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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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Eight-time All-Star Larry Foust
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 7: Larry Foust #16 of the Fort Wayne Pistons shoots the ball against Paul Arizin #11 of the Philadelphia Warriors during Game Five of the NBA Finals on April 7, 1956 at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons 99-88 and won the series 4-1. Copyright 1956 NBAE (Photo by Charles T. Higgins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 26. Larry Foust

Larry Foust may actually be the most interesting case study amongst the players who are currently not in the Hall of Fame. Many have accolades and talent levels that suggest they should be in, but few managed to compile a résumé quite like Foust’s.

Actually, zero players outside of the Hall of Fame have a résumé quite like Foust’s.

The former Fort Wayne Pistons, Minneapolis Lakers, and St. Louis Hawks star made eight All-Star Game appearances during his 12-year NBA career. That’s the most of any player who is not in the Hall of Fame.

That alone is reason to discuss Foust as a potential omission, or at least a player who belongs on the list. The 1950s weren’t the most glamorous era in NBA history, but they were relatively star-studded with the likes of George Mikan, Bob Pettit, Bob Cousy, and Dolph Schayes putting together their Hall of Fame résumés.

The fact that Foust made eight All-Star Game appearances, as well as receiving two All-NBA nods with a First Team selection in 1954-55, certainly inserts him in the heart of this discussion.

Foust led the NBA in rebounding once and managed to amass a relatively significant amount of postseason success. He made six Division Finals appearances, the equivalent of the Conference Finals at that time.

He played a significant role on five of those teams, and added an impressive five NBA Finals appearances to his résumé, with a featured role in four of those instances.

Foust was one of the better big men of his generation, with quite a bit to show for his efforts. Whether or not you believe he should be a Hall of Fame, his place on this list is undeniable.