NBA: 50 greatest players to never win a championship

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NBA legend Allen Iverson easily made the cut, but where will he rank? (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Throughout the course of NBA history, great players have won championships. Some have won more than others, with Bill Russell leading the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 titles and Michael Jordan winning a record six Finals MVP awards during the Chicago Bulls’ sole run of dominance.

Just a single championship can alter a player’s legacy, however, as the crowning achievement in a team sport reflects incomparably favorably in the 5-on-5 setting.

It’s generally understood that an individual player has a greater impact on basketball than one would in baseball, football, or hockey. They spend more time in the game, touch the ball on a more consistent basis, and are asked to play more possessions of both offense and defense.

Championships are far from the only reason to praise an individual player, but those who secure that elusive gold receive inevitable and understandable praise.

There have been, however, a legion of players who have failed to win a championship during their Hall of Fame careers. There have been even more who have fallen short of the Hall of Fame but may have just been a title shy of it.

It’s the tallest task in sports, but that’s what the greats are measured against, their peers’ ability to perform in the biggest of moments.

In this article, we will sing the praises of the 50 greatest players who did not win an NBA championship. It will illustrate just how much talent has passed through the Association, as well as how difficult it is to overcome them, or even the other, all-time greats in a postseason setting.

In order to provide context to this list, a few caveats must be put in place

Only active players who have completed10 NBA seasons will be included.
No player who won an ABA Championship will make this list. Between 1967 and 1976, the top-heavy talent distribution across both leagues was comparable.

Having addressed the qualifications, the only question that remains is: Who are the 50 greatest NBA players to never win a championship?

Next: No. 50

NBA history, great players have won championships. Some have won more than others, with Bill Russell leading the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 titles and Michael Jordan winning a record six Finals MVP awards during the Chicago Bulls’ sole run of dominance.</p> <p>Just a single championship can alter a player’s legacy, however, as the crowning achievement in a team sport reflects incomparably favorably in the 5-on-5 setting.</p> <p>It’s generally understood that an individual player has a greater impact on basketball than one would in baseball, football, or hockey. They spend more time in the game, touch the ball on a more consistent basis, and are asked to play more possessions of both offense and defense.</p> <p>Championships are far from the only reason to praise an individual player, but those who secure that elusive gold receive inevitable and understandable praise.</p> <p>There have been, however, a legion of players who have failed to win a championship during their Hall of Fame careers. There have been even more who have fallen short of the Hall of Fame but may have just been a title shy of it.</p> <p>It’s the tallest task in sports, but that’s what the greats are measured against, their peers’ ability to perform in the biggest of moments.</p> <p>In this article, we will sing the praises of the 50 greatest players who did not win an NBA championship. It will illustrate just how much talent has passed through the Association, as well as how difficult it is to overcome them, or even the other, all-time greats in a postseason setting.</p> <p>In order to provide context to this list, a few caveats must be put in place</p> <ul> <li>Only active players who have completed10 NBA seasons will be included.</li> <li>No player who won an ABA Championship will make this list. Between 1967 and 1976, the top-heavy talent distribution across both leagues was comparable.</li> </ul> <p>Having addressed the qualifications, the only question that remains is: Who are the 50 greatest NBA players to never win a championship?</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 50 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064547" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064547 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1190101724.jpeg" alt="Terry Porter" width="3200" height="2133" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Terry Porter (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>50. Terry Porter</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1985 to 2002</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 2</li> </ul> <p>Terry Porter may not be the biggest name that you’ll see on this list, but it’s a shame that he didn’t win a championship. A consummate professional who ran a balanced offense and set a positive tone for his teams on both ends of the floor.</p> <p>With 17 years of NBA experience, multiple Finals appearances, and the respect of his peers, Porter makes our list as one of the best leaders to never win a ring.</p> <p>Porter made two All-Star Game appearances, thus proving that he was far more than a role player in his day. He was a three-level scoring threat, a poised passer who kept everyone involved on the Trail Blazers, and an unselfish playmaker who helped Clyde Drexler achieve superstardom.</p> <p>Porter was also one of the more clutch players in Portland Trail Blazers history, as evidenced by his propensity for stepping up in the biggest of moments.</p> <p>For instance, when the Trail Blazers defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the 1990 Western Conference Semifinals, Porter did the following in their final three wins of the series:</p> <ul> <li>Game 2: 27 points, seven assists, five steals</li> <li>Game 5: 38 points, five rebounds, five assists</li> <li>Game 7: 36 points, nine assists, two steals</li> </ul> <p>Porter also put up 23 points and seven assists in the closeout game of the Western Conference Finals, and 21 points and 10 assists during Portland’s lone win during the 1990 NBA Finals.</p> <p>That was something Portland came to rely on, Porter stepping up when the team needed it most. It was the highest form of praise a team could offer to its point guard, as trust in key moments is essential to team success.</p> <p>Considering Portland made multiple NBA Finals appearances, Porter’s clutch gene earns him his place on this list.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 49 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_963525" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-963525 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2067,w_3000/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F06%2F113118316-dallas-mavericks-v-portland-trail-blazers-game-four.jpg" alt="Brandon Roy" width="3000" height="2067" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3000px;">Brandon Roy (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>49. Brandon Roy</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 2006 to 2011; 2012-13</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves</li> <li><strong>All-NBA: </strong>2x (Second Team, Third Team)</li> </ul> <p>The <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/portland-trail-blazers/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> of the 2000s may be the No. 1 team to reference when discussing what could have been. Greg Oden was the No. 1 overall selection at the 2007 NBA Draft, but he only played 105 total games in the Association before injuries forced him into retirement.</p> <p>When it comes to the player who we actually witnessed in the superstar spotlight, however, Brandon Roy takes the cake. For those who had the privilege of watching him play, we all wish he could’ve stayed healthy. If so, he may have won a championship.</p> <p>Roy missed 17 games in his fourth NBA season and never truly recovered. In fact, he retired for the first time roughly a year later. During that four-year window, however, he earned the reputation of being one of the best all-around players in the NBA.</p> <p>Per <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/portland-trail-blazers/brandon-roy-could-have-been-walking-triple-double" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC Sports Northwest</a>, the legendary Kobe Bryant even identified Roy as the most difficult player to defend in the Western Conference:</p> <blockquote><p>[Brandon] Roy 365 days, seven days a week. Roy has no weaknesses in his game.</p></blockquote> <p>High praise from a two-time scoring champion and 12-time All-Defense honoree.</p> <p>Roy finished his last healthy season with averages of 22.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game on .480/377/.824 shooting. He was a marksman from midrange, a more than capable shooter from beyond the arc, and one of the best in the Association at getting to the free-throw line.</p> <p>A three-level scorer whose swan song was an instant classic of a performance against the Dallas Mavericks, Roy was Exhibit A of how to play the game at a high level and earn the respect of your peers.<br /> In just four healthy seasons, Roy won Rookie of the Year, made two All-NBA teams, and became a three-time All-Star.</p> <p>Now a high school basketball coach, Roy is racking up honors in a different way—including the 2017 Naismith National High School Coach of the Year award.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 48 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064438" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064438 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2176,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F72163984.jpeg" alt="Ralph Sampson" width="3200" height="2176" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Ralph Sampson (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/ Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>48. Ralph Sampson</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1983 to 1992</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Washington Bullets</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Ralph Sampson may be the single most difficult player to rank on this list. For as renowned a big man as he was, fans only witnessed three healthy seasons from the 7’4” anomaly before injuries took their toll and the questions of, “What could have been?” began to dominate the discussions.</p> <p>Sampson, who went No. 1 overall in the 1983 NBA Draft, offered quite a few answers during those three seasons, however, including the obliteration of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Playoffs.</p> <p>It’s a shame we’ll never know what he could have become.</p> <p>Sampson won Rookie of the Year in 1984 and quickly followed that success with All-NBA Second Team honors in 1985. This followed his run of three consecutive National Player of the Year awards that etched his name into the record books as one of the greatest college basketball players of all-time.</p> <p>Although Sampson was not named All-NBA in 1985-86, when there were only two teams instead of the current three, he made the All-Star team and helped Houston achieve one of its best seasons to date.</p> <p>Houston swept Eddie Johnson and the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 1986 NBA Playoffs. In the next round, against Alex English and the Denver Nuggets, Sampson averaged 24.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game in a blatant example of his superstar potential.</p> <p>One round later, Sampson put up 20.4 points on 55.3 percent shooting as the Rockets defeated the Showtime Lakers in dominant fashion: 4-1, including four consecutive victories.</p> <p>The Rockets would ultimately lose to Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, but Sampson would pull down 22 rebounds in Game 3, and score 25 points in Game 5 for one last display of his superstar upside.</p> <p>And he did all of this at just 25 years of age. Seriously, what could have been?</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 47 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><iframe src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/p3UIEM7CFnA" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p> <h3>47. Tom Chambers</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Played:</strong> 1981 to 1997</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>San Diego Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances: </strong>1</li> </ul> <p>Tom Chambers had a surprisingly underrated career. In addition to being one of the best scorers of his generation, he played 108 postseason games and accumulated an impressive list of individual accolades along the way.</p> <p>Although Chambers may not be the first player people think of when considering greats who didn’t win it all, he actually came close on a few occasions.</p> <p>The context with Chambers is that he’s actually a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA honoree who won All-Star Game MVP in 1987. He also amassed upwards of 20,000 career points and appeared in the Playoffs on 10 separate occasions.</p> <p>That includes five trips to the Conference Finals and one to the NBA Finals, including three runs to the league semifinals during which he was a star player.</p> <p>Chambers scored 37 points to close out the Seattle SuperSonics and reach the 1987 Western Conference Finals. Just two years later, he dropped 41 points in a losing effort against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989, only to help the Phoenix Suns get right back in 1990.</p> <p>That may not have resulted in Chambers winning a championship, but the level of production he provided to teams that consistently won at a high level can’t be overlooked.</p> <p>A high-flyer who could pour it in with the best of them—see: 27.2 points per game on a 54-win team in 1989-90—Chambers was a force on offense.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 46 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064399" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064399 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1184472770.jpeg" alt="Brad Daugherty " width="3200" height="2134" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Brad Daugherty (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>46. Brad Daugherty</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1986 to 1996</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Cleveland Cavaliers</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Contrary to popular belief, the Cleveland Cavaliers were a contending-level team before LeBron James was drafted in 2003. During the 1980s, the Cavaliers built a deep and balanced roster that benefited immensely from the play of a tremendous young center named Brad Daugherty.</p> <p>Known to many today as a NASCAR personality on major networks, Daugherty was actually a string of injuries away from a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.</p> <p>Daugherty only played eight seasons before injuries forced him into formal retirement in what would’ve been Year 10. During that time, however, he became a five-time All-Star and an All-NBA honoree who anchored the Cavaliers’ consistent appearances in the postseason.</p> <p>He appeared in 41 postseason games between 1987-88 and 1992-93, including Cleveland’s run to the 1992 Eastern Conference Finals.</p> <p>That 1991-92 campaign was Daugherty’s coming of age season, if you will, as he made All-NBA with averages of 21.