure with the Nets of Brooklyn and New Jersey, as he actually averaged 20.6 points and 8.4 assists during the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

Williams averaged upwards of 18.7 points and 10.3 assists in every year between 2007-08 and 2010-11. His biggest claim to a spot on this list was in the playoffs, however, as he was the best player on a Utah Jazz team that reached the 2007 Western Conference Finals.

During that monumental series, Williams averaged 25.8 points, 7.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game against Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs.

It was Utah’s first Conference Finals appearance since 1997-98, and is the franchise’s most recent trip there as of this article.

Williams also won two Olympic Gold Medals with Team USA, which certainly strengthens his case for the Hall of Fame. Not only did he win two significant titles, per se, but simply being a point guard on those stacked teams is evidence enough of how valued his talents were.

If health had permitted, Williams likely would’ve been well on his way to reaching Hall of Fame status.