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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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PHOENIX – MAY 25: Grant Hill #33 of the Phoenix Suns in action during Game Four of the Western Conference finals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airways Center on May 25, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 115-106. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – MAY 25: Grant Hill #33 of the Phoenix Suns in action during Game Four of the Western Conference finals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airways Center on May 25, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 115-106. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

23. Grant Hill

Detroit Pistons 1994-2000; Orlando Magic 2000-03, 2004-07; Phoenix Suns 2007-12; Los Angeles Clippers 2012-13

Duke All-American Grant Hill was the third overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in 1994 and didn’t disappoint.

He shared NBA Rookie of the Year honors with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks and was a five-time All-NBA pick and five-time All-Star with the Pistons. Hill placed ninth in the MVP voting in 1995-96, third in 1996-97, ninth in 1997-98 and eighth in both 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

However, Detroit couldn’t get out of the first round during Hill’s six seasons with the Pistons, losing four times and not making the playoffs in two other seasons.

In August 2000, Hill went to the Magic in a sign-and-trade deal that had huge repercussions for Orlando. Hill had sprained an ankle in the 2000 playoffs … or so it was thought. It turned out to be a fracture and his recovery became a seven-year saga.

In seven seasons with the Magic, Hill played in just 200 of a possible 574 games, missing the entire 2003-04 season after contracting a staph infection after one of his many surgical procedures on the ankle.

He was still selected as an All-Star twice in Orlando, however. But he missed the playoffs in 2001, 2002 and 2003, all first-round exits for the Magic.

After Orlando missed the playoffs in 2005 and 2006, the Magic were swept in the first round by Detroit in 2007.

In July 2007, Hill signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns and put a strong finish on a career that was derailed for so long.

Phoenix was a first-round loser in 2008 and missed the 2009 postseason. But in 2010, with Hill healthy and starting every game, the Suns beat the Portland Trail Blazers and swept the San Antonio Spurs before losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

But Phoenix missed the playoffs in 2011 and 2012 and Hill signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in July 2012.

Limited by age and injury, Hill played in just one game as the Clippers lost in the first round to the Memphis Grizzlies and he retired at season’s end.

He now conducts player interviews for NBA TV and this year was added to the lead announcing team for CBS and Turner Sports’ NCAA tournament coverage.

The final tally on Hill’s playoff career:

NBA Finals: 0-0
Conference Finals: 0-1
Conference Semifinals: 1-0
First Round: 1-7

Next: 22. Could Score And Score