Photo. Robyn TwomeyEvery day for the next few weeks we’re taking one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and breaking down his chances of getting into the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. We’re looking at not just past accomplishments, but also how a player’s career realistically projects for the future. For a full explanation of the process, click here. Today’s candidate: Chris Webber.
CHRIS WEBBER (15th year, Pistons/76ers/Kings/ Wizards/Warriors)
20.9 pts, 9.8 rebs, 4.3 asts, 1.5 stls, 1.4 blks per game
Why: KG gets all the credit, but C-Webb was just as impactful in redefining the perception of basketball’s big man. Who else, at 6-10, could match his all-around game? In Webber’s prime, the five-time All-Star (All-NBA first team once) could pass, handle, shoot the three, rebound, run the floor, score inside and hit from midrange. He was a legit MVP candidate during his run with the Kings, where he got the team as far as Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals in ‘02, but always ran up against the Shaq/Kobe Lakers squads. Overall, his numbers are better than or equal to those of Garnett, Julius Erving, Karl Malone and Kevin McHale, some of the greatest forwards the game has ever seen. From a statistical standpoint (and natural ability standpoint), Webber is simply one of the best all-time at his position. And at Michigan, C-Webb was the headliner of the Fab Five, the team that changed hoop culture on multiple levels.
Why not: Why do we always want athletes to have storybook endings to their careers? Because final impressions tend to stick. Injuries have robbed Webber of his athleticism and eroded his skills over the years, and now some people have forgotten just how nasty he used to be — they see him as a sneering old guy hobbling around looking to latch onto a contender. Put that aside for now, and you can still make a case against his Hall credentials. In C-Webb’s prime, his Sacramento teams were seen as postseason chokers, and their leader took a lot of the blame for that. As good as he was, he never got the better of the rival Lakers. C-Webb’s numbers might be in the same neighborhood as KG, Mailman, Dr. J and McHale, but is he as memorable? He can play, but has he played enough? Not counting the ‘99 lockout year, Webber played fewer than 65 games in five separate seasons.
Our call: OUT
The H.O.F. Watch archives
10/9 - Paul Pierce
10/5 - Jermaine O’Neal
10/4 - Gary Payton
10/3 - Tracy McGrady
October 10th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Celts Fan says:
Wow JO and CWebb. Just hating for the sake of hating. I love it! Great piece, great points, absolutely right, there’s no chance in hell he gets in…
October 10th, 2007 at 11:36 am
macca says:
Derrick Coleman without the fun…
October 10th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
ben says:
His injuries were a damn shame. Watching Webber in his prime was a thing of beauty…i think he could have been a lock for HOF if he stayed healthy throughout.
Unfortunately, “ifs” and “buts” dont count. So i say hes out.
October 10th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Mike says:
Yeah I don’t think Webber’s in.
But I don’t think Pierce deserves to be in it more than him either.
C-Webb was a legitimate MVP candidate for about two seasons. Pierce was never in any serious running.
And Webber made playoff runs that were just as deep as any of Pierce’s.
So he never came through when it really counted in the playoffs, but I don’t remember Pierce draining buzzer beaters like Kobe in the playoffs either.
Finally, if you were a GM who could choose between a young Webber or young Pierce, knowing how their careers turned out, would you really start your franchise with Pierce rather than Webber? I didn’t think so.
Bottom line: If Webber’s out, Pierce should be out too.
October 10th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Jeremy says:
agreed, cwebb puts pierce to shame.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
fiyaman says:
i WAS a big Webber fan.. Now ..noway should he be in. Career choker, never wanting to take the last shot(remember that game with Sac.. when he had the ball in his hands, clock running down, and what does he do look around to pass the ball to Bibby.. that play made me lose all respect for him).. Especially with that whole taking money thing..
I think he threw games in the L thats y he doesnt have a ring. And anyone who throws a game(especially making what they make to win) doesnt deserve to even be mention with HOF next to their name. The end of his career just show what type of person he is. (running around trying to jump on a team to win a ring but never doing his part to help thats y he doesnt have 1 now.. and never will ..unless he goes into coaching someday(poor team)
and to respond to:
if you were a GM who could choose between a young Webber or young Pierce, knowing how their careers turned out, would you really start your franchise with Pierce rather than Webber?
