The List of Greatness - 1974

1974's inductee is somebody who probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone who's been following the last few posts: he's been in the "on deck" circle the last two years but kept getting jumped. But if you haven't, here's a hint: it's someone who's probably underrated by quite a bit, and it's someone I share a name with. (Well, kind of. His last name is my first name. And it's merely a coincidence, not like I was named after him or anything. But it's still there.)


1. Jerry Lucas - 221.6
Position: Forward-Center
Height: 6'8"
College: Ohio State
Draft: 1962 - territorial selection
Experience: 11 years
Teams: Cincinnati Royals - 1964-1970 (#16), San Francisco Warriors - 1970-1971 (#47 - 1970, #32 - 1970-1971), New York Knicks - 1972-1974 (#32)
98.4 Win Shares, 0.027 MVP Award Shares, 3 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 2 All-NBA 2nd Team Selections, 7 All-Star Selections, 1 Championship (1973 Knicks), 1.0 Championship Win Shares, 1 Finals Loss (1972 Knicks), 2.4 Finals Win Shares, 2 Conference Finals Losses (1964 Royals, 1974 Knicks), 0.2 Conference Finals Win Shares


Here's my biggest question about Jerry Lucas? Why haven't any of the teams he played for retired his jersey? I had kind of assumed the Knicks already had, but his #32 is currently being worn by Renaldo Balkman... They had kept it out of circulation from 1974-1991, but then broke it out at the request of... Jerrod Mustaf? Really? Alright... And after that it's been worn by such luminaries as Xavier McDaniel, Herb Williams, Othella Harrington, and Antonio Davis. So, I guess the Knicks are sending a nice "screw your legacy, Jerry," message to the man for whatever reason. Now, I'm pretty sure the Knicks have a policy of only retiring jerseys of Hall of Fame inductees (as do the Lakers, which is why you won't see Shaq's jersey up there until 2016). I believe that's the main reason Bernard King's #30 isn't up there. But Jerry Lucas is in the Hall of Fame... And they retired Ewing's jersey before he was enshrined. So who knows? Maybe the Knicks also have a years with the team requirement for that, too. since Lucas only played in New York for three seasons.


What about the Warriors? Well, who the hell knows how the Warriors operate their jersey retirement decisions... Here's the jersey's they have retired: Wilt Chamberlain's #13, Tom Meschery's #14, Al Attles's #16, Rick Barry's #24, and Nate Thurmond's #42. Here's some they haven't: Neil Johnston's #6, Andy Phillip's #7, Joe Fulks's #10, Paul Arizin's #11, Tom Gola's #15, and Chris Mullin's #17. All Hall of Famers who spent a good chunk of their careers with the Warriors. And you can throw in Robert Parish's #00 if you want. But Lucas was only there for a two seasons, so, fine, he's about sixth on the list of "jerseys the numbers have gone way too long without retiring."


And finally, the Royals/Kings. Lucas spent half of his career with them. Six years, six All-Star selections, three All-NBA 1st Team selections, and two All-NBA 2nd Team selections. I'd retire the jersey of a man with that kind of resume for my team in a heartbeat. Yeah, he never won a title with them, but look at the list of guys who the Kings have retired jersey's for: Tiny Archibald (#1), Mitch Richmond (#2), Chris Webber (#4), Bob Davies (#11), Maurice Stokes (#12), Oscar Robertson (#14), Vlade Divac (#21), Jack Twyman (#27), and Sam Lacey (#44). How many of those guys won titles with the team? One. Bob Davies. In 1951. Get on it, Kings. You too, Knicks.


And the rest of the top ten:
2. Rick Barry - 184.0
Position: Forward
Height: 6'7"
College: Miami
Draft: 1965 - 2nd pick
Experience: 4 years/4 ABA years
Teams: San Francisco Warriors - 1966-1967 (#24), Oakland Oaks - 1969 (#24), Washington Capitols - 1970 (#24), New York Nets - 1971-1972 (#24), Golden State Warriors - 1973-1974 (#24)
45.4 Win Shares, 0.111 MVP Award Shares, 3 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 4 All-Star Selections, 0 Championships, 0.0 Championship Win Shares, 1 Finals Loss (1967 Warriors), 1.6 Finals Win Shares, 1 Conference Finals Loss (1973 Warriors), 0.5 Conference Finals Win Shares
35.5 ABA Win Shares, 4 All-ABA 1st Team Selections, 4 ABA All-Star Selections, 1 ABA Finals Loss (1972 Nets), 2.7 ABA Conference Finals Win Shares


