Top Accolades: 1x champion, 4x All-Star, 2x All-NBA
Key Stats: 15.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BLK
Shawn Marion’s Hall of Fame case is often presented through a “Well, he doesn’t have a traditional argument, but…” lens, as if a four-time All-Star was some role player. His scoring arc doesn’t square away with conventional stardom, but he averaged over 19 points per game from 2000-01 through 2006-07 as a member of those elite Phoenix Suns squads.
More credit should be given to Marion’s across-the-board impact. He thrived within a host of different ecosystems and was among the most versatile defenders of his era. The absence of an All-Defense selection, in hindsight, verges on egregious when you consider he finished in the top 10 of DPOY voting three times.
Marion hasn’t suited up since 2015 and still comfortably ranks inside the top 65 all-time of total rebounds (41st), steals (21st) and blocks (62nd). That’s absurd stuff for someone listed at 6’7″, and his longevity buys him a spot on the top-100 scoring list, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Dan Favale is a National NBA Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky (@danfavale), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, co-hosted by Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes.
