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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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Cleveland Cavaliers star Larry Nance
RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP, OH – CIRCA 1990: Larry Nance #6 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass the ball by Rick Mahorn #44 of the Philadelphia 76ers during an NBA basketball game circa 1990 at the Coliseum at Richfield in Richfield Township, Ohio. Nance played for the Cavaliers from 1988-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 20. Larry Nance

There are only 10 players in NBA history who have amassed at least 15,000 points, 7,000 rebounds, and 2,000 blocks. Nine of those 10 individuals are household names: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Robert Parish, and David Robinson.

The other player to achieve the feat is former Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers great Larry Nance—and he did so in just 12 seasons.

Nance was the complete package as far power forwards are concerned, combining elite defensive proficiency with impressive scoring instincts. He averaged double-figure scoring numbers during every season of his NBA career minus his rookie year, and poured in upwards of 20 points per game in each of his final two seasons with the Suns.

In terms of a 10-year peak, Nance averaged 18.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.0 steal per game on 54.9 percent shooting from the field between 1982-83 and 1992-93.

In addition to being one of the most productive big men in the regular season, Nance was a proven postseason performer. He appeared in 68 playoff games, reaching the Western Conference Finals with Phoenix in 1984 and the Eastern Conference Finals with Cleveland in 1992.

He was the defensive stalwart for both teams, as well as a solid scoring option at 16.9 and 18.0 points per game during the playoffs.

That includes the 15 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists that Nance recorded as Cleveland defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals. He was also second in scoring on the Cavaliers when they took Michael Jordan’s Bulls to six during the following series.

Nance, a three-time All-Star and three-time All-Defense selectee, may be the blueprint for shot-blocking forwards.