Hoops Habit
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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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Elgin Baylor, Los Angeles Lakers
Elgin Baylor Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images /

1. Elgin Baylor

  • Years Active: 1958 to 1971
  • Teams Played For: Los Angeles Lakers
  • NBA Finals Appearances: 8

When discussing the pioneers of the sport, it’s silly to mention many names before getting to Elgin Baylor. One of, if not the original high-flyer in NBA history, Baylor brought a grounded game to an aerial level with his unbelievable finishes at the rim.

He also dominated the boards in the same way.

Productive in a manner that’s almost impossible to comprehend, the conversation of great players to never win a championship could begin and end with Baylor. He was a titan of an era that may be debated by contemporary fans in terms of its difficulty, but featured countless icons of the NBA nonetheless.

Baylor finished his NBA career with 23,149 points and 11,463 rebounds. That puts Baylor in rare territory as one of just 14 players in Association history to exceed 23,000 points and 11,000 rebounds, as well as one of just 18 to exceed 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.

In terms of averages, Baylor finished his career at 27.4 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. He also dished out 4.3 assists per contest to further shine at 6’5” in an era of giants such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Nate Thurmond.

Baylor was named to the All-NBA First Team on 10 separate occasions—a feat that only 10 players in NBA history have achieved. The others to do so: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Bob Cousy, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Bob Pettit, and Jerry West.

Every one of those players is commonly regarded as Top 25 on the all-time spectrum.

Being that Baylor is one of just two players on that list to have never won an NBA championship, it’s safe to say that he’s at least a valid choice for the greatest player to retire without a ring.

Beyond the individual accolades, Baylor actually helped the Los Angeles Lakers come painfully close on multiple—or, more specifically, eight—occasions. He led Los Angeles to the NBA Finals in 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, and 1970.

Writing that out may have been unnecessary, but it hammers home a LeBron James level of consistency from Baylor in leading his team to the precipice of greatness.

Next. ranking every teams best player. dark