2026 HOF class Doc Rivers and Amare Stoudemire

[Who]

Kevin Johnson was phenomenal.

He doesn't get enough credit for how well he played in the 1988-92 stretch prior to Barkley joining. That was KJ's peak. Then he had a strong second stage of his career from 1993-97 run alongside Barkley and after Barkley.

1988-92

KJ is one of just three PGs to average 20-10 for three straight seasons (Oscar Robertson & Zeke are the other 2). And missed just by hair of doing a 4th time (19.7ppg). Oscar is the only PG to this 4 straight years.

KJ was super efficient. He used to get to the FT line 7-8 times a game against his 14-15 FGAs to put up TS% around 58-60%. Fantastic for that period especially for a small guard.

He finished on the 2nd Team All-NBA 3 times during this period and 3rd Team once. Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan were the 1st Team guards - The two best players in the league at the time. There was also Drexler at guard along with strong PG competition with Zeke, Mark Price, and Tim Hardaway.

1988-1992 Playoff Run

His playoff resume is sensational.

1989 - 30.7ppg 13apg vs Nuggets WCR1
1989 - 20ppg 11.4apg vs Warriors WCSF
1989 - 23.3ppg 12.8apg vs Lakers WCF (Magic)

1990 - 19.8ppg 9.2apg vs Jazz WCR1 (Stockton)
1990 - 22ppg 11.2apg vs Lakers WCSF (Magic)
1990 - 21.8ppg 11.3apg vs Blazers WCF

1991 - 12.8ppg 9.8apg vs Jazz WCR1 (Stockton)

1992 - 22.3ppg 15.7apg vs Spurs WCR1
1992 - 24.4ppg 9.2apg vs Blazers WCSF

KJ had only one bad series in 4 years. He was one of the most dominant playoff performers of this period. He dueled twice with Magic Johnson and got a 1-1 split. Both players played brilliantly in both series. Many felt KJ outplayed him in the 2nd one because KJ was one who made all the clutch plays down the stretch to lead his team to a 4-1 victory over Magic's 63 win #1 seed Lakers.

KJ went head to head with Stockton twice. Again splitting 1-1. He had his only bad series of the four years in their 2nd meeting. Stockton vastly outplaying him. In the first one, it is commonly viewed that KJ outplayed Stockton but I am not sure. They were more different than anything. KJ was the better one-on-one player where everything revolved around him (20ppg 9apg) while Stockton was the chief conductor overseeing everything (15ppg 15apg). Neither guy shot the ball that well. Again, KJ made the clutch plays when it mattered.

KJ played those great Blazers teams who made the Finals both years losing to DET and CHI. KJ was the best player on the floor in the first series. Not Drexler. If not for a late injury at the end of the final game, PHO may have won that series. In 1992, both players played great with Drexler getting the nod ahead of KJ after putting up a dominant 31ppg 8rpg 7apg 57% TS% performance. KJ was fantastic in his own right with 24ppg 9.2pg 59% TS%.

---------------

This is one of the most under-rated / forgotten / overlooked runs by a player in history. He doesn't get anywhere near enough credit for how dominant a player he was. Or for how successful his Phoenix Suns team was prior to Barkley joining.

Neither B Griffin or Amare come anywhere close to this level of individual success or team success as the #1 option on their teams. I don't think either player won a playoff series as a #1 guy. 

[Who]

The 1993-97 post-peak period

KJ started to have injury problems during these years. 1993 49 games played, 1994 67gms, 1995 47gms, 1996 56gms, 1997 70gms. Four of those 5 years where with Barkley with KJ as the #2 and 1997 was alongside Jason Kidd.

1993-96 playoff run

1994 WCR1 26.7ppg 9.3apg vs Warriors (Webber, Mullin)
1994 WCSF 26.6ppg 9.7apg vs Rockets (Hakeem)

1995 WCR1 17.7ppg 9apg vs Blazers
1995 WCSF 27.9ppg 9.4apg 66% TS% vs Rockets (Hakeem)

1996 WCR1 17.3ppg 10.8apg vs Spurs (D-Rob)

KJ was brilliant against Houston especially in 1995. It was Barkley who let the Suns down in that series with his so-so shooting which cost Phoenix the series. KJ was dominant in 3 of those 5 series with 26-28ppg / 9apg and very good in the other 2 series with 17ppg 9-11apg continuing his strong playoff record.

