“I have always felt bad that I wasn’t able to bring a championship to Phoenix because that’s my home,” once said Charles Barkley. He is probably the most trolled hooper for not winning a ring back in his day. Since Chuck also appears on national television weekly, covering NBA games, fans have witnessed his face turn red whenever someone pulls a ‘No championship card’ in front of him. It’s truly a rough sight. Well, he isn’t alone in the misery. It’s not like others face the same treatment, but they sure did miss out on the ultimate honor despite their individual brilliance.

It’s a tough task to list down the top 10 players from a league that has been entertaining fans for decades. But, here’s what we’ve done, we’ve listed a mix of active and retired players who made a name for themselves but failed to attain the biggest glory. Before we move into the list, heads-up- this may not satisfy every fan’s expectations. Please bear with us! Importantly, it is in no specific order.

1. Steve Nash (1996-2014)

This Suns legend is a 2x MVP award winner with an 18-season NBA career. Steve Nash, just like Charles Barkley, gave the Valley fans a lot of hope to bring a trophy to Phoenix, but, unfortunately, it wasn’t the case. During his time with the Suns, which was between 2004-2012, Nash took the team to Conference Finals thrice but just couldn’t go beyond. Moreover, in his entire hoops career, Nash has made it to the postseason on 12 occasions, although never crossing the Conference Finals.

2. Karl Malone (1985-2004)

This 6 ‘9 baller is probably the best player on the list. Once again, the Utah Jazz legend is a 2x MVP winner with a 19-season-long NBA tenure. He appeared in the playoffs for every single season of his career. Well, he was quite unlucky that he played in the MJ era. Karl Malone came very close to clinching the ring twice in 1997 and 1998, but he was pulled down by MJ’s Bulls on both occasions.

Importantly, he had a last roll at the dice to realize his championship dream, when he joined the Kobe-Shaq union in the 2003-04 season. However, they shocked the world, losing to the Pistons with an embarrassing 1-4 record in the 2004 Finals. Following the series, he hung his boots.

3. John Stockton (1984-2003)

One can get away without talking about John Stockton after Karl Malone. The NBA’s assists and steals leader was the perfect Robin to Malone. The duo dominated the West and went so close to winning the ring. Unfortunately, it was the Bulls that played spoilsport. Unlike his partner, Stockton remained in Utah throughout his entire career, making it to the postseason in all of his 18 seasons.

4. Allen Iverson (1996-2010)

Even though Allen Iverson didn’t win the championship, the hooper did revolutionize basketball in the early 2000s. This 6-foot guard brought his strong character to the court along with insane ball movement and athleticism near the rim. He was truly one of his kind, giving hope to six-foot-tall guards around the world. Of course, he won the MVP award in 2001, averaging 31.1 points.

Looking back at his postseason performance, AI made it to the playoffs 8 times in his 14-season-long career. Moreover, he almost ended the 76ers championship draught in 2001, but embarrassingly lost to the Kobe-Shaq union with a 1-4 record.

5. Patrick Ewing (1985-2002)

The 7-foot NY Knicks center is one of the best No.5 players in the history of the league. In his 17-season-long career, the Big Apple hero has made 14 playoff appearances. Just like Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing’s problem was, he belonged to the Jordan era. At least Malone made it to the Finals, ruling the Western Conference. Whereas Ewing’s chances were blocked in the Eastern Conference by the mighty Bulls. However, the big man had a real chance when MJ took a small hiatus. Ewing took on the Rockets in 1994, where the Houston side won in Game 7, crushing Ewing’s dream.

6. Vince Carter (1997-2020)

The latest Hall of Fame inductee holds the record for most seasons played in the NBA with 22 seasons. However, Vince Carter isn’t a single member of the club anymore, as LeBron James joins in. Carter impressed the hoops nation with his athleticism and dunking abilities in the early part of his career, but as the seasons went by, he turned a bit slower and focussed more on his basketball IQ.

Speaking of his postseason performance, Carter hadn’t made a huge impact but made 11 playoff appearances and never got the ticket to the Finals.

7. Reggie Miller (1987-2005)

The Clutch has produced many celebrated moments in his 18-season-long NBA career. However, something that remained missing from his cabinet, just like the rest of the list, was the championship ring. The Indiana Pacers legend once came closer to it in 2000. Once again, it was the Shaq-Kobe Lakers partnership that played spoilsport, brushing past the Pacers with a 4-2 record. Nevertheless, Miller didn’t shun away from going after it, as he spent all his professional career with the Pacers, featuring in 15 postseason runs.

8. Russell Westbrook (2008-Present)

Someone new to the NBA would scratch their head, reading Westbrook’s name on this list. He may have become a bench player in the last few seasons, but he’s undeniably superstar-caliber. The former MVP came close to winning the ring in 2012 when he represented OKC. Unfortunately, it was the Heat big-3 that stole the show, winning with a 4-1 record. Nevertheless, Brodie isn’t far away from claiming his title, as he has recently paired up with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. So, this list may need an edit in a few months…

9. James Harden (2009-Present)

The Beard almost has a similar story to Beastbrook. Representing the Thunder, James Harden faced the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals alongside Brodie and Kevin Durant. Following that, he parted ways and made an impressive run with the Houston Rockets, winning the MVP award in the process. After 2012, the closest Harden ever reached to clinch the ring was in 2018 when he faced Stephen Curry & Co. in the Western Conference Finals. The Dubs edged passed with a series win in Game 7. The 35-year-old can still make a championship run alongside Kawhi Leonard in LA.

10. Chris Paul (2005-Present)

Point God is one of the oldest players in the league right now. Despite his vast experience and impressive basketball IQ, CP3 has made it to the NBA Finals only once. That too, very late in his career, the 2022 NBA Finals, when he represented the Suns and lost against the Bucks. Anyway, currently, Chris Paul has teamed up with Victor Wembanyama. If not for this season, Paul may clinch the title after two seasons if he continues to play in the league, helping Coach Pop and his young side attain glory.

We have reached the end of the list. Here are a few notable mentions that we thought should make it. Dominique Wilkins, Tracy McGrady, Dikembe Mutombo, Charles Barkley, and Elgin Baylor. How did you find the list? If you think we missed a few names that you would’ve liked to witness here, please let us know in the comments.