The H.O.F. Watch - Jermaine O’Neal
Photo. Stephen HillGetting into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is tougher than you think — in the game’s long history, only 134 players have been certified at the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. Every day for the next few weeks we’re gonna take one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and break down his chances of getting in. 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: Jermaine O’Neal.
JERMAINE O’NEAL (12th year, Pacers/Blazers)
14.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks per game
Why: Before Shaq and Dwight Howard landed in Florida three years ago, J.O. was recognized as the best big man in the East for a stretch. His career averages are low only because his first four years in Portland were spent sitting lots of bench after coming to the NBA straight from high school and having veterans like Rasheed Wallace and Arvydas Sabonis in front of him. Since being traded to the Pacers in 2000, Jermaine has been one of the League’s few consistent 20-10 producers, along with blocking about two and a half shots per game. He’s been picked for the last six All-Star Games.
Why not: As good as O’Neal has been in Indiana, he’s been dogged by injuries for the last three years (playing an average of 54 games per season in that span). His prime simply didn’t last long enough. He often comes up short in crunch-time situations, and since J.O. became the undisputed leader of the Pacers after Reggie Miller left, the team hasn’t made any noise in the playoffs. He turns 29 in a couple weeks, but already seems a lot older.
Our call: OUT
The H.O.F. Watch archives
10/4 - Gary Payton
10/3 - Tracy McGrady
October 5th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Mike says:
Payton? No doubt. T-mac? A bit of a stretch but understandable. But Jermaine O’neal?? What’s he ever done? Just getting in some allstar games? The guy hasn’t left a single significant mark on the L in 10 years! Who’s up next, Big Z in Cleveland? I mean he made couple of allstar teams too and been to the Finals right?
Dime better step up their game putting out these lists if they don’t want this to turn out like that Who’s Now crap ESPN was running while back.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
frenchy says:
I’ll save Dime the trouble…Mike: “Out” means the opposite of “In”
October 5th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
CHI-C says:
J. O’Neal?, yeah right.Stay healthy for consecutive seasons, that would be a start.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Mike says:
Nah, you got me all wrong.. umm.. Frenchy.
What I’m trying to say is that its absurd that they’re running a list about potential Hall of Famers, and JO was one of the first names they came up with.
I mean you gotta display some greatness for a prolonged period of time before anyone can even whisper about you as being a potential inductee.
JO was good, but never great.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
D-Lite says:
J.O doesn’t belong in the H.O.F. discussion, its sad enough that he even makes all-star teams overrated, under-hyped. Shoulda stayed in school to grow up mentally and b-ball IQ wise.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
fiyaman says:
Jermaine O’neal? Whois that??
October 5th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Tom Toronto says:
I’m going to definitely say no on this one. No question he’s talented, but he’s been a non-factor for a while now. Last time he played more than 70 games was 03-04, which was also the last time he averaged 10 rebounds per. Some poor stat years could be overlooked if he had some accomplishments to back it up (like rings) but the Pacers haven’t been much of a threat of late. Even in the Pacers’ prime, the credit has to go to Reggie Miller, who should be HOF soon if he doesn’t keep threatening to come back and play!
October 5th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
JA says:
Definitely out. I think the clincher was when he sucker-punched the fan in the Malice at The Palace: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xan3j-5rXbI
October 5th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
SWAT says:
THAT’S GONNA BE A HELL NO! HE’S AS SOFT AS WEBBER IN THE CLUTCH AND HIS BODY IS AS OLD AS MUTOMBO, MINUS THE TALENT AND HEART THAT MT. MUTOMBO HAS.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
sans says:
Yeah, JO, despite the max contract, never became the monster that was needed in Indy. And exactly how many times did he get to 20pts as an avg? Always thought he was closer to 17-19. Zo was a premier big man for a while, but he’s not a Hall of Famer either.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Austin Burton says:
“What I’m trying to say is that its absurd that they’re running a list about potential Hall of Famers, and JO was one of the first names they came up with.”
We’re not going in any kind of order; it’s random.
Jermaine’s case for the HOF is one of the weakest for any current NBA star, but the point is to look at today’s stars and see where they fit.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Damon says:
I agree, he is talented, just didn’t put it together( and had some bad luck with injuries and idiots like ron and jack)
should have really won a ring in 04 and 05
btw, he turns 29, not 31, so check notes
October 5th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Bron42 says:
Is it just me, or are 90% of the prep to pros guys (straight from high school) all known for having injury plauged careers? both that you’ve named so far have. Only kobe has stayed pretty clean so far. I’d put tmac in way before J Oneal. Like i said, tmac has had to literally carry teams by himself. Oneal doesn’t really do that and is good but doesn’t really stand out anymore. When he had artest, miller, etc..then they were cool, but as a lone player I think hes all star material but not a super star or hall of famer.
p.s: that wasnt a sucker punch. The fan was on the court and startin shit so he had it coming. Plus come on, how can you hate on a 7′0 footer coming out of left field with a diving/sliding street fighter haymaker that lays the guys out in one shot…you don’t get to see that everyday.