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. In the Conference Finals, he and the Cavaliers pushed Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six games.</p> <p>Daugherty scored 28 points in a Game 2 victory over the Bulls, but it was, unfortunately, one of the final images of his promise and potential before injuries ended his career far too soon.</p> <p>In an era flush with Hall of Fame centers, but Daugherty managed to stand out at a legendarily deep position in the 1980s and 1990s. That was no easy feat.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 45 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><iframe src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZZJR3_PPe_E" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p> <h3>45. Walt Bellamy</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1961 to 1974</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Baltimore Bullets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances: </strong>2</li> </ul> <p>Walt Bellamy had one of the most incredibly productive rookie seasons in NBA history. He hit the ground running, to say the least, averaging 31.6 points, 19.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while playing for the then Chicago Packers.</p> <p>The franchise that ultimately became the Washington Wizards would ride Bellamy’s abilities, as well as the presence of Gus Johnson, to its first-ever postseason appearance.</p> <p>Bellamy not only led the then Baltimore Bullets to the Playoffs in 1963, but helped the team upset the St. Louis Hawks. He then helped Baltimore push Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and the Los Angeles Lakers to six games in the Eastern Division Finals.</p> <p>Upon transitioning to playing for the Atlanta Hawks, Bellamy helped the team reach the Western Division Finals—once again coming close to an elusive championship.</p> <p>It was admittedly difficult for Bellamy to accumulate accolades in an era that featured Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Nate Thurmond. Many would argue that he was one of the best players of the era, however, and the statistics support that statement.</p> <p>Bellamy scored upwards of 20,000 career points and pulled down more than 14,000 career rebounds. Nearly 50 years after his retirement, he’s still top-15 all-time in rebounding.</p> <p>Bellamy was tasked with an immeasurable responsibility when it came to winning in the era he played, but he produced consistently and established himself as a Hall of Fame inductee.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 44 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064483" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064483 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1059,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F142039473.jpeg" alt="Joe Johnson" width="1600" height="1059" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Joe Johnson (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>44. Joe Johnson</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 2001 to 2020</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 2</li> </ul> <p>When a player is nicknamed “ISO Joe,” it’s safe to assume that they’re one of the more feared scorers in the NBA. That was the case for Joe Johnson, who made a living as one of the most dependably clutch isolation players in the Association for the better part of two decades.</p> <p>A seven-time All-Star who made the Playoffs on what became a yearly basis, Johnson is the type of player who may have simply come along 10 years too soon.</p> <p>Johnson could score from all over the court. For an example of his proficiency from beyond the arc, he converted 177 three-point field goals on 47.8 percent shooting with the Phoenix Suns in 2004-05.</p> <p>Johnson also buried more than 50 percent of his two-point field goals while scoring 25.0 points per game with the Atlanta Hawks in 2006-07, and shot better than 80 percent from the free throw line for his career.</p> <p>What made ISO Joe so dangerous was that he was also a skilled passer who could collapse a defense and find the open man along the perimeter. That much is proven statistically by his averages of 6.5 assists per game in 2005-06, and 5.8 in both 2007-08 and 2008-09.</p> <p>Many wonder whether or not the Suns could’ve captured an elusive championship had the organization opted to do what was necessary to keep Johnson in Phoenix. Instead, we saw ISO Joe lead Atlanta to five consecutive postseason appearances and its first 50-win season in more than a decade.</p> <p>Perhaps Johnson would’ve been better off in <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/phoenix-suns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Phoenix</a>, where he was playing alongside All-Star players such as Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion. Perhaps he never would’ve received the accolades he earned in Atlanta had he not left the Suns.</p> <p>Either way, Johnson put together quite a career across both conferences, scoring 20,405 career points.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 43 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_964381" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-964381 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1763,w_2051/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F06%2F51605463-former-nba-player-charles-buck-williams-holds-hi.jpg" alt="Buck Williams" width="2051" height="1763" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2051px;">Buck Williams (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>43. Buck Williams</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1981 to 1998</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances: </strong>2</li> </ul> <p>Buck Williams played 17 seasons in the NBA, filling a wide range of roles along the way. He was a tough and rugged player known for his commitment to defense and his willingness to make the unselfish play to help his team win.</p> <p>That all began in 1981 when Williams made an instant impact and secured the Rookie of the Year award after leading the New Jersey Nets to a 20-win improvement.</p> <p>Williams played a total of 108 playoff games in his career, which should tell you all you need to know about the type of basketball he played. He helped the Nets upset the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 1984 Playoffs, just one year after Julius Erving and Co. won the title.</p> <p>It was one of five postseason appearances that Williams made with the Nets, which set the table for the success he experienced as a veteran leader with the Portland Trail Blazers.</p> <p>Williams was the starting center for the Trail Blazers when they reached the 1990 NBA Finals, 1991 Western Conference Finals, and 1992 NBA Finals. Clyde Drexler was the star of the show on a deep Portland team, but Williams’ experience and leadership were instrumental to success.</p> <p>It’s also worth noting that the Trail Blazers reached three consecutive Conference Finals and two NBA Finals in Williams’ first three seasons after losing in the first round the previous four.</p> <p>With an All-NBA, three All-Star Game appearances, and four All-Defense nods, Williams put together a steady and productive career.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 42 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064510" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064510 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1004040222.jpeg" alt="Walter Davis" width="3200" height="2160" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Walter Davis (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>42. Walter Davis</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1977 to 1992</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances: </strong>3</li> </ul> <p>One of the unsung heroes of 1980s, Walter Davis played 15 impressive years in the NBA. He won Rookie of the Year in 1978 after pouring in 24.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and progressively became a more complete player as the years passed.</p> <p>With 19,521 career points scored, Davis was also on the precipice of a statistical feat that has led many players to the Hall of Fame.</p> <p>Davis was a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Second Team honoree. That reputation as a star-level player was earned by virtue of his fundamentally perfect jump shot, which he used to absolute perfection from midrange.</p> <p>It became a staple of the Suns’ offense, which enabled the franchise to reach the Western Conference Finals on three separate occasions with Davis in the fold.</p> <p>Davis averaged 22.1 points and 5.3 assists on 52.0 percent shooting during the Suns’ road to the 1979 Conference Finals. For those who might have thought it was a fluke, he poured in 24.9 points and 6.4 assists on 53.5 percent shooting during the road to the 1984 Conference Finals.</p> <p>In other words: Davis’ regular season honors were proven as valid and deserved when he stepped foot on the floor in a postseason setting.</p> <p>The Suns reached the NBA Finals with Kevin Johnson and Charles Barkley shortly thereafter, but the foundation was established by Davis’ era of successful basketball in Phoenix.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 41 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064499" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064499 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1386,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F72160974.jpeg" alt="Marques Johnson" width="1600" height="1386" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Marques Johnson (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/ Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>41. Marques Johnson</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1977 to 1989</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances: </strong>2</li> </ul> <p>Long before the likes of Grant Hill, LeBron James, and Scottie Pippen took on the mantle, Marques Johnson was labeled a, “Point forward.” Drafted in 1977 by the Milwaukee Bucks, the 6’7″ wing displayed the unique ability to run and facilitate an offense.</p> <p>In turn, Johnson amassed an impressive list of accolades while helping Milwaukee play at a contending level throughout the first half of the 1980s</p> <p>Johnson turned in averages of 19.5 points and 10.4 rebounds as a rookie, and erupted as a scorer in his sophomore season at 25.6 points per game. That would earn him the first of his five All-Star seasons, as well as his first of three All-NBA years.</p> <p>Johnson made the All-NBA First Team in 1978-79, thus appearing alongside Hall of Fame frontcourt players such as Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone.</p> <p>Far more impressive was the success that arrived in the 1980s, as he helped Milwaukee reach the 1983 and 1984 Eastern Conference Finals. Perhaps his most memorable postseason game was in 1983 when he recorded 33 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in a closeout game of Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics.</p> <p>Milwaukee was a deep and talented team, but Johnson’s ability to both find the bottom of the net and create shots for his teammates was ahead of its time at his position.</p> <p>The term, “Point forward,” is common today, but players like Johnson helped make it a possibility. For that, he deserves far more praise than he receives.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 40 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064332" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064332 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F106147195.jpeg" alt="Houston Rockets, Yao Ming" width="3200" height="2133" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Yao Ming (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>40. Yao Ming</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 2002 to 2011</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Houston Rockets</li> <li><strong>All-NBA:</strong> 5x (2x Second Team, 3x Third Team)</li> </ul> <p>Few players have received more hype during their NBA careers than former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming. He was unable to complete a decade in the NBA due to injuries, but many would agree that he justified the praise he received during his healthy seasons.</p> <p>Ming averaged 20.3 points and 9.5 rebounds on 52.8 percent shooting from the field between 2003-04 and 2008-09, with Houston making the Playoffs whenever he was healthy enough to lead them there.</p> <p>2008-09 was one of the bizarre years in an injury-prone player’s career where it all seemed to come together right before the end could arrive. Ming led the Rockets to 53 wins in the regular season and even secured the franchise’s first postseason series victory of the post-Olajuwon era.</p> <p>Any time a player ends a postseason-level drought that lasts 12 years, it’s safe to say they’re worthy of our praises.</p> <p>Ming was injured in the second round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, but only after he produced 28 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in a Game 1 victory over the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.</p> <p>He would notch five All-NBA seasons overall, as well as the eight All-Star Game selections that were dictated by either talent or popularity. He combined his 7’6” size with a smooth midrange jump shot that defied logic and developed an admirable toughness about his game.</p> <p>We can only wonder what might have occurred had he played a less rigorous international schedule, but he was ultimately inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player nonetheless.</p> <p>The Rockets have also retired Ming’s No. 11 jersey.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 39 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_963526" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-963526 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2430,w_3600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F06%2F503910526-cleveland-cavaliers-v-washington-bullets.jpg" alt=" Mark Price" width="3600" height="2430" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3600px;">Mark Price (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>39. Mark Price</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1986 to 1998</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>If you’re looking for a player who you could pluck out of one era and place in today’s game with even greater results, Mark Price is one to consider. The man who popularized splitting the pick and roll, Price was ahead of his time in both the way he played and the advancement of his skill set.</p> <p>Running into Michael Jordan on a fairly consistent basis did him no favors, but Price earned the respect of his peers and the lifelong admiration of Cleveland Cavaliers fans.</p> <p>Price was named All-NBA in four different seasons, including the All-NBA First Team selection he received in 1992-93. He joined the 50-40-90 club in 1988-89, is a career 40.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc, and ranks third all-time (.9039) behind Stephen Curry (.9076) and Steve Nash (.9043) in career free throw percentage.</p> <p>Price was the very definition of a marksman, as well as one of the most skilled passers of his generation—see: 9.1 assists to just 2.9 turnovers per game during his brilliant 1989-90 season.</p> <p>Price also made 152 three-point field goals on 40.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc that year but was discouraged from shooting as many threes as his career progressed.