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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Sidney Moncrief (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

16. Sidney Moncrief

  • Years Active: 1979 to 1991
  • Teams Played For: Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks
  • Conference Finals Appearances: 3

Sidney Moncrief had five elite seasons before injuries derailed his criminally underrated career. During that five-year period, Moncrief wasn’t just good—he was one of the absolute best players in the game during what many basketball historians regard as the NBA’s greatest era.

With the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Moses Malone, and Isiah Thomas dominating the championship picture, Moncrief managed to play at a Hall of Fame level and more than hold his own against those titans of the sport.

Moncrief was named All-NBA, All-Defense, and All-Star in each of those five seasons. This was at a time when the All-NBA Third Team didn’t yet exist, meaning Moncrief was consistently regarded as one of the 10 best players in the NBA.

Moncrief even beat out George Gervin and Isiah Thomas for All-NBA First Team honors in 1982-83.

Beyond the accolades was a player who not only stepped up to the icons of the sport but was able to leave his mark by overcoming quite a few household names in a postseason setting.

In 1983, Moncrief led the Bucks to a clean 4-0 sweep of Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. Moncrief and Milwaukee also defeated Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks in 1984, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 1985, and the Erving, Malone, and Charles Barkley led Philadelphia 76ers in 1986.

Rounding this all out: Moncrief was the first-ever NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He won the award in consecutive years, a feat only replicated by Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard, Kawhi Leonard, and Rudy Gobert.

Leonard is the only other wing to achieve the feat, while Moncrief is, to this day, the one and only guard. He belongs high on this list, injuries or otherwise.