HKF

See this is why comparing across eras doesn't work, but yes Laettner has been argued as one of the best basketball players to ever play college basketball. I am not comparing them as talents, I merely pointing out that the era Walton played in aides him. Yes he is quite possibly the best college player ever, but Laettner won two championships in the modern era of basketball, with scholarship limitations, a 64 team NCAA field, better competition across the board, a 35 second shot clock.

I think the biggest problem is that people will invariably look at Laettner's pro career and effectively conclude all of those guys were better than him. Duncan for example was not a better college player than Laettner, nor was Shaq or Alonzo Mourning. Would I take Laettner on the pro level? Hell no. Same reason why I wouldn't take Glen Davis or Adam Morrison on the pro level over a Rudy Gay.

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Knick_Killer31

He was thought to be better than Shaq! One of The USA's Dream Teams took Laettner over O'neal i believe.

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jericho

Laettner was never, for a second, thought to be better than Shaq. (Or, probably, Mourning.) We're dancing on the head of a semantic pin, here, I think. Laettner was a very good college player, and much more accomplished than either of the guys drafted ahead of him. But in what way was he ever "better"? Put O'Neal or Mourning on those Duke teams and I doubt they win any less often. I guess I need a definition of "better" that helps me makes sense of these evaluations.

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kflo

laettner was rewarded for his college accomplishments as a token collegiate on the dream team. in no way was he thought to be better than shaq, which is of course why shaq was the #1 pick without any question.

laettner was a 1x 1st team all-american. he wasn't close to alcindor or walton or oscar or lucas or sampson or david thompson or a bunch of others.

if we were to think of someone similar to walton, it would be if duncan got hurt early in his career after winning his 1st title, except with a far better college career.

Minstrel

Laettner : one-time college All-American.

Bill Walton: three-time College Player of the Year.

The two aren't even remotely comparable in college careers. It's like comparing an NBA player who's made a few All-Star teams with an NBA player who consistently wins the MVP award (for example, Baron Davis and Michael Jordan).

Walton also had a respectable NBA career, where he was one of the few best players in the game until he was injured and then was a very valuable bench player on one of the most loaded teams ever.

Since it's not an NBA Hall of Fame but a basketball Hall of Fame, Walton's accomplishments in both the college and pro game merit him a spot. There's no doubt that he wouldn't be there on just the strength of his pro career, but his college career does count and is legitimately one of the greatest college careers ever.

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Bball_Doctor

Yes. Duke's success has skewed the perceived level of greatness people often attribute to Laetnerr's college career. Laetnerr was a very good college player and he had a great college career but he was not a better player than Shaq nor Duncan particularly the latter.

Also, the difference between Laetnerr and Walton is that Walton was unquestionably the best player in college while playing for the best team. As I said, Laettner was only the best player on the best team or a very good player playing for the best team. Using the Duncan comparison. Duncan was the unquestionably best player in college while playing for the not so best team.

Sunsfan81

No, Laettner doesn't have a shot at the HOF because he didn't follow up his great college career with a good career in the NBA. Walton is not in only because he was a great college player, he was also a great NBA player even though it didn't last long. But he did manage to win an MVP, a couple of NBA titles, a Finals MVP, one NBA 1st team, one NBA 2nd team, and was twice on the NBA 1st Defensive team.

A better case could be made for Laettner making the HOF if you look at a guy like Bill Bradley who is in mostly for his college career. But even he was a better player than Laettner in the NBA.

In October 2007, a College Basketball Hall of Fame finally opens. It's long overdue. There should have been seperate HOFs for college and pro basketball a long time ago. Laettner and Bradley belong in the College Hall, and I think Walton belongs in both.

knicksfan89

mostly for his college career but in 77 he was voted the greatest center in nba history for that season because in 77 he was awesome

kflo

what vote was that? got a link?

BadBaronRudigor

Laettner was clearly a better college player than Mourning who was something of a disappointment at Georgetown; Shaq . . . well, the championships are an arguement. However, if Walton is in HOF, how about Gilmore who has ABA MVP and great long career in both leagues?

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kflo

artis certainly has an argument. he wasn't thought of in the same breath as walton, though. walton was argued by