Joe Johnson, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge all wore a Nets uniform, but their biggest accomplishments came elsewhere. Now, all three are facing different questions about whether their careers are worthy of a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Brooklyn Nets have had their share of star players come through the organization over the years, but three former members of the franchise are now part of a much bigger conversation.
Joe Johnson, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge are all among the former Nets whose careers have put them in the discussion for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
None of the three built their Hall of Fame cases primarily in Brooklyn. In fact, their most accomplished years came elsewhere. Still, all three had notable moments with the Nets, with Griffin and Aldridge eventually sharing the court during Brooklyn's 2021-22 season.
Joe Johnson
Johnson is perhaps one of the more interesting borderline cases.
A seven-time All-Star, Johnson spent the majority of his prime with the Atlanta Hawks, where he became one of the league's most reliable scoring wings. He averaged at least 20 points per game in five consecutive seasons from 2005-06 through 2009-10 and developed a reputation as one of the NBA's premier isolation scorers.
His career résumé goes beyond his scoring, though. Johnson finished his NBA career with more than 20,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists, a statistical combination reached by only a small group of players in league history.
Johnson's time with the Nets came after Brooklyn made one of the biggest moves in franchise history, acquiring him from Atlanta in 2012. He spent four seasons with the organization and was part of the veteran-heavy Nets teams that were trying to establish themselves as a contender in the early Brooklyn era.
His best playoff moment in Brooklyn came during the 2014 postseason. Johnson averaged 21.2 points per game during Brooklyn's first-round series against the Toronto Raptors, including a 34-point performance in Game 1. The Nets ultimately reached the Eastern Conference semifinals before losing to the Miami Heat.
Johnson's lack of deep playoff success is one of the biggest questions surrounding his Hall of Fame candidacy. He reached the conference finals just twice during his career and never made an NBA Finals. Still, seven All-Star appearances and his overall statistical production give him a legitimate case.
He was a first-time nominee for the 2026 Hall of Fame class, officially putting his candidacy in the conversation.
Blake Griffin
Griffin's Hall of Fame case may be the most complicated of the three.
There is no question that his peak was spectacular. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft became an All-Star immediately after making his NBA debut, won Rookie of the Year, and eventually earned six All-Star selections and five All-NBA honors. He also won the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest and became one of the NBA's faces during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Injuries, however, changed the trajectory of his career.
Griffin was unable to maintain his early-career dominance for an extended period, and his production declined as injuries piled up. That has become a major part of the discussion surrounding his Hall of Fame candidacy.
Griffin was a finalist for the 2026 Hall of Fame class, but ultimately was not selected.
His time in Brooklyn came late in his career. Griffin joined the Nets in March 2021 after reaching a buyout with Detroit, immediately giving Brooklyn another experienced frontcourt option. He became an important part of the Nets' playoff rotation and started all 12 of Brooklyn's playoff games that postseason, averaging 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds.
By the time Griffin arrived in Brooklyn, he was no longer the high-flying superstar who had taken over the league earlier in his career. Instead, he reinvented himself as a willing shooter, passer, screener and physical defender.
Griffin later returned to Brooklyn for the 2021-22 season, although his role was reduced as the Nets dealt with injuries and roster changes. That season also brought him together with Aldridge, giving Brooklyn two former All-Stars and longtime veterans in its frontcourt.
LaMarcus Aldridge
Aldridge arguably has the strongest statistical case of the three.
Over a 16-year NBA career, Aldridge scored more than 20,000 points and grabbed more than 8,000 rebounds. He was also a seven-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection. Those accomplishments place him among the most productive big men of his generation.
Unlike Griffin and Johnson, Aldridge was never known for playing above the rim or putting together flashy highlight reels. His game was built around fundamentals, particularly his signature midrange jumper and ability to score over smaller defenders.
Aldridge joined the Nets in 2021 after a brief retirement, giving Brooklyn another veteran big man during its championship push. He appeared in 47 games during the 2021-22 season and averaged 12.9 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field.
His Nets tenure was relatively short compared to the rest of his career, but it was another example of the role Aldridge had taken on late in his career: providing scoring, experience and a dependable interior presence for a team with championship aspirations.
Aldridge ultimately retired without an NBA championship, something that could factor into the Hall of Fame discussion. But his longevity and production are difficult to overlook.
Three Different Hall of Fame Cases
Johnson, Griffin and Aldridge all have legitimate arguments, but for very different reasons.
Johnson has the seven All-Star selections and impressive career totals. Griffin's case is built around how dominant he was at his peak before injuries changed his career. Aldridge, meanwhile, has the combination of longevity, production and seven All-Star appearances that makes his résumé difficult to overlook.
None of them spent the majority of their careers in Brooklyn, but all three eventually found their way to the Nets. Griffin and Aldridge even shared the floor during the same season, giving the franchise a brief glimpse of two players who had once been among the league's best at their positions.
Whether any of them eventually gets the call to Springfield remains to be seen. But with all three now eligible or under consideration, former Nets fans have plenty of reason to follow the debate.
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