I would definetly pick Pierce(webber’s career is over and amounted to nothing, Pierce is better(my opinion) and career is not over yet).. Better question is Why would anyone choose Webber knowing what his career is gonna be like.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
2 Easy says:
Now personally I hate C Webb, mainly cause I hated the Kings however his game was nice before that injury against Dallas in the playoffs. Now contrary to that point, Pierce has nailed buzzer beaters in the playoffs while the scares the Kings used to give the Lakers was more attributed to Bibby off Webber screens which no one will remember him doin. For the record he didnt really go to the sixers to win a title willingly, he was traded and everyone assumed he would because he was wit AI but yea we all see how that panned out. Personally I dont think hes in unless he finishes strong. That doesnt neccessarily mean Championship, but it does mean not dissapearin in an elimination game like he did last year
October 10th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
fiyaman says:
ditto 2 Easy.. Webber is the invisible man when it counts.
October 10th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
se7enboy says:
….i would love to see a HOF watch for Penny Hardaway..just to know what u guys think about it….
October 10th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Kyle aka "The Air Down There" says:
He’s probably out. If it was on what his career should have been he would most definitely be in. The Fab Five was the first college team I fell in love with and I had a serious man crush on CWebb. He used to straight destroy people. Injuries suck!!!
October 10th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Mike says:
Better question is Why would anyone choose Webber knowing what his career is gonna be like.
Because C-Webb, for a period in his career, was a real franchise player. Meaning you could put some good role players around him and legitimately contend for the title. And Webber would have won a title or two with Sacto, if it wasn’t for the Lakers team featuring two best players in the world on the same team. Now can you say the same thing about Pierce at any point in his career thus far? The answer is no.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
bryan says:
You guys are crazy Paul Pierce in but CWebb out? They both went to the conference finals and no further why isn’t PP a choker? I’ll take 20-10-4 over 25 and 6 anyday.You guys are nothing but a FAKE slam magazine.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
fiyaman says:
mike: why would u pick CWebb knowing that he will take u to the playoffs then call timeout with none avail.. he will sign a big contract, get injured and hamper ur team capwise for yrs to come.. the same goes for Pierce except he didnt cost as much, wasnt injured as much, and still has a chance to win the ring..
I didnt say pierce should be in hall yet but i would put him above CWebb.. Give Pierce the players Webber had in Sacto and I bet this wouldnt even be a discussion…
We’ll see aft this yr
October 10th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
DC says:
dont see how you can say PP and TMac IN and not CWebb. What have those guys won??? TMac has never gotten out of the 1st rd and PP has only been to the same level CWebb reached, the conference finals. (Don’t like ifs but if the refs wouldnt have cheated in Game 6 that year CWebb would have his ring). Out of the people ya’ll have reviewed so far, the only player I would take over CWebb (in his prime) is GP (in his prime). He’s the only def HOF from the list so far. The rest are possible, but CWebb should be the strongest possible.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Mike says:
Fiyaman,
Really? You really think that if you replaced Webber with Pierce on the 2002 Kings, they would’ve forced 7 games plus overtime against the Lakers?
You mean to tell me that Webber’s passing ability wasn’t one of the big reasons that allowed the other players on the Kings roster to excel in the first place?
Are you really saying that Pierce, who would’ve been guarded by Kobe by the way, would have wreaked havoc on the Lakers the same way that Webber just killed Horry and Samaki Walker?
If you really think that, then I don’t know what to tell you..
October 10th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Austin Burton says:
Pierce gets the edge over Webber because Pierce has been way more durable. C-Webb’s AVERAGES are sick, but he’s missed a lot of time on the injured list. Pierce, meanwhile, has the averages and the total numbers. By the end of this year he’ll be 4th or 5th on the Celtics all-time career scoring list. He could realistically finish his career 2nd on that list to Havlicek. And remember, the criteria for this isn’t “What if he retired tomorrow?” but “How will his career realistically end?” Very good chance Pierce gets to the Finals with Boston in the next couple of years.
T-Mac gets the nod over C-Webb because there was a time when T-Mac was arguably the best player at his position in the NBA, whereas that was never really the case with Webber. T-Mac has been more dominant than Webber.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
fiyaman says:
Austin my man u saved me a lot of typing.. thanks!!!
October 10th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Triple Threat says:
Are we talking about C-Webb who left Big Shot Bob wide open on top of the three point line, with a few seconds left to go? Well, than C-Webb should be out, P-dub has a couple more years to prove he’s worthy of making into the HOF. P-dub is one of the best clutch players in the game, the guy carried his weak team to the playsoffs the same way A.I. and J-kidd did in the east. Anyways, today Pierce has a way better chance at getting in than C-webb. Clutch player versus a choke player since fab five days. Gee, who do I pick. Celtics Number 34, that’s who.
