Hoops Habit
Fansided

50 Greatest NBA Players Without A Championship (Updated Through 2015-16)

By Phil Watson

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
14 of 52
Next
SAN ANTONIO, TX - CIRCA 1990: Larry Nance #6 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gets position under the basket on Terry Cummings #34 of the San Antonio Spurs during an NBA basketball game circa 1990 at the HemisFair Arena in San Antonio, Texas. Nance played for the Cavaliers from 1988-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – CIRCA 1990: Larry Nance #6 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gets position under the basket on Terry Cummings #34 of the San Antonio Spurs during an NBA basketball game circa 1990 at the HemisFair Arena in San Antonio, Texas. Nance played for the Cavaliers from 1988-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

39. Larry Nance

Phoenix Suns 1981-88, Cleveland Cavaliers 1988-94

The Phoenix Suns took Clemson’s high flyer, Larry Nance, with the 20th overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft.

After a season coming off the bench, Nance became a key contributor—and an underappreciated one. With Phoenix, Nance was an All-Star in 1984-85.

As a rookie, the Suns beat the Denver Nuggets in a Game 3 in the first round before being swept by the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. In 1983, the Nuggets returned the favor and beat Phoenix in a first-round Game 3.

The Suns, 41-41, made a deep run in 1984, taking a first-round Game 5 from the Portland Trail Blazers and beating the Utah Jazz in the second round before falling to Los Angeles in a six-game Western Conference Finals.

A declining Phoenix team was swept by the Lakers in the first round in 1985 and missed the playoffs the next two seasons.

In February 1988, Nance was dealt to the Cavaliers in a deal that sent Kevin Johnson and others back to the Valley of the Sun.

Nance was a three-time All-Defensive team selection in Cleveland and was twice an All-Star.

In 1988, the Cavaliers fell victim to the famous Michael Jordan buzzer-beater in Game 5 of the first round, losing to the Chicago Bulls. The following season brought another Game 5 first-round loss to Chicago.

The Philadelphia 76ers did the honors in 1990, knocking out Cleveland with a Game 5 first-round win.

After an injury-plagued Cavs team missed the playoffs in 1990-91, they came back with a vengeance in 1992, beating the New Jersey Nets in the first round and knocking off the Boston Celtics in a second-round Game 7 before going down in six games to defending champion Chicago in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In 1993, Cleveland beat the Nets in a first-round Game 5 before being swept by the two-time defending champion Bulls in the second round.

The Cavaliers were swept by Chicago in the first round in 1994 while Nance sat out after being limited to just 33 games because of injuries.

Also a Slam Dunk Contest champion, Nance retired after the 1994 season. In retirement, Nance has collected classic cars and has been involved in auto racing.

The final tally on Nance’s playoff career:

NBA Finals: 0-0
Conference Finals: 0-2
Conference Semifinals: 2-2
First Round: 4-5

Next: 38. Pistons Legend Became Mayor