</p> <p>As far as winning is concerned, Cleveland made the Playoffs in six of seven seasons with Price running point between 1987-88 and 1994-95. It’s no coincidence that the one exception was in 1990-91 when Price missed 66 games due to a torn ACL.</p> <p>The very next season, Price helped the Cavaliers reach the 1992 Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland pushed Jordan and the Bulls to six games and even made it back to the Conference Semifinals the next season.</p> <p>Injuries damaged Cleveland’s chance at contending in the future, but Price helped the Cavaliers became must-see TV long before LeBron James was drafted.</p> <p>Think Steve Nash before Steve Nash.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 38 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064321" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064321 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1176,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1579675.jpeg" alt=" Shawn Kemp" width="1600" height="1176" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Shawn Kemp (Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT)</p> </div> </div> <h3>38. Shawn Kemp</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1989 to 2003</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances: </strong>1</li> </ul> <p>The Seattle SuperSonics aren’t just the franchise that left a long mourning franchise—they were a team that nearly ended a dynasty. The Chicago Bulls won 73 games in a 1995-96 season that many call the greatest in NBA history.</p> <p>Working opposite them was a Seattle squad that secured 67 wins and an NBA Finals appearance of their own.</p> <p>Gary Payton is the Hall of Famer from that remarkable team, but don’t allow the highlights to convince you Shawn Kemp was just there for the excitement factor. In addition to being one of the NBA’s all-time great dunk artists, Kemp was a skilled scorer with a smooth midrange game.</p> <p>That much was proven in the 1996 NBA Finals, when he poured in 23.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game on 55.1 percent shooting from the field while being primarily defended by Dennis Rodman.</p> <p>The Bulls ultimately escaped with their fourth of six championships, but the Sonics pushed Phil Jackson and company to six games. One of the primary reasons for Seattle’s success was the high-octane offense that balanced out the smothering defense.</p> <p>That offense was anchored by Payton and Kemp being an unstoppable duo in transition, as well as a dangerous combination in the half-court due to the pick and roll, and pick and pop abilities they possessed.</p> <p>Kemp was named to the All-NBA Second Team on three different occasions and made six All-Star Game appearances, but a title eluded him and the SuperSonics. A Gold Medal at the 1994 FIBA World Championship may not be a consolation prize, but it should further prove that Kemp played winning basketball.</p> <p>Kemp even led the Cleveland Cavaliers to 47 wins and a postseason appearance in 1997-98 to hammer home just how great he was capable of becoming.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 37 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064341" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064341 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F912287454.jpeg" alt="Blake Griffin" width="1600" height="1067" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Blake Griffin. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>37. Blake Griffin</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 2009 to Present</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons</li> <li><strong>All-NBA Selections: </strong>5x (2x Second Team, 3x Third Team)</li> </ul> <p>Blake Griffin has become one of the most misunderstood players of the past 15 years. The dunks, taunts, and advertisements that became synonymous with his brand seem to have caused the casual audience to ignore how far his skill set has come.</p> <p>It’s also impossible to downplay the significance of what he and Chris Paul were able to do for one of the least successful organizations in NBA history.</p> <p>Griffin has a strong résumé, including five All-NBA selections and six All-Star Game appearances. He finished third in MVP voting in 2013-14 and would’ve been All-NBA First Team if not for the fact that fellow forwards Kevin Durant and LeBron James finished No. 1 and No. 2.</p> <p>In other words: Griffin played 80 of a possible 82 games in 2013-14 and was the third-best player in the NBA. Sounds like a qualifying trait for this list.</p> <p>The Clippers’ second-round curse still hasn’t been broken, but Griffin has made seven postseason appearances as the No. 1 or No. 2 scoring option. That’s no easy feat, especially when one considers the context of his success.</p> <p>Los Angeles made six postseason appearances with Griffin. It reached the Playoffs just seven times in the 41 seasons that predated that string of success.</p> <p>Throw in the fact that Griffin led the Detroit Pistons to one of their only two postseason appearances of the 2010s, and it’s hard to knock someone who did their best to turn water into wine.</p> <p>The Rookie of the Year award doesn’t hurt too much, either.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 36 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064314" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064314 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F352547.jpeg" alt="Penny Hardaway" width="1600" height="1067" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Penny Hardaway (Jonathan Daniel /Allsport)</p> </div> </div> <h3>36. Penny Hardaway</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1993 to 2007</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Miami Heat</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong>1</li> </ul> <p>Few names in NBA history are as instantly recognizable as that of Penny Hardaway. A superstar on the fan level and an unpredictable talent on the court, Hardaway and Shaquille O’Neal formed one of the most beloved duos of all-time.</p> <p>That two-man show even helped the Orlando Magic do the unthinkable when they became the only team to eliminate Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls from the Playoffs during the reign of tyranny that lasted from 1991 to 1998.</p> <p>Hardaway was as big a part of that as anyone, with a unique scoring arsenal and generational court vision. He could thread the needle with the best of them, making pinpoint passes to his cast of surrounding shooters and perfectly placed feeds to the incomparable O’Neal.</p> <p>That enabled Orlando to not only upset Jordan and the Bulls, but reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history—just six years after the organization debuted.</p> <p>Injuries would rob Hardaway of his prime, but he made quite the statement nonetheless. He was twice named to the All-NBA First Team, earning those honors in just his second and third seasons in the league.</p> <p>For context: Even the incomparable LeBron James fell just shy of what Hardaway accomplished by being named All-NBA Second Team in his second season.</p> <p>Coupled with Hardaway’s consistently strong play in the postseason, including his average of 31.0 points per game in the 1997 Playoffs, it’s hard not to wonder what could have been.</p> <p>Hardaway even averaged 20.3 points per game in the Playoffs with the Phoenix Suns in 2000, when the injuries had already robbed him of the athleticism that had been a trademark of his game at 6’7”.</p> <p>It’s impossible to definitively state where he would rank all-time if not for the injuries, but few would even attempt to argue against his potential.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 35 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064284" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064284 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1195360796.jpeg" alt="Vince Carter" width="3200" height="2133" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Vince Carter (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>35. Vince Carter</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1998 to 2020</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances: </strong>1</li> </ul> <p>You can’t tell the story of the NBA without acknowledging the impact of dunk artist supreme Vince Carter. The Association’s evolution into the star of SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays may not have begun with Carter, but his high-flying acrobatics put a contemporary spin on what the ABA had accomplished 20 years prior.</p> <p>Even more significantly, the NBA’s attempts to expand beyond the American market were greatly impacted by Carter’s success with the Toronto Raptors, and his career outside of Canada put the finishing touches on his Hall of Fame résumé.</p> <p>Over the course of his record-setting 22-year NBA career, “Half Man, Half Amazing” wowed fans all over the world. He played for eight different franchises, won an Olympic gold medal in Sydney, Australia, and became synonymous with the brand that was being built by David Stern.</p> <p>After winning Rookie of the Year in 1999, Carter would go on to make a pair of All-NBA teams and earn eight All-Star Game appearances—a mark that no eligible player has reached without ultimately making the Hall of Fame.</p> <p>Carter finished his career at No. 19 on the all-time scoring list with a whopping 25,728 points. He led Toronto to its first-ever postseason appearance in 2000 and its first postseason series victory in 2000-01.</p> <p>For what it’s worth: It took 15 years for Toronto to win another series, let alone a championship.</p> <p>Carter would go on to start with the New Jersey Nets, help the Orlando Magic reach the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, and hit a buzzer-beater in a postseason setting for the Dallas Mavericks. It was a heck of a run for Vinsanity.</p> <p>Although he may not have won a championship, the Hall of Fame is an inevitability.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 34 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064305" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064305 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1000,w_1024/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F51659528.jpeg" alt="Tim Hardaway Sr." width="1024" height="1000" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1024px;">Tim Hardaway Sr. (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>34. Tim Hardaway Sr.</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1989 to 2003</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Tim Hardaway has been at the heart of many debates pertaining to the Hall of Fame. Regardless of which side of the debate you land on, the fact it’s so commonly discussed should be instant proof that he belongs on the list of the 50 greatest players to never win a championship.</p> <p>Whether he was changing the game with Run TMC, leading the Miami Heat to pre-Wade glory, or showing the world how to do a crossover without carrying, Hardaway was one of the true stars of his era.</p> <p>He played 14 years in the NBA, amassing five All-NBA selections and an additional five All-Star Game appearances. His No. 10 jersey has been retired by the Miami Heat, which is due in large part to the success that the team experienced during its breakout 1996-97 campaign.</p> <p>Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning took center stage as the Heat reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, taking down the rival New York Knicks in a classic seven-game series along the way.</p> <p>That’s especially impressive considering Hardaway’s career was nearly ended by an injury in 1992-93. The postseason success was nothing new, however, as he also helped the Golden State Warriors win a series in 1990-91.</p> <p>Miami would win a second postseason series with Hardaway running point in 1999-00 over the Detroit Pistons, thus solidifying Hardaway as the best point guard in franchise history.</p> <p>Although Hardaway never won a championship, he won in the Playoffs, found individual success in the regular season, and ranks in the top 20 all-time in assists (No. 18, 7,095). He also popularized the pull-up three-point shot in transition.</p> <p>Imagine where the game would be without it.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 33 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064266" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064266 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1088,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F107599800.jpeg" alt="Kevin Johnson" width="1600" height="1088" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Kevin Johnson (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>33. Kevin Johnson</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1987 to 2000</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances</strong>: 1</li> </ul> <p>One of the best players who has not yet been inducted into the Hall of Fame, Phoenix Suns legend Kevin Johnson was the complete package. A predecessor to athletic lead guards such as Baron Davis and Russell Westbrook, Johnson was just as likely to beat you with his skill as he was to rise up and throw down a ferocious dunk on a legendary big man like Hakeem Olajuwon.</p> <p>A five-time All-NBA honoree and the winner of the 1989 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award, Johnson was one of the premier guards of his era and a winner at just below the highest level.</p> <p>Between 1988-89 and 1996-97, Johnson averaged 19.8 points and 10.0 assists per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 83.9 percent from the charity stripe. He created offense for himself and others, both while sharing a backcourt with Jeff Hornacek and guiding the ball into Charles Barkley’s hands on the low block.</p> <p>Johnson and Hornacek actually led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals in both 1989 and 1990, only falling to elite teams led by Hall of Famers in Magic Johnson and Clyde Drexler.</p> <p>Johnson returned to center stage in 1992-93, when he and Barkley helped Phoenix make the second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. Barkley’s 44 points and 24 rebounds in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals stand the test of time, but Johnson stepped up himself with 22 points, nine assists, four steals, two blocks, and a litany of clutch free throws.</p> <p>Johnson may not yet be in the Hall of Fame with the other great point guards in NBA history, but he played at a level that certainly warrants his induction. Not only was he something of a trendsetter, but he was a winner.</p> <p>A championship just narrowly escaped Johnson’s grasp in a 1993 NBA Finals during which all six games were determined by 10 points or less.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 32 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064280" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064280 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1157,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1191294888.jpeg" alt="Grant Hill" width="1600" height="1157" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Grant Hill (Photo by GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>32. Grant Hill</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1994 to 2013</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Grant Hill was supposed to be next. Nine years before LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 1 overall, Hill was meant to be his predecessor. While injuries robbed Hill of the chance to become what so many thought he was destined to be, the flashes of greatness arrived in droves.