James Harden has spent another summer dreaming of an NBA championship. Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Karl Malone never won four games in the NBA Finals, preventing some of the best players in basketball history from reaching the ultimate goal. Which NBA superstars have failed to win a ring? While Jalen Brunson and the Knicks took over New York by defeating Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals, Harden has played in 191 career playoff games without winning the championship.Only Karl Malone (193 playoff games) tops Harden in NBA history when it comes to overall postseason futility. In Game 4 vs the Knicks during the recent Eastern Conference finals, Harden only scored 12 points while shooting 2 of 8 from the field, missing all six of his 3-pointers and turning the ball over five times in a 37-point home blowout defeat.Michael Jordan was a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and trademarked playoff intensity.But Charles Barkley, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and Damian Lillard all have one big thing in common.Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ two-time scoring champ and regular-season MVP, could end up on this list if he keeps missing games and falling short in the playoffs — especially now that LeBron James is part of a loaded Philly team. A hardwood fanatic could put together a fascinating 5-on-5 matchup simply by collecting the huge names who never won it all.Here is talkSPORT’s inside look at the best players in NBA history to never win a ring.James Harden and Chris Paul rank among the greatest players in NBA history to never win a championship ringgetty15. Tracy McGrady (19.6 points, 7 All-Star teams, Hall of Fame)The two-time scoring champion once had some young Michael Jordan in him.There was a period in NBA history when McGrady was the next one, averaging a league-best 32.1 points for the Orlando Magic and consistently finishing in the top-five of MVP voting.Injuries and disappointing teams got in the way of McGrady’s NBA dominance and he was a shell of himself in his latter years.But in the early 2000s, it seemed destined that T-Mac would win a championship ring.His best chance was the Magic — he couldn’t get past the second round of the playoffs with the Rockets. 14. Vince Carter (16.7 points, 8 All-Star teams, Hall of Fame)Vinsanity probably could have outdunked Air Jordan.That’s how powerful Carter was in the open air.The 1998-99 Rookie of the Year entered the NBA with a bang.For the next decade, Carter consistently averaged more than 20 points while trading Toronto for New Jersey.But even though he played until he was 43 and wore eight different uniforms, an NBA Finals ring was always elusive for “Half-Man/Half-Amazing.”Vince Carter was a must-watch in the NBA All-Star dunk contestGetty13. Steve Nash (14.3 points, 8.5 assists, Hall of Fame)Nash’s bad run coaching the Brooklyn Nets has recently overshadowed how good he was on the court.The two-time NBA MVP led a Phoenix team that revolutionized the NBA and was offensively ahead of its time.Nash was the best point guard in the league while Phoenix won 60-plus games and wowed fans with its rapid full-court attack.The former Santa Clara star was in the middle of it all, breaking down defenses and creating constant highlights.Nash led the league in assists five times and entered the Hall of Fame.Phoenix got close to the Finals but never made it with Nash running point.Nash recently spoke exclusively with talkSPORT about his love for another sport. Steve Nash was a dynamic player who was ahead of his time running Phoenix’s offenseGetty12. Dominique Wilkins (24.8 points, 9 All-Star teams, Hall of Fame)The Human Highlight Film has one of the greatest nicknames of all-time.He also gave MJ a run for his money when they were both beginning to dominate the NBA.Wilkins gradually built his game with Atlanta, increasing his scoring average from an impressive 17.5 points as a rookie to a league-high 30.3 in 1985-86.His biggest problem was playing in the Eastern Conference with Jordan — and playing for the Hawks.Despite making the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, the offensive machine never won the Finals.Dominique Wilkins had huge ups and won two NBA All-Star dunk contestsGetty11. Carmelo Anthony (22.5 points, 10 All-Star teams)Melo was a monster for Denver.Then he forced his way to New York during an era when NBA superstars began deciding on their chosen teams.During his 19-year