Robert Horry - Hall Of Fame?

[Fresh8]

This debate has come up time and time again. I was reading this and felt compelled to read all of your opinions!

I'm guessing what the guy wrote on the article pretty much sums it up so here it is:

ROBERT HORRY (16th year, Spurs/Lakers/Suns/Rockets)
7.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks per game

Why: The playoffs. “Big Shot Rob” has seven NBA championship rings, more than anyone in history who’s not affiliated with the Russell-era Celtics, and was a legit contributor for each and every one of those championships — two with Houston, three with L.A., and two with San Antonio. Horry has never not been on a playoff team his entire career, and his postseason averages trump his regular-season numbers across the board. Then there are those clutch shots for which Horry has become famous.

Why not: The regular season. Horry’s numbers are pedestrian, he doesn’t have any All-Star appearances, and the only individual accolade he’s achieved is an All-Rookie second team nod. He’s been a backup — and usually not even the 6th man — for most of his career, and his best statistical season (12 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.5 bpg) would be OK at best for anyone who would be considered a star.

Our call: OUT

For me, I can acknowledge that as an individual player, Horry has never shone as a star nor has he ver been in a position where he has been a star. I guess the main argument being made is that his rings and the many 'clutch' moments he has had, which have arguably helped him and his teams to win those rings, are a ticket to the Hall of Fame for him.

I don't think anyone has had nearly as 'storied' a career as Horry has had. But is that enough to get him into the Hall? It is stated that the Hall reserves a place for those individuals who have shown exceptional skill at basketball (or have been an all-time great coach, ref, contributor to the game). Stats-wise and individually, I don't thnik Horry has been 'exceptionally talented' when compared to his peers.

Thus, although it is a shame, I would say that Horry is a prodct of skill and a bit of luck - being on winning teams and yes, he has bailed those teams out of sticky situations but I don't think that warrants a place in the Hall of Fame.

I want him to be there but I don't think he deserves to be and doesn't fit the criteria as a Hall of Famer. Yet, I don't want people to forget his exploits and acheivements.

What do you guys think?

And an interesting additional question, if Horry and the Spurs won another title this year - Does Horry winning his 8th ring make you reconsider what you wrote for the question above? And does it make a difference whether he is instrumental in winning that 8th ring or if he is a total non-factor?

[Its_asdf]

The day Horry gets inducted into the hall of fame is the day that hell freezes over... He's had a few great shots, but that does not necessarily translate into him being a great player.

[Patr1ck]

Who sais the Hall of Fame is only for Superstar statistic collectors? This guy is famous because he hit's big shots with regularity. If anybody other then stat-stars deserve to get in, it's the best role players. I think Robert Horry is one of the best role players, which is why he has been on so many successful teams. I believe he should get in, and that it should change the criteria for Hall of Fame inductees.

[Fitzy]

so youd put horrys name up against the likes of jordan, bird and magic?

[Patr1ck]

They should feel lucky to have their names next to his.

[TheMC5]

Who sais the Hall of Fame is only for Superstar statistic collectors?

The people who vote on which players to induct, that's who.

[The X]

he should have his number retired by Alabama....apart from that, I would be surprised if he got his number retired by an pro team....he won't go to the Hall....you have to remember, it's a Basketball Hall of Fame, not an NBA Hall of Fame....if it was an NBA Hall of Fame, maybe he'd have a small chance, but in the Basketball Hall of Fame where Dominique Wilkins wasn't even 1st ballot HOF-er, then Horry has no chance....

just because Horry was lucky enough to play on superb teams his entire career (the only time he didn't was for the Suns & I think he threw a towel in the coach's face)....I believe that non-top players can & should make the Hall of Fame, but only if they have outstanding promotion of the sport....I don't think Robert Horry has, the same way that Drazen Petrovic & maybe even Vlade Divac did in their countries....

so my answer would be no....if it was an NBA ONLY Hall of Fame, then maybe....

[Patr1ck]

In all seriousness, he's not getting into the HOF(duh). He's had some great moments on the court in certain situations, but they won't be remembered like other players' entire careers. He's just one of the many guys who can hit the spot up open 3 after the team's superstar gets double teamed. Maybe he could get in the Hall of Fame if they inducted things that he accomplished to gain the name "Big Shot Rob" but not his actual self as a player.

[Axel]

Robert Horry will be inducted into the hall of fame alongside Antoine Walker.

[Andrew]

I don't think anyone has had nearly as 'storied' a career as Horry has had.

I wouldn't agree that Horry's career has been more "storied"; I wouldn't say his career would necessarily be more celebrated in history than great players who won fewer titles or no titles at all, so by definition it doesn't really qualify as being "storied". His seven titles is historically significant though and the fact he was a key player in the rotation on each of those teams bodes well for him.

However, it also works against him. For all his heroics, for the moment that earned him the Big Shot Rob/Bob monikers, he remains a key player in the rotation. There's always been at least two or three players ahead of him who were much more important to the team as far as winning the championship and getting them to the Finals in the first place. Horry is a fine player who has demonstrated his skill and willingness to play a supporting role throughout his career, but if not for the efforts of greater players it's likely he may never have had the opportunity for any heroics on a stage as grand as the NBA Finals.

I'd point to people like "Satch" Sanders who won eight titles with the Celtics (spending seven of them as a double digit scorer) and Steve Kerr, who of course hit the big shot in Game 6 of the 1997 Finals and was the first player to play on four consecutive championship teams since various Celtics in the 60s as similar cases of players who were important to championship winning teams and made their contributions, but ultimately won because they were part of a powerful unit, anchored by much more historically significant players.

[TheMC5]

As usual Andrew, your post was spot on. Even Tim Duncan said after one of the Spurs title victories (can't remember which one right now) that Horry coasts through the season and doesn't bother to show up until a big moment in a big game. Though Duncan's comments were somewhat tongue in cheek, they were also pretty much on point.

Additionally, and this certainly isn't the position I'm taking, but it is possible that Horry is just the luckiest player in NBA history. Is it skill or just dumb luck that he's had so many game winners and big shots in hugely important games? I certainly don't remember him ever pulling an Arenas and turning around and walking away before his potential game winner even dropped because he just knew the moment he released it that it was going in. So it's certainly possible that he's just a lucky SOB, whereas I don't think the same can be said of virtually every player in the hall, as to the best of my knowledge they exhibited consistent greatness for at least a few years. Horry has never been consistently great.

[Andrew]

I think you could say that, though I wouldn't go that far. I'd call him a good player who has been fortunate enough to find himself in great situations; in terms of both being on an elite team in the first place and playing alongside great players who have at times deferred to him at opportune moments. Nevertheless, the fact he's delivered at those times makes him a legit clutch performer, albeit not on the level of a Jordan, Bird, Miller or Kobe and as you noted he's not what you would call a consistently great player which is what one would expect a Hall of Fame player to be.

[TheMC5]

I agree. Like I said, I'm certainly not taking the position that it's all luck for Big Shot, but it is possible, albeit quite unlikely.

[Fresh8]

I wouldn't agree that Horry's career has been more "storied"; I wouldn't say his career would necessarily be more celebrated in history than great players who won fewer titles or no titles at all, so by definition it doesn't really qualify as being "storied".

That's my bad. I couldn't think of a better word. What I meant was that I don't think there have been many players who have had such moments as Horry has had in his career. I see you point that you argue though.

[Andrew]

That's fair enough and I suppose in a way you could say he's had a storied career because of those noteworthy moments, at least in comparison to a lot of role players but not compared to the all-time greats since their careers are by definition better described as being storied.