Basketball Hall of Fame 2013 class: Gary Payton leads 12 finalists – Kevin Zimmerman, SB Nation
Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, and Spencer Haywood lead the way. Haywood was a former Denver Rockets player – for just one season – in 1969-70. He also atteneded Trinidad State Junior College here in Colorado as well. With the Rockets he averaged 30 points and 19.5 rebounds as a rookie! That same year he was named MVP of the 1970 All-Star game after a 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocks performance.

He was only with the Rockets/Nuggets for one season:

In 1970, despite the NBA's eligibility rules, Haywood joined the Seattle SuperSonics, and with SuperSonics owner Sam Schulman launched an anti-trust suit against the league (Haywood v. National Basketball Association). The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court before the NBA agreed to a settlement.

Do you the fact that there is a Basketball Hall of Fame and not a separate NBA Hall of Fame? It seems very odd to me that the NBA does not have its own Hall of Fame.

Michael Jordan has not left the building – Wright Thompson, ESPN Outside the Lines
An incredible look at the 50 year-old Jordan. A must read.

When JaVale McGee helps – Jeremy Conlin, Hoopspeak.com
An interesting look at some numbers on McGee this season.

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