50 Greatest NBA Players Without A Championship (Updated Through 2015-16)
By Phil Watson
21. Chris Webber
Golden State Warriors 1993-94, 2008; Washington Bullets/Wizards 1994-98; Sacramento Kings 1998-2005; Philadelphia 76ers 2005-07; Detroit Pistons 2007
The Orlando Magic selected Michigan’s Chris Webber with the first overall pick in 1993 and then rocked draft night with a huge trade, sending Webber’s right to the Warriors for the rights to Anfernee Hardaway and first-round picks in 1996, 1998 and 2000.
Webber was worth it, at least initially. He was the Rookie of the Year in 1993-94 and the Warriors won 50 games.
But they were stunned in a first-round sweep by the Phoenix Suns and amid reports that Webber and coach Don Nelson were clashing, Webber was traded to Washington in November 1994 for Tom Gugliotta and three first-round picks.
With the Bullets, Webber was an All-Star in 1997. But Washington missed the playoffs his first two seasons there before getting in and getting swept in the first round by the Chicago Bulls in 1997.
After missing the playoffs again, this time as the Wizards, in 1997-98, C-Webb was on the move again, this time to the Kings in May 1998 in exchange for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe.
To say things clicked for Webber in Sacramento would be an understatement.
He was a five-time All-NBA selection with the Kings, was named to four All-Star games, and finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting five times—fourth in 2000-01, seventh in 1998-99 and 2001-02, ninth in 1999-2000 and 10th in 2002-03.
Webber also led the NBA in rebounding in 1998-99.
The Kings exited in the first round in both 1999 and 2000, but Webber finally experience a series victory in 2001 … right before Sacramento was swept by the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.
In 2002, the Kings dominated the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks and had home-court advantage over the two-time defending champion Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. But a controversial Game 6 loss at Staples Center pushed the series back to Arco Arena for Game 7, with L.A. winning and Sacramento forever feeling like one got taken away from it.
In 2003, the Kings were ousted in a Game 7 loss at Dallas in the second round. Webber missed most of the 2003-04 season, but returned for the playoffs, which featured another Game 7 second-round loss on the road, this time against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In February 2005, the Kings traded Webber and his balky knees to Philadelphia, getting back a package of three role players led by Corliss Williamson.
The Sixers lost in the first round in 2005 and missed the playoffs in 2006.
The 76ers waived Webber in January 2007 after a horrific start and he was picked up by his hometown Pistons five days later. He started most of the rest of the season, but was no longer an impact player.
Detroit swept Orlando and beat Chicago in six games to get to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.
Webber signed with the Warriors in January 2008, but his comeback attempt lasted only nine games and he retired in March 2008.
He now works as an analyst for NBA broadcasts on NBA TV and TNT.
The final tally on Webber’s playoff career:
NBA Finals: 0-0
Conference Finals: 0-2
Conference Semifinals: 2-3
First Round: 5-5
Next: 20. A Champ In College, Not So Much As Pro