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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 /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 21: Indiana Pacers forward Chris Mullin (L) gets fouled on his way to the basket by New Jersey Nets center Rony Seikaly (R) during first quarter play at Market Square Arena 21 February in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo credit should read JOHN RUTHROFF/AFP/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 21: Indiana Pacers forward Chris Mullin (L) gets fouled on his way to the basket by New Jersey Nets center Rony Seikaly (R) during first quarter play at Market Square Arena 21 February in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo credit should read JOHN RUTHROFF/AFP/Getty Images) /

31. Chris Mullin

Golden State Warriors 1985-97, 2000-01; Indiana Pacers 1997-2000

A smooth-shooting left-hander from St. John’s and a Wooden Award winner, Chris Mullin was taken seventh overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1985 NBA Draft.

His career got off to a rocky start as he battled alcoholism as a rookie, but once he came back, he did so with a vengeance.

He was a four-time All-NBA choice with the Warriors and was picked for five All-Star games. Finishing sixth in the MVP voting in 1991-92, Mullin led the NBA in minutes per game in both 1990-91 and 1991-92.

In 1987, Mullin tasted the playoffs for the first time as the Warriors reached the second round before losing in five games to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers. After missing the postseason in 1988, Golden State was back in 1989, again getting to the second round before losing to the Phoenix Suns.

The pattern repeated itself—the Warriors missed the playoffs in 1990 and reached the second round in 1991, losing to the Lakers again in the second round.

The Warriors would make the postseason again in 1992 and 1994, going out in the first round each time.

In August 1997, after three straight seasons out of the playoffs, Golden State dealt Mullin to the Pacers.

No longer quite the individual star he was, Mullin did lead the NBA in free-throw shooting in 1997-98 for Indiana.

In 1998, Mullin got to his first conference finals. The Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks before falling in Game 7 to the two-time defending champion Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Indiana got back there in 1999, sweeping the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers before being upset by the eighth-seeded Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In 2000, the Pacers kicked down the door. They needed five games to get past the Bucks in the first round before ousting the Philadelphia 76ers and taking out New York in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In the NBA Finals for the only time in his career, Mullin’s Pacers went down in six games, with the Lakers again proving to be the roadblock.

The Pacers waived Mullin in September 2000 and he returned to Golden State, retiring at the end of the season.

Mullin joined the Warriors’ front office after his career ended and he was named executive vice president of basketball operations in April 2004. His contract was not renewed in May 2009.

After working as an analyst at ESPN, Mullin has also been an adviser for the Sacramento Kings since September 2013. He left that post in the spring of 2015 to become the head coach at his alma mater, St. John’s.

Mullin was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

The final tally on Mullin’s playoff career:

NBA Finals: 0-1
Conference Finals: 1-2
Conference Semifinals: 3-3
First Round: 6-2

Next: 30. Rainman Stopped Short Of Ring