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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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NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway (R) tries to keep the ball away from New York Knicks guard Charlie Ward (L) in the first quarter of the third game of their first round playoff series 12 May, 1999, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The series is tied 1-1. AFP PHOTO Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway (R) tries to keep the ball away from New York Knicks guard Charlie Ward (L) in the first quarter of the third game of their first round playoff series 12 May, 1999, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The series is tied 1-1. AFP PHOTO Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) /

26. Tim Hardaway

Golden State Warriors 1989-93, 1994-96; Miami Heat 1996-2001; Dallas Mavericks 2001-02; Denver Nuggets 2002; Indiana Pacers 2003

Tim Hardaway brought the UTEP two-step to the NBA after the Warriors took the little point guard with the 14th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft.

Hardaway was a two-time All-NBA selection with the Warriors, went to three All-Star games and was eighth in the MVP voting in 1991-92.

The Warriors only made the playoffs twice during his time in the Bay Area (he missed the 1992-93 season with a knee injury), advancing to the second round in 1991 before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

In February 1996, the Warriors traded Hardaway to the Heat in a four-player deal.

With Miami, Hardaway made three more All-NBA teams—including a first-team nod in 1996-97—and was picked for two more All-Star games. He finished fourth in the MVP race in 1996-97 and sixth in 1997-98.

The Heat reached the Eastern Conference Finals in Hardaway’s first full season in Miami, 1996-97, but lost in five games to the Chicago Bulls. The Heat wound up being knocked out by the New York Knicks each of the next three seasons, including twice when Miami was a higher seed in the first round. In 1999, the Heat were the top seed in the East before losing to the Knicks.

Hardaway finished up his career as a bit player with the Pacers in 2003, playing about 12 minutes a game in a first-round loss to the Boston Celtics.

Hardaway spent several years in broadcasting after his career ended and he is now an assistant with the Detroit Pistons.

The final tally on Hardaway’s playoff career:

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

Next: 25. New Team, Same Old 2nd-Round Exit