3. Cliff Hagan - 183.3
Position: Forward-Guard
Height: 6'4"
College: Kentucky
Draft: 1953 - 24th pick
Experience: 10 years/3 ABA years (retired 8 years/4 years from ABA)
Teams: St. Louis Hawks - 1957-1966 (#6 - 1957, #17 - 1957, #16 - 1958-1966), Dallas Chaparrals - 1968-1970 (#16)
75.1 Win Shares, 0.043 MVP Award Shares, 0 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 2 All-NBA 2nd team Selections, 5 All-Star Selections, 1 Championship (1958 Hawks), 2.7 Championship Win Shares, 3 Finals Losses (1957 Hawks, 1960 Hawks, 1961 Hawks), 3.9 Finals Win Shares, 4 Conference Finals Losses (1959 Hawks, 1963 Hawks, 1964 Hawks, 1966 Hawks), 3.8 Conference Finals Win Shares
10.2 ABA Win Shares, 1 ABA All-Star Selection


4. Chet Walker - 175.3
Position: Forward-Guard
Height: 6'6"
College: Bradley
Draft: 1962 - 12th pick
Experience: 12 years
Teams: Syracuse Nationals - 1963 (#25), Philadelphia 76ers - 1964-1969 (#25), Chicago Bulls - 1970-1974 (#25)
107.0 Win Shares, 0.000 MVP Award Shares, 0 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 0 All-NBA 2nd Team Selections, 7 All-Star Selections, 1 Championship (1967 76ers), 2.3 Championship Win Shares, 0 Finals Losses, 0.0 Finals Win Shares, 4 Conference Finals Losses (1965 76ers, 1966 76ers, 1968 76ers, 1974 Bulls), 4.1 Conference Finals Win Shares


5. Billy Cunningham - 168.9
Position: Forward-Center
Height: 6'6"
College: North Carolina
Draft: 1965 - 5th pick
Experience: 7 years/2 ABA years
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers - 1966-1972 (#32), Carolina Cougars - 1973-1974 (#32)
55.8 Win Shares, 0.288 MVP Award Shares, 3 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 4 All-Star Selections, 1 Championship, 0.4 Championship Win Shares, 0 Finals Losses, 0.0 Finals Win Shares, 2 Conference Finals Losses, 0.4 Conference Finals Win Shares
15.4 ABA Win Shares, 1 ABA MVP (1973), 1 All-ABA 1st Team Selection, 1 ABA All-Star Selection, 1 ABA Conference Finals Loss (1973 Cougars), 1.7 ABA Conference Finals Win Shares


6. Larry Foust - 160.1
Position: Center-Forward
Height: 6'9"
College: La Salle
Draft: 1950 - 5th pick
Experience: 12 years (retired 12 years)
Teams: Fort Wayne Pistons - 1951-1957 (#16), Minneapolis Lakers - 1958-1960 (#14), St. Louis Hawks - 1960-1962 (#13 - 1960-1961, #14 - 1962)
69.8 Win Shares, 0.000 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 1st Team Selection, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 8 All-Star Selections, 0 Championships, 0.0 Championship Win Shares, 5 Finals Losses (1955 Pistons, 1956 Pistons, 1959 Lakers, 1960 Hawks, 1961 Hawks), 3.6 Finals Win Shares, 1 Conference Finals Loss (1953 Pistons), 1.1 Conference Finals Win Shares


7. Walt Bellamy - 156.3
Position: Center
Height: 6'11"
College: Indiana
Draft: 1961 - 1st pick
Experience: 13 years
Teams: Chicago Packers - 1962 (#8), Chicago Zephyrs - 1963 (#8), Baltimore Bullets - 1964-1966 (#8), New York Knicks - 1966-1969 (#8), Detroit Pistons - 1969-1970 (#8), Atlanta Hawks - 1970-1974 (#8)
130.2 Win Shares, 0.002 MVP Award Shares, 0 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 0 All-NBA 2nd Team Selections, 4 All-Star Selections, 0 Championships, 0.0 Championship Win Shares, 0 Finals Losses, 0.0 Finals Win Shares, 2 Conference Finals Losses (1965 Bullets, 1970 Hawks), 2.4 Conference Finals Win Shares


