Will next season be the one where one of these NBA stars finally checks a championship off the list?
What ties together Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Steve Nash? These NBA legends headline a lengthy roster of players who never captured an NBA championship.
Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown recently removed their names from that list with the Boston Celtics’ victory in the 2024 NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks. Horford, who ranked second in NBA history with 185 playoff appearances without a title—only trailing Malone—finally reached the pinnacle in his 186th postseason game. Tatum and Brown, each with over 100 playoff games under their belts, also secured their first championship rings.
While these players celebrate their championship achievements, others like Luka Doncic must wait for the upcoming season to pursue their maiden rings.
This list specifically includes players who have completed at least five seasons in the league, recognizing that it wouldn’t be fair to expect a rookie-contract player to have won a championship yet.
James Harden – 166 career playoff games
James Harden has experienced the postseason in all 15 of his NBA seasons, but his playoff journey has been complex and challenging.
Starting with his rookie season in Oklahoma City Thunder alongside Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Serge Ibaka, Harden quickly established himself. During his tenure, the Thunder made their postseason debut in 2010, advanced to the conference finals in 2011, and reached the NBA Finals in 2012.
Upon moving to Houston Rockets, Harden became a scoring force, averaging 28.4 points per game across 15 playoff series with the Rockets. He scored 30 points or more in nearly half of his 86 playoff games but fell short of an NBA Finals appearance, often thwarted by the dominant Golden State Warriors.
In Brooklyn, despite joining forces with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Harden’s playoff stint was marred by injury. After sustaining an early injury against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, he returned to help push the series to seven games, but Milwaukee emerged victorious and went on to win the championship.
Subsequent playoff runs with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022 and 2023 ended in the second round against the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, respectively.
Now with the Los Angeles Clippers alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Harden’s 2024 playoff campaign was cut short in the first round by the Mavericks, compounded by a Leonard injury.
Harden’s playoff legacy continues to evolve as he navigates through different teams and challenges in pursuit of the elusive NBA championship.
Russell Westbrook – 122 career playoff games
As a devoted Oklahoma City Thunder supporter, it’s difficult to acknowledge this, but Russell Westbrook continues to ascend among seasoned players yet to claim an NBA championship.
Westbrook emerged as a foundational player during Oklahoma City’s early years, contributing to three conference finals appearances and a trip to the NBA Finals from 2011 to 2016. Even after Kevin Durant departed for Golden State Warriors, Westbrook remained a beacon of hope for Thunder faithful, achieving a triple-double average and securing the 2017 MVP Award.
Westbrook embodies the highs and lows of playoff basketball like few others. Whether rallying the Thunder from a 25-point deficit with a 45-point performance against the Jazz or facing scrutiny for late-game decisions that backfired, his playoff journey has been marked by unpredictability.
Now with the Los Angeles Lakers, alongside teammates Paul George and James Harden, Westbrook faces the challenge of uniting their talents to pursue their first championship rings.
Chris Paul – 149 playoff games
Despite his illustrious career, CP3 has yet to clinch a championship ring, but his reputation as a clutch performer remains untarnished.
Throughout his 19 seasons in the league, Paul has secured playoff berths in 15 of them, making six appearances in the conference semifinals and reaching the NBA Finals once, where his Phoenix Suns fell to the Bucks in 2021.
Known for his consistent playoff presence, Paul has consistently delivered standout performances. From his playoff debut in 2008, where he posted impressive stats of 35 points, 10 assists, and four steals, he has continued to showcase his prowess, recording double-doubles in 56 out of his 157 playoff games.
Currently ranking third all-time in assists and steals, Paul’s legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest point guards is secure. However, the elusive championship ring remains the missing piece in his storied career.
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Jimmy Butler – 119 playoff games
Paul George – 114 playoff games
Paul George’s playoff moniker, “Playoff P” remains both a badge of honor and a point of scrutiny that follows him relentlessly.
George’s playoff journey began in 2011 with the Indiana Pacers, where he started out as a steady contributor with modest statistics. It wasn’t until two seasons later that he emerged as a standout player, leading the Pacers to consecutive Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat. Despite pushing the Heat to the brink each time, George and the Pacers fell short of capturing the conference title, solidifying his reputation as “Playoff P.”
