Inventory: Top 10 NBA superstars who have never entered the NBA Finals

NBA teams usually need star players to enter the NBA Finals. However, here are the top 10 star players who have never made it to the NBA Finals.

For any NBA player, even a star, winning an NBA championship is one of the most difficult things. In fact, even some of the greatest basketball Hall of Famers have never won a championship in their stunning careers.

The road to the championship is so difficult that just entering the NBA Finals is already a difficult task. Here are the rankings of the top ten NBA superstars who have never entered the NBA Finals.

1. Steve Nash

Steve Nash was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for two consecutive years in his career. He was also the face of the Phoenix Suns for several seasons. But as the backbone of the Suns' fierce competition in the Western Conference, he led the team to the Western Conference Finals twice in 2006 and 2010. Unfortunately, Nash and the Suns ultimately failed to advance to the NBA Finals.

2. George Gerwen

George Gerwen started his basketball career before the merger of the NBA and ABA, which is a pity. Still, he was an All-Star player at the time of the merger. He played for the San Antonio Spurs most of his time and led the team to the Western Conference Finals three times. However, the nine-time NBA All-Star player has never won the NBA championship or entered the Finals.

3. Derek Ross

Derek Ross is the youngest MVP in NBA history. At its peak, Rose was a master of slam dunk and a facade of the Chicago Bulls, injecting vitality into the team for the first time since Michael Jordan's era. Unfortunately, injuries eventually brought his career to a sudden end. Although Ross successfully revive his career as the sixth man, he never made it to the Western Conference Finals before Ross officially retired in 2024.

4. Dominic Wilkins

Dominic Wilkins is one of the most exciting players of the Atlanta Hawks. The nine-time NBA All-Star often steals the limelight with his stunning performance in Atlanta. However, with the Hawks, Wilkins never achieved any playoff success and was out multiple times in the first round in his career.

5. Cameron Anthony

Camero Anthony was an elite small forward in the NBA, second only to LeBron James. However, Anthony is also known for his selfishness, focusing more on data than victory. So it's no surprise why the 10-time NBA All-Star failed to succeed in the playoffs. Thankfully, he did lead the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals in 2009.

6. Grant Hill

Grant Hill is another high-profile rookie who has plagued his career with injuries before entering the NBA. Despite this, Hill still grew into a superstar in the NBA, seven All-Stars and five NBA All-Squad. However, he has never been lucky enough to play for a championship team, the closest being the Phoenix Suns who reached the Western Conference Finals in 2010.

7. Chris Webber

Chris Webber is one of the most controversial players off the court. Despite some twists and turns on the field, Weber still showed enough strength to become one of the best power forwards of his era. The five-time NBA All-Star has played on multiple teams, some of which are strong contenders for the championship. Unfortunately, he never made it to the NBA Finals. He has only participated in the Eastern Conference Finals twice, the first time with the Sacramento Kings in 2002 and the second time with the Detroit Pistons in 2007.

8. Vince Carter

Vince Carter retired shortly after the 2019-20 season. People will remember that he is one of the most athletic players, and his amazing dunks at his peak made headlines. However, despite his outstanding personal abilities, it is surprising that he has never reached the NBA Finals. His closest was in 2010, when the Orlando Magic made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

9. Lamarcus Aldridge

Lamarcus Aldridge is one of the best power forwards in the NBA when he is healthy. The seven-time NBA All-Star even became a focal point for the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs, leading the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2017. However, due to arrhythmia, Aldridge was forced to retire temporarily. Despite this, he signed with the star-studded Brooklyn Nets after his return. Unfortunately, despite the surplus of superstars, the Nets were disappointed.

10. Blake Griffin

Like Aldridge, Blake Griffin has signed with teams such as the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics to win the championship at the last minute. However, none of them ended up failing to reach the NBA Finals. Of course, Griffin brought countless surprises to the Clippers in the first few years of the league with his explosive dunk. However, even the Clippers never succeeded in the playoffs.