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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) /
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NBA star Peja Stojakovic
INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES: Igor Rakocevic (L), Predrag Stojakovic (C) and Vladimir Radmanovic (R) of Yugoslavia holds up the Naismith trophy after beating Argentina 08 September, 2002 during the gold medal game of the 2002 Men’s FIBA World Basketball Championships at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Yugoslavia won the game 84-77. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 31. Peja Stojakovic

Peja Stojakovic joins a select few others from this list as players who would’ve been perfect fits in the modern era of NBA basketball. Ahead of his time as a 6’10” wing who could shoot the lights out, Stojakovic was a key component of a Sacramento Kings offensive system that helped revolutionize the sport.

Before Steve Nash and Mike D’Antoni did the same with the Phoenix Suns, the Kings turned offensive execution on its head and put the rest of the NBA on skates on a nightly basis.

Between 2000 and 2005, Stojakovic averaged 21.1 points per game on .472/.408/893 shooting with the Kings. That includes 2003-04, when he averaged 24.2 points per game, shot 43.3 percent from beyond the arc with 240 conversions, and ultimately earned All-NBA Second Team honors.

That was also one of three All-Star seasons for Stojakovic, who would prove to be one of the best players in a deep and downright legendary Western Conference.

Upon leaving the Kings, Stojakovic would continue to find success around the NBA. He helped Chris Paul and the then New Orleans Hornets end a three-year postseason drought.

He also stepped up with several crucial performances for the Dallas Mavericks in 2010-11, including 21-point performances against the Portland Trail Blazers in Round 1, and in the closeout game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Round 2.

Stojakovic won his championship as more of a role player than a star, but he amassed 63 starts in a postseason setting. He even started seven of 10 games when Sacramento reach the 2002 Western Conference Finals.

Throw in his Gold Medal at the 2002 FIBA World Cup, a run during which he led FR Yugoslavia to a massive upset of Team USA, and Stojakovic had a career to remember.