career, the offensively gifted forward exceled at owning defenders and getting his nightly points.Anthony, who won a national championship at Syracuse and became the No. 3 overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, finished with 28,289 points, 7,808 rebounds and 1,731 made 3-pointers.He made the Hall of Fame in 2025 — he just couldn’t win four games in the NBA Finals.Carmelo Anthony wanted to be on the Knicks but didn’t go far in the playoffsGetty Images - Getty10. Russell Westbrook (20.9 average points, 8 assists, 9 All-Star teams)Mr. Triple-Double is one of the most athletic and aggressive players in NBA history.Time should be kinder to Westbrook, with future generations looking back in awe at his unbelievable numbers, which are highlighted by four seasons in which he averaged a triple-double.Westbrook bounced from Houston to Washington, the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Denver and Sacramento in recent years.Chris Webber, Bernard King and George Gervin also failed to win rings. But Westbrook deserved at least one, considering how much he’s produced in the NBA.A trophy failed to arrive in his 18th season, then one of the most dynamic players in basketball history turned down contract offers and walked away.“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” Westbrook wrote. “You had to be there. And now it’s over.”Russell Westbrook was a triple-double machine at his peak and hammered the basketGetty9. Patrick Ewing (21 points, 11 All-Star teams, Hall of Fame)Ewing is one of the best centers of all-time.Throw in his Georgetown domination, and the native of Kingston, Jamaica helped define basketball in the 1980s and ’90s, along with Michael Jordan.The only thing missing from Ewing’s highly impressive resume is an NBA Finals trophy.He averaged 21 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, while making three All-Defensive teams.Ewing was the powerful leader of the New York Knicks and ahead of his time in many ways.8. Allen Iverson (26.7 points, 11 All-Star teams, Hall of Fame)He was The Answer and the best pure scorer of the 2000s.Iverson was the first pick of the 1996 NBA Draft and he more than lived up to that hype, winning four NBA scoring titles and making seven All-NBA teams.The 2000-01 league MVP also won two All-Star MVPs and was named to the league’s 75th Anniversary Team.Iverson even made the Finals in 2000-01.But his Philadelphia 76ers ran into the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Lakers, and it wasn’t close.Los Angeles won 4-1, denying Iverson his best shot at a world championship.Allen Iverson is one of the best ballhandlers and scorers in NBA historyGetty7. Chris Paul (16.8 points, 9.2 assists, 12 All-Star teams)CP3 is one of greatest point guards of all-time.Had a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011 not been vetoed by then-commissioner David Stern, Paul might have one — or multiple — rings by now.Instead, he’s played his final NBA game, with the Hall of Fame up next.Paul was at his best with the Hornets and Clips.But he almost pushed the Houston Rockets to the Finals in 2018 and made the last stage with Phoenix in 2021.Sadly for Paul, he hurt his career stats during his brief Clippers reunion.CP3 averaged just 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes while Los Angeles started 5-16, and Paul sometimes didn’t even play due to coach’s decision.“Just Found Out I’m Being Sent Home,” posted Paul, after the Clippers moved on from him. Paul retired from the NBA on February 13.“This is it! After 21 years I’m stepping away from basketball,” CP3 posted.Then he took a hilarious shot at the Clippers when they were knocked out of the play-in tournament by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Chris Paul waited for a championship ring his entire careergetty6. Reggie Miller (18.2 points, 5 All-Star teams, Hall of Fame)One of Michael Jordan’s fiercest rivals was also ahead of his time.Miller was one of the first players to specialize in 3-pointers.Despite hitting 2,560 during his career, he would have shot even more 3s in the wide-open modern NBA.Miller and the Indiana Pacers reached the Finals in 2000 but ran into a familiar theme.Another team — the Lakers with O’Neal and Bryant — was better.Reggie Miller is still one of the best 3-point shooters in historyGetty5. Elgin Baylor (27.4 points, 13.5 rebounds, Hall of Fame)Baylor won Rookie of the Year when he entered the NBA in 1958-59 and only got better.He regularly finished in the top