I've floated this out there a couple times this year, but now feels like the right time to make a post about it.

The resume isn't exceedingly special on paper:

4x All-Star (will be 5x this year)
2x All-NBA (would be shocked if not 3x this year)
no ring

But here's the crux of my argument: he's *already* a Top 70 scorer in NBA HISTORY. Right today. He's averaged over 20 points per game for his career (60th all-time in NBA PPG). I feel like that gets *significantly* slept on. He doesn't shoot 3s... yet he's one of the best scorers of the modern era. It's really incredible to think about.

He will end this season, if all continues the same, right around 50th in all-time NBA scoring, a 5x All-Star and a 3x All-NBA scorer. Currently at 50th? Bernard King. A 4x All-Star, 4x All-NBA scorer. Who's also a Hall of Famer.

I think if DeRozan continues this year as he's done and has *one* more All-Star/All-NBA season? He's a stone cold lock for the Hall. He'll almost certainly finish his career Top 40 in points scored in NBA history. Even if the Bulls don't win it all with DeRozan on board, a 6xASG, 4xAll-NBA, Top 40 scorer of all time? It's really really hard to argue that's not a Hall of Famer. There aren't any players in the Top 40 in career points scored who aren't in or going to be in the Hall of Fame.

And frankly, I think if he makes All-Star/All-NBA this year, he's already got an argument. 5xASG, 3xAll-NBA, Top ~50 scorer of all time? At bare minimum, he'll start being discussed as one of the great scorers in contemporary NBA history, and people will start talking about it more seriously.

Poll question: Will DeMar DeRozan be a Hall of Famer?

Poll result (13 votes) Yes (6 votes) Vote No (7 votes) Vote

Derozan is 32 years with about 4 more years left of elite ability, and he already
has 4-5 years of outstanding basketball play under his belt.

His career isn’t even close to being over, so this post is premature,
and he doesn’t need your co-sign. People have already acknowledged his greatness.

Go jump on another bandwagon.

Put the awful gimmick away for a day or two

The post is disrespectful. Dude just made NBA history, and this dude puts up
a thread questioning if he is a hall of famer.

There is no need to even put that out in the atmosphere to have that type of
discussion. Derozan is still in his prime.

You’re something else, my man.

He is not retired. That is what makes it disrespectful and unnecessary.

And it’s a poll, allowing people to come in and say that he is not worthy.

No need to create a debate, poll or whatever while Derozan is doing
unbelievable things in NBA right now.

Let that man continue to cook and allow him to continue to enjoy his prime,
then when it is actually ALL SAID AND DONE this type of discussion can
be had.

You have this type of discussion when a person is up for the Hall or
close to ending his career. It’s the same with baseball. Once a player
Is out of his prime and he is winding down, that’s when those questions pop
up.

Anything else is premature and creating unnecessary energy....

.

Being such a colossal idiot, buffoon, cornball, etc is one thing when it's just some dumb message board gimmick. It's another when it’s just who you are.

I will never stoop to your level.

I questioned and denounced the purpose of Frank’s thread, not
Frank himself.

Your words seem to be an expression of yourself.

Take care.

and less than 500 points from top 40.

DeRozan is 32 years old, his current Basketball-Ref HOF probability is 7%

Ain't gonna happen, captain.

You don’t think DeRozan can have one more season like this one next year? Because if so, 6 ASGs and 4 All-NBAs?

I definitely think it can happen.

Like the scoring tear he'd been on.
Before he got COVID and after.
But then these last two games he really struggled,
and I was like, "This is him coming back to earth."

But then the buzzer beaters. *shrug*

Part of me agrees with you that he could have one more season like this.
Like, both him and Harden's game, the ol' man game, can last.

Several years ago, analytics suggested that the mid-range 2 was an inferior shot, because it’s a harder shot to convert into points per possession— it doesn’t draw many fouls, it doesn’t earn as many points as a 3, it’s less likely to go in or draw a foul than something at the rim. So most teams went all in on this. And stars of all sizes started taking more 3s— even guys who are strong at the mid-range, like Durant, Embiid, George, etc, saw their 3PAs spike 3 to 5 seasons ago.

But that obviously doesn’t apply to DeRozan, yet DeRozan’s offense the last six to seven seasons has clearly converted into wins. He’s a positive win share player, positive BPM player, positive VORP player, but his style suggests through an older school of thought that he would *not* contribute to winning basketball.

