So in a world without Stockton, does Mark Jackson make the Hall for holding the record for all time assists for 5 years? In a sports world focused on stats, assists is a pretty big deal, not as big as points obviously, but in the next tier with rebounds, and above steals and blocks.
Even in this hypothetical world without Stockton, I don't think Jackson should be in, but it's tough to wrap my head around it, having a guy be an all time leader (in a major stat!) and not be in the HoF. Ha, way too much time spent thinking about this hypothetical.
I was thinking to myself, was there any season that Mark Jackson was a top 10 PG?
He was close a number of years. I'd have to check but I expect I would have him just outside the top 10 when he was at Indy and LAC. His peak years.
Maybe his 2nd year in NYC when he made the All-Star Game ... just 1 season out of a 17 year career?
It was so strange to see him go from that career year to having his playing time slashed over the next few years because the coaches all wanted defensive guards instead of a passer like Mark. He didn't get back to peak form until he left NYC for the Clippers. Man, that team was fun with him and Danny Manning. Ron Harper too.
Aww, it would be tough to put him in the HoF. And yet those career totals are persuasive. It would be hard to pass on a guy who was the All Time assist leader. I like it. Great hypothetical.
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If Mark Eaton was the All-Time Blocked Shots leader, I may have voted for him to be in the HoF. That would be tough to overlook. And like you said, assists is much more important category to most people than blocks are. Points, then assists & rebounds, then steals & blocks. Eaton does have some DPOYs though.
Maybe Manute Bol would be a better comparison for Mark Jackson. Would I vote for Manute Bol to be in the HoF if he was the All Time Leader in Blocks? Heck no!!!
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It would be interesting to know if there are some people pushing for Mark Jackson for the HoF. I wouldn't be shocked if there was. Might be a small following. But those career numbers are compelling and a lot of people loved watching him play.
A lot of Knicks fans still love Mark Jackson are, to this day, angry that Riley traded him away. That believe they would have beaten the Bulls in 1993 if they had of kept Mark Jackson and X-Man instead of going with Doc & Charles Smith. And Knicks fans are .... there are a lot of Knicks fans. NYC is a big place.
Steals is where it's interesting, because Mo Cheeks retired in '93 with the steal record and held it for 2 1/2 years until broken by Stockton, and he wasn't elected to the HoF until 2018, but also had a much better resume, but steals is also a lesser stat, IMO.
Side note
Mo Cheeks was both #1 in steals and Top 5 in assists when he retired. I love that guy. One of my favourite players of the 80s. He is to my mind the prototypical PG. How you want your PG to play. Tough D. Set up the team. Keep everyone involved. Be a leader. Score a bit when you need to. Hit open shots. Get easy transition hoops.
Other folks see Stockton as the prototypical but I think he was too much of a freak. Of an outlier. For other guys to copy / imitate / replicate. Mo Cheeks is the model for me of what a PG should be. Of what young PGs should look to. With Mike Conley being this generation's Mo Cheeks.
I was happy when Mo Cheeks got to the HoF. Long overdue.
