Starting 5 of the best players to never win a ring
In a league where success is primarily measured by championships, personal accolades can often be overlooked. This article will highlight my top five personal favorites to never win a championship. The list will be a starting five and go based off of position.
Point Guard: Russell Westbrook
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Career Stats: 22.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Career Honors: Nine-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, Nine-time ALL-NBA Team selection, two-time ASG MVP, three-time assist leader, 2008-09 All-Rookie Team, 2016-17 MVP and an NBA 75th Anniversary Team selection
Finals appearances: 0-1
Starting at the point guard spot, Russell Westbrook takes the lead as my top player to not have an NBA Championship. I am a huge Russ fan, and he is the reason I got into basketball (along with Kobe Bryant). Westbrook’s accolades and numbers speak for themselves. In the thirteen seasons Westbrook has played, he has averaged a triple-double in four of those seasons, which is the most of all time. Not only is he “Mr. Triple Double,” but he is also the 2016-17 NBA MVP and a Top-75 player of all time.
Shooting Guard: Allen Iverson
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Career Stats: 26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Career Honors: 2000-01 MVP, 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA Team Selection, eight-time All-Defensive Team Selection, four-time scoring champion, three-time steals champion, 1996-97 Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
NBA Finals Record: 0-1
At the two, we have “The Answer,” Allen Iverson. It is no shock that Iverson is in the starting five. Iverson is a First-ballot Hall of Famer and is one of the most iconic athletes ever. At just barely six feet tall, Iverson was one of the deadliest scorers and defenders the league has ever seen. Iverson also makes a mark for himself by leading the league in minutes for seven seasons of his seventeen-season career. The durability and value Iverson had shows in those minutes.
Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony
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Career Stats: 22.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Career Honors: 10-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA Team Selection, 2012-13 Scoring Champion, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
NBA Finals Record: 0-0
At small forward, we have one of the most lethal scorers in the history of basketball, Carmelo Anthony. Anthony is ninth on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Anthony is also one of two players in the top ten who do not have a ring. In the last four seasons of his career, he has taken a lesser role to put himself in a better position to win a championship. Anthony is still a valuable asset for any contender at age 38. The opportunity has not closed just yet.
Power Forward: Charles Barkley
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Career Stats: 22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Career Honors: 1992-93 MVP, 11x All-Star, 11x All-NBA Team Selection, 1986-87 Rebounding Champion, Hall of Fame, NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams
NBA Finals Record: 0-1
The first time I learned who Charles “Chuck” Barkley was, I was watching TNT with Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Earnie Johnson. I didn’t even know that Barkley was a Hall of Famer until they showed his highlights where Shaq joked about him not having a ring. Barkley was a phenomenal rebounder and all-around force to be reckoned with. Barkley is undoubtedly one of the most dominant bigs to never win a ring.
Center/ Power Forward: Karl Malone
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Career Stats: 25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Career Honors: Two-time MVP, 14x All-Star, 14x All-NBA Team Selection, four-time All-Defensive Team Selection, Hall of Fame, NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams
NBA Finals Record: 0-3
Last but not least, Karl Malone. Malone is third all-time in NBA career points at 36,928. Not only is Malone a top-three all-time scorer, but he is also currently the oldest player to receive the MVP award, winning it at 35 years old. Unfortunately, Malone lost in all three of his Finals appearances making this a very disgruntling stat but also something that puts him on this list. Malone is one of those players who deserved a ring but fell short multiple times.
Honorable Mention/Sixth Man: Chris Paul
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Career Stats: 18.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Career Honors: 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA Team Selection, nine-time All-Defensive Team Selection, five-time assist champion, six-time Steals Champion, 2005-06 Rookie of the Year, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
NBA Finals Record: 0-1
I felt obligated to put Chris Paul on this list. Paul and Anthony are two of the top active players I associate with as “Should’ve won already” players. Paul is third all-time in career assists, and fourth in all-time career steals. I wouldn’t be surprised if Paul moves to the second all-time in assists before he retires.