8. Lenny Wilkens - 156.2
Position: Guard
Height: 6'1"
College: Providence
Draft: 1960 - 6th pick
Experience: 14 years
Teams: St. Louis Hawks - 1961-1968 (#32 - 1961, #15 - 1962, #32 - 1963, #14 - 1964-1968), Seattle SuperSonics - 1969-1972 (#19), Cleveland Cavaliers - 1973-1974 (#19)
92.9 Win Shares, 0.323 MVP Award Shares, 0 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 0 All-NBA 2nd Team Selections, 9 All-Star Selections, 0 Championships, 0.0 Championship Win Shares, 1 Finals Loss (1961 Hawks), 0.5 Finals Win Shares, 4 Conference Finals Losses (1963 Hawks, 1964 Hawks, 1966 Hawks, 1967 Hawks), 3.1 Conference Finals Win Shares


9. George Yardley - 145.1
Position: Forward-Guard
Height: 6'5"
College: Stanford
Draft: 1950 - 7th pick
Experience: 7 years (retired 14 years)
Teams: Fort Wayne Pistons - 1954-1957 (#12), Detroit Pistons - 1958-1959 (#12), Syracuse Nationals - 1959-1960 (#12)
58.5 Win Shares, 0.382 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 1st Team Selection, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 6 All-Star Selections, 0 Championships, 0.0 Championship Win Shares, 2 Finals Losses (1955 Pistons, 1956 Pistons), 3.3 Finals Win Shares, 2 Conference Finals Losses (1958 Pistons, 1959 Nationals), 2.2 Conference Finals Win Shares


10. Dave DeBusschere - 141.4
Position: Forward-Guard
Height: 6'6"
College: Detroit
Draft: 1962 - territorial selection
Experience: 12 years
Teams: Detroit Pistons - 1963-1969 (#22), New York Knicks - 1969-1974 (#22)
60.8 Win Shares, 0.013 MVP Award Shares, 0 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 8 All-Star Selections, 2 Championships (1970 Knicks, 1973 Knicks), 2.1 Championship Win Shares, 1 Finals Loss (1972 Knicks), 1.3 Finals Win Shares, 3 Conference Finals Losses (1969 Knicks, 1971 Knicks, 1974 Knicks), 1.1 Conference Finals Win Shares


And the 28 Greatest Players Ever after 28 years:
(Inducted List of Greatness members in bold)
1. Bill Russell - 739.6
2. Wilt Chamberlain - 712.6
3. Jerry West - 584.6
4. Oscar Robertson - 511.2
5. Bob Pettit - 468.2
6. Dolph Schayes - 431.8
7. Elgin Baylor - 416.2
8. Bob Cousy - 406.2
9. John Havlicek - 394.2
10. George Mikan - 380.0
11. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 339.8
12. Sam Jones - 283.0
13. Bill Sharman - 278.7
14. Walt Frazier - 268.2
15. Paul Arizin - 258.2
16. Hal Greer - 251.9
17. Willis Reed - 234.5
18. Vern Mikkelsen - 225.8
19. Jerry Lucas - 221.6
20. Tom Heinsohn - 217.8
21. Neil Johnston - 209.8
22. Ed Macauley - 204.7
23. Bailey Howell - 200.7
24. Rick Barry - 184.0
25. Cliff Hagan - 183.3
26. Slater Martin - 178.9
27. Chet Walker - 175.3
28. Billy Cunningham - 168.9


And the next tier:
29. Larry Foust - 160.1
30. Harry Gallatin - 159.0
31. Walt Bellamy - 156.3
32. Lenny Wilkens - 156.2
33. Jim Pollard - 154.2
34. Bobby Wanzer - 151.4
35. Bob Davies - 150.7
36. George Yardley - 145.1
37. Dave DeBusschere - 141.4
38. Richie Guerin - 138.0
39. Max Zaslofsky - 134.9
40. Jack Twyman - 131.7
41. Zelmo Beaty - 131.3
42. Connie Hawkins - 130.6
43. Nate Thurmond - 129.1
44. Gail Goodrich - 126.8
45. Joe Fulks - 126.7
46. Dave Bing - 124.3
47. Arnie Risen - 120.0
48. Clyde Lovellette - 119.2
49. Mel Daniels - 117.6
50. Wes Unseld - 116.7
51. Spencer Haywood - 115.9
52. Carl Braun - 114.8
53. Andy Phillip - 114.6
54. Larry Costello - 110.6
55. Lou Hudson - 110.5
56. Dick McGuire - 110.1