October 10th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Triple Threat says:
Well, J-kidd did have K-Mart and RJ.
October 10th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
sans says:
We are talking, Chris “the timeout” Webber over Paul Pierce? That’s ridiculous. Similar numbers, but Truth was so good that he made ‘Toine a perennial all-star for a second. Chris Webber, who got traded from the Wiz for getting busted smoking weed in his hotel room, for an Old Mitch Richmond; the biggest Sacramento Queen, who had 3 gunners around him at all time, but still couldn’t come up big. I think that you can make a better case for Vlade than Webber.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
DOC says:
In his prime Webb was better than Pierce but now I dont know unless theres a hall for pirates
October 10th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Austin Burton says:
Triple Threat, if you’re talking about Horry’s famous buzzer-beater, Webber didn’t leave him open. Everyone (except Horry) was fighting for the rebound under the basket and the ball got tapped out to Horry. It was a fluke. I don’t blame Webber at all for that. There were only a couple seconds left and you should be in there fighting for the ball. My issue was always with Horry. Why was the power forward not involved in a rebound battle?
October 10th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Triple Threat says:
Anyway, you look at it Austin, Webber left Rob open for the dagger. webber’s job was to stop the penetration and cover his man. And he only half his job.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Austin Burton says:
Check out the play again:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xp19op8uK1E
If Shaq, Kobe or Fox gets that offensive rebound and scored a putback while Webber is standing out there with Horry, everyone would have said “Why isn’t C-Webb’s 6-foot-10 ass trying to get the rebound?” What Webber did on that play is different than Rasheed doubling on Manu in ‘05 and leaving Horry open.
Then again, the fact that Webber was guarding Horry in the first place brings up another question I always had: Why didn’t Webber ever guard Shaq in those series?
October 11th, 2007 at 1:46 am
chris says:
he is a great player - injuries struck him throughout his career and in his prime the microfracture. I think the TO hurt the heart of this LION. What a beast he should be if not for that Timeout still, I’m still his Biggest fan no matter what. No one plays the game as beatiful as he does and that summarizes his contributions to NBA. he is far better than the list of greats, Kevin Mchale and Garnett, Malone. They are all chokers esp. garnett and malone. I don’t know about mchale coz he’s under the shadow of the clutch shooting Birdman. but if garnett and malone is in, why leave Cwebb out? they all play the same.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:03 am
Triple Threat says:
Well, I wouldn’t want to leave Horry open, not on the last play of a game. When I watched that game, you seen Horry wide open, and when you know what a player like that can do at the end of important games, you say, oh shit, it’s over. I was hoping Webber would bounce back the next game, but he was no where to be seen, thanks to Bibby, the Kings had hope.
October 11th, 2007 at 2:58 am
D-lite says:
CW has laid some baad seed in his life and is apparently harvest. Dude mde a believer outta me in Sactown, he mde plty big shots, but being unselfish gets hm a bad rap. The ultimate team player, stat filler in the right system high post. like Tmac the game seemed to come too easy for him. He has the Isaiah charisma (smile) and turned it on for the lights. But HOF NO too many bad off court decisions some public some not…I loved his game but no HOF. RIP Cdubs game.
October 11th, 2007 at 5:45 am
kowtz says:
Bwahahaha…
Is triple threat for real?
You would be rather guarding Robert Horry, about two feet away from the 3line…
While there’s like five seconds left on the clock, and the last ofensive play was a layup?????
For real?
And still can’t get austin’s point????