1996-97

In his final prime year, in 1996-97, KJ played along J-Kidd. KJ played more as a SG on offense while Kidd ran the point. KJ averaged 20ppg 9apg again on just under 50% FG with a 63% TS. Fantastic efficiency for a small guard for that era. KJ struggled in the playoffs against Payton's Sonics with 17ppg 6apg 2.6spg but terrible shooting numbers 30% FG 41% TS for the series.

[Kernewek]

Kevin Johnson was phenomenal.

He doesn't get enough credit for how well he played in the 1988-92 stretch prior to Barkley joining. That was KJ's peak. Then he had a strong second stage of his career from 1993-97 run alongside Barkley and after Barkley.

1988-92

KJ is one of just three PGs to average 20-10 for three straight seasons (Oscar Robertson & Zeke are the other 2). And missed just by hair of doing a 4th time (19.7ppg). Oscar is the only PG to this 4 straight years.

KJ was super efficient. He used to get to the FT line 7-8 times a game against his 14-15 FGAs to put up TS% around 58-60%. Fantastic for that period especially for a small guard.

He finished on the 2nd Team All-NBA 3 times during this period and 3rd Team once. Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan were the 1st Team guards - The two best players in the league at the time. There was also Drexler at guard along with strong PG competition with Zeke, Mark Price, and Tim Hardaway.

1988-1992 Playoff Run

His playoff resume is sensational.

1989 - 30.7ppg 13apg vs Nuggets WCR1
1989 - 20ppg 11.4apg vs Warriors WCSF
1989 - 23.3ppg 12.8apg vs Lakers WCF (Magic)

1990 - 19.8ppg 9.2apg vs Jazz WCR1 (Stockton)
1990 - 22ppg 11.2apg vs Lakers WCSF (Magic)
1990 - 21.8ppg 11.3apg vs Blazers WCF

1991 - 12.8ppg 9.8apg vs Jazz WCR1 (Stockton)

1992 - 22.3ppg 15.7apg vs Spurs WCR1
1992 - 24.4ppg 9.2apg vs Blazers WCSF

KJ had only one bad series in 4 years. He was one of the most dominant playoff performers of this period. He dueled twice with Magic Johnson and got a 1-1 split. Both players played brilliantly in both series. Many felt KJ outplayed him in the 2nd one because KJ was one who made all the clutch plays down the stretch to lead his team to a 4-1 victory over Magic's 63 win #1 seed Lakers.

KJ went head to head with Stockton twice. Again splitting 1-1. He had his only bad series of the four years in their 2nd meeting. Stockton vastly outplaying him. In the first one, it is commonly viewed that KJ outplayed Stockton but I am not sure. They were more different than anything. KJ was the better one-on-one player where everything revolved around him (20ppg 9apg) while Stockton was the chief conductor overseeing everything (15ppg 15apg). Neither guy shot the ball that well. Again, KJ made the clutch plays when it mattered.

KJ played those great Blazers teams who made the Finals both years losing to DET and CHI. KJ was the best player on the floor in the first series. Not Drexler. If not for a late injury at the end of the final game, PHO may have won that series. In 1992, both players played great with Drexler getting the nod ahead of KJ after putting up a dominant 31ppg 8rpg 7apg 57% TS% performance. KJ was fantastic in his own right with 24ppg 9.2pg 59% TS%.

---------------

This is one of the most under-rated / forgotten / overlooked runs by a player in history. He doesn't get anywhere near enough credit for how dominant a player he was. Or for how successful his Phoenix Suns team was prior to Barkley joining.

Neither B Griffin or Amare come anywhere close to this level of individual success or team success as the #1 option on their teams. I don't think either player won a playoff series as a #1 guy.

But did he dunk over a Kia?

[Roy H.]

Neither B Griffin or Amare come anywhere close to this level of individual success or team success as the #1 option on their teams. I don't think either player won a playoff series as a #1 guy.

It's semantics, I suppose, but who are you considering the #1 option on those Suns teams?  Steve Nash?  Nash was the best player, but he wasn't the #1 option; Amare led in FGAs and usage.

[Who]

Neither B Griffin or Amare come anywhere close to this level of individual success or team success as the #1 option on their teams. I don't think either player won a playoff series as a #1 guy.

It's semantics, I suppose, but who are you considering the #1 option on those Suns teams?  Steve Nash?  Nash was the best player, but he wasn't the #1 option; Amare led in FGAs and usage.

Yes, I meant best player. Not best scorer. Nash was the best player.