ESPN just ran this graphic in the 6pm SportsCenter… Chris Webber’s retirement ends his career with an average of 20 points, 9 boards, and 4 assists per game. Great numbers, only 6 other players have that honor, 1 of them is the still-active Kevin Garnett, and the others are all Hall of Famers: Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Larry Bird and Billy Cunningham.

KG is already a lock for the Hall, so do you have to talk about C-Webb?

Well, to ESPN’s credit, whatever talking head they tossed to answered correctly when he said “Nope.” And there’s two reasons why.

First and foremost, Webber missed a lot of time. A lot of time. In 14 years (not counting this last season’s 9 games with Golden State), he averaged only 57 games per season. Across an 82 game schedule, that’s a lot of days off.

Secondly… well, geez, do I even have to say it? Even though it was a long time ago, and Michigan has done it’s best to retcon the entire Fab Five era because of the booster shennanigans, Webber will always be remembered for taking the timeout that didn’t exist. And as far as I know, the HoF doesn’t take kindly to inscriptions that read “Most remembered for blowing it.”