5 Cincinnati Basketball Players Who Deserve a Spot in the Hall of Fame
Here are 5 Cincinnati basketball players who have had an impact on the game and deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson nicknamed “The Big O”, is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks The 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), 220 lb (100 kg) Robertson played point guard and was a 12-time All-Star, 11-time member of the All-NBA team and one-time winner of the MVP Award in 14 professional seasons. In 1962, he became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season.
Robertson is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of basketball and was voted one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history by the NBA in 1996. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1974, was elected one of its “100 Legends of the Game” in 1996, and was chosen as one of the “50 greatest players of All-Time” by Sports Illustrated in 2002.
Jerry Lucas
Jerry Lucas is a retired American professional basketball player who was a center and forward during his playing career. Lucas was born in Middletown, Ohio and he played collegiately for the Ohio State Buckeyes As a college player, Lucas was twice named NCAA Player of the Year and he is a three-time first-team All-American. He was also named MVP of the 1960 NCAA Final Four.
As a professional, Lucas played for the Cincinnati Royals, the New York Knicks and the San Diego Conquistadors. He was an NBA All-Star seven times and he was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1964. He was a member of the Knicks team that won an NBA Championship in 1973. Lucas has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and he is also a member of the Ohio State University Athletics Hall of Fame
Bob Cousy
Few Cincinnati players have had the impact on the game of basketball like Bob Cousy. A 6-Ime Nba champion and 13-time All-Star, Cousy is widely regarded as one of the best point guards of all time. His inventive style of play changed the way the game was played, and his influence can still be seen in today’s game.He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971, and his jersey number (14) is retired by the Boston Celtics
John Havlicek
John Havlicek is one of the most accomplished players in Cincinnati Basketball History He was a four-time All-Star, a two-time NBA Champion and a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Havlicek played his entire 16-year career with the Cincinnati Royals/Golden State Warriors franchise, and is the franchise’s All-time leading scorer with 19,726 points. He is also the franchise’s leader in minutes played (34,495) and games played (1,174).
Havlicek was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
Bill Russell
Bill Russell is a retired American basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won eleven NBA championships during his thirteen-year career. Russell and Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens are tied as the only sports figures with the most championship titles in a career. Russell led Boston to seven of their championships, winning an unprecedented eleven in thirteen seasons.
