Greatest NBA Players Who Never Won a Championship

Some of the greatest basketball players in NBA history finished their careers without ever winning a league championship.

We don’t know who started this you-ain’t-nothing-without-the-bling thing in pro sports, but it has got to stop as soon as possible, if not earlier.

If the number of championship rings really is the measure of greatness, as too many seem to think, then the best NBA player of the expansion era is none other than — drum roll, please — Robert Horry (seven rings as a player)?! Oh, and K.C. Jones (eight rings) is better than John Stockton (zippo), too.

True, some of the best players need only to look in the mirror to understand why there’s no championship bling in their vaults. Yet pro sports can be crueler than post-happy hour. Too many times the inability to win the big one comes down to a bad bounce, a bad call, a bad matchup, bad health or just plain bad luck.

Based on career achievements, statistics and metrics, these are the 25 greatest NBA players without a league championship on their resumes.

The qualifiers: Players with ABA titles aren’t eligible. Sorry, Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel, but you had a taste of it. And active ones need to have played at least 10 seasons to be considered.

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25. Allen Iverson, Guard

Allen Iverson was fearless on the court. Jeff Mitchell / AP Photo

Career: 1996-2010 (14 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies

Win shares/48 minutes: .126

Postseason record: 30-41

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (2001)

Bottom Line: Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson average 26.7 points per game in his career. Miles Kennedy / AP Photo

In a memorable NBA Finals debut, the miniature pit bull went off for 48 points on 50 total shots. Then it all went pfft against the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the next four games.

Could be the losers needed more practice. What are we talkin’ about — practice?

Yeah, we’re talkin’ about practice.

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24. Jack Twyman, Forward-Guard

Jack Twyman averaged 19.2 points per game in his career. AP Photo

Career: 1955-66 (11 seasons)

Teams: Rochester/Cincinnati Royals

Win shares/48 minutes: .138

Postseason record: 12-22

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Jack Twyman

Jack Twyman did not even play in an NBA Finals series. MikeDyer / Twitter

If the Boston Celtics’ dynasty hadn’t gotten in the way, the Royals might have achieved championship status.

Their best team (55-25) fell in five games to Gang Green in the 1964 Eastern Division semis.

Jack Twyman, a six-time All-Star, averaged 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in the series.

23. Chris Mullin, Forward-Guard

Chris Mullin, center, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. Tom Strattman / AP Photo

Career: 1985-2001 (16 seasons)

Teams: Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers

Win shares/48 minutes: .139

Postseason record: 35-36

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (2000)

Bottom Line: Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin was one of the best shooters in NBA history. Super70sSports / Twitter

The five-time All-Star spent the prime of his career with mostly ordinary Warriors teams before he finally made an NBA Finals appearance with the Pacers.

By then, the 36-year was on the verge of retirement.

Chris Mullin played 12 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers in the six-game series.

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22. Grant Hill, Forward-Guard

Grant Hill never won the big one in the NBA. Duane Burleson / AP Photo

Career: 1994-2013 (18 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers

Win shares/48 minutes: .138

Postseason record: 14-25

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Grant Hill

Grant Hill was nicknamed “G-Money” and “Mr. Nice.” timelesssports_ / Twitter

The former Dukie didn’t experience the same success in the pros that he had in college, largely because of a chronic foot issue that sabotaged the brunt of his career.

His closest call came in 2010 playoffs, which saw the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers beat his Suns in six games in the Western Conference finals.

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21. David Thompson, Forward-Guard

David Thompson, right, was 6-foot-4 and had a 48-inch vertical leap. AP Photo

Career: 1976-84 (eight seasons)

Teams: Denver Nuggets, Seattle SuperSonics

Win shares/48 minutes: .150

Postseason record: 10-17

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: David Thompson

Michael Jordan idolized David Thompson. AP Photo

In the final ABA season, his Nuggets lost to Julius Erving and the New York Nets in six games in the 1976 championship round.

After a merger of the two leagues, “Skywalker” would never soar to those heights again.

David Thompson got as far as the 1978 Western Conference finals, where the SuperSonics eliminated the Nuggets in six games.

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20. Tracy McGrady, Forward-Guard

Tracy McGrady scored 18,381 points in his career. Scott Audette / AP Photo

Career: 1997-2012 (15 seasons)

Teams: Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks

Win shares/48 minutes: .152

Postseason record: 19-31

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (2013)

Bottom Line: Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady won 19 playoff games. Tony Ranze / AP Photo

When “T-Mac” finally advanced to the NBA Finals, he was a 33-year-old benchwarmer on the Spurs.

