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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Alex English
Alex English (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

20. Alex English

  • Years Active: 1976 to 1991
  • Teams Played For: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks
  • Conference Finals Appearances: 1

Alex English is regarded by many as the greatest player in Denver Nuggets history—and yes, Nikola Jokic may soon make me eat those words. He’s one of the game’s distinguished scorers, as well as an underrated playmaker who spearheaded a decade of NBA prominence for one of the ABA’s signature franchises.

A beloved figure in Denver basketball, English is one of those rare players where everyone is so aware of how underrated he is that he may not actually be underrated anymore.

English was named All-NBA in three separate seasons, made eight All-Star Game appearances, and won a scoring title in 1983. He led the Nuggets to the 1985 Western Conference Finals, even scoring 40 points as Denver dominantly took Game 2 from what many consider to be one of the greatest teams of all-time: The 1985 “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers.

It was the crowning moment for English, who validated the hype and proved that he was every bit the Hall of Fame talent that his remarkable scoring exploits had made him out to be.

That fact is made even more profound by the fact that, since joining the NBA in 1976, Denver has only made the Conference Finals in four seasons. It also enhances the fact that English finished his career with upwards of 25,000 points—a plateau that, as of this article, only 22 players have ever managed to reach.

English was a prolific scorer who helped Denver make the Playoffs in nine consecutive seasons. It may not be a championship, but that’s about as much as a small-market franchise can ask for.

One last fact to hammer this slide home: No player scored more points than English during the 1980s. Not a single one.