</p> <p>Many fans’ No. 1, “What if?” player in NBA history, Hill was the one who fans believed would succeed Michael Jordan—and, folks, did he come close.</p> <p>Hill played six NBA seasons in Detroit before the injuries made him a shell of his former self with the Orlando Magic. That six-year period began with a bang, as Hill won Co-Rookie of the Year honors with Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd</p> <p>He would go on to follow that breakout year with four All-Star Game appearances, five All-NBA selections, and a highlight reel that any basketball fan could fall in love with.</p> <p>A skilled scorer and gifted playmaker, Hill actually received more All-Star fan votes than Michael Jordan in 1995-96. A year prior, he became the first rookie to ever lead the Association in fan voting for the All-Star Game in 1994-95.</p> <p>In 1995-96, Hill ended a three-year postseason drought for the Pistons in just his second NBA season. Hill earned All-NBA First Team honors in 1996-97, appearing alongside the likes of Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.</p> <p>He led Detroit to 54 wins that season, its most in seven years.</p> <p>Injuries would end his stardom shortly thereafter, but Hill gave fans one more glimpse of his should-have-been greatness when he averaged 19.7 points per game on 50.9 percent shooting in 2004-05.</p> <p>A last star-level hurrah before Hill would become one of the NBA’s most revered role players with the Phoenix Suns—yet another testament to just how hard Hill worked to spend an improbable 19 years in the NBA.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 31 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064474" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064474 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2132,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1095261150.jpeg" alt="LaMarcus Aldridge" width="3200" height="2132" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">LaMarcus Aldridge (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>31. LaMarcus Aldridge</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>2006 to Present</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals: </strong>1</li> </ul> <p>LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the modern NBA’s stoic warriors. There’s nothing flashy about his fundamentally sound game, but he’s been a postseason, All-Star Game, and All-NBA mainstay throughout his quietly productive career.</p> <p>Aldridge even played the No. 2 role on a San Antonio Spurs team that reached the Conference FInals and was a Kawhi Leonard injury away from a Game 1 upset of the world-beating Warriors.</p> <p>Aldridge has been named All-NBA in five different seasons, including Second Team appearances in 2014-15 and 2017-18. He’s also a seven-time All-Star who earned every one of those honors in a deep, if not outright stacked, Western Conference—without the fan vote on his side.</p> <p>Aldridge has also produced an average of 20.8 points per contest through 72 postseason games played, thus proving just how consistent this metronome of a player has been.</p> <p>It’s worth noting that Aldridge isn’t just a player who has been to the playoffs and done nothing of significance. He posted 34 points and 12 rebounds to close out the Houston Rockets and punch the Spurs’ ticket to the 2017 Western Conference Finals.</p> <p>Aldridge also has three separate 40-point eruptions in the postseason, as well as a 30-point and 13-rebound closeout game performance to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the second round in 2014.</p> <p>Aldridge should also reach 20,000 career points in 2020-21 if health permits, thus making his Hall of Fame candidacy even stronger.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 30 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064289" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064289 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F923127112.jpeg" alt="Lenny Wilkens" width="3200" height="2160" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Lenny Wilkens (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>30. Lenny Wilkens</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1960 to 1975</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> St. Louis Hawks, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Before he became one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, Lenny Wilkens earned the same reputation amongst point guards. Drafted at No. 6 overall in 1960 by the St. Louis Hawks, Wilkens would become the type of floor general that coaches often dream of.</p> <p>That’s likely why he also became such a great sideline general.</p> <p>On the court, Wilkens made multiple All-Star Game appearances with two different franchises and reinvented himself at multiple stages based on what his team needed from him. There were times when Wilkens was more of a scorer—22.4 points per game in his first season with the Seattle SuperSonics.</p> <p>There were times when Wilkens was more of a distributor—a league-leading 9.1 assists per game in his second year with Seattle. There were even times when he did a little bit of both—20.0 points and 8.3 assists per game in his final season with St. Louis.</p> <p>No matter what the situation called for, Wilkens found a way to help his team. That ultimately helped St. Louis reach the 1961 NBA Finals, where it gave Bill Russell and the incomparable Boston Celtics a run for their money.</p> <p>Over the course of his legendary career, Wilkens amassed 7,211 assists. That places him at No. 16 all-time, despite the fact that nearly 50 years have passed since his retirement. Wilkens also scored just under 18,000 career points.</p> <p>Although the nine-time All-Star never won a championship as a player, Wilkens was able to secure a championship as head coach of the 1979 Seattle SuperSonics—the same team he once played for.</p> <p>Poetic justice.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 29 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064309" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064309 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F631858188.jpeg" alt="Dave Bing" width="3200" height="2134" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Dave Bing (Photo by Monica Morgan/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>29. Dave Bing</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1966 to 1978</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Detroit Pistons, Washington Bullets, Boston Celtics</li> <li><strong>Scoring Titles:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>In an era that was known for great big men, Dave Bing managed to reach the Hall of Fame by thriving as a point guard. A talented playmaker who could wow crowds with his ball-handling and passing, Bing was just as likely to take over a game without having to look anyone else’s way.</p> <p>That combination of skills has come to define the modern generation of positionless point guards, which only enhances the legacy of a player who was appropriately named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.</p> <p>Bing won Rookie of the Year in 1966-67 and secured the scoring title the very next season. In the process, he became the second guard in NBA history to win the NBA’s scoring title. The first: Max Zaslofsky in 1947-48 with 21.0 points per game, when the BAA had a 48-game season.</p> <p>Fair perspective on Bing’s 27.1 per contest.</p> <p>Bing also led Detroit to the Playoffs that season, thus ending a four-season drought. The team bowed out in the first round to Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics, but Bing helped the overmatched Pistons push Red Auerbach’s dynasty to six games.</p> <p>Bing even scored 44 points in Game 6 in a last-ditch effort to save the Pistons’ season.</p> <p>Detroit wouldn’t make it back again until 1973-74, but Bing offered a glimmer of hope for what is now one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises. That continued when he teamed with Bob Lanier to get the Pistons back to the Playoffs in ’74.</p> <p>That ended yet another drought for a franchise that couldn’t seem to find its footing.</p> <p>With three All-NBA selections, seven All-Star Game appearances, and three long-awaited postseason appearances, Bing makes one wonder what could’ve been on a better team.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 28 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064252" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064252 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2357,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1214991534.jpeg" alt="“Pistol” Pete Maravich" width="3200" height="2357" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">“Pistol” Pete Maravich (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images).</p> </div> </div> <h3>28. Pete Maravich</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Played:</strong> 1970 to 1980</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans / Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics</li> <li><strong>All-NBA: </strong>4x (2x First Team, 2x Second Team)</li> </ul> <p>Perhaps the most popular player from his time period, “Pistol” Pete Maravich is one of the few “old-timers” that younger fans almost unanimously praise. The LSU legend had his number retired by three different franchises in the NBA, set the standard for scoring at the NCAA level, and was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.</p> <p>Maravich may not have won a championship, but most agree that he was ahead of his time and something of a trailblazer for the generation of playmaking guards that has since followed.</p> <p>Maravich led the Atlanta Hawks to the Playoffs in three of his four seasons with the team, which resulted in his No. 44 jersey being retired. He ultimately left Atlanta to play for the Jazz of New Orleans and Utah, winning the scoring title in 1977 to further pad his legacy as one of the most dynamic scorers the sport has ever seen.</p> <p>Maravich also made received four All-NBA selections during his career, including two First Team appearances during his time with the Jazz.</p> <p>In an era that wasn’t exactly known for efficient scoring from the guard positions, Maravich averaged 24.2 points on 44.1 percent shooting from the field for his career. He did so while playing before the popularization of the three-point shot, with the introduction of it in NBA circles not arriving until his final season in the Association.</p> <p>For a player as skilled as any who came along during the 1970s, one can only imagine how many more points Pistol Pete would’ve been able to score with a three-point shot at his disposal.</p> <p>Even without it, Maravich pieced together a career that is still discussed today.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 27 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064272" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064272 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1210,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1297063003.jpeg" alt=" Paul George" width="1600" height="1210" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Paul George (Copyright 2021 NBAE)</p> </div> </div> <h3>27. Paul George</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>2010 to Present</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 2</li> </ul> <p>Paul George has quietly pieced together a Hall of Fame level résumé. He’s one of the best defensive players of his generation, as well as a versatile scorer who has accumulated a significant amount of postseason experience with multiple franchises.</p> <p>George also overcame a career-threatening injury to become an even better individual player than he was before the tragedy in Las Vegas.</p> <p>George is a five-time All-NBA honoree, including the First Team selection that he received in 2018-19. He’s also been named All-Defense in four seasons and is a seven-time All-Star who could still add quite a few more accolades to his name before it’s all said and done.</p> <p>Even if he were to retire today, however, George would have done enough to qualify for this list and make a legitimate argument for being in the Hall of Fame.</p> <p>George has appeared in 89 postseason games, including two trips to the Conference Finals as the go-to scoring option.</p> <p>A championship would change the perception of George, who has encountered some criticism over the way he seems to bow out of the Playoffs. Nevertheless, he’s a legitimate two-way player who has made multiple deep postseason runs in a featured role.</p> <p>Furthermore, he’s made the Playoffs as a No. 1 or No. 2 with three different franchises. That’s no easy feat, which should only strengthen his case here.</p> <p>George also has an Olympic Gold Medal, a Most Improved Player award, and a season as the NBA’s steals leader for good measure.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 26 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064254" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064254 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1219,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F90611298.jpeg" alt="David Thompson" width="1600" height="1219" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">David Thompson (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>26. David Thompson</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1975 to 1984</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Denver Nuggets, Seattle SuperSonics</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>There are few players in NBA history who are quite as important as David Thompson. That may seem like a blasphemous statement to some, but when Michael Jordan <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/09/michael-jordan-david-thompson.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asks you to induct him into the Hall of Fame</a>, there’s a pretty good chance that you were a big deal.</p> <p>David Thompson was a big deal.</p> <p>The man they called Skywalker was a sight to behold, even as he played during the era of the Lew Alcindor Rule. For those unfamiliar, the rule stated that college basketball players were not allowed to dunk.</p> <p>Thankfully, Thompson didn’t run into that problem in the ABA or NBA.</p> <p>When he made the jump from North Carolina State to the ABA, he found immediate success. He won Rookie of the Year and earned All-ABA Second Team honors in the league’s finally season. He would then transition smoothly to the NBA.</p> <p>Thompson received All-NBA First Team recognition in both 1976-77 and 1977-78, additionally making four All-Star Game appearances during his time in the Association. He led the Denver Nuggets to the 1976 ABA Finals and followed up by guiding the franchise to the 1978 NBA Western Conference Finals.</p> <p>The opportunities for success were within reach, but due to factors we won’t be discussing on this slideshow meant to praise players for their careers, Thompson was never able to win the big one.</p> <p>Nevertheless, he was a scoring machine and a human highlight reel who influenced generations to come. He scored upwards of 11,000 NBA points in just 509 games, and has a strong case for being on the Nuggets’ Mount Rushmore.</p> <p>Influence and incredible acts of athletic might define Thompson’s legacy today.