Tracy McGrady sat out the 95-88 loss versus the Miami Heat in Game 7 and was limited to 14 scoreless minutes in the series.

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19. Dikembe Mutombo, Center

Dikembe Mutombo had 3,289 blocks in his career. Don Frazier

Career: 1991-2009 (18 seasons)

Teams: Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets

Win shares/48 minutes: .153

Postseason record: 42-59

NBA Finals appearances: 2 (2001, 2003)

Bottom Line: Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo played 18 seasons in the NBA. Alan Mothner / AP Photo

Remember that image of “Deke” on the floor, ball clutched in his monstrous hands after the Nuggets shocked the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1994 Western Conference playoffs?

Well, that turned out to be his postseason highlight.

Dikembe Mutombo went on to play in two NBA Finals, only to have the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs wag index fingers at him for a change.

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18. Walt Bellamy, Center

Walt Bellamy averaged 20.1 points per game in his career. AP Photo

Career: 1961-75 (14 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Packers/Zephyrs, Baltimore Bullets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz

Win shares/48 minutes: .160

Postseason record: 17-29

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Walt Bellamy

Walt Bellamy is in the Hall of Fame, and he’s still underrated. AP Photo

“Bells” was notorious for his habit to play to the level of the competition.

Sure enough, his best postseason moment came in a loss against the New York Knicks in the 1971 Eastern Division semis, when he played ex-teammate Willis Reed to a virtual draw.

Walt Bellamy got as far as the Western Division finals on two occasions earlier in his career.

17. Yao Ming, Center

Yao Ming scored 9,247 points in his career. Pat Sullivan / AP Photo

Career: 2002-11 (eight seasons)

Teams: Houston Rockets

Win shares/48 minutes: .200

Postseason record: 12-16

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Yao Ming

Yao Ming’s career was cut short due to nagging injuries. ScoopB / Twitter

Yao as in “Ow” moved past the first round only once in four tries.

When the brittle big man finally played in a semifinals series, against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 playoffs, a fractured left foot sidelined him for the final four games of the seven-game series.

Yao Ming played only five more games before retirement.

16. Adrian Dantley, Small Forward

Adrian Dantley averaged 24.3 points per game in his career. Charles Kelly / AP Photo

Career: 1976-91 (15 seasons)

Teams: Buffalo Braves, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks

Win shares/48 minutes: .189

Postseason record: 37-36

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (1988)

Bottom Line: Adrian Dantley

Adrian Dantley was not always the most popular teammate. Charlie Bennett / AP Photo

Most players are lucky to get one crack at the big prize. A.D. had his in the 1988 NBA Finals, where the Pistons lost to Lakers in seven games.

The small forward matchup was pivotal in the 108-105 clincher — James Worthy went off for an epic 36/16/10 triple-double, while Dantley had 16 points and five rebounds.

You might say “The Teacher” got schooled.

15. Russell Westbrook, Guard

Russell Westbrook has averaged over 20 points in 11 seasons. Sue Ogrocki / AP Photo

Career: 2008-present (13 seasons)

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets

Win shares/48 minutes: .154

Postseason record: 54-52

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (2012)

Bottom Line: Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is a highlight machine. Sue Ogrocki / AP Photo

The Thunder advanced to the 2012 championship round (Miami Heat in five), but fell short in three other trips to the Western Conference finals.

Russell Westbrook will need another partner like Kevin Durant to get back there again, but really, what superstar wants to hitch his future to Allen Iverson on steroids?

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14. Sidney Moncrief, Guard

Sidney Moncrief scored 11,931 points in his career. Charlie Bennett / AP Photo

Career: 1979-1991 (11 seasons)

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks

Win shares/48 minutes: .187

Postseason record: 43-50

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Sidney Moncrief

Sidney Moncrief was a five-time All-Star. Charlie Bennett / AP Photo

Right street, wrong address.

The five-time All-Star advanced to the Eastern Conference finals three times, only to run into loaded Boston Celtics (twice) and Philadelphia 76ers teams.

13. Bob Lanier, Center

Bob Lanier averaged 20.1 points per game in his career. Fred Jewell / AP Photo

Career: 1970-84 (14 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks

Win shares/48 minutes: .175

Postseason record: 30-37

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Bob Lanier

Bob Lanier started his career with the Detroit Pistons. AP Photo

Sidney Moncrief, meet “Buffalo Bob” again.

