2039 Hall of Fame Nominee - Manny Leaks

[Donny - Bucks]

As another elite big who called it quits with years of productive basketball left, Manny Leaks was a terror in the paint, playing for primarily contenders throughout his career due to his incredible defensive/rebounding ability. Will this be enough for him to get into the NBN Hall of Fame?

PLAYER PAGE - nothinbutnetleague.altervista.org/NothinButNet/Archive/2038/html/players/player594.htm



CAREER STATS
Games: 903
MPG: 32.5
PPG: 10.5
RPG: 12.4
APG: 1.6
SPG: 0.9
BPG: 2.9
TOPG: 1.8
FG%: .425
FT%: .758 
3P%: .333 (1/3)

Best Season (2036 Warriors)
Games: 69
MPG: 35.6
PPG: 13.8
RPG: 14.1 
APG: 2.0
SPG: 0.7
BPG: 3.3
TOPG: 1.8
FG%: .467 
FT%: .748
3P%: 1.000 (1/1)

Career Highs
Points: 32
Rebounds: 28
Assists: 9
Steals: 4
Blocks: 13

Achievements
Championships: 1
Player of the Game: 75
Player of the Week: 0
Player of the Month: 0
Double Doubles: 415
Triple Doubles: 7

Awards
2026 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2026 - All-Rookie Second Team
2027 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2032 - All-Defensive Second Team
2036 - All-Star Game Participant

Arguments For Induction
- Leaks, similar to Wembanyama, will have an interesting discussion given how important awards are. However, let's look at the facts. Leaks is one of, if not the best second round pick to ever play in the NBN thanks to, in part, an incredibly savvy ability to block shots and grab rebounds. Instead of trying to do too much or become something he wasn't, Leaks became one of the better defensive/rebounding bigs in league history.

- While the offensive production was minimal, Leaks was a player I would call a primarily productive offensive player as well. While a lot of bigs are sub 40% shooters and are detrimental from the free throw line, Leaks had the ability to score at an efficient enough level to where you wouldn't complain about him shooting a few times a game and was a very high-end free throw shooter circumstantially. 

- Most players struggle to be able to produce when they end up on different teams and Leaks, simply put, did not. Leaks had 25+ MPG on the Warriors 4x, Celtics 3x, Bucks 3x, and the Heat once in 2032, and outside of his rookie year with the Dubs, he consistently offered 13+ rebounds/game, 4+ stocks/game, and was regularly a double-digit points contributor.

Arguments Against Induction
- The awards aren't really there for Leaks, which is unfortunate given the fact that I think Leaks was very regularly a top-end big men for the majority of his career. I, among other people who had Leaks, would tell you the same... but just one All-Defensive Second Team and one All-Star Game appearance is pretty lackluster given the circumstances of some of the other bigs we have in the league.

- How easy is it to induct a guy like Leaks into the Hall of Fame? As a defensive big, you'd hope that he would've received more recognition for his crafts, but in reality his career was a little bit more under-the-radar than most Hall of Famers, realistically. 

- When looking over his career numbers, I'm not sure they look like "Hall of Fame" level numbers all things considered. 10.5/12.4/3.8 stocks is a very productive big man, but I think there's going to be some scrutiny given a short career in which his first three years were spent off the bench in Golden State. In reality, he was probably more like an 11/14/4 player, but still... is he good enough to get in?

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***

[cop5414]

Going to be a borderline no from me. Take away his first three seasons and his defensive career stats are great, but the lack of many defensive awards is off-putting for me.

[Donny - Bucks]

I'd like to vote him in as a Warrior given the fact that he was drafted and developed there before returning at the end of his career... so I think I will.

[cheddar]

Yes in FBB he’s a prototypical big. That should be rewarded when you are at the top of your position.

[John1974]

No

[carlos]

No, Leaks was the best second round pick and a great defensive center but I feel like he needs to have more awards as a one- dimensional player. He only made 1 All Defense 2nd Team, no DPOY, only 1 ASG. He's Hall of Very Good

[HF]

The hall has a place for all time great rebounders, as well as elite defenders.


Yes.

[frosty]

Yes he was exactly the type of big I would want in FBB.

[cop5414]

Feb 21, 2022 2:58:02 GMT HF said:

The hall has a place for all time great rebounders, as well as elite defenders.


Yes.

I said elite defenders belong in the Cade Cunningham thread. But I guess rebounding and one All-Star appearence makes all the difference.

[A. Silver]

Gotta say yes - 14+ rebounds per game for 6 seasons in a row is pretty impressive and he kept his blocks over 3 per game for so long too. 15th all time in blocks despite starting his career on the bench and retiring at the top of his game.

[Donny - Bucks]

PS: If Leaks gets in as a Warrior then Wemb should get in as a Buck

[Michael]

I think when we're making a case for defensive bigs with not a lot of production offensively, accolades become very important, and I expect at least multiple All-Defensive team appearances for a NBN HoF induction. Might have been a great contributor to Warriors and others but not quite HoF worthy. I vote no.

[SpikeLee14]

Another easy no IMO. Great defensive big but never once an all league and only made 1 all star game.

[ucfinfan86]

Helped me win the 2032 title but just didn’t think of him as a hall of famer. He had 10 really good seasons but without the awards it really hurts. If he had like 15 seasons of those stats without the awards it might be a yes.

[vanimmer]

Voted no
would i love to have a big like him: defenitly
do i think Hof if i remember him: no