Best players to never win an NBA Championship

The stated goal of every NBA star is to win a title, but only one team can come away victorious at the end of each season. With the NBA finals now in full swing, players on both teams are looking to cement their legacy with a ring, and many will go home disappointed. Let's look back at some of the greatest players in NBA history who left the game without a championship.

He’s one of the first names that comes up in this discussion. He’s the third leading scorer of all-time, and rarely ever missed games due to injury. Yet Karl Malone was not able to get over the hump in his three NBA Finals appearances. He lost to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls twice, and was denied once more as a member of the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers.

Intimately tied to Malone’s legacy was the point guard who spent so many years with him with the Utah Jazz. John Stockton is one of the sport’s greatest players, having the career assists and steals record all to himself. He had some memorable shots in the postseason, but was also on the two Jazz teams that fell to Chicago in 1997 and 1998.

Until Stephen Curry and Ray Allen came along, a basketball fan could make a strong argument that Reggie Miller was the greatest shooter in basketball history. He would drain three pointers after running defenders ragged on screens, and wasn’t afraid of the big moment. Miller made one NBA Finals in 2000 with the Indiana Pacers, who were defeated by the Lakers.

His lack of a ring doesn’t stop him from being a public figure in the world of basketball and political coverage, but Charles Barkley is another player from the 1990’s who came up just short of winning a title. He had a phenomenal season in 1993 with the Phoenix Suns, but the team lost to the Bulls in a hard-fought six game series.

He’s a revered figure in New York Knicks history. Patrick Ewing gave every ounce of effort in some of the most intense playoff games in NBA history. He led the Knicks to the 1994 NBA Finals, where they were one win away from capturing the title. Unfortunately, the Houston Rockets won Game 6 and Game 7, leaving Ewing’s mantle ringless.

His career isn’t over, but James Harden has not been able to win the ultimate prize. He’s been a fixture of postseason basketball wherever he’s been, and was part of a 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder team that made the Finals. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been back since, despite making the Conference Finals on multiple occasions.

Time is running out for one of the greatest guards in NBA history. Chris Paul had a championship within his grasp in 2021, as his Suns had a 2-0 lead on the Milwaukee Bucks. Phoenix squandered that advantage by losing four straight games, which had put Paul’s chances of winning a title in the twilight of his career in serious jeopardy.

Despite his size, Allen Iverson was an automatic bucket. There were few defenders who could stay in front of him, as Iverson’s handle and quickness made him an impossible cover. Iverson led the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals, and had an iconic performance in a Game 1 victory. The Lakers would win every game after though, and Iverson wouldn’t sniff the Finals again.

He had one of the best nicknames in NBA history. Dominique “The Human Highlight Film” Wilkins wowed crowds with his high-flying act. He was legitimately one of the best players of his era, but his many highlights do not include one of him winning an NBA title. The Atlanta Hawks had to contend with the mighty Boston Celtics in the 1980’s, who stood in their way.

He officially announced his retirement in May, closing the books on a stellar career. Carmelo Anthony was one of the most polished scorers in league history, using size and precise moves to get shots up over defenders. He never did make it past the Conference Finals, and is viewed as just a cut below his 2003 Draft classmates, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

He was box office throughout the 1970’s. “Pistol” Pete Maravich was an extremely exciting player to watch, as he could do things with the ball that others could only dream of. In addition to being a brilliant passer, he also had seemingly infinite shooting range, before the three point line was introduced to the NBA. For all of his individual exploits, Maravich never won an NBA title.

He’s become something of a punchline in the later stages of his career, but Russell Westbrook has had a career worthy of the Hall of Fame. His ability to fill in the blanks on a team is something few in NBA history could accomplish. He made the Finals in 2012 with the Thunder as a young player, and has never returned.

Chris Webber’s inclusion on a list like this evokes some pretty brutal emotions for Sacramento Kings fans. Many supporters of the team and enthusiasts of the league feel that the franchise was robbed of a 2002 Finals appearance. Unfortunately, Webber’s knees didn’t hold up after that season.

He’s thrown down some of the most disrespectfully powerful dunks in basketball history. Shawn Kemp possessed a rare breed of height, power and athleticism around the rim, which put opposing frontcourt players at a distinct disadvantage. Kemp made the 1996 NBA Finals with the Seattle SuperSonics, who were dispatched by the Chicago Bulls.

He usually doesn’t get brought up a lot as an all-time great, but Alex English had an extremely impressive career with the Denver Nuggets. He made the All-Star team eight times, and won the 1983 scoring title. English’s exploits were impressive, but Denver had a tough time dealing with the 1980’s Lakers in the Western Conference.