In the twilight of his career, Bob Lanier, an eight-time All-Star, picked the wrong times to meet the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics in back-to-back Eastern Conference finals.

The eventual league champs won in five games each time.

12. George Gervin, Forward-Guard

George Gervin scored 23,602 points in his NBA career. Madeline Drexler / AP Photo

Career: 1976-86 (10 seasons)

Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls

Win shares/48 minutes: .159

Postseason record: 25-34

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: George Gervin

The “Iceman” had amazing skills on the court. AP Photo

The “Iceman” nearly willed his team past the Washington Bullets with 42 points in Game 7 of the 1979 Eastern Conference championship round.

That was as close as George Gervin would get to the NBA Finals in his Hall of Fame career.

11. Dominique Wilkins, Forward

Dominique Wilkins scored 26,668 points in his career. Ron Frehm / AP Photo

Career: 1982-99 (16 seasons)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic

Win shares/48 minutes: .148

Postseason record: 22-34

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Dominique Wilkins

Dominique Wilkins was nicknamed “The Human Highlight Film” for good reason. Don Larson / AP Photo

“The Human Highlight Film” never got as far as the conference finals with five teams.

Dominique Wilkins did leave us with one of the memorable Game 7 performances in playoff history, though, a 47-point staredown with Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the 1988 Eastern Conference semis.

‘Nique fun fact: His nine All-Star Game appearances are the most for any player without a trip to a conference finals.

10. Patrick Ewing, Center

Patrick Ewing was an 11-time All-Star. Bill Kostroun / AP Phto

Career: 1985-2002 (17 seasons)

Teams: New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics, Miami Heat

Win shares/48 minutes: .150

Postseason record: 72-67

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (1994)

Bottom Line: Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing was a seven-time All-NBA player. Ron Frehm / AP Photo

Michael Jordan broke more hearts than Billy Dee Williams, and this was one of his faves.

The Knicks’ big man never beat the Jordanaires in five postseason series. But with the retired Jordan out of the way, at least for a while, Patrick Ewing got within one win of an elusive league title against the Houston Rockets in the 1994 championship round.

The Rockets scored two- and six-point victories at home, however, in no small part because Hakeem Olajuwon outplayed Ewing each time.

9. George Yardley, Forward

George Yardley scored 9,063 points in his career. AP Photo

Career: 1953-60 (seven seasons)

Teams: Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons, Syracuse Nationals

Win shares/48 minutes: .178

Postseason record: 19-27

NBA Finals appearances: 2 (1955, 1956)

Bottom Line: George Yardley

George Yardley was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996. Justin_G_Bryan / Twitter

The first player to score 2,000 points in one season was front and center in the most controversial Game 7 in NBA Finals history.

After the Pistons blew an early 17-point lead against the Syracuse Nationals and eventually the game, 92-91, The “Bird” suggested that more than one teammate had conspired with gamblers to fix the outcome. League officials dismissed the claim and no charges were filed.

The six-time All-Star returned to the NBA Finals the next season, but the Philadelphia Warriors got the better of George Yardley’s team in five games.

8. Reggie Miller, Guard

Reggie Miller was a career 47.1 percent shooter. Bill Kostroun / AP Photo

Career: 1987-2005 (18 seasons)

Team: Indiana Pacers

Win shares/48 minutes: .176

Postseason record: 76-68

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (2000)

Bottom Line: Reggie Miller

Reggie Miller scored 25,279 points in his career. Ron Hoskins / AP Photo

“Mighty Mouth” lost three Game 7s to three different teams in the Eastern Conference finals.

When the 10-time All-Star finally did get to the championship series with the Pacers, Reggie Miller bricked 15 of 16 field-goal tries in a Game 1 loss versus the Lakers that set the tone for the series. In Los Angeles, his old college stomping grounds.

That’s cold, man.

7. Steve Nash, Guard

Steve Nash had 10,335 assists in his career. Ric Francis / AP Photo

Career: 1996-2014 (18 seasons)

Teams: Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers

Win shares/48 minutes: .164

Postseason record: 57-63

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Steve Nash

Steve Nash led the league in assists five times. Darron Cummings / AP Photo

The two-time league MVP was the engine for the Ferrari that featured historically efficient offenses.

But the frenetic style didn’t translate nearly as well for Steve Nash and the Suns in the postseason, where they advanced no further than the Western Conference finals.

In fact, they never got to a seventh game in three tries there.

