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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Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

11. Russell Westbrook

  • Years Active: 2008 to Present
  • Teams Played For: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards
  • NBA Finals Appearances: 1

Following in the footsteps of the original Mr. Triple-Double, Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook has stuffed the stat sheet in unimaginable ways. He averaged a triple-double in three consecutive seasons, and while many criticized his rebounds, it’s now standard practice for perimeter players to crash the boards at an inflated rate.

Often criticized, tremendously under-appreciated, and unbelievably talented, Westbrook has put together a career that will have him sleepwalking into the Hall of Fame.

Westbrook won NBA MVP in 2016-17 after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an improbable postseason appearance in the wake of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka’s respective departures. It marked his second season as All-NBA First Team, as well as his second year as scoring champion.

As of this posting, Westbrook is the only player in NBA history to both win at least two scoring titles and lead the Association in assists in multiple seasons.

Before he was the go-to player in Oklahoma City, Westbrook was one-half of a nigh iconic duo with Durant. He and Durant, as well as Ibaka and James Harden, led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012 when the core players were all 23 and under.

An almost unheard of feat.

OKC made a total of four Western Conference Finals appearances with Westbrook running point. Houston made the second round of the Playoffs with him doing the same in 2019-20.

In other words: Westbrook, who has made the Playoffs in 10 of his 12 NBA seasons, plays winning basketball while producing absurd stat lines.

A Hall of Fame point guard who deserves more all-time praise.