Prediction: CWEBB wins a ring this year… he WINS 3 MVPS (AS Break, Season, Finals)… Sets a career high… included in the quad doub squad……
… and triple threat is a freking genius…
Set your PG as a safety… then set your 5, 4, 3 and maybe 2 for the rebound scuffle…
October 11th, 2007 at 7:55 am
DC says:
when was TMac ever the best player at his position? Kobe was, is, and will always be better than him. Tmac hasnt won jack and he was in the East and some of yall saying he’s better than CWebb??? CWebb went to the conf finals in the west with doug christie and peja on his team. enough said. christie admitted later that he was scared to death out there in game 7. dont blame CWebb for running the offense that got them to that point…as for PP, antoine walker was good before PP got there so PP didnt elevate ‘toines game. look at bibby and peja since cwebb left. not the same. bc CWebb made them better. who have tmac and pp elevated. i dont think cwebb is a HOF b/c of the injuries and the fact that he couldnt get to the finals at least, but if people are going to say that tmac and PP are HOFamers then CWebb certainly is.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
sucka says:
DC TMac won the scoring title twice, thats just as many as Kobe and Kobe only just did it recently; there was a time when T Mac was the best in the league not just at his position
October 11th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Gee says:
I love it! T-Mac just keeps coming up. That really just shows his magnitude in the industry. Anyway as far as C-Webb wow that is tough. I would have to say no unless in the future he actually becomes the leader of a team and not a roll player again. I mean a ring will surely help his case but what has he really done. What spectacular marks has he accumulated. Early on he was near the top but unfortunately that injury is what has and what will probably rob him of his H.O.F. opportunity. It’s honestly kinda sad because C-Webb was really doing his thing before the injury. Sigh. Oh well nope he is not in.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Ian says:
people please webber b4 injuries was way better than pierce was the second best power foward in the league behind duncan and ahead of kg. just look at the numbers way better than kgs. and the comment about leaving horry open LOL. he was going after the ball im a spurs fan but i freakin hate horry hes a lazy lucky bitch.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Ian says:
and about the pierce better than webber puh please
trade pierce for webber and the kings dont see game 7
peja was the biggest choker of the team
October 11th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
DC says:
sucka, Kobe had shaq (in his prime) on his team. No way TMac wins the scoring title with Shaq on his team. and scoring titles dont mean anything. what has tmac done besides win those?????
October 11th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Gee says:
If Webber could have somehow beat Shaq and the crew, just somehow, then he would be in. But, we all know what happen. Was a really good series though! I miss those days! Dang C-Webb you just had to call that time-out at Michigan and then get hurt lol. Talk about a hard time in the life of a balla!
October 11th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Blako says:
Are you crazy? Chris has been a 20 and 10 guy pretty much his whole career. He revolutionized the power forward position and might be the best passing power forward the game has ever seen. He’s never won it all but neither has T-Mac. T-Mac hasn’t even won a playoff series. The Warriors hadn’t made the playoffs since they traded him until last year. The Wizards didn’t make the playoffs for seven years after trading him and Sacramento had only made the playoffs twice since 1985 until he got there in 1999. If Webber is out then so is T-Mac and Pierce.
October 11th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
2 Easy says:
Realistically u can kinda compare Tmac to Nique. 2 good players who carried their teams only Tmac did it moreso in his Orlando years than anything else. You cant really count Toronto against him because when he started developin he got overshadowed by Vince. Lets not forget that Tmac was originally supposed to be the Magic’s number 2 behind Mr.Grant Hill but due to his naggin injuries Tmac took over and carried a terrible Orlando team into the playoffs and even got them as far as almost eliminating a way better Pistons squad. Now realistically I kno Tmac hasnt had the postseason success someone with his talent should have but honestly for 2-4 years the argument of who the best in the league was always Tmac or Kobe and if it wasnt for 81 against a terrible Raps team that arguement would still be goin on. But that leads me to wonder if u were to look at the latter half of Kobe’s carrer and exclude the Shaq years, would Kobe make the hall? Post Shaq Kobe has imitated Tmacs career wit more scorin and I kno not one of u would hesitate to still but him in so of course Tmac should still be in and once he makes it outta the first round, wats stoppin him? By the way C-Webb got overshadowed on HIS team, when it counted most, how can u still put him in the hall. Have u ever heard Toine was a Net killer? No u hear about the truth and Bibby was the Laker killer. When it was webbers turn he bricked like he was homeless. So these arguments need to stop. Tmac is pending but more yes than no, Pierce is pending but more yes than no, and Cwebb would need to come back strong to make it in. Dime please keep this up, I love seein some people ball ignorance
October 11th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Gee says:
All I can say is amen on all 2 Easy said cause I ain’t gone type all that he typed lol.
October 11th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Gee says:
All I can say is amen on all 2 Easy said cause I ain’t gonna type all that he typed lol.
October 11th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Triple Threat says:
It’s on to Bosh now. Sweet.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
MP says:
Here’s an easy one Dime and two tougher suggestions:
Kobe Bryant
Steve Nash
Dikembe Mutumbo
October 11th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Ian says:
2 easy
really it was between kobe and tmac for number one
have u heard of someone named duncan?