October 5th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Bron42 says:
lets hurry up and jump to KG,AI,Vince
October 5th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
triple threat says:
JO, please, The HOF selection crew ain’t even going to sniff in JO’s direction. KG will get in, AI will get in, and VC, maybe.
October 5th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Bron42 says:
well vince aint done much more than J oneal. he had a hot dunk contest and gets in allstar games ONLY cuz hes exciting.
October 5th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Austin Burton says:
You’re right Damon, it is 29. Thanks.
Here’s a question: Would a Lakers nucleus of Kobe, Jermaine and the rest of the current squad minus Odom and Bynum be more of a contender than the current team?
October 5th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Mike says:
Would a Lakers nucleus of Kobe, Jermaine and the rest of the current squad minus Odom and Bynum be more of a contender than the current team?
Yeah I think so. And only because JO provides what Bynum and LO don’t give you: interior defense.
Even though he might not be a 20-10 guy anymore, the one thing he did consistently last season was blocking shots, or at least contending lay-ups. And if you’ve been paying attention to the Lakers the past few years, you know that dribble penetrations by opposing team’s guards was the biggest thing that was killing them. With Jermaine, that problem will be solved. But they won’t be as dynamic on offense without Odom’s passing and handles.
October 5th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Mike says:
And Bynum, I just don’t get why Jim Buss and Kupchack are so high on his potential. I mean, yeah he’s got size and good hands, but that’s about it. He’s not over-powering, not athletic, and has nothing that even resembles a go-to move in the paint. They should have shipped his a$$ out of there for Kidd.
October 5th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
sans says:
Bynum’s going to be a beast this season, if he gets minutes. I think that Odom rebounds, scores, passes, dribbles, and lives better than Jermaine O’Neal; it’s just a shame that Lamar relies on his left hand so much and doesn’t go to his right enough. JO for Odom and Bynum is a terrible trade for the Lakers, especially if they have to take Dunleavy or any other Pacer as well in return.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Bron42 says:
u make it like either odom or bynum has really proppeled the lakers at some point lol. Your saying bynum is a beast? the kid wasnt even a beast in hihg school. And obviously kobe didn’t think he’d be much of a beast when he was all “ship his ass out of here”
October 6th, 2007 at 12:42 am
Lucky Lester says:
its funny that a guy turns 29 and isn’t a 20-10 guy anymore - lol - because he’s getting old… Sports… Crazy. For the record, No on JO, but if he got on a good team with another star, Kobe, Wade, maybe the Nugs, and won a couple Chips, in the next 3-4 years, things might change a bit for this guy. The bottom line is, he’s a post player that doesn’t hit 50% of his shots, plays good help defense, and solid man D, and hasn’t led his teams much more than Ricky Buckets. He’s a very good player, but its not the hall of very good…
October 6th, 2007 at 1:18 am
Sweets says:
Sorry JO, great player, but not going to the hall.
Hasn’t won anything, has not proven that he can control and dictate the outcome of games. He is a sidekick player like a Pippen, and I don’t thin he’ll find his “Jordan” (or have the good years left), before it’s all said and done.
October 6th, 2007 at 2:49 am
Lee says:
I think Shawn Kemp deserves to get in the HOF more than Oneal
October 6th, 2007 at 3:30 am
sirak says:
only good reason for ever mentioning J.O. was to generate this many comments! com’on dime - be serious.
October 6th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
doc says:
Hell no. next
October 7th, 2007 at 10:42 am
sucka says:
they should ask Ben or Rasheed Wallace at least someone that will make people really think
October 8th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Gee says:
Naw not this kid. Not no time soon. Unless he does something like really crazy and wins a ring, it won’t happen. Sorry J.O.
October 9th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Myrie says:
O’Neal is not even close to being a HOF’er. No merit whatsoever. Dime is throwing a name up on the wall to see if it’ll stick. Ask about a player with a reasonable chance; like Dikembe Mutombo. Does he make it? Getting an award from the vice president solidified his case. I need someone here to research and help me out—-is Dennis Rodman in the hall?
Myrie in NY
October 10th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Celts Fan says:
I used to hate JO until that fateful night in ‘04 when he stole my heart forever. What a dreamboat…
October 12th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
nong mu says:
If dantley,gilmore,dj,haywood’re not in the hall,Jermaine has no chance at all.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:30 am
J Bizil says:
If he retired today I say no. He’s still 29 and has some prime years left. As stated earlier he was on Portland’s bench when he was out of high school behind Rasheed, BGrant, and Sabonis. However he always had the talent and eclipsed all the guys in Portland he played behind except for Sheed. I like JO because he wants to be a big man and can stretch the D when needed with the 12-15 foot jumper. He also is one of the best shot blockers in the league and has that explosive power and finishing ability that the new breed of 6-10 to 7-0 PF/C have or had(KG, DHoward, Amare, young Kemp, young Webber, Sheed). If JO can continue to get 20ppg, 10rpg, 2-3 blocks for the next 5-6 years and start contending then he can get in.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
jj says:
in in in great player better than j kid