The Leandro Barbosa in the Ring of Honor argument

Argument against inclusion in the Ring of Honor

Although he stands among the ranks of some of the best players in franchise history in total statistics due to longevity, Barbosa does not rank in the top-ten in any single individual career category by average outside of three-point percentage. The only individual statistical categories that he ranks in the top ten in total accumulation is three pointers made and attempted, although he ranks top-25 in FGA (13), FGM (14), FTM (25), AST (17), STL (12), TRN (15), PF (12), and PTS (13). But while those rankings in so many statistics based on longevity are impressive, in every one of those categories there is at least one other player who will likely not make it in the Ring of Honor. Thus leaving Barbosa out, would not necessarily be a out of the norm as other players could then potentially have an argument for their inclusion as well.

Furthermore, Barbosa did win the Sixth Man of the Year Award once and finished second once, he only averaged double-digits in scoring four times in his career in Phoenix, and averaged over 15 only twice – those two seasons. In accumulation, those four seasons averaged out to 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and a 41.0% three-point shooting percentage, but while they are nice, and very good for a single player off the bench, they have been similarly repeatable by many players in Suns franchise history, players who will never sniff the Ring. Granted Charles Barkley only played four seasons in Phoenix, and Tom Chambers and Connie Hawkins five, those players were each dominant league-wide for periods, something that Barbosa can not claim. But while league status should not have any influence over whether or not a former Sun makes the Ring, being that statistically he is arguable on the fence and could conceivably lean in either direction, taking into account a lack of dominance league-wide should at least be taken into consideration.

It is difficult to pin his team’s record on him in starts, but the fact remains, he was never a reliable starting point guard, even when he had Amar’e and Marion around him. In 113 total regular season and playoff starts – regardless of position – Barbosa finished with a 51-57 record as a starter in the regular season, and 1-4 in the playoffs. The bulk of those starts came in the generally talent-laden Stave Nash era.

Although it is unexpected of a player drafted as late as Barbosa to be an impact player, and he was often technically a point guard when starting, one would think that with those teams that were regular playoff attendees, teams that led the league in scoring and shooting, that he could have had a better winning percentage as a starter.

Not entirely his fault and certainly not a damning reason for leaving him out of the Ring alone, but still, a significant angle in the argument for inclusion.