Dikembe Mutombo: Hall of Famer?

[fairweatherfan]

Interesting thought today after reading a bit about Mutombo's career and its unfortunate end last night.  Does Mutombo deserve to be in the HOF?  This really seems to be a case where very strong arguments can be made on either side. 

I'm gonna hold off on giving my opinion because I'd like to hear what other people think, but here is the case for and against as I see it (feel free to add to it):

FOR:

- At Georgetown: 64% FG, 9.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 3.7 blk.  All but FG% are skewed by his first season when he only played 11 mpg.  Dominant defender and rebounder and good scorer his last 2 seasons.  Remember it's the Basketball HOF so college can be considered.
- 4 time DPOY
- 3 time 1st Team All-Defense, 3 time 2nd (how you win DPOY from the 2nd team is a mystery to me)
- 2nd all-time in Blocks (3289)
- 3 time league leader in blk per game, 5 times in total blk
- 2 time league leader in rpg, 4 times in total reb
- 8 time All-Star
- 1 2nd Team All-NBA (2001)
- 2 3rd Team All-NBA (1998, 2002)
- Career Avgs of 10.2 reb and 2.8 blk per game.
- Misc. defensive intangibles that don't show up in stats and awards, across an 18-year career.
- Durable: Only missed 30 games in first 11 seasons.
- One of the greatest humanitarians in NBA history: personally spent at least $18.5 million to found the first modern hospital in the Congo, in addition to numerous other charitable acts in Africa and America.
- The world-famous Finger Wag
- Leader of first 8 seed to topple a 1 (and star of that great clip).
- Sounds like Cookie Monster

AGAINST:

- Decent shooter (.518 career) but average to below-average scoring center (career 9.8 ppg, never over 16.6 in rookie year)
- Very limited offensively, mostly exclusively a defensive presence for much of his career.
- Numbers inflated by freakish longevity
- Backup for most of the latter portion of his career.
- Never a truly dominant player - never a Top 10 player in the league, probably never a Top 20.
- No titles and only 1 Finals appearance.
- Basketball Reference lists his closest comparisons as (in order): Alonzo Mourning, Mark Eaton, Elden Campbell, Artis Gilmore, and Vlade Divac.  Of the top 10, only Kevin McHale (8th closest profile) is in the HOF. 
- Basketball Reference HOF monitor score at 110 (>135 is likely HOFer).  34th among active/ineligble players, just behind Elton Brand, Shawn Marion and Stephon Marbury.  We've argued about the usefulness of this before but I figured I'd include it for reference.
- 0-2 lifetime on 3's


Note: didn't look up PER as it struggles with defensive players, and I couldn't find it for his career.  Probably not great either.

So what do you think?  Does he deserve to get in, or be left out?

[D Dub]

Absolutely.  One of the all time great shot-blockers and probably the most durable NBA player of all time.

And honestly, he should get in from his community service alone. 

[2short]

Very good person but for hof, no.

[Eja117]

At first I thought "It's the Hall of Fame. Not the Hall of Very Good", but a guy that averaged 10/10/3 and was 4 time DPOY should probably be in.

DPOY is more valuable than OPOY, which is pretty much what the MVP is anyway as KG has shown us that defense wins titles.
 

[perks-a-beast]

Winning a title would have helped alot but his community service/defensive skills will be enough to get him in.

[cordobes]

Of course. I never understand why so many people see longevity as a bad thing. Also, I've never seen an argument contra a HoF candidate that would read: - Very limited defensively, mostly exclusively an offensive presence for much of his career.

[GroverTheClover]

No brainer. Absolutely yes. If anything, his numbers are deflated because of his longevity. Post 2002, his numbers decline, but it the stats don't reflect his ability to change shots and deter penetration even in the latter stages of his career.

[Donoghus]

He's in, although that 0-2 career 3 pointers could come back to bite him. 

[celticinorlando]

 hall of fame human being...great man

[fairweatherfan]

He's in, although that 0-2 career 3 pointers could come back to bite him. 

True, but I think that's more than cancelled out by talking like Cookie Monster   

Wow, I expected to hear more opposition.  I had him as borderline but in.  With the relatively low bar of the Basketball HOF, I think you have to let him in, though I don't see it as as much of a slamdunk as some.

[xmuscularghandix]

hall of fame human being...great man

hit the nail right no the head.

[Eja117]

If I remember correctly the NFL says it can only have to do with what a guy did on the field, so OJ stays in, but baseball doesn't say that, and I'm not sure what basketball says

[RebusRankin]

Yes

[bdm860]

I like what I'm seeing so far (usually I seem to disagree with most on these topics), Mutombo should be in.  Maybe not first ballot (not as big of a deal in the NBA though) but he should be in.

I've never seen an argument contra a HoF candidate that would read: - Very limited defensively, mostly exclusively an offensive presence for much of his career.

Right on cordobes!

Offense is the sexy category, but how can everyone overlook defense!  For the period he played, can you name 5 better defensive players?  Off the top of my head I'd say maybe these guys get consideration: Olajuwon, Mourning (also should get in the HoF in my opinion), David Robinson, Jordan, Pippen, Payton, Blaylock, Ben Wallace, and Rodman? 

I'd personally say Mutombo was a better defender than Robinson or Mourning.  Maybe only Olajuwon, Pippen, and Jordan were better during his time?  Maybe only Olajuwon (not a knock on MJ or Pippen, you can't even really compare the wings to the post though when it comes to defense).

All I know if he gets in, I want to see the full name on the plaque:  Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo

[shiggins]

Huh?

Definitely not.  Mourning was a far better player than Mutombo, and I never liked Mourning at all.  Mourning should not be in either.  Look at the guys he's compared to...Elden Campbell, Vlade that should raise red flags right there.  Mutombo was a great guy.  the finger wag was funny, but seriously...people have been crapping on Iverson on the board like nuts about not being a winner etc. etc., Iverson single handedly took this man to the finals, which is as far as Mutombo ever got courtesy of AI.

There is no way this guy is a HOF'er, especially if Rodman didnt get in, no way Mutombo should...

He wasnt ever even the best player on his own team.  A ridiculously overrated player how is this even a debate?