As it stands now, NBA players are not eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame until after they have hung up their jerseys and retired.
But one NBA legend believes that should change.
While talking to Showtime Basketball, Paul Pierce suggested that players should be able to enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame while they are still actively playing the game.
He added that athletes such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant should be admitted into the Hall of Fame right now, even though they both have several years of playing still in them.
Pierce’s co-hosts mostly chuckled at Pierce’s suggestion and assumed that this sort of change will never happen.
The comment was made because basketball coaches are eligible to be Hall of Fame inductees even if they still have a job in the NBA.
Pierce says the same should be true for players as well.
Right now, a player must be fully retired for four full seasons before they can be enshrined in the Hall.
Co-host Rachel Nichols told Pierce that the time between retirement and enshrinement is a good thing.
It allows players and voters enough time to reflect on the achievements of someone.
Additionally, it gives inductees time to truly think about their careers and write a strong acceptance speech too.
The NBA is notorious for taking a long time to change its rules.
That means that the chance of Pierce actually getting his wish about the Hall of Fame is slim.
But it does raise an interesting question: If players could be submitted to the Hall while they were still participating, which ones would get in today?
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