NBA: 50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame

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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Walter Davis (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 11. Walter Davis

If you’re unfamiliar with Walter Davis, then I’d advise you to understand just how important he was to the Phoenix Suns organization. A 15-year NBA veteran who spent 11 seasons in Phoenix, Davis may very well be the gatekeeper for the Hall of Fame.

Accomplished in the regular season and postseason alike, Davis is right on the line of being a Hall of Famer—and is undoubtedly one of the best players in Suns history.

Davis began his career with a bang, winning Rookie of the Year in 1975-76 over future Hall of Famers Bernard King and Jack Sikma. He went on to make six All-Star Game appearances and secured All-NBA Second Team honors in both 1977-78 and 1978-79.

It’s worth noting once again that the All-NBA Third Team wasn’t introduced until 1988-89. There’s no way to guarantee this, but one is inclined to believe that Davis would’ve made quite a few appearances.

Nevertheless, he proved to be one of the best players and scorers of his generation while helping Phoenix achieve its greatest pre-Barkley success.

Davis was a featured player for the Suns teams that reached the Western Conference Finals in both 1979 and 1984. He scored upwards of 25 points in four of the seven games during the 1979 series, and looked like the best player on the floor during multiple games of the 1984 series against the Showtime Lakers.

Davis may not be a Hall of Famer, but he’s a Phoenix legend worth knowing.

Throw in the fact that Davis scored 19,521 career points, and it’s clear to see that he’s right on the line of being a Hall of Famer—and easily deserving of his placement on this list.