NBA: The 6 basketball Hall of Famers to have never played in the league

Dino Meneghin (inducted 2003)

Another immensely famous international player, Dino Meneghin is considered the best Italian player of all time. At 6-foot-9, Meneghin is slightly undersized in comparison for the modern NBA center, but judging by the stat set that we have, that didn’t seem to affect him too much. Meneghin played in four Olympic series, and we have the complete stats for his ’76, ’80, and ’84 games. Over those three years, he averaged 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal per game.

In 1980, Meneghin would lead the Italian national team to their only Olympic medal during his career, when they won silver after falling to Cosic’s Yugoslavian team in the finals. In that game, presumably going up against Cosic, Meneghin recorded 12 points, two steals, and four assists. That year was the closest Meneghin would come to winning an Olympic gold medal.

Meneghin didn’t have a career without accolades however. In 1991, he was named the greatest player in European history. He also won seven Euroleague championships and he was three-time European player of the year. Meneghin also holds the distinction four championships in the same year, three different times.

In 1970, 1973, and 1987 Meneghin won the national playoffs, the Italy cup, the European championship, and the Intercontinental Cup. Meneghin had one of the most historic European careers ever, spanning from when he was 16 to age 44.