SBN Wisconsin Hall of Fame Nomination #8: Michael Finley

by Adam Hoge on Aug 23, 2010 11:39 AM CDT in Columns/Features

This is the eighth of 10 posts revealing the Wisconsin Badgers' 10 nominees for possible induction into SBN Wisconsin's Hall of Fame. The nominees are revealed in order of most votes from the B5Q readership.

Michael Finley held the UW scoring record for 11 years before Alando Tucker broke the record in 2007. Simply put, he was statistically the best Badger ever to play basketball at Wisconsin until Tucker's senior year.

Finley is also the most tenured Badger in the NBA. Drafted in the first round by the Phoenix Suns in 1995, Finley has also played for the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics.

After an impressive rookie season in which Finley was named to the NBA All-Rookie team, the Suns traded him to the Mavericks in a deal that moved Jason Kidd to Phoenix. Finley played nine seasons in Dallas and was a two-time all-star. Along with Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki, the three formed a dangerous trio, but one that was never able to win a championship. Finley signed with the Spurs in 2005 and finally won his first and only NBA Championship in 2007.

In March of 2010, Finley signed a late season deal with the Celtics and played sparingly for the Eastern Conference Champions. He is now a free agent.

Finley joins Barry Alvarez, Ron Dayne, Bo Ryan, Pat Richter, Alan Ameche, Joe Thomas, Chris Chelios and two other Badgers yet to be named on the SBN Wisconsin Hall of Fame ballot. Ten nominees each from the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette Golden Eagles will also be featured on the ballot. Once again, all voting will be done by SBNation readers.

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Michael Finley's lone NBA title

came at the expense of LBJ. I love it.

My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 23, 2010 7:20 PM CDT reply actions

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Badgers Football Schedule

UNLV	Thu 09/01	W 51 - 17
Oregon St. Building The Dam	Sat 09/10	W 35 - 0
@ Northern Illinois Red And Black Attack	Sat 09/17	W 49 - 7
South Dakota Coyotes	Sat 09/24	W 59 - 10
Nebraska Corn Nation	Sat 10/01	W 48 - 17
Indiana The Crimson Quarry	Sat 10/15	W 59 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 10/22	L 31 - 37
@ Ohio St. Along The Olentangy	Sat 10/29	L 29 - 33
Purdue Hammer and Rails	Sat 11/05	W 62 - 17
@ Minnesota The Daily Gopher	Sat 11/12	W 42 - 13
@ Illinois Hail to the Orange	Sat 11/19	W 28 - 17
Penn St. Black Shoe Diaries	Sat 11/26	W 45 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 12/03	W 42 - 39
@ Oregon Addicted To Quack	Mon 01/02	L 38 - 45