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 25 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064261" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064261 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2103,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F98338043.jpeg" alt="Adrian Dantley" width="3200" height="2103" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Adrian Dantley (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>25. Adrian Dantley</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1976 to 1991</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Buffalo Braves, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>When it comes to putting the ball in the basket, few have ever been as prolific as Adrian Dantley. That unfortunately never led to a championship being won, but Dantley achieved quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career, including the reputation of one of the game’s most renowned scorers.</p> <p>Dantley’s impact on winning has been debated over the years, but one can’t deny that he belongs on the list of the 50 greatest NBA players to never win a championship given what he was able to accomplish during his career.</p> <p>Dantley averaged upwards of 30 points per game in three completed seasons, including two during which he won the scoring title. He also averaged 28.0 points per game on 57.6 percent shooting in 1979-80 and 29.8 points per game on 56.3 percent shooting 1985-86.</p> <p>Simply put: Dantley was as good as anyone has ever been when it comes to scoring at a high volume and efficient clip.</p> <p>Dantley ultimately appeared in 73 postseason games, thus disputing the argument that he outright couldn’t play a winning style. That includes postseason series victories as the go-to scoring option in both 1983-84 and 1984-85.</p> <p>Yes, Dantley was famously traded by the Detroit Pistons for Mark Aguirre, which helped the Pistons evolve into the Bad Boys and win back-to-back championships. In saying that, he helped Detroit reach the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals and the 1988 NBA Finals.</p> <p>The Pistons may have taken the final step without him, but they knocked on that door with Dantley playing a pivotal role. In fact: Detroit lost 108-105 in Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals, with Dantley providing 16 points on just 11 field goal attempts.</p> <p>In other words: Dantley came pretty darn close to winning the championship that eluded him.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 24 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064182" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064182 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F923152578.jpeg" alt="Chris Mullin" width="1600" height="1067" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Chris Mullin (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>24. Chris Mullin</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1985 to 2001</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Some may roll their eyes at a statement of this nature, but Chris Mullin was perfectly equipped to thrive in the modern era. An absolute marksman from all over the floor, Mullin was ahead of his time as a do-it-all wing who could take over a game from beyond the arc.</p> <p>Although Mullin never won an NBA championship, he was a member of the Dream Team and became one of the most respected players of his generation.</p> <p>Mullin won two Olympic Gold Medals: First in 1984 and again in 1992. Although at the tail end of his career, he also helped the Indiana Pacers reach the NBA Finals as a locker room leader and three-point shooting specialist off the bench.</p> <p>It was with the Golden State Warriors, however, that Mullin helped push the game towards its current trajectory.</p> <p>Mullin, along with Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond, was one-third of the near-iconic Run TMC. The trio would set the stage for contemporary execution on the offensive end of the floor, with Mullin playing the small forward role that so many current stars have thrived in.</p> <p>Golden State never made the leap to contender status, but Mullin was a revered talent who truly belonged with the all-timers on the Dream Team. An All-NBA First Team nod in 1992, when he averaged 25.6 points per game on .524/.366/.833, is firm proof.</p> <p>Postseason victories over the Utah Jazz in 1987 and 1989, and the San Antonio Spurs in 1991 achieved the same effect.</p> <p>Unfortunately, injuries struck when Mullin was at the height of his powers. Nevertheless, he played 16 successful years in the NBA and has the Dream Team selection to prove just how feared he was.</p> <p>For one last piece of perspective: Between 1988 and 1993, Mullin averaged 25.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.9 steals on a .523/.354/.871 slash line.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 23 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064251" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064251 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1088,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F96149164.jpeg" alt="Amar'e Stoudemire" width="1600" height="1088" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Amar’e Stoudemire (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>23. Amar’e Stoudemire</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 2002 to 2016</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances: </strong>2</li> </ul> <p>Although it was Steve Nash who won MVP with the Phoenix Suns of the 2000s, Amar’e Stoudemire often stole the show. With a combination of size, athleticism, and skill that made him perfectly equipped to thrive in Mike D’Antoni’s system, Stoudemire became a pick and roll nightmare.</p> <p>Between his remarkable success with the Suns and his rejuvenation of the New York Knicks, Stoudemire fought off injuries for as long as he could en route to a career that has landed him on the Hall of Fame bubble.</p> <p>Stoudemire’s accolades speak for themselves. He was named All-NBA in five different seasons, including a First Team nod in 2007 and four Second Team appearances between 2005 and 2011. He won Rookie of the Year in 2003 and was selected to the All-Star team on six separate occasions.</p> <p>Stoudemire also registered 78 postseason games played, including a 2005 run that saw him average 29.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks against the likes of Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Pau Gasol.</p> <p>For perspective on just how good Stoudemire was when he was healthy: He averaged at least 25.0 points per game in three of the five seasons during which he appeared in at least 70 games. That doesn’t include when he averaged 23.1 points on 55.7 percent shooting while playing all 82 games in 2009-10.</p> <p>Nor does it include when he put up 20.4 points on 57.5 percent shooting when he went 82-for-82 in 2006-07 after missing all but three games in 2005-06.</p> <p>Stoudemire never won an NBA championship, but injuries may have hurt him more than any other big man on this list. It’s a shame his greatness is so scarcely mentioned when discussing the, “What if?” players throughout history.</p> <p>Stoudemire was one of the very best in the regular season and postseason alike.</p> <p>Plus: He led the lowly Knicks to their first postseason appearance in seven years.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 22 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064201" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064201 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1068,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F468736038.jpeg" alt="Dikembe Mutombo" width="1600" height="1068" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Dikembe Mutombo (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>22. Dikembe Mutombo</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1991 to 2009</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals:</strong> 2</li> </ul> <p>If one were to make a list of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, it wouldn’t take long for Dikembe Mutombo’s name to appear. Acknowledging that the Defensive Player of the Year award was introduced in 1982-83, Mutombo became the first player in history to secure the honors on three separate occasions in 1997-98.</p> <p>Mutombo would add a record fourth Defensive Player of the Year award to his mantle in 2000-01, when he helped Allen Iverson lead the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals against Shaquille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers.</p> <p>That alone qualifies him for this list.</p> <p>Mutombo, who didn’t debut in the NBA until he was 25 years of age, somehow still managed to carve out an 18-year career. During his remarkable time in the NBA, he added six All-Defense selections, three All-NBA nods, and eight All-Star Game appearances to his quartet of DPOY awards.</p> <p>Mutombo also led the NBA in rebounding in both 1999-00 and 2000-01, as well as blocks in 1993-94, 1994-95, and 1995-96. The man was a walking defensive stop.</p> <p>See: No. 2 all-time in blocks, No. 12 all-time in defensive rebounds.</p> <p>Mutombo’s No. 55 jersey has been retired by two franchises: The Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets. There’s a case to be made the same should occur in Philadelphia.</p> <p>He led Denver to a shocking upset of the 63-win, No. 1 seed Seattle SuperSonics in 1993-94, and pushed Atlanta to the second round of the Playoffs in both 1996-97 and 1998-99.</p> <p>Coupled with his trip to the 2001 NBA Finals, Mutombo has proven to be a center with a tremendous impact during an era in which big men seemed to dominate the scene.</p> <p>It was a Hall of Fame career that set the standard for defensive-minded centers in the years that have followed.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 21 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064193" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064193 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1140,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F96211241.jpeg" alt="Bob Lanier" width="1600" height="1140" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Bob Lanier (Photo by Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>21. Bob Lanier</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1970 to 1984</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals:</strong> 2</li> </ul> <p>When Bob Lanier landed with the Detroit Pistons, Dave Bing had been keeping the franchise on life support. The team made the Playoffs in 1967-68, Bing’s second season in the NBA, but went all the way through 1972-73 without reaching the postseason again.</p> <p>Thankfully, Lanier was selected by the Pistons at No. 1 overall in the 1970 NBA Draft and had Detroit playing postseason basketball again within four years of being with the organization.</p> <p>Lanier was named to the All-Rookie First Team in 1970-71 and made his first of eight All-Star Game appearances in 1971-72. He became a nightly double-double in his second season when he averaged 25.7 points and 14.2 rebounds per game.</p> <p>It was in year four, however, that Detroit began to win—and one can easily see why.</p> <p>Lanier evolved as a passer, setting the table for his teammates and making the game easier for Bing as the point guard. Lanier would finish that season with averages of 22.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game on 50.4 percent shooting from the field.</p> <p>Lanier even recorded a mark of 79.7 percent at the free throw line, which illustrates the range he was capable of shooting from.</p> <p>Lanier’s modern game was transcending his era, as he helped the Pistons make four consecutive postseason appearances between 1973-74 and 1976-77. It was the team’s longest string of postseason success since the early 1960s.</p> <p>In 1975-76, Bing made his claim to fame when he led the Pistons past the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. It marked Detroit’s first postseason series victory since 1961-62—an unsettling 14 years!</p> <p>Lanier would actually go on to finish his career with the Bucks, providing steady production, an All-Star season, and a veteran presence for a team that upset the Boston Celtics in 1983 and reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 1984.</p> <p>Had there been an All-NBA Third Team as Lanier crossed paths with the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Willis Reed, his résumé would likely be even greater.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 20 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064158" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064158 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F476623390.jpeg" alt="Alex English" width="3200" height="2160" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Alex English (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>20. Alex English</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1976 to 1991</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Alex English is regarded by many as the greatest player in Denver Nuggets history—and yes, Nikola Jokic may soon make me eat those words. He’s one of the game’s distinguished scorers, as well as an underrated playmaker who spearheaded a decade of NBA prominence for one of the ABA’s signature franchises.</p> <p>A beloved figure in Denver basketball, English is one of those rare players where everyone is so aware of how underrated he is that he may not actually be underrated anymore.</p> <p>English was named All-NBA in three separate seasons, made eight All-Star Game appearances, and won a scoring title in 1983. He led the Nuggets to the 1985 Western Conference Finals, even scoring 40 points as Denver dominantly took Game 2 from what many consider to be one of the greatest teams of all-time: The 1985 “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers.</p> <p>It was the crowning moment for English, who validated the hype and proved that he was every bit the Hall of Fame talent that his remarkable scoring exploits had made him out to be.</p> <p>That fact is made even more profound by the fact that, since joining the NBA in 1976, Denver has only made the Conference Finals in four seasons. It also enhances the fact that English finished his career with upwards of 25,000 points—a plateau that, as of this article, only 22 players have ever managed to reach.</p> <p>English was a prolific scorer who helped Denver make the Playoffs in nine consecutive seasons. It may not be a championship, but that’s about as much as a small-market franchise can ask for.</p> <p>One last fact to hammer this slide home: No player scored more points than English during the 1980s. Not a single one.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 19 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064188" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064188 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2156,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F650847.jpeg" alt="Tracy McGrady" width="3200" height="2156" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Tracy McGrady Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport</p> </div> </div> <h3>19. Tracy McGrady</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1997 to 2013</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs</li> <li><b>Scoring Titles: </b>2</li> </ul> <p>Very few players have ever reached the level that Tracy McGrady was able to before the injuries ultimately deprived him of reaching his potential. He was one of the most feared scorers in NBA history, as well as an All-NBA mainstay across multiple teams and conferences.</p> <p>A lack of postseason success is an asterisk in many fans’ minds, but McGrady’s ability and prowess should not be downplayed due to the lack of a ring—or an escape of the first round of the Playoffs.