50 greatest NBA players to never win a championship
46. Brad Daugherty
- Years Active: 1986 to 1996
- Teams Played For: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Conference Finals Appearances: 1
Contrary to popular belief, the Cleveland Cavaliers were a contending-level team before LeBron James was drafted in 2003. During the 1980s, the Cavaliers built a deep and balanced roster that benefited immensely from the play of a tremendous young center named Brad Daugherty.
Known to many today as a NASCAR personality on major networks, Daugherty was actually a string of injuries away from a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.
Daugherty only played eight seasons before injuries forced him into formal retirement in what would’ve been Year 10. During that time, however, he became a five-time All-Star and an All-NBA honoree who anchored the Cavaliers’ consistent appearances in the postseason.
He appeared in 41 postseason games between 1987-88 and 1992-93, including Cleveland’s run to the 1992 Eastern Conference Finals.
That 1991-92 campaign was Daugherty’s coming of age season, if you will, as he made All-NBA with averages of 21.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. In the Conference Finals, he and the Cavaliers pushed Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six games.
Daugherty scored 28 points in a Game 2 victory over the Bulls, but it was, unfortunately, one of the final images of his promise and potential before injuries ended his career far too soon.
In an era flush with Hall of Fame centers, but Daugherty managed to stand out at a legendarily deep position in the 1980s and 1990s. That was no easy feat.