6. James Harden, Guard

James Harden has made over 2,000 3-point shots in his career. Jae C. Hong / AP Photo

Career: 2009-present (12 seasons)

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets

Win shares/48 minutes: .225

Postseason record: 66-62

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (2012)

Bottom Line: James Harden

Will James Harden ever win an NBA title? David J. Phillip / AP Photo

In James Harden’s one trip to the title round, the Thunder lost to the Heat in five games, and the one-time league MVP averaged 12.4 points on 37.5 percent in the field off the bench.

“The Beard” lost three times in the Western Conference finals, twice against the eventual league champion Golden State Warriors, one of them in seven games.

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5. Charles Barkley, Forward

Charles Barkley could not get past Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals. Jeff Robbins / AP Photo

Career: 1984-2000 (16 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns

Win shares/48 minutes: .216

Postseason record: 62-61

NBA Finals appearances: 1 (1993)

Bottom Line: Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley was a beast in his prime. Gary Stewart / AP Photo

If not for that Jordan guy again, “The Chuckster” would have been the 1993 NBA Finals MVP with a 27.3/13.0/55 slash line.

Charles Barkley’s 4.6 win shares were the most that postseason. But his Suns went down in six games.

And as TV sidekick Shaquille O’Neal likes to point out, Barkley wouldn’t get that close again.

4. Karl Malone, Forward

Karl Malone is second on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 36,928 career points. Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo

Career: 1985-2004 (19 seasons)

Teams: Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers

Win shares/48 minutes: .205

Postseason record: 98-95

NBA Finals appearances: 2 (1997, 1998)

Bottom Line: Karl Malone

Karl Malone played in two NBA Finals. Douglas C. Pizac / AP Photo

The 14-time All-Star delivered a solid 24.4/10.4/3.7 slash line in two NBA Finals trips.

Both were against Michael Jordan and his supporting cast, however, and you know how they turned out. Six of the Jazz’s eight losses were by five points or less.

At 40, “The Mailman” chased the elusive prize to Los Angeles, but the Detroit Pistons stamped him postage due in the 2004 NBA Finals.

3. John Stockton, Point Guard

John Stockton is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists with 15,806. Rick Bowmer / AP Photo

Career: 1984-2003 (19 seasons)

Team: Utah Jazz

Win Shares/48 minutes: .209

Postseason record: 89-93

NBA Finals appearances: 2 (1997-98)

Bottom Line: John Stockton

John Stockton was fun to watch. AP Photo

John Stockton’s 3-ball dethroned the two-time defending champion Houston Rockets in the 1997 Western Conference finals and sent the Jazz to their first NBA Finals berth.

In two cracks against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the championship round, the all-time assists leader put up a 12.3/3.3/8.8 slash line.

Just OK wasn’t good enough.

2. Chris Paul, Point Guard

Chris Paul has had a lot to celebrate in his NBA career, except an NBA title. David J. Phillip / AP Photo

Career: 2005-present (16 seasons)

Teams: New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns

Win shares/48 minutes: .241

Postseason record: 53-56

NBA Finals appearances: None

Bottom Line: Chris Paul

Chris Paul has played over 1,060 games in his NBA career. Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP Photo

When “CP3” willed his team past the Utah Jazz with 41 points, 10 assists and zero turnovers in the 2018 Western Conference semifinals clincher, it appeared that his time had finally come.

Chris Paul’s team took a 3-2 lead against the Golden State Warriors, only to lose its the floor leader in the process. While he nursed a strained right hamstring on the bench, the Rockets crashed and burned in 29- and 9-point losses.

Would a healthy Paul have carried them to a league title?

Youneverknow.

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1. Elgin Baylor, Forward

Elgin Baylor was 0-7 in the NBA Finals. Harold Filan / AP Photo

Career: 1958-72 (14 seasons)

Teams: Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers

Win shares/48 minutes: .148

Postseason record: 72-62

NBA Finals appearances: 7 (1959, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970)

Bottom Line: Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor averaged 27.4 points per game in his career. AP Photo

If any player deserved some championship bling, then it was the human hang glider, who ranked sixth in points (27.0) and 12th in rebounds per game (12.9) in postseason history. We’re talking about the pre-1965 version with healthy knees.

Four times Elgin Baylor’s Lakers lost Game 7s of the NBA Finals — twice by two points, once by three points (in overtime), each time against the Boston Celtics.

In the first of those series, “Rabbit” put up an insane 40.6/17.9/3.7 slash line.

What did the hoops gods have against this guy, anyway?