</p> <p>McGrady won back-to-back scoring titles in 2002-03 and 2003-4. In the process, he joined a shortlist of players to go back-to-back with the accolade: George Mikan, Neil Johnston, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob McAdoo, George Gervin, Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.</p> <p>McGrady was also selected to the All-NBA First Team in both 2001-02 and 2002-03 after leading the Orlando Magic out of the depths of despair and back into the postseason.</p> <p>McGrady finished his career with seven All-NBA nods, seven All-Star Game appearances, a Most Improved Player award, and 50 postseason games played. Injuries prevented him from reaching 20,000 career points, but during his eight-year peak of 2000-01 through 2007-08, he averaged 26.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.</p> <p>Furthermore, the late Kobe Bryant called McGrady to defend, per <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/25083379" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN</a>.</p> <p>Injuries may have prevented McGrady from slamming the door shut on any skepticism surrounding his Hall of Fame status, but he is one of the greatest to never win a ring.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 18 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064178" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064178 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1019,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F159048356.jpeg" alt="Carmelo Anthony" width="1600" height="1019" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Carmelo Anthony (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>18. Carmelo Anthony</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 2003 to Present</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>In 2002-03, Carmelo Anthony completed what may be the greatest freshman season of the modern era by leading the Syracuse Orange to the only national championship in program history. A few months later, he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and so began a revered NBA career.</p> <p>One of the most respected people and players in the Association, Anthony has carved out a near 20-year career as a gifted scorer and heralded leader.</p> <p>Anthony’s accolades are impressive enough for anyone to appreciate his greatness, with six All-NBA honors and 10 All-Star Game appearances. He also won the 2013 scoring title, and has a male basketball record three Olympic Gold Medals.</p> <p>Having scored well over 25,000 career points, Anthony will comfortably enter the Hall of Fame and enjoy the perks that come with being a walking highlight reel.</p> <p>It was the 2008-09 and 2012-13 seasons that define what made Anthony such a special player. During the former, he and Chauncey Billups led the Denver Nuggets to a classic Conference Finals showdown with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.</p> <p>It was Denver’s first appearance in the Conference Finals in 24 years.</p> <p>In 2012-13, Anthony led the New York Knicks to the franchise’s only postseason series victory of the post-Ewing era. The 54 wins marked the franchise’s most since 1996-97, while the Conference Semifinals appearance broke a 13-year drought.</p> <p>Considering the Knicks haven’t even reached the Playoffs since then, it’s fair to acknowledge as one of the best players of his generation.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 17 </a> </div> <h3><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"></h3> <div id="attachment_2064149" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064149 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2157,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F657159.jpeg" alt="Chris Webber" width="3200" height="2157" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Chris Webber Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport</p> </div> </div> <h3>17. Chris Webber</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1993 to 2008</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Golden State Warriors, Washington Bullets / Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 2</li> </ul> <p>Many have pondered what might have happened if the Orlando Magic had drafted Chris Webber instead of Penny Hardaway. It worked out quite well for Orlando in the end, but the foundation of the question is based around the premise of the Magic having an almost Duncan-Robinson level duo.</p> <p>Whether or not it would’ve worked out that way, Webber is one of the all-time great, “What if?” players, due in large part to the fact we almost received the answer.</p> <p>Webber carved out quite the career for himself despite the injuries. He was named All-NBA in five separate seasons, including the First Team nod he received for his signature 2000-01 season with the Sacramento Kings.</p> <p>Webber averaged a career-high 27.1 points per game, as well as 11.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 2000-01. It was a tremendous display of what he may have been able to sustain if not for the injuries.</p> <p>This set the stage for when the Sacramento Kings pushed the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the 2002 Western Conference Finals. It was also during a run by the Kings that would become something of a precursor for modern basketball.</p> <p>Webber was the prototypical modern big, equipped with a unique blend of strength, agility, and skill. His passing was an invaluable skill from the high post, while his complete scoring arsenal made him a threat against any team that attempted to contain him.</p> <p>Injuries robbed Webber of what could’ve been, but his influence on the game should not be downplayed.</p> <p>He and the Kings are one of the ultimate, “If I had a basketball time machine,” units.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 16 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p>Sidney Moncrief (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> <h3>16. Sidney Moncrief</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1979 to 1991</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 3</li> </ul> <p>Sidney Moncrief had five elite seasons before injuries derailed his criminally underrated career. During that five-year period, Moncrief wasn’t just good—he was one of the absolute best players in the game during what many basketball historians regard as the NBA’s greatest era.</p> <p>With the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Moses Malone, and Isiah Thomas dominating the championship picture, Moncrief managed to play at a Hall of Fame level and more than hold his own against those titans of the sport.</p> <p>Moncrief was named All-NBA, All-Defense, and All-Star in each of those five seasons. This was at a time when the All-NBA Third Team didn’t yet exist, meaning Moncrief was consistently regarded as one of the 10 best players in the NBA.</p> <p>Moncrief even beat out George Gervin and Isiah Thomas for All-NBA First Team honors in 1982-83.</p> <p>Beyond the accolades was a player who not only stepped up to the icons of the sport but was able to leave his mark by overcoming quite a few household names in a postseason setting.</p> <p>In 1983, Moncrief led the Bucks to a clean 4-0 sweep of Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. Moncrief and Milwaukee also defeated Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks in 1984, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 1985, and the Erving, Malone, and Charles Barkley led Philadelphia 76ers in 1986.</p> <p>Rounding this all out: Moncrief was the first-ever NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He won the award in consecutive years, a feat only replicated by Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard, Kawhi Leonard, and Rudy Gobert.</p> <p>Leonard is the only other wing to achieve the feat, while Moncrief is, to this day, the one and only guard. He belongs high on this list, injuries or otherwise.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 15 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064121" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064121 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F481490456-1.jpeg" alt="Bernard King" width="3200" height="2160" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Bernard King (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>15. Bernard King</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1977 to 1993</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Washington Bullets</li> <li><strong>Scoring Titles: </strong>1</li> </ul> <p>Those who watched or played against Bernard King have the utmost respect for him. Injuries tragically interrupted his ascension, but the brief peak that was witnessed gave fans, opponents, teammates, and coaches a lifetime of memories.</p> <p>We’ll start with a well-known fact: The New York Knicks haven’t won a championship since 1973. Contrary to popular belief, however, the Knicks weren’t exactly living in the NBA gutter until Patrick Ewing arrived.</p> <p>Before The Hoya Destroya burst on the scene, it was King who made New York must-see TV—and even delivered one of the franchise’s iconic postseason series.</p> <p>King is one of the greatest scorers to ever grace the hardwood, as well as a rival whom Larry Bird was only narrowly able to overcome during the Boston Celtics’ reign of dominance in the Eastern Conference in the 1980s.</p> <p>King is the, “What if?” player whom countless fans constantly overlook—against all signs of reason. He was averaging 32.9 points per game 53.0 percent shooting from the field through 55 outings when a knee injury derailed his career, smack dab in the prime of it.</p> <p>King would defy all odds to become an All-Star six years later, when he averaged 28.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game at 34 years of age—almost unheard of statistics for a player that age, even in the modern era, let alone for a player who suffered such a severe injury.</p> <p>Beyond what could’ve been, there was what was. King won the 1985 scoring title, made four All-NBA teams, and was selected to the All-NBA First Team twice. For what it’s worth: King was named to the All-NBA First Team during the season he suffered the career-altering knee injury.</p> <p>The year prior, 1983-84, King went toe-to-toe with Bird and the Celtics in a thrilling series. The 47-35 Knicks pushed the 62-20 Celtics to seven games, with King scoring 43 points in a Game 4 win and 44 in a Game 6 victory.</p> <p>He posted 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists in Game 7, but Bird came through with one of his career-defining performances for the win: 39 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals.</p> <p>When an all-time great needs to be at their very best to escape a severely overmatched team in the Playoffs, the opposing superstar had to be special. That’s exactly what King was.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 14 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064647" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064647 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1240,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1172702255.jpeg" alt="Indiana Pacers, Reggie Miller" width="1600" height="1240" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Reggie Miller (Photo by MATT CAMPBELL / AFP)</p> </div> </div> <h3>14. Reggie Miller</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1987 to 2005</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Indiana Pacers</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>The Indiana Pacers are one of the most respected organizations in all of professional basketball. One of the primary reasons for this truth is their dominant success in the ABA, but the driving force behind modern fans’ admiration for the Pacers is what the team accomplished between 1990 and 2006: 16 postseason appearances in 17 seasons.</p> <p>The leader of the teams that experienced that resounding successwas one of the most polarizing players in NBA history: An all-time great shooter and an even greater trash-talking menace known as Reggie Miller.</p> <p>Miller played 18 years in the NBA, retiring mere months before his 40th birthday—an accolade unto itself. At the time of his retirement, he was the NBA’s all-time leader in three-point field goals made and one of just four players in the 50-40-90 club.</p> <p>Only Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Malcolm Brogdon have since joined that group of male players. Elena Delle Donne became the first WNBA player to achieve the feat in 2019.</p> <p>For as impressive as the numbers are, including Miller’s 25,279 career points, they fail to tell the story of what made him great. What it boiled down to for his teammates and opponents was one fundamental truth: In the biggest of moments, you’d either love or fear the idea of Miller having the ball in his hands.</p> <p>That nearly incomparable ability in the clutch enabled Miller to lead the Pacers to the only NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, as well as six Eastern Conference Finals appearances.</p> <p>I repeat: Six Conference Finals for a small-market franchise. Even the Celtics and Lakers would be happy with a run like that while building around one star player.</p> <p>Miller also helped Indiana become one of just two teams to push the Michael Jordan Bulls to a seven-game series during their six-season reign of terror between 1990-91 and 1997-98.</p> <p>Miller played up to the level of his opponents. Not many players can say that.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 13 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><iframe src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ot3lKZ1Vwe8" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p> <h3>13. Nate Thurmond</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1963 to 1977</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> San Francisco / Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 2</li> </ul> <p>It’s difficult to envy the centers who played during the same era as Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. That was the task placed before Nate Thurmond, who spent 14 years in the NBA and 11 seasons with the once San Francisco and now Golden State Warriors.</p> <p>Somehow, Thurmond managed to make quite the name for himself.</p> <p>A physical marvel who could intimidate players of any era, Thurmond emerged as an elite defender and perennial All-Star with a unique statistical claim to fame: Being the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double.</p> <p>On October 18, 1974, Thurmond recorded an unprecedented stat line of 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks in a 120-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. That’s especially significant considering it wasn’t until Thurmond’s 11th season that the NBA began recording blocks as an official statistic.</p> <p>In other words: It’s possible that he’d already done this before, but it went unrecorded.</p> <p>Thurmond was, after all, a five-time All-Defense honoree—an award that didn’t exist until his until his sixth NBA season, thus calling into question how many more he would have on his résumé had it existed all along.</p> <p>Averages 21.3 rebounds per game in 1966-67 and 22.0 in 1967-68 would’ve certainly helped his case.</p> <p>Thurmond was also an excellent passer for his position, as evidenced by his average of 4.2 assists per game in 1967-68. The impact of his statistics is evident when one evaluates his nine postseason appearances.</p> <p>That includes 1971-72, when a then 30-year-old Thurmond averaged 25.4 points, 17.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per contest against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Milwaukee Bucks.