Every NBA player has one dream and that is winning the championship. Over the years, we have seen players and teams do all the hard work and everything to win the title. However, there have been some incredible players who were best at their position and won lots of games with their teams, but they were unable to achieve the big win for the title. In this article, we will have a look at those great players who had an amazing Basketball career but were still unable to achieve that ring.
Vince Carter
When Vince Carter was at his peak, he was a force almost impossible to stop, as he was named an All-Star eight times. However, the second half of his career saw a decline in his athletic ability, but it was compensated by his court IQ and leadership abilities. The second half saw him play in the league for twenty seasons. Despite his long career, he never won the NBA ring or even made it to the finals.
Patrick Ewing
One of the most accomplished players of all time, Patrick Ewing was a part of the New York Knicks for most of his career. He was an 11-time All-Star, named to multiple All-NBA teams, and was even made a Hall of Famer. When he was in his prime, so was Michael Jordan, but he couldn’t get past the Bulls. The only time Ewing was closest to winning the NBA title was in 1994, when Jordan was out of the league. However, the Knicks lost the NBA finals to the Houston Rockets.
Tracy McGrady
During his NBA career, Tracy McGrady was a star player for the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic, and he once came very close to achieving the ring. “T-Mac” was named an All-Star several times and was named to many All-NBA first and second teams. Despite all his personal achievements, Tracy never won the ring. In the final year of his career, McGrady came close when he was signed by San Antonio Spurs for the postseason. The Spurs made it to the finals but lost to the Miami Heat.
Reggie Miller
When Miller was with the Indiana Pacers, he was a dominant force. Reggie was named to the All-Star team ten times and is in the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments during his NBA career. Despite a great career, one thing he wasn’t able to achieve was the NBA ring. Although he came close to it by reaching the NBA finals in 2000, standing in the way of his ring were legends Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal of the Lakers, who defeated the Pacers in the finals.
Allen Iverson
One of the most incredible offensive players in the NBA, Allen Iverson, was unstoppable during his prime, and he could carry the whole game. He was a multiple-time All-Star and was named an MVP in 2001. He is also a Hall of Famer. Unfortunately, Iverson was never able to touch the NBA title. For most of his career, “Ivy” was with the Philadelphia 76ers. The team made it to the finals once in 2001, but in front of them was a huge wall of Lakers consisting of Bryant and Shaq, who defeated them in five games.
Steve Nash
Steve Nash began his professional NBA career with the Phoenix Suns and was a great player. He became a two-time MVP and was named to multiple All-Star teams. With him on the team, the Phoenix Suns were favorites to win the NBA finals on various occasions. Despite this, Nash could never even reach the finals. When he was a part of the LA Lakers, “Captain Canada” had hopes of winning the ring at the end of his career, but the team was unsuccessful in doing so as they failed to advance even beyond the opening round of the playoffs.
John Stockton
John Stockton was a dominant force on the floor for most of his career with the Utah Jazz. He was named an All-Star ten times, as well as an All-NBA selection and an All-Defense selection multiple times. However, despite his amazing defensive skills, “Stock” was not able to win a ring with the Utah Jazz. Although the team came close to winning the Finals in 1997 and 1998, they were unable to accomplish the task both times against the Chicago Bulls.
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor is the player who has made it to the NBA Finals more than most players, as he made it to the Championship eight times. Despite his incredible skills and abilities, he lost every final. Baylor was named to the All-Star Game eleven times and today is in the Hall of Fame. His peak came in the middle of the Bill Russell’s dominance era, so couldn’t win the ring.
Dikembe Mutombo
Mutombo was a defensive force during his prime and was named to several All-Defense teams, and All-Star many times. During his career, Mutombo made it to the finals twice. In 2001, he made it with Iverson but lost against the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2003, he made it as a team member of the New York Knicks but lost against the San Antonio Spurs.
Charles Barkley
One of the greatest players in the NBA, Charles Barkley, won the MVP, was named an All-Star multiple times and made the Hall of Fame, but the only thing he couldn’t get was the NBA ring. Barkley tried hard but did not succeed in winning the championship. The closest Barkley came was in 1993, the same year he won the MVP. But unfortunately, his team, Phoenix Suns lost to the Chicago Bulls.
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