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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Bernard King
Bernard King (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

15. Bernard King

  • Years Active: 1977 to 1993
  • Teams Played For: New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Washington Bullets
  • Scoring Titles: 1

Those who watched or played against Bernard King have the utmost respect for him. Injuries tragically interrupted his ascension, but the brief peak that was witnessed gave fans, opponents, teammates, and coaches a lifetime of memories.

We’ll start with a well-known fact: The New York Knicks haven’t won a championship since 1973. Contrary to popular belief, however, the Knicks weren’t exactly living in the NBA gutter until Patrick Ewing arrived.

Before The Hoya Destroya burst on the scene, it was King who made New York must-see TV—and even delivered one of the franchise’s iconic postseason series.

King is one of the greatest scorers to ever grace the hardwood, as well as a rival whom Larry Bird was only narrowly able to overcome during the Boston Celtics’ reign of dominance in the Eastern Conference in the 1980s.

King is the, “What if?” player whom countless fans constantly overlook—against all signs of reason. He was averaging 32.9 points per game 53.0 percent shooting from the field through 55 outings when a knee injury derailed his career, smack dab in the prime of it.

King would defy all odds to become an All-Star six years later, when he averaged 28.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game at 34 years of age—almost unheard of statistics for a player that age, even in the modern era, let alone for a player who suffered such a severe injury.

Beyond what could’ve been, there was what was. King won the 1985 scoring title, made four All-NBA teams, and was selected to the All-NBA First Team twice. For what it’s worth: King was named to the All-NBA First Team during the season he suffered the career-altering knee injury.

The year prior, 1983-84, King went toe-to-toe with Bird and the Celtics in a thrilling series. The 47-35 Knicks pushed the 62-20 Celtics to seven games, with King scoring 43 points in a Game 4 win and 44 in a Game 6 victory.

He posted 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists in Game 7, but Bird came through with one of his career-defining performances for the win: 39 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals.

When an all-time great needs to be at their very best to escape a severely overmatched team in the Playoffs, the opposing superstar had to be special. That’s exactly what King was.