</p> <p>Speaking of Abdul-Jabbar, he provided the following quote about Thurmond, per <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://www.tampabay.com/sports/thurmond-first-to-hold-wilt-scoreless/2285686/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Tampa Bay Times</em></a>:</p> <blockquote><p>“When I score on Nate, I know I’ve done something,” Abdul-Jabbar once said. “He sweats, and he wants you to sweat, too.”</p></blockquote> <p>That quote about Thurmond’s smothering defense comes from the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.</p> <p>Furthermore, Thurmond and the Warriors reached the 1964 and 1967 NBA Finals, thus coming close to not even being on this list. He helped Chamberlain defeat all-timer Bob Pettit in the Division Finals in 1964, and aided Rick Barry in a win over Elgin Baylor in the Division Semifinals in 1967.</p> <p>Thurmond may have been overshadowed by Chamberlain and Russell, but who wasn’t? He’s one of the all-time great centers, title or otherwise.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 12 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064650" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064650 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1087,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F465283108.jpeg" alt="Dominique Wilkins" width="1600" height="1087" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Dominique Wilkins (Photo by John Bazemore-Pool/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>12. Dominique Wilkins</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1982 to 1999</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic</li> <li><strong>Scoring Titles:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Dominique Wilkins may not have won a championship, but the players who did have the battle scars to remember the challenges he gave them. The Human Highlight Film is known today as one of the most explosive and exciting players ever, but let it not be misunderstood.</p> <p>Wilkins was an absolute force of nature as an overall player.</p> <p>That’s exactly why Wilkins entered the 2020-21 NBA season at No. 13 all-time in career points scored with 26,668. He also ranks No. 14 all-time at 24.83 points per game</p> <p>The icing on that point-flavored cake was when Wilkins won the NBA scoring title in 1985-86. It was one of his two seasons above 30 points per game, which should be perceived as a clear sign of his prowess in that area of the game.</p> <p>He averaged upwards of 25 points per game in 10 different seasons and even checked in at 29.9 in 1992-93, when he was 33 years of age and just one year removed from rupturing his achilles tendon.</p> <p>Wilkins was certainly a tremendous athlete, but it was his combination of all-time scoring prowess, longevity, and toughness that made him one of the most respected players of his generation.</p> <p>Wilkins’ defining moment arrived in 1988, when he and the Atlanta Hawks pushed Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson and the Boston Celtics to seven games. Nique was incredible, even scoring 47 points in Game 7 and 40 in a pivotal Game 4 that tied the series at 2-2.</p> <p>Boston would win the series, but Wilkins would make quite the statement against one of the 10 greatest players in NBA history.</p> <p>Although he was never able to capture a championship, Wilkins was one of the biggest stars of what many consider to the Association’s greatest era. He was one of the easiest Hall of Fame inductees for fans, analysts, and players to agree upon.</p> <p>A fan favorite and scoring machine.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 11 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064654" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064654 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1046,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1143375566.jpeg" alt="Russell Westbrook" width="1600" height="1046" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Russell Westbrook (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>11. Russell Westbrook</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>2008 to Present</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>Following in the footsteps of the original Mr. Triple-Double, Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook has stuffed the stat sheet in unimaginable ways. He averaged a triple-double in three consecutive seasons, and while many criticized his rebounds, it’s now standard practice for perimeter players to crash the boards at an inflated rate.</p> <p>Often criticized, tremendously under-appreciated, and unbelievably talented, Westbrook has put together a career that will have him sleepwalking into the Hall of Fame.</p> <p>Westbrook won NBA MVP in 2016-17 after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an improbable postseason appearance in the wake of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka’s respective departures. It marked his second season as All-NBA First Team, as well as his second year as scoring champion.</p> <p>As of this posting, Westbrook is the only player in NBA history to both win at least two scoring titles and lead the Association in assists in multiple seasons.</p> <p>Before he was the go-to player in Oklahoma City, Westbrook was one-half of a nigh iconic duo with Durant. He and Durant, as well as Ibaka and James Harden, led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012 when the core players were all 23 and under.</p> <p>An almost unheard of feat.</p> <p>OKC made a total of four Western Conference Finals appearances with Westbrook running point. Houston made the second round of the Playoffs with him doing the same in 2019-20.</p> <p>In other words: Westbrook, who has made the Playoffs in 10 of his 12 NBA seasons, plays winning basketball while producing absurd stat lines.</p> <p>A Hall of Fame point guard who deserves more all-time praise.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 10 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064658" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064658 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1103,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F805771410.jpeg" alt="George Gervin" width="1600" height="1103" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">George Gervin (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>10. George Gervin</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1973 to 1986</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 3</li> </ul> <p>This list has consisted of a number of scorers who can be called anything from the basic adjective of, “Great,” to the more grandiose term of, “Spectacular.” When it comes to the truly special scorers who have graced the NBA, however, the list is brief.</p> <p>One of the names who is essential to such a collection of talent is “The Iceman” himself: San Antonio Spurs legend George Gervin.</p> <p>Gervin first achieved notoriety ABA, where he earned All-Rookie honors in 1973, All-Star distinctions in every season from 1974 through 1976, and All-ABA recognition in 1975 and 1976. It didn’t take long for his success to translate to the NBA.</p> <p>Gervin was named All-NBA in seven different seasons, including a string of five consecutive All-NBA First Team appearances between 1978 and 1982. During that same stretch, the Spurs’ most notorious scorer captured four scoring titles in five seasons—a feat that even the great Michael Jordan must tip his cap to.</p> <p>In fact, Gervin is one of just five players in NBA history to win at least four scoring titles—and he won his while playing in the same Association as one Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.</p> <p>Gervin’s most astonishing scoring season was in 1979-80, when he poured in 33.1 points per game on 52.8 percent shooting from the field. It was in the postseason, however, that The Iceman solidified his legacy, as he led the Spurs to the first, second, and third Conference Finals appearances in franchise history: 1979, 1982, and 1983.</p> <p>He even had the Spurs within one game of the 1979 NBA Finals, but fell in Game 7 to the Dandridge-Hayes-Unseld Washington Bullets.</p> <p>He scored 42 points on 16-of-31 shooting in that Game 7 loss—a 107-105 nailbiter.</p> <p>The Spurs wouldn’t make it back to the Conference Finals for another 12 years after ’83, when a certain David Robinson would win MVP and lead the franchise within two games of the championship round.</p> <p>That should tell you all you need to know about how important Gervin was to the Spurs, as well as how remarkable a player he truly became.</p> <p>“Special” is the word you’re looking for. If not, it’s likely, “Underrated.”</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 9 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064660" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064660 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1049,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F2021725-1.jpeg" alt="Allen Iverson" width="1600" height="1049" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Allen Iverson (Photo by: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>9. Allen Iverson</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1996 to 2010</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>There are few players in NBA history whose influence even begins to compare to that of Allen Iverson. While Michael Jordan made basketball more of a perimeter-oriented, jump-shooting game, Iverson changed the culture in ways we still aren’t fully comprehending.</p> <p>Take one look around the NBA and you’ll see a whole generation of athletes with tattoos and arm sleeves—one of the seemingly countless ways that Iverson has culturally altered the landscape.</p> <p>You’ll also see a generation of players who are point guards by size and shooting guards by style. Once again: Iverson.</p> <p>Beyond his influence, Iverson is one of the greatest performers in NBA history. He’s one of five individuals to win the scoring title on at least four separate occasions and is by far the shortest player of anyone on that list.</p> <p>The others joining the 6’0” Iverson: 6’6″ Michael Jordan with 10, 7’1″ Wilt Chamberlain with seven, and 6’10” Kevin Durant and 6’7″ George Gervin with four.</p> <p>Perspective.</p> <p>Iverson also won NBA MVP in 2000-01, received three All-NBA First Team nods, and led the league in steals on three occasions. He famously guided the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals the year he won MVP, which stands as the franchise’s only trip to the championship round since 1983.</p> <p>He took down three other Hall of Fame shooting guards along the way, defeating Reggie Miller in the first round, Vince Carter in the second, and Ray Allen in the Eastern Conference Finals.</p> <p>In the 2001 NBA Finals, Iverson and the 76ers became the only team to win a game against Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers during the entirety of the 2001 Playoffs.</p> <p>Whether you’re talking talent or influence, you simply can’t tell the story of the NBA without Allen Iverson.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 8 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064663" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064663 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1212304799.jpeg" alt="James Harden" width="3200" height="2133" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">James Harden (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>8. James Harden</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 2009 to Present</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>This one could admittedly change in the near future, but for now, James Harden slots in at No. 7. He’s one of the greatest players in NBA history, with a long list of accolades and a few near calls as far as winning a championship is concerned.</p> <p>Perhaps most impressive of all: Harden is on the shortlist of players who have both won NBA MVP and never secure a title.</p> <p>Perhaps the third-best player in Houston Rockets history after Hakeem Olajuwon and Moses Malone, Harden was an easy selection for this list. In addition to winning MVP, he’s a six-time All-NBA First Team selectee, a three-time scoring champion, and a former assists leader.</p> <p>He’s also a former Sixth Man of the Year for an Oklahoma City Thunder team that defied the odds to reach the 2012 NBA Finals with a cast of 23-and-under lead players.</p> <p>In Houston, Harden led the Rockets to the Playoffs in each of his eight completed seasons with the team. That includes a trip to the 2015 Western Conference Finals with Dwight Howard as his co-star and the 2018 NBA Semifinal with Chris Paul in that role.</p> <p>Throw in an Olympic Gold Medal and Harden is an NBA championship away from incredibly rare territory as far as accolades are concerned.</p> <p>He’s an offensive dynamo with the unique ability to take over any game he plays. He’s also won far more consistently than he’s commonly given credit for.</p> <p>With well over 100 playoff games behind him, Harden has a legitimate opportunity to go down as an all-time great if he can break the championship drought.</p> <p>Based on his placement on this list, perhaps it won’t even be required.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 7 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064673" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064673 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1088,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F143432769.jpeg" alt="Steve Nash" width="1600" height="1088" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Steve Nash (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>7. Steve Nash</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1996 to 2015</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 4</li> </ul> <p>One of the words that has come up on this slideshow is, “Pioneer.” When mentioning those trend-setting players, one would be remiss to exclude Steve Nash from the discussion.</p> <p>Mike D’Antoni justifiably receives praise for his innovative offensive schemes, but Nash had a unique skill set as one of the greatest passers and shooters to ever grace the hardwood.</p> <p>That unfortunately never led to a championship, but traces of Nash’s influence can be found throughout the modern NBA—including the absolute necessity for a team’s point guard being able to space the floor.</p> <p>Nash ranks third in NBA history in career assists at 10,335 and cracked the top 25 in career three-point field goals despite being discouraged from shooting them early in his career. He also ranks 11th in career three-point field goal percentage at .4278 and second in career free throw percentage at .9043.</p> <p>Those are clear signs of his elite proficiency as a shooter.</p> <p>Nash also has an NBA record four 50-40-90 seasons, with Larry Bird at two being the only other player to accumulate more than one. For as incredible as that all is, it speaks to how great Nash was that we haven’t even gotten to the fact that he’s a two-time NBA MVP.</p> <p>He’s one of just 14 players in NBA history to win that award in multiple seasons.</p> <p>Nash was also a seven-time All-NBA honoree and eight-time All-Star. He also reached the Western Conference Finals on four separate occasions, including when he was 36 years of age and leading a D’Antoni-less Suns team in 2009-10—a fact that’s rarely discussed.</p> <p>Nash retired without winning a championship, but he played winning basketball for the better part of 17 years and has an incredible résumé to show for it.</p> <p>120 career postseason games and five seasons as the NBA assists leader included.