Ranking the greatest NBA players to never win the championship

All-time NBA greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James consistently led their teams to championship wins. However, while winning a championship is the obvious goal for all players, there are many greats of the game who didn’t win a single NBA championship. 

Who are the greatest players in NBA history to never win a championship? Let’s explore.

1. Karl Malone

Major achievements: Two-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, 11-time 1st Team All-NBA

The Mailman is considered one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Malone averaged 25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. The numbers can only be equaled by two other players historically: Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain. What’s more, Malone’s 36,928 career points rank second all-time in league history while his 14,968 career rebounds rank seventh.

Malone came closest to finally win a championship three times, in 1996-97, 1997-98, and in 2003-04. The former two of which came as a member of the Utah Jazz and the latter as a Laker. In 1991-92, the breakout season of Jazz, who made the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. Malone finished the 1991–92 season second in the league in scoring, averaging 28.0 points per game.

2. Charles Barkley

Major achievements: One-time league MVP, 11-time All-Star, five-time 1st Team All-NBA

Charles Barkley, one of the greatest and most unique big men basketball has ever seen.

For 11 straight seasons from 1985-86 to 1995-96, his averages for scoring, rebounding, and assists never dipped below 20, 10, and 3. And these numbers tell you about his legacy. He had outrageous strengths, intelligent and one can say that he was ahead of his time. 

Barkley averaged 24.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals from 1985-86. His best all-around season had to undoubtedly be 1992-93. He scored 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals. And with this brilliant performance he won the MVP award. He lead the Phoenix Suns to a 62-20 regular season, and took Suns single handedly to the Finals, where they faced Jordan.

3. Reggie Miller

Major achievements: Five-time All-Star, three-time 3rd Team All-NBA

Regie Miller, One of the best sharpshooters of all time the game has ever seen. He currently stands at third all-time in three-pointers made with 2,560. Over the course of his career, the league-average three-point attempt rate was 14.3. Miller’s was 37.1, such was his dominance. 

He averaged 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on a 47.6/40.2/88.9 shooting split over his 12-year career. Miller made one Finals appearance in 2000, but lose to the Lakers in the finals. In 2002, Miller almost single-handedly eliminated the Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Nets in the fifth and final game of the first round of the playoffs. (Ativan) He was one of the most clutch late-game shot-makers. Coming up in the last few minutes in playoff games and took his team to victory.

4. Patrick Ewing

Major achievements: 11-time All-Star, one-time 1st Team All-NBA

One of the NBA’s 1990s legends, Patrick Ewing was among the game’s most dominant bigs for the bulk of his career. A high a volume scorer and a great rim protector in his peak days. Patrick averaged 23.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in his career. In 1994, He single-handedly took the Knicks to the finals for the first time since 1973.

“The power, the intimidation, the fearlessness are still there, but so are grace and finesse and economy of movement, terms previously associated with Houston’s Olajuwon, Ewing’s yardstick through most of the ’80s, and San Antonio rookie David Robinson, the only other NBA center currently mentioned in the same breath with Ewing and Olajuwon.”, Jack McCallum mentioned Patrick in one of his articles.

5. Chris Paul

Major achievements: 10-time All-Star, four-time 1st Team All-NBA

One of the best point guards in NBA history. He has won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, two Olympic gold medals. He had also led the NBA in assists four times and steals a record six times.

Paul averaged 18.3 points, 9.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game make him the only player since 1972-73 to post a career stat line of 18/9/2, per Stathead. He wass also been selected to eleven NBA All-Star teams. It’s crazy how he hasn’t made it to the final yet after looking at his career numbers.

6. John Stockson

Major achievements: 10-time All-Star, two-time 1st Team All-NBA

One of the best assists kings the game has ever seen. John Stockton’s outrageous career longevity is just unmatchable as the Jazz legend played until he was 41 years old. Stockton is a ten-time NBA All-Star and a two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.

From 1987-88 to 1996-97, he averaged 15.6 points, 12.8 assists and 2.6 steals while posting a 61.9 true shooting percentage. He holds the record for most dimes in a career with 15,806, a record which is unlikely to be broken. The second-place player on the list for career assists, Jason Kidd, is 3,705 helpers behind Stockton.

7. Steve Nash

Major achievements: Two-time league MVP, eight-time All-Star, three-time 1st Team All-NBA

Steve Nash is an undersized players in a league of giants, but yet he managed to post one of the greatest NBA careers ever. Nash was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player while playing for the Phoenix Suns. He was also an eight-time All-Star.

Nash has 10,335 assists, which sits him 3rd in all-time assists. He led the league five times in his career and averaged 16.2 points and 9.7 assists while shooting 43.2 percent from three in his career.

8. Allen Iverson

Major achievements: One-time league MVP, 11-time All-Star, three-time 1st Team All-NBA

One of the most exciting and influential guards in NBA history, and a must-watch player on television in his prime. Iverson was an 11-time NBA All-Star, won the All-Star game MVP award in 2001 and 2005. He also won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2001. In his prime, Iverson was arguably the best player in the league.

Iverson took his team to the finals in 2001, but lose to Kobe Bryant’s team. One of the greatest moment as a player for Iverson, when he crossed Michael Jordan out of his shoes as a rookie that one time in 2000-01. He led the Philadelphia 76ers on an unexpected run to the Finals, even helping lead his team to a Game 1 victory in the championship series against the top side Lakers in Los Angeles.

9. James Harden

Major achievements: One-time league MVP, nine-time All-Star, six-time 1st Team All-NBA

One of the best shooting guards in the NBA. He won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2018. During his time in Houston, he was named to eight consecutive NBA All-Star teams. He earned All-NBA Team honors seven times, including six first-team selections. He is still playing but already considered one of the greatest 2-guards in league history, all James Harden‘s legacy is really missing is that elusive ring. 

Harden came close to winning one in his third season as a key reserve for Oklahoma City Thunder team, but the Thunder go on to lose the series in five to LeBron James and the Miami Heat after taking Game 1. Harden is arguably the best scorer in the NBA today and still has plenty of great years left in the tank.

10. Russell Wrestbook

Major achievements: One-time league MVP, nine-time All-Star, two-time 1st Team All-NBA

Westbrook has averaged 23.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per contest in his career. He has led the league in scoring twice, in assists, and unfathomably averaged a triple-double three seasons in a row, from 2016-17 through 2018-19.

His only Finals appearance came in 2012 but at that time, the future MVP was only beginning to become the player he is now. A one-time league MVP, nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBAer, and two-time All-Star Game MVP, Westbrook has has acheived everything one could dream of accomplishing in the NBA… except win a ring.