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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Karl Malone
Karl Malone Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez/Allsport /

2. Karl Malone

  • Years Active: 1985 to 2004
  • Teams Played For: Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers
  • NBA Finals Appearances: 3

Karl Malone has one of the most awe-inspiring résumés of any player to ever reach the NBA. The individual accolades overwhelm those of countless Hall of Fame players, and the multitude of deep postseason runs to cement his status as a star who generally got the job done at every stage of an NBA season.

The one achievement that evaded Malone, however, was that of being an NBA champion—something that he nearly became on two separate occasions before ultimately running into some guy named Michael Jordan.

And that doesn’t even include his helping the Los Angeles Lakers reach the 2004 NBA Finals.

Malone is the only two-time NBA MVP who doesn’t have a championship, which is reason enough to believe he’s a contender for the No. 1 spot. He’s also a 14-time All-NBA honoree, with 11 All-NBA First Team nods—tied for second in NBA history with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant.

Only LeBron James has more.

Malone also received four All-Defense selections, including three to the All-Defensive First Team, and won the NBA All-Star Game MVP award on two separate occasions. Throw in two Olympic gold medals and back-to-back NBA Finals appearances, and Malone has done literally everything there is to do besides win a title.

He’s also second in NBA history in career points, seventh in career rebounds, and 11th in career steals. Essentially, he’s the power forward version of LeBron James from a statistical perspective.

Malone is still widely regarded as one of the 25 greatest players in NBA history, but one can’t help but wonder what a single championship would’ve done for the legacy of a superstar who had everything else imaginable on their résumé.

For what it’s worth: Malone is even No. 7 all-time in career points scored in the postseason. He and the Utah Jazz came oh so close.