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 6 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064674" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064674 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1304646698-1.jpeg" alt="Chris Paul" width="1600" height="1067" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Chris Paul (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>6. Chris Paul</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>2005 to Present</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns</li> <li><strong>Conference Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>When Chris Paul joins a team, it instantly becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Perhaps even more significantly: When Paul joins a downtrodden franchise, it instantly becomes a factor in ways it had never previously been.</p> <p>The New Orleans Hornets, now Pelicans, and Los Angeles Clippers are shining examples of this, as Paul single-handedly transformed the culture and success of those organizations.</p> <p>In New Orleans, Paul inherited a team that won a mere 18 wins in 2004-05. Just three years later, he guided the Hornets to a 54-28 record and a postseason series victory over Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in 2007-08.</p> <p>That set the tone for his run with the Clippers, where he ended a six-year postseason drought and delivered the first 50-win season in franchise history.</p> <p>43 years after the franchise was founded.</p> <p>Paul’s résumé jumps off the page with nine All-NBA nods, nine All-Defense honors, and 11 selections to the All-Star Game. He’s led the Association in steals in a record six seasons, with no other player doing so in more than three.</p> <p>Paul is also a four-time NBA assists leader, a former Rookie of the Year, and a player who might have been a champion had he not been injured in 2017-18.</p> <p>Lest we forget: Paul had the Houston Rockets up 3-2 on Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 Western Conference Finals.</p> <p>Had he not been injured, Paul may have secured that elusive championship with James Harden in Houston.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 5 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064675" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064675 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1238,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F52028218.jpeg" alt="Patrick Ewing" width="1600" height="1238" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Patrick Ewing (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>5. Patrick Ewing</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active: </strong>1985 to 2002</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics, Orlando Magic</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances: </strong>2</li> </ul> <p>The New York Knicks haven’t won a championship since 1973. This author is painfully aware of that truth. Between 1985 and 2000, however, Ewing gave New York the type of hope that simply hasn’t been consistently provided at any point over the past 20 years.</p> <p>Ewing left it all on the court and did everything in his power to end the Association’s most infamous championship drought. For that, this ranking was deserved.</p> <p>Ewing was unable to deliver a championship to the Knicks, but two NBA Finals appearances with him and zero others since 1973 suggest that he was well worth the No. 1 overall selection at the 1985 NBA Draft.</p> <p>Ewing was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1985-86. He would go on to be a seven-time All-NBA honoree and an 11-time All-Star during a career that crossed paths with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, and David Robinson.</p> <p>Ewing and the Knicks also pushed Michael Jordan and the 1991-92 Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Playoffs—and beat Scottie Pippen and the Bulls in 1993-94 on their way to the NBA Finals.</p> <p>For perspective: It was one of just two times between 1991 and 1998 that Jordan’s Bulls reached a Game 7 in any round of the Playoffs.</p> <p>Furthermore, the Knicks reached the postseason in every campaign from 1987-88 to 1999-00 with Ewing as the franchise player. Since unceremoniously trading the franchise player, New York has only made the Playoffs five times in the 20 completed seasons that followed.</p> <p>The other bit of crucial context: The fact that Ewing played with a grand total of ZERO players who made multiple All-Star Games.</p> <p>Talk about carrying an organization to contending status.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 4 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064677" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064677 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1355,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F51981444.jpeg" alt="Jazz icon, John Stockton" width="1600" height="1355" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">John Stockton (Photo credit: MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>4. John Stockton</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1984 to 2003</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Utah Jazz</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 2</li> </ul> <p>When it comes to the point guard position, you can’t play it much better than Utah Jazz legend John Stockton managed to. He was a threat to do everything on the court, and as the statistics show, he was the very best to ever rack up assists or come away with steals.</p> <p>No hyperbole is necessary.</p> <p>Simply put: Stockton is the best point guard to never win a championship. That unfortunately comes with the knowledge that he had two golden opportunities to do so.</p> <p>Stockton paced Utah to the only two NBA Finals appearances in franchise history. He also helped Utah reach the Western Conference Finals on five separate occasions.</p> <p>Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen ultimately got in the way, but it’s a feat unto itself that Stockton helped Utah achieve such prestige.</p> <p>Stockton ranks No. 1 all-time in career assists at 15,806—putting him nearly 4,000 assists ahead of the No. 2 player, Jason Kidd, at 12,091. Stockton is also No. 1 in NBA history in career steals at 3,265, putting him nearly 600 steals ahead of the No. 2 player—again, Kidd, at 2,684.</p> <p>Stockton is also No. 2 in NBA history in assists per game at 10.51 and No. 8 in steals per game at 2.17, thus proving that it was more than just longevity that got him to the top of those lists.</p> <p>The word longevity, however, is underselling just how durable Stockton was. He missed a grand total of 22 games in 19 NBA seasons. Those 22 games were spread out across two years.</p> <p>In other words: Stockton appeared in every single game during an unfathomable 17 separate seasons.</p> <p>With 11 All-NBA selections, five All-Defense nods, and an NBA record nine seasons as the Association’s assists leader, Stockton was in a class of his own.</p> <p>The term “pure point guard” might as well have Stockton’s face next to it.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_2064678" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-2064678 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F03%2F1295598312.jpeg" alt="Charles Barkley" width="3200" height="2133" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Charles Barkley (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>3. Charles Barkley</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1984 to 2000</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For: </strong>Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 1</li> </ul> <p>If all you know about Charles Barkley is what you see on television, then you’re missing out on quite an athlete. Barkley is one of the greatest players in NBA history, with a combination of accolades, the eye test, and statistics that support his place in the top five of this list of all-timers without a championship.</p> <p>That all begins with the fact that Barkley is one of just four retired players to be named NBA MVP and never win a championship.</p> <p>We’ve already seen two of them.</p> <p>Some have debated whether or not Barkley should’ve toppled Michael Jordan for MVP, but there’s plenty of evidence that he deserved it. For one, Phoenix won a league-high 62 games that season, with Barkley starring as the clear No. 1.</p> <p>He averaged 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 block per game. Statistically, the case was clear.</p> <p>That made Barkley the second player in NBA history to average at least 25.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 block per game in a single season. The only first to do so: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</p> <p>To enhance the greatness of that legacy-defining season, Barkley validated his success by reaching the NBA Finals and giving Jordan, arguably, his toughest test on that stage. All six games in that series were decided by 10 points or fewer.</p> <p>Beyond the MVP season, Barkley was named to the All-NBA First Team on five separate occasions and has an incredible 11 total All-NBA nods on his résumé. He led the league in two-point field goal percentage in five consecutive seasons and averaged at least 10.0 rebounds per game in every one of his 16 NBA seasons aside from his rookie year.</p> <p>He was a force of nature with the Philadelphia 76ers and a transcendent talent with the Phoenix Suns.</p> <p>Barkley was not only a player who overcame insurmountable odds as an undersized power forward, but an all-time great who has become rather underrated in such discussions.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_1244381" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-1244381 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1440,w_2160/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F06%2F587353-jazz-v-mavericks-x.jpg.jpg" alt="Karl Malone" width="2160" height="1440" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2160px;">Karl Malone Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez/Allsport</p> </div> </div> <h3>2. Karl Malone</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1985 to 2004</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 3</li> </ul> <p>Karl Malone has one of the most awe-inspiring résumés of any player to ever reach the NBA. The individual accolades overwhelm those of countless Hall of Fame players, and the multitude of deep postseason runs to cement his status as a star who generally got the job done at every stage of an NBA season.</p> <p>The one achievement that evaded Malone, however, was that of being an NBA champion—something that he nearly became on two separate occasions before ultimately running into some guy named Michael Jordan.</p> <p>And that doesn’t even include his helping the Los Angeles Lakers reach the 2004 NBA Finals.</p> <p>Malone is the only two-time NBA MVP who doesn’t have a championship, which is reason enough to believe he’s a contender for the No. 1 spot. He’s also a 14-time All-NBA honoree, with 11 All-NBA First Team nods—tied for second in NBA history with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant.</p> <p>Only LeBron James has more.</p> <p>Malone also received four All-Defense selections, including three to the All-Defensive First Team, and won the NBA All-Star Game MVP award on two separate occasions. Throw in two Olympic gold medals and back-to-back NBA Finals appearances, and Malone has done literally everything there is to do besides win a title.</p> <p>He’s also second in NBA history in career points, seventh in career rebounds, and 11th in career steals. Essentially, he’s the power forward version of LeBron James from a statistical perspective.</p> <p>Malone is still widely regarded as one of the 25 greatest players in NBA history, but one can’t help but wonder what a single championship would’ve done for the legacy of a superstar who had everything else imaginable on their résumé.</p> <p>For what it’s worth: Malone is even No. 7 all-time in career points scored in the postseason. He and the Utah Jazz came oh so close.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_1795743" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-1795743 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1161,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Ffansided.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2019%2F09%2F942815680.jpeg" alt="Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Lakers" width="1600" height="1161" /><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Elgin Baylor Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h3>1. Elgin Baylor</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Years Active:</strong> 1958 to 1971</li> <li><strong>Teams Played For:</strong> Los Angeles Lakers</li> <li><strong>NBA Finals Appearances:</strong> 8</li> </ul> <p>When discussing the pioneers of the sport, it’s silly to mention many names before getting to Elgin Baylor. One of, if not the original high-flyer in NBA history, Baylor brought a grounded game to an aerial level with his unbelievable finishes at the rim.</p> <p>He also dominated the boards in the same way.</p> <p>Productive in a manner that’s almost impossible to comprehend, the conversation of great players to never win a championship could begin and end with Baylor. He was a titan of an era that may be debated by contemporary fans in terms of its difficulty, but featured countless icons of the NBA nonetheless.</p> <p>Baylor finished his NBA career with 23,149 points and 11,463 rebounds. That puts Baylor in rare territory as one of just 14 players in Association history to exceed 23,000 points and 11,000 rebounds, as well as one of just 18 to exceed 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.</p> <p>In terms of averages, Baylor finished his career at 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. He also dished out 4.3 assists per contest to further shine at 6’5” in an era of giants such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Nate Thurmond.</p> <p>Baylor was named to the All-NBA First Team on 10 separate occasions—a feat that only 10 players in NBA history have achieved. The others to do so: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Bob Cousy, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Bob Pettit, and Jerry West.</p> <p>Every one of those players is commonly regarded as Top 25 on the all-time spectrum.</p> <p>Being that Baylor is one of just two players on that list to have never won an NBA championship, it’s safe to say that he’s at least a valid choice for the greatest player to retire without a ring.</p> <p> </p> <p>Beyond the individual accolades, Baylor actually helped the Los Angeles Lakers come painfully close on multiple—or, more specifically, eight—occasions. He led Los Angeles to the NBA Finals in 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, and 1970.</p> <p>Writing that out may have been unnecessary, but it hammers home a LeBron James level of consistency from Baylor in leading his team to the precipice of greatness.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="ranking every teams best player" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/24/nba-ranking-every-teams-best-player/" data-call-to-action="Next" > <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/07/50-greatest-nba-players-never-win-championship/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/24/nba-ranking-every-teams-best-player/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> ranking every teams best player </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">

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