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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Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

22. Dikembe Mutombo

  • Years Active: 1991 to 2009
  • Teams Played For: Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets
  • NBA Finals: 2

If one were to make a list of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, it wouldn’t take long for Dikembe Mutombo’s name to appear. Acknowledging that the Defensive Player of the Year award was introduced in 1982-83, Mutombo became the first player in history to secure the honors on three separate occasions in 1997-98.

Mutombo would add a record fourth Defensive Player of the Year award to his mantle in 2000-01, when he helped Allen Iverson lead the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals against Shaquille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers.

That alone qualifies him for this list.

Mutombo, who didn’t debut in the NBA until he was 25 years of age, somehow still managed to carve out an 18-year career. During his remarkable time in the NBA, he added six All-Defense selections, three All-NBA nods, and eight All-Star Game appearances to his quartet of DPOY awards.

Mutombo also led the NBA in rebounding in both 1999-00 and 2000-01, as well as blocks in 1993-94, 1994-95, and 1995-96. The man was a walking defensive stop.

See: No. 2 all-time in blocks, No. 12 all-time in defensive rebounds.

Mutombo’s No. 55 jersey has been retired by two franchises: The Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets. There’s a case to be made the same should occur in Philadelphia.

He led Denver to a shocking upset of the 63-win, No. 1 seed Seattle SuperSonics in 1993-94, and pushed Atlanta to the second round of the Playoffs in both 1996-97 and 1998-99.

Coupled with his trip to the 2001 NBA Finals, Mutombo has proven to be a center with a tremendous impact during an era in which big men seemed to dominate the scene.

It was a Hall of Fame career that set the standard for defensive-minded centers in the years that have followed.