![Ben Wallace was named Defensive Player of the Year four times. [Image Source: Flickr | Derral Chen]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/2/16/660x290/b_502x220x82/ben-wallace-was-named-defensive-player-of-the-year-four-times-image-source-flickr-derral-chen_2206771.jpg "Ben Wallace was named Defensive Player of the Year four times. [Image Source: Flickr | Derral Chen]")
On Saturday, the 2019 finalists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame were announced . Thirteen names are included on the list as reported by SI, seven of which are former NBA players.
(The six finalists who weren't NBA players are men's college basketball coach Eddie Sutton, NBA coach Bill Fitch, women's college basketball coach Barbara Stevens, women's high school basketball coach Leta Andrews, WNBA player Teresa Weatherspoon, and NBA referee Hugh Evans.)
Here’s a look at how those seven fared while in the pros.
Marques Johnson (Bucks 1977-84, Clippers 1984-87, Warriors 1989-90)
According to Yahoo, this is the first time that Johnson has been named a finalist. Johnson was a five-time All-Star in his 11 NBA seasons and was also named to three All-NBA teams (once First Team, twice Second Team). He was the Comeback Player of the Year for the 1985-86 season. In 691 career games, he posted averages of 20.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Bobby Jones (Nuggets 1974-78, 76ers 1978-86)
A defensive wizard, Jones was named to 10 All-Defensive First Teams in his 12 professional seasons (including the first two in the ABA). He was named Sixth Man of the Year in the 1982-83 season on a 76ers team that went on to win the NBA championship. He played 941 games in the ABA/NBA and finished with averages of 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks.
Sidney Moncrief (Bucks 1979-89, Hawks 1990-91)
Moncrief was named an All-Star five straight seasons from 1981-82 to 1985-86. He was named Defensive Player of the Year back-to-back seasons in 1982-83 and 1983-84. The five-time All-NBA member (one First Team, four Second Teams) played 767 games averaging 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Jack Sikma (SuperSonics 1977-86, Bucks 1986-91)
One of the better centers of his day, Sikma was a key cog on a SuperSonics team that won it all during the 1978-79 season. He was named to seven straight All-Star teams from the 1978-79 to the 1984-85 season. In a lengthy career that spanned 1,107 games, Sikma went on to average 15.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks.
Ben Wallace (Bullets/Wizards 1996-99, Magic 1999-00, Pistons 2000-06, 2009-12, Bulls 2006-08, Cavaliers 2008-09)
Despite his offensive shortcomings, Wallace was a presence on the court. His four Defensive Player of the Year trophies are tied for the most in league history with Dikembe Mutombo. The four-time All-Star won a NBA title in the 2003-04 season with the Pistons, twice led the league in rebounding, and led once in blocks. In 1,088 career games, the defensive stalwart averaged 5.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.0 blocks.
Chris Webber (Warriors 1993-94, 2008, Bullets/Wizards 1994-98, Kings 1998-05, 76ers 2005-06, Pistons 2006-07)
The first overall pick in 1993, Webber started off his career by winning Rookie of the Year. He was named to five All-Star teams and five times finished in the top-ten of MVP voting. A career that lasted 831 games saw Webber end with averages of 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks.
Paul Westphal (Celtics 1972-75, Suns 1975-80, 1983-84, SuperSonics 1980-81, Knicks 1981-83)
An All-Star for five straight seasons from 1976-77 to 1980-81, Westphal averaged at least 20.6 points a contest for five straight seasons from 1975-76 to 1979-80. He was an All-NBA First Team member three times and was named Comeback Player of the Year for the 1982-83 season. In 823 career games, he went on to average 15.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.3 steals.
