Hoops Habit
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
35 of 51
Next
Portland Trail Blazers legend Terry Porter
AUBURN HILL, MI – CIRCA 1990: Terry Porter #30 of the Portland Trail Blazers calls out a play against the Detroit Pistons during an NBA basketball game circa 1990 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Porter played for the Trail Blazers from 1985-95. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 17. Terry Porter

There aren’t many players who have played 17 seasons in the NBA, let alone point guards who achieved such a feat. That’s something that Terry Porter can say he did, with an additional ranking of 30th all-time in career games played at an incredible 1,274.

Beyond sticking around for 17 seasons and 1,274 games, Porter was one of the most respected leaders and floor generals of his generation—and he helped multiple teams achieve a significant amount of success in that crucial role.

Porter made the All-Star Game in both 1990-91 and 1992-93, thus providing the accolades to support his general acclaim as a player and leader. He also had his No. 30 jersey retired by the Portland Trail Blazers.

That was earned by helping Portland experience its greatest success of the post-Walton era—contemporary teams included.

With 124 postseason games played and 90 starts, including 84 and 73 with the Trail Blazers, Porter played winning basketball for the entirety of his career. Seriously: Porter made the Playoffs in all but one season between 1985-86 and 2001-02.

It’s no coincidence that the lone exception, 1994-95, only occurred because he was injured.

Not to be confused with a player who was along for the ride, Porter averaged 19.9 points and 7.2 assists per playoff game on .496/.411/.840 shooting between 1987 and 1992. That includes trips to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.

Porter also averaged upwards of 20 points per game during the 1990 and 1992 NBA Playoffs. That includes marks of 19.0 points, 8.4 assists, and 2.0 steals per game during the 1990 NBA Finals and 16.2 points on 47.1 percent shooting in 1992.

He was second on the team in scoring in both series.

Porter was one of the best point guards no one talks about. Hopefully this article can contribute towards changing that.