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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 legend Larry Costello
SYRACUSE, NY- 1962: Larry Costello #21 of the Syracuse Nationals shoots against Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia Warriors circa 1962 at the Onondaga War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York. Copyright 1962 NBAE (Photo by The Stevenson Collection/NBAE via Getty Images) /

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 27. Larry Costello

There aren’t many players who have a résumé like that of Larry Costello. Most who do are in the Hall of Fame. A 14-year veteran who won championships as both a player and a head coach, Costello is one of the players who seems to represent the thin line between a great player and a Hall of Famer.

Nevertheless, Costello deserves mention and praise for being one of the great guards of his era, as well as an individual who helped three legends capture championships.

Costello was a six-time All-Star and a one-time All-NBA Second Team honoree. That puts him square in the discussion of Hall of Fame or otherwise. He also helped Wilt Chamberlain win his first NBA title in 1966-67, albeit as a veteran leader rather than a featured contributor.

Costello also helped Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson win their first titles in 1970-71, this time as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

As far as his playing career is concerned, Costello’s six All-Star Game appearances are actually the second-most of any eligible player who isn’t currently in the Hall of Fame. That trails only Larry Foust at eight.

He also made three Eastern Division Finals with the Syracuse Nationals and Philadelphia 76ers. While the Hall of Fame is about individual play, team success matters—especially as a point guard.

Costello may not reach the Hall of Fame, but he deserves praise as one of the best players who sit on the outside looking in. Six All-Star Game appearances prove it.

If nothing else, there’s certainly a case to be made for Costello deserving to make it as a head coach.