Now analytics sees the value of teams having *a player or two* that are mid-range specialists. The majority of the players in the NBA have no business shooting mid-rangers, it’s true… but over the last several seasons, the benefit to having a star that can pull up and hit off-the-bounce long 2s is evident. More open looks for players beyond the perimeter and in the dunker spot— assuming your mid-range specialist converts at a high enough rate that he merits defensive attention on the long 2 pull-up. It’s not a coincidence that most of the best players and best teams have at least a guy who can and do shoot that with regularity. Last year we had Khris Middleton, Chris Paul, and Devin Booker, three of the 10 best mid-range shooters in the NBA imo, in the Finals. And Jokic, one of the best mid-range shooters in recent NBA history, won MVP.

I know some people might read this and think “wow, the most winning players in the league can make shots from anywhere. News at 11.” And, y’know, fair enough, lol. But when Steph and the Warriors won, nearly every major player started saying “I’m gonna shoot more 3s and fewer mid-range 2s.” That’s undeniable. These guys are now increasingly willing to shoot mid-range, cuz they’re great at it, but they were leaning into the 3-pointer a few years back with increased frequency.

And really, the *only* player who never really succumbed to that was DeRozan. And his efficiency just kept improving. And now analytics understands better the value of mid-range basketball. And okay, it’s obviously not *just* through DeRozan that people better understood a midrange shooter’s analytical value, and my subject line is a little clickbait admittedly, but he’s the poster child for the movement. I think that deserves a good deal of credit.

>Now analytics sees the value of teams having *a player or two*
>that are mid-range specialists. The majority of the players in
>the NBA have no business shooting mid-rangers, it’s true…
>but over the last several seasons, the benefit to having a
>star that can pull up and hit off-the-bounce long 2s is
>evident.

Also, I think most teams are still worried about defending the 3.
When you have LaVine, Vucevic, Ball and White on the perimeter,
it opens up the paint in ways that makes it almost automatic for DeRozan to work.
Like, once he gets in there it's pretty much a wrap.

Even as a perennial allstar who we knew could score and dunk, he didn't look like HOF material.

If DeRozan plays at this level for another 2-3 years, I think he's a lock.

I don’t think if he retires today, and I don’t think he’s as clear cut as Bosh or someone like that…but I think he’ll get in based on trajectory. Aside from this year (which is probably another 1-2 ASGs and 1 more all nba team). At that point? Top 10-15% NBA career or so? Seems HOF to me.

I dunno, he's way better than Kukoc

I have a feeling he gets in* edit if he gets a ring.

otherwise its debateable



>I've floated this out there a couple times this year, but now
>feels like the right time to make a post about it.
>
>The resume isn't exceedingly special on paper:
>
>4x All-Star (will be 5x this year)
>2x All-NBA (would be shocked if not 3x this year)
>no ring
>
>But here's the crux of my argument: he's *already* a Top 70
>scorer in NBA HISTORY. Right today. He's averaged over 20
>points per game for his career (60th all-time in NBA PPG). I
>feel like that gets *significantly* slept on. He doesn't shoot
>3s... yet he's one of the best scorers of the modern era. It's
>really incredible to think about.
>
>He will end this season, if all continues the same, right
>around 50th in all-time NBA scoring, a 5x All-Star and a 3x
>All-NBA scorer. Currently at 50th? Bernard King. A 4x
>All-Star, 4x All-NBA scorer. Who's also a Hall of Famer.
>
>I think if DeRozan continues this year as he's done and has
>*one* more All-Star/All-NBA season? He's a stone cold lock for
>the Hall. He'll almost certainly finish his career Top 40 in
>points scored in NBA history. Even if the Bulls don't win it
>all with DeRozan on board, a 6xASG, 4xAll-NBA, Top 40 scorer
>of all time? It's really really hard to argue that's not a
>Hall of Famer. There aren't any players in the Top 40 in
>career points scored who aren't in or going to be in the Hall
>of Fame.
>
>And frankly, I think if he makes All-Star/All-NBA this year,
>he's already got an argument. 5xASG, 3xAll-NBA, Top ~50 scorer
>of all time? At bare minimum, he'll start being discussed as
>one of the great scorers in contemporary NBA history, and
>people will start talking about it more seriously.

I’d say YES, he’ll probably make the HOF. There’s precedent for a guy like him to get in. He won’t be a 1st ballot guy, but he’ll probably make it if he has 1-2 more seasons playing like he has these past several seasons.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDUAdwGWEAQIg8Y?format=jpg&name=900x900

*Eating Popcorn*

IMO we're leaning too heavily on career counting stats (which has always felt more like a baseball thing, but then again Kareem & the scoring title are partly bc of his longevity).

i'd look at things like All-NBA first & second teams, MVPs, & playoff success over all star.