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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Grant Hill
Grant Hill (Photo by GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images) /

32. Grant Hill

  • Years Active: 1994 to 2013
  • Teams Played For: Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers
  • Conference Finals Appearances: 1

Grant Hill was supposed to be next. Nine years before LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 1 overall, Hill was meant to be his predecessor. While injuries robbed Hill of the chance to become what so many thought he was destined to be, the flashes of greatness arrived in droves.

Many fans’ No. 1, “What if?” player in NBA history, Hill was the one who fans believed would succeed Michael Jordan—and, folks, did he come close.

Hill played six NBA seasons in Detroit before the injuries made him a shell of his former self with the Orlando Magic. That six-year period began with a bang, as Hill won Co-Rookie of the Year honors with Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd

He would go on to follow that breakout year with four All-Star Game appearances, five All-NBA selections, and a highlight reel that any basketball fan could fall in love with.

A skilled scorer and gifted playmaker, Hill actually received more All-Star fan votes than Michael Jordan in 1995-96. A year prior, he became the first rookie to ever lead the Association in fan voting for the All-Star Game in 1994-95.

In 1995-96, Hill ended a three-year postseason drought for the Pistons in just his second NBA season. Hill earned All-NBA First Team honors in 1996-97, appearing alongside the likes of Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.

He led Detroit to 54 wins that season, its most in seven years.

Injuries would end his stardom shortly thereafter, but Hill gave fans one more glimpse of his should-have-been greatness when he averaged 19.7 points per game on 50.9 percent shooting in 2004-05.

A last star-level hurrah before Hill would become one of the NBA’s most revered role players with the Phoenix Suns—yet another testament to just how hard Hill worked to spend an improbable 19 years in the NBA.