2029/30 Hall of Fame Class Nominee - Paul George

[Donny - Bucks]

An enigma of a player through 750 games, Paul George came into the league with high expectations after being drafted #13 overall in the creation draft. His career was one of the better ones we've seen thus far at the small forward position. Will this be enough for him to get into the NBN Hall of Fame?

PLAYER PAGE - nothinbutnetleague.altervista.org/NothinButNet/Archive/2028/html/rosters/roster10.htm



CAREER STATS
Games: 750
MPG: 33.8
PPG: 20.2
RPG: 7.1
APG: 2.7
SPG: 1.5
BPG: 0.1
TOPG: 2.3
FG%: .462
FT%: .799
3P%: .418

Best Season (2020 76ers)
Games: 75
MPG: 35.2
PPG: 22.4
RPG: 9.2
APG: 3.8
SPG: 1.6
BPG: 0.2
TOPG: 2.5
FG%: .480
FT%: .799 
3P%: .444

Career Highs
Points: 46
Rebounds: 19
Assists: 11
Steals: 8
Blocks: 2

Achievements
Championships: 1
Player of the Game: 66
Player of the Week: 0
Player of the Month: 0
Double Doubles: 186
Triple Doubles: 2

Awards
2019 - All-Star Game Participant
2019 - All-Defensive Second Team
2019 - Playoff MVP
2020 - All-Star Game Participant
2021 - All-Star Game Participant
2021 - All-League Third Team



Arguments For Induction
- While I personally think this is a very interesting case in terms of looking at the overall potential for PG13 when he came into the league. PG was the 8th leading scorer in the league when it began in 2019 while also being an elite defender (2.6 SPG, #2 on the board). His career stayed at that level, outside of a small stock decline, for the next 7 seasons. That's pretty impressive, considering he outscored players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Damian Lillard, Luka Doncic, Jamal Murray, Ja Morant, just to name a few. 

- Paul George was the league's initial Playoff MVP, where the Sixers would 4-0 the Clippers. PG would post a double double with boards in game one, 54(!!!!!)/7/7 in game 2, 32/12/5/2 in game 3, and 28/7/4 in game 4 to help sweep. The guy was 4th in PPG in the playoffs while shooting 50%. One of the best runs we've seen so far.

- Was it not for a lackluster 19 MPG in his second to last season, he would've played 25+ MPG in every season he played in, with his lowest FG% over nine seasons being 44.6% from the field, which is totally manageable. This is a guy who was consistent as hell and an above average three point shooter, while also being a high-end defensive option and a decent passer and rebounder.

Arguments Against Induction
- This argument is a little bit more interesting in my opinion, because the stat line has some asterisks and doesn't really scream HALL OF FAMER at you. 20/7/3 on 46% is good, not great.

- The awards are a really tight one here. For comparison's sake:

Kevin Durant (four seasons)
2019 - All-Star Game Participant
2019 - All-League First Team
2020 - All-Star Game Participant
2020 - All-League First Team
2021 - All-Star Game Participant
2021 - All-League First Team
2022 - 3-Point Shootout Champion
2022 - All-Star Game Participant
2022 - All-Star Game MVP
2022 - All-League First Team
2022 - All-Defensive Team

Kawhi Leonard (600 GP)
2019 - All-League Second Team
2019 - All-Defensive Team
2020 - All-League Second Team
2020 - All-Defensive Team
2021 - All-Defensive Team

Paul George (750 GP)
2019 - All-Star Game Participant
2019 - All-Defensive Second Team
2019 - Playoff MVP
2020 - All-Star Game Participant
2021 - All-Star Game Participant
2021 - All-League Third Team

It's a very tight argument, considering Durant only got in on his second re-vote (which is amazing to me that he wasn't near unanimous, but that shows the climate of voters around here) and Kawhi was near 40% or so if I remember correctly. PG has the ring and playoff MVP, but is it a hall of fame CAREER?

- Paul doesn't really have anything that strengthens his case in terms of dominance at his position. All-League third team is nice and I think it's a hard argument considering Durant, Kawhi, LeBron, and even random guys like Gallinari were poppin' off at the beginning of the league too. 

Vote carefully, and remember to throw out arguments regardless of which side you're on. This should be a discussion that eventually gets the league to the proper decision on him. Your vote can also be retracted after it's been cast if you feel like switching to the other side based on the arguments that have been made. To be inducted, a player needs 70% and to be considered in a later class they need 50%. Vote carefully.

***BONUS - Don't forget that everyone who votes gets $100 and the person that makes the best argument or contributes to the discussion the best will be awarded an extra $100***

8.5.7

[Rog]

Voted no. Just not dominant enough in the short career. Most of the guys who weren't super young that started in the league just don't have enough time in the league to not be stupid dominant.

[carlos]

I voted no too. His career numbers don't jump out as a HOFer and his awards tell the same story. One All-League 3rd team isn't enough for HOF.

I am impressed by his success in keeping the Clippers from a championship though

[JCog72]

He was good, not great. One of the best SFs but not a HOF player...no for me

[frosty]

No theres going to be a number of better SFs coming in soon really good player but not the best

[biancardi33]

No for me here

[Donny - Bucks]

Voted no, for the simple reason that he was great but not HOF great.

[pjclippers]

Surprised he's not getting more love given that he was a top option at a position that has been scarce for the most part since the restart but he just misses the mark for me

[vanimmer]

Closer call for me then for most.
I also voted KD in right away.
I agree though that better sfnarencoming in the next decade.
Voting no but it was close

[Retired]

Another Finals series loss for pj, easy yes from me


Go 76ers!

[Charles]

Voted no but would have probably been a yes if he was younger when we restarted and he had more time to potentially put together an awards list and a longer "prime." By the time we were a couple years into the league he was already starting to decline a bit. Also, geesh, talk about unlucky with little injuries. The dude only played 1 full season. Very good player, but not HOF worthy.

[ucfinfan86]

This was close but just not a long enough peak. He was really good for a few seasons but I think he’s just a little shoet

[carmelo115]

This ones tough because I said yes to klay with similar accolade resumes. George was a really good SF in a league without many, but he was maybe a 3rd option on a title team. The one playoff MVP makes it interesting though. He’s a bitch that he just kept getting hurt when I needed him

[John1974]

No for me as well if he had 2-3 more prime years I would have voted yes.

[SpikeLee14]

No for me. Solid SF just didn’t have a the length to back up his argument