Two members of the Dallas Mavericks’ family have been named as nominees eligible to be inducted into the prestigious Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Shawn Marion, one of the driving forces behind the Mavs winning the 2011 NBA title, is one of 50 nominees just announced who are on the list with a chance to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Marion enjoyed a stellar NBA career that lasted from 1999-2015, and included the 6-7 forward playing for the Mavs from ’09-’14.
Joining Marion as a Hall of Fame candidate is forward Michael Finley, who played in the NBA from 1995-2010, including with the Mavs from 1996-’05.
“I’m so excited for both of them,” proprietor Mark Cuban said. “There aren’t enough superlatives to say how excited I am for both.
“Just to be in the (Hall of Fame) conversation is amazing. I learned so much from both of them.”
Nicknamed the Matrix because of the plethora of things he could do on the court, Marion scored 17,700 points and collected 10,101 rebounds in his career and finished with averages of 15.2 pints and 8.7 rebounds in 1,163 games.
In December of 2012, Marion joined Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone and Kevin Garnett as the only players to accumulate 16,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks. Then, in January of 2014, Marion joined Olajuwon, Malone and Garnett as the only players with 17,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks.
And in December of 2014, Marion became the first player in NBA history with 15,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 1,000 blocked shots and 500 made 3-pointers.
Needles to say, Marion was overjoyed with his Hall of Fame candidacy.
“It’s awesome,” said Marion, who was selected to four All-Star teams. “I’m truly ecstatic.
“I think it’s a testament to the things I was able to do and what I was able to do in the game.”
Marion and Finley are part of a Hall of Fame candidacy class that includes such luminaries as Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh who are all on the ballot for the first time. Also, Chris Webber, Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace are among others who are on the ballot for at least a second time and are up for induction.
“I’m in a class full of giants,” Marion said. “I guess when you look at it from my side and from what I was able to do, I guess I played like a giant.”
Finley also played like a giant. Before Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash (he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018) joined the Mavs in 1998, Finley was the team’s primary go-to player and played in the 2000 and ’01 All-Star games. During his career, Finley scored 17,306 points and grabbed 4,804 rebounds, and finished with averages of 15.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 1,103 games.
“It’s a great honor,” Finley said. “That I was drafted 21 (in the 1995 NBA Draft), to even be nominated is a great honor.”
An NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007, Finley went through a five-year stretch with the Mavs from the 1997-’98 season to the 2001-’02 season where he averaged at least 20.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per season. Affectionately known as the Iron Man, he also led the NBA in minutes played in ’97-’98 (41.4), ’00-’01 (42.0) and ’01-’02 (39.9), in addition to averaging 41 minutes during the ’98-’99 season and 42.2 minutes during the ’99-’00 campaign.
Also, Finley played all 82 games in six different seasons, in addition to playing all 50 games during the NBA’s lockout-shortened 1998-’99 season.
“That’s my guy,” said Marion, who was a two-time all-NBA third team selection. “Fin had an amazing career as well, and I’m happy for him.”
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle also is happy for the honor bestowed on Marion and Finley.
“Shawn Marion is one of the really unique players ever in the history of the game, and he was a major factor in our championship run in 2011,” Carlisle said. “He’s in the top two or three in most stats for the Phoenix Suns, and Finley was a great player for the Mavericks.
“Those guys are both deserving to be on the ballot. It’s a great honor for them.”
The Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2020 finalists will be announced on Feb. 14 in Chicago during All-Star Weekend, and those finalists will be enshrined into the hall in Springfield, MA, in September.
Both Marion and Finley, who are on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, grew up in suburban Chicago. So, what would it mean for Finley and Marion to be named to the Hall of Fame in their own backyard?
“That would be very special — it would be awesome,” Marion said. “We’re going to turn it out even more.”
Cuban certainly knows how special it would be if both Marion and Finley are able to survive the selection process and become members of the Hall of Fame class of 2020.
“If I had a vote it would be a no-brainer,” Cuban said. “They are quality people who not only had an amazing impact on the court, but off the court in their communities as well.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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