Following his tenure in Indiana, George’s subsequent four seasons were marked by early playoff exits and unfulfilled expectations, first with the Pacers and then with the Oklahoma City Thunder. His return to Los Angeles, this time with the Clippers alongside Kawhi Leonard, was a high-profile move that promised championship contention. However, persistent injuries to both George and Leonard have plagued their tenure in LA, contributing significantly to the team’s disappointingly premature playoff eliminations.
Despite the challenges and setbacks, George continues to strive for postseason success, aiming to redefine his legacy beyond the shadows of his “Playoff P” nickname.
Damian Lillard – 65 playoff games
Damian Lillard has etched his name into playoff lore with countless iconic moments, yet he’s never reached the pinnacle of the NBA Finals.
Throughout Lillard’s postseason career, there have been numerous unforgettable highlights, none more resonant than his clutch performances in key playoff games. One of the standout moments occurred in the 2019 playoffs when he sealed the first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a jaw-dropping 3-pointer from well beyond the arc, solidifying his reputation for delivering in “Dame Time” moments. He continued his heroics by guiding the Portland Trail Blazers past the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling seven-game series before falling to the Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. Another pivotal shot in his repertoire includes a series-winning buzzer-beater against the Rockets in 2014.
Last summer, Lillard and the Trail Blazers parted ways as he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Joining forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lillard embarked on a turbulent debut season in Milwaukee Bucks marked by a midseason coaching change and a disappointing early exit from the playoffs at the hands of the Pacers.
DeMar DeRozan – 63 playoff games
DeMar DeRozan’s postseason journey is marked by a series of missed opportunities and tough defeats.
Following consecutive early exits in the playoffs with the Toronto Raptors in 2014 and 2015, DeRozan helped steer the team towards becoming a dominant force in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, their ascent coincided with LeBron James’ return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who repeatedly dashed the Raptors’ hopes over three consecutive postseasons—once in the conference finals and twice in the conference semifinals.
Despite Toronto’s rise under DeRozan’s leadership, the franchise made a seismic shift when general manager Masai Ujiri opted to overhaul the roster. This included trading DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard and parting ways with Dwane Casey, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year at the time. The move was startling for DeRozan and Raptors fans alike, especially as Leonard led Toronto to its first NBA championship in his sole season with the team.
DeRozan later joined the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference, but his tenure has been marred by limited playoff success. Since his arrival in 2021, the Bulls have managed just one playoff victory.
Joel Emiid – 59 playoff games
Joel Embiid secured his elusive MVP award in the 2022-23 season, yet the Philadelphia 76ers’ star center has never reached the conference finals.
Drafted alongside Nikola Jokic in the 2014 class, Embiid faced setbacks early in his career with recurring foot injuries that sidelined him for his first two NBA seasons. Despite this, his debut in 2016 showcased his talent with impressive averages of 20.2 points and 2.5 blocks per game, only to be interrupted by a torn meniscus later in the season.
Overcoming doubts of being labeled a draft bust, Embiid has solidified himself as the cornerstone of the 76ers franchise and a perennial MVP contender.
However, Philadelphia has struggled to find postseason success amidst roster turnovers and internal discord. The team’s inability to advance past the second round has been compounded by memorable defeats, such as Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beater in Game 7 that lifted the Toronto Raptors over the Sixers in the playoffs. In subsequent seasons, they fell short in another Game 7 against Boston and were eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks in their most recent playoff appearance.
Devin Booker – 50 playoff games
It’s hard to believe, but Devin Booker has just concluded his ninth season in the NBA.
Drafted late in the lottery out of Kentucky, Booker arrived at the Suns at just 18 years old, quickly establishing himself as one of the rising stars in the league. The Suns’ trajectory began to change under the guidance of head coach Monty Williams, with Chris Paul’s arrival from Oklahoma City further bolstering the team.
Booker’s playoff debut was promising as the Suns reached the NBA Finals, falling short in six games against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite adding Kevin Durant to their roster, Booker and the Phoenix Suns have faced challenging playoff exits since their 2021 Finals run. This includes a devastating Game 7 loss at home to the Dallas Mavericks, a second-round defeat against the eventual champions Denver Nuggets, and a first-round sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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