Hoops Habit
Fansided

50 greatest NBA players to never win a championship

By Maxwell Ogden

PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 01: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers expresses emotion after making a basket during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 1, 2005 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bucks won 117-108 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 01: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers expresses emotion after making a basket during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 1, 2005 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bucks won 117-108 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

37. Blake Griffin

  • Years Active: 2009 to Present
  • Teams Played For: Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons
  • All-NBA Selections: 5x (2x Second Team, 3x Third Team)

Blake Griffin has become one of the most misunderstood players of the past 15 years. The dunks, taunts, and advertisements that became synonymous with his brand seem to have caused the casual audience to ignore how far his skill set has come.

It’s also impossible to downplay the significance of what he and Chris Paul were able to do for one of the least successful organizations in NBA history.

Griffin has a strong résumé, including five All-NBA selections and six All-Star Game appearances. He finished third in MVP voting in 2013-14 and would’ve been All-NBA First Team if not for the fact that fellow forwards Kevin Durant and LeBron James finished No. 1 and No. 2.

In other words: Griffin played 80 of a possible 82 games in 2013-14 and was the third-best player in the NBA. Sounds like a qualifying trait for this list.

The Clippers’ second-round curse still hasn’t been broken, but Griffin has made seven postseason appearances as the No. 1 or No. 2 scoring option. That’s no easy feat, especially when one considers the context of his success.

Los Angeles made six postseason appearances with Griffin. It reached the Playoffs just seven times in the 41 seasons that predated that string of success.

Throw in the fact that Griffin led the Detroit Pistons to one of their only two postseason appearances of the 2010s, and it’s hard to knock someone who did their best to turn water into wine.

The Rookie of the Year award doesn’t hurt too much, either.