Next Maverick to be inducted into the Hall of Fame may surprise fans

For as divisive as his case may be, former Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion has a strong argument for a Hall of Fame induction. A decorated player who epitomizes the versatility that has become the standard for modern forwards, Marion is toeing the line of basketball immortaility.

Though some might argue to the contrary, Marion is inching closer to becoming the next Mavericks legend to enter the Hall of Fame.

Marion played 16 NBA seasons, including five in Dallas. During that time, he became the proverbial Swiss army knife, capable of contributing in every phase of the game and providing unrivaled versatility on the defensive end of the floor.

For his efforts, Marion earned two All-NBA nods and four All-Star Game selections—commendable accolades that may not punch his ticket, but at least begin the conversation.

Teammates such as Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Amar'e Stoudemire admittedly took the spotlight and perhaps the accolades along with them. What Marion's career retrospective consistently shows, however, is that he was invaluable to his teams' success—and uniquely adaptable.

As such, Marion has a strong case for making the Hall of Fame—including the fact that he was the leading scorer on two different 50-win teams.

Shawn Marion has a unique case for the Hall of Fame

Marion was a key contributor during seven 50-win seasons and two 60-win campaigns. He was the Phoenix Suns' leading scorer when they went 51-31 in 2000-01, as well as when the franchise recorded 54 wins during the 2005-06 season.

Marion also led the Suns in scoring during the 2006 NBA Playoffs, averaging 20.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks as Phoenix marched on to a second consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance.

Marion did all of this with Stoudemire, the team's go-to scorer in previous seasons, missing all but three games in 2005-06. In turn, Marion finished in the top 10 in voting for both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

A season later, Marion selflessly accepted a step back into the role of the team's fourth-leading scorer with Stoudemire returning to the lineup and Leandro Barbosa emerging as a high-volume sixth man.

Marion also ranked second on the Suns in scoring at 19.4 points, as well as 11.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks, when it won 62 games in 2004-05. Moreover, he averaged 38.8 minutes per game that season—an epitomization of how heavily Phoenix relied on him in every phase of the game.

As if that weren't enough, Marion's Mavericks career was defined by a pair of 50-win seasons and an iconic run to a championship in 2010-11, during which he took on the toughest perimeter defensive assignments.

Marion had the unenviable task of defending the likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and even shooting guards Kobe Bryant and Brandon Roy. He passed each test with flying colors, providing the Mavericks with exactly what they needed at every turn.

That includes a 26-point eruption to put away the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-96 in the Western Conference Finals, and a 20-point performance to help Dallas win Game 2 of the NBA Finals after falling behind 0-1 to the Miami Heat.

Furthermore, Marion is one of five players in NBA history with career marks of at least 17,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks. The others: Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Karl Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon.

A player who constantly impacted winning at the highest level while playing absurd minutes and providing tremendous value in every phase of the game, Marion is a unique talent worth honoring.