Rafter Riff, #16

Peja doesn't belong in the Hall. Too many injuries, and way too much fading away when it mattered. I was always a Peja supporter, I think partly because of when he was drafted, but that being said as talented as Peja was I'll always wonder had several things gone differently:

1. If he hadn't hurt his knee in 1998 while still playing with his PAOK team in Greece, requiring, what I personally believe, thought I haven't seen anything reported as such, a micro-fracture surgery
   
2. Had he not hurt his groin or whatever it was(I forget what it was he hurt against Dallas in the 02 semis), I wondered how well he would have done against Dallas, and later against LA

However, that being said, they didn't go Peja's way, and highlighting Adelman's greatest mistake during his 8 year tenure, that included the ill-fated return in the 2002 WCF. Peja, like Mike, had the talent to get to the Hall. Injuries, and a seemingly lackadaisical approach in some area's, cost him over the long haul. Oh, 2002, how you have burned a hole in my heart.

He's my favorite player even if he's a Hornet now but I don't believe we should retire his number. I'm happy that he has finally recovered and NOH has utiized him properly though. Hopefully, he would get his number retired in New Orleans

I was more torn on Peja than Bibby. Still voted no.

I'm trying to imagine a Peja jersey retirement ceremony, and I'm not getting goosebumps. Love the guy, loved his game. Love his successor (Martin) more, though.

All-time. Yet, His tenure here wasn't long enough.
Had hit ever had been HIS team(as was the case w/ Webber and Richmond) He could be considered. I have a couple of rules for being inducted, Sacramento-wise:

1)Win it all. Do that, and all winning player jerseys get retired immediately. I then die post-haste, and happily.

2) Lead the team unchallenged for 5 years minimum. Said player MUST be the BEST player, have the main leadership role, and put up all-star numbers.

Sadly, this leaves out everyone except:
1)Mitch Richmond
2)Chris Webber

Votes could be had for Divac, but no friggin' LAKER should hang in the Sacramento rafters w/o a noose. I respect the man, but he was ALWAYS a Laker.

And yeah, he was my favorite all-time King, too.

One of my favorite Kings memories is once when Webber was being interviewed post-game, you could see Peja in the stands sneaking up behind him to throw a cup of water on C-Webb.

I miss those days of locker-room harmony. But I digress.

If you're going to retire Bibby, you pretty much have to retire Peja, too, but I don't think either of them deserves it. Peja was the team leader one year while Webber was out. He even showed some serious toughness when he scored his career high 41 against Posey and said Posey should be able to remember it because it was his jersey number. Ouch! But he just...doesn't...quite...belong in the rafters.

Sorry, Peja.