five of MVP voting and put up huge numbers, including averages of 38.3 points and 18.6 rebounds with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1961-62.More than 50 years after retiring, Baylor’s enormous stats still stand out.The Boston Celtics’ dynasty got in the way of Baylor winning a deserved world title. Elgin Baylor put up numbers that are hard to believe todayGetty4. James Harden (24.0 points, 11 All-Star teams, 3 scoring titles)The Beard had a run when he was unstoppable night after night.During his best years with the Rockets, Harden rivaled Stephen Curry as the most explosive scorer in the league.Unlike Curry, Harden didn’t specialize in 3s, and instead relied on a unique attack that mixed old-school craftiness with a smooth modern touch.He won the 2017-18 NBA MVP but was a serious candidate in other years, including 2018-19, when he averaged a league-high 36.1 points but didn’t receive the award.NBA's GreatestGreatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor WembanyamaBest players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurusMichael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totalsLike Paul and Westbrook, Harden bounced across the league in recent seasons.He found a home in Los Angeles with the Clippers and rediscovered some of his old form.But the veteran scorer — who once sported a clean-shaven baby face — has failed to get it done in the postseason, and has the longest streak of playoff games without a championship among all active players (191).A forced midseason trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers gave the 37-year-old Harden new championship hope in his 17th season.The Cavs overcame a 2-0 deficit to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals to face the Knicks in the conference finals.But Harden’s squad was swept by New York and then humbled with a 37-point defeat in Game 4 on the Cavs’ home court.Harden’s made more than $410 million during his 17-year career and signed a three-year, $96m deal to stay in Cleveland. But The Beard last appeared in the NBA Finals in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.Harden was named the NBA’s MVP when he was on the RocketsGetty3. John Stockton (13.1 points, 10.5 assists, Hall of Fame)After averaging just 5.6 points as a rookie, the Utah Jazz point guard became the definition of NBA consistency.Paired with Karl Malone on Jerry Sloan’s Jazz, Stockton helped define a pivotal era for the league.He was selected to 11 All-NBA teams, led the league in assists nine times, won two steals titles and made five All-Defensive teams.Jordan and the Chicago Bulls ultimately got in the Jazz’s way. But Stockton become synonymous with the point guard position and is a living legend in Salt Lake City. John Stockton ran the point with precision and constantly set up his teammatesGetty2. Charles Barkley (22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, Hall of Fame)When one of the most talented players in league history finally reached basketball’s biggest stage, Barkley walked away humbled and depressed.That’s how tough Air Jordan and the Bulls were in 1993.Barkley, who won the regular-season MVP, wasn’t able to forget it.“This guy might be better than me,” Barkley said. “I never said that about another basketball player in my life, ever.”The Chicago Bulls won the 1993 Finals 4-2 when John Paxson drilled a stunning last-second 3-pointer on the Phoenix Suns‘ home court.Barkley never got over it but went on to have a legendary TV career — often by reminding NBA stars that they weren’t good enough to win it all. Charles Barkely and Michael Jordan had an iconic Finals matchup that MJ wonGetty1. Karl Malone (25 points, 10 rebounds, Hall of Fame)It’s hard to be better than Barkley but that’s how good The Mailman was.As the nickname says, he always delivered — except in the NBA Finals.Jordan’s Bulls beat Stockton, Malone and the Jazz in 1997 and ’98.Malone was an offensive force, making 14 All-Star teams and winning two league MVPs.He also made four All-Defensive teams.Like Harden, Paul, Miller, Baylor, Barkley and many more, Malone deserved at least one NBA ring.Join talkSPORT’s dedicated US Sports YouTube channel The S* Word every Tuesday and Thursday for our brand new NFL shows.On Tuesdays, Will Gavin and US senior reporter Brian T. Smith will debate the biggest talking points from the NFL weekend. On Thursdays, Efe Obada joins the crew to talk to players past and present and break down what to look for across the league.