October 12th, 2007 at 12:39 am
brandythefox says:
Chris Webber for hall of fame? He’s the ultimate choke artist, lacking in crunch-time resolve, enjoys deferring to others, and plays like he’s mortally afraid of the low post. He’s like Derrick Coleman, a proidigious talent wasted by a lack of enthusiasm for the game and dislike for taking on the heavy demands of a power forward.
October 12th, 2007 at 1:30 am
Coldchain says:
Talent-wise, CWebb is better than Paul Pierce. But like it’s been said he had too many injuries. That’s just how it goes sometimes. Connie Hawkins was probably a better straight-up ballplayer than a lot of dudes in the Hall of Fame, but he’s not in because he didn’t play long enough. Same thing with Grant Hill whenever he comes up for consideration. Same reason Terrell Davis probably won’t make the HOF in football.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:25 am
jay says:
i like Cwebb but No to the HOF….did not do enough…the numbers are not there and no rings…not hating..just fact.everyone cant make it…..good player but not HOF worthy..it happens!
October 12th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
nong mu says:
talent-wise=should , but when u career include “quarrel with respectable coach when u just a rook” “choke artist” “consider career unfufillment”. Well, i don’t think it’s a HOF material at all.
October 12th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Juanito says:
My heart breaks as I write this. I grew up hearing about Chris Webber. He is one month older than me, and I started hearing his name when I was in the 6th grade (!!!!) while in Jr. High in mid-Michigan. He was at my freshman orientation at U of M, and we had an economics class together. I played hoops with him a couple times at the CCRB over the summer, drove my ass up to Minneapolis and down to N.O for both Final Fours, and sneaked into the Palace of Auburn Hills for the 1993 draft with some fake press passes just to see him get picked 1st.
Followed his NBA career intently, becoming a de facto Warriors, Bullets, Kings and Sixers fan in the process (Pistons always and forever though). I felt such an emotional rush seeing him in Piston blue for the first time last January, and never wanted a team to win a title more than Detroit last year. That said, if he never gets that ring, it’s gotta be out, brother…must be out. Postseason success is a must in my book, and he just always managed to miss grabbin onto that brass ring… (sniff). I feel my own mortality every time I watch Chris (Truth, as the Crisler Arena scoreboard used to say) Webber.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:51 am
2 Easy says:
Firstly thanks Gee just tryin to get my point across. Secondly Ian Im well aware of Tim Duncan, but lookin at wat Kobe and Tmac are capable of doin and how they were doin it there were no other competition. Duncan’s plays a different position so comparin him would be difficult but if u want u could picture Timmy goin 1 on 1 wit Mamba, or Tmac and tell me if u dont see them doin wat Lebron did to him last year
October 16th, 2007 at 1:42 am
J Bizil says:
This one is very tough. Like with Grant Hill injuries are the primary factor. C-Webb along with KG did revolutionize the power forward position. Barkley could score, pass, handle the ball, and rebound with the best of them but he had the height of a guard/small forward. Webber was doing it at 6′10 250 pounds. And he took the torch from Kemp when it came to sick athleticism at the power forward spot. So he combined it all to give fans something they’ve never seen before. Then KG came along as a 7′1 guy that could do those things but with the height of a center along with the sick athleticism. Webber was the pioneer of this new breed of PF and then KG came along and added his own twist. I hate to say it but Webber at least won’t make 1st ballot Hall of Fame due to the injuries. I would be happy if he did because he was on the best in his era and in my opinion one of the top 10 PF’s ever:
Duncan
Barkley
Malone
KG
McHale
Petitt
Hayes
C-Webb
Kemp
McAdoo
(no particular order)
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Sacto J says:
Before this argument continues, someone needs to call a timeout…….
Sacto proud, with MI as my first home, I love C-Webb. Kings built their team around him and all that could stop them was the ShaqKobe’s. Shady college career leaves me in doubt though. I’d say 8th ballot in…..
November 4th, 2007 at 12:49 am
billy says:
CW is very sepcial one on the list, he is talent enough, but like TMAC, mentelly, he got lost,
base on resume he has, if TMAC get out , so as he
November 6th, 2007 at 6:18 am
manski says:
Never a clutch player after he called timeout in the NCAA championship game. Maybe he should have returned to college to redeem himself before turning pro. I think his “boo-boo” in college carried over in the pros since he was afraid to get the ball on clutch situations, afraid of committing the same mistake again. At least he’s rich.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
John Boom says:
What about all his arrests, drug use and scandal in the NCAA that led to all his records being erased? I think that would matter to the HOF, what type of character a person has. I wouldnt want to be associated with someone like him, let alone having him being called “one of the best”.