While strong regular seasons bring wealth and fame to NBA players, it`s great playoff performances that forge legends. This distinction has always defined the standard for greatness and will continue to do so.
Charles Barkley`s legacy is often, perhaps unfairly, evaluated based on his lack of a championship. Kevin Garnett transitioned from a player seen as underachieving, following seven consecutive first-round exits in Minnesota, to the embodiment of leadership after securing a title in Boston. Jerry West, despite being a phenomenal champion, had his career marked by the pain of losing his first eight Finals appearances. Pat Riley, a man with nine rings, famously captured this intensity with his quote: `there is winning and there is misery.` More recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic solidified their MVP status by leading their teams to championships.
As the postseason commences, this article highlights six prominent players who haven`t yet secured an NBA championship and for whom a deep playoff run would significantly enhance their standing in basketball history.
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic, now with the Los Angeles Lakers not entirely by his own design, faces the high expectations inherent to the franchise. His spectacular run to the Finals last season, including an outstanding Western Conference performance, raised the bar. However, his performance in the Finals dipped, particularly in shooting and turnovers, and a Game 3 disqualification left room for improvement. Despite a strong Game 1 start this year (37 points), the Lakers suffered a blowout loss. A significant playoff run with his new team would not only impact the still-resentful Dallas Mavericks fanbase but crucially demonstrate the Lakers` potential both now and in the future.
James Harden, LA Clippers
James Harden`s career is unique for a superstar. Despite recent strong play, the backlash from multiple trade requests has arguably left him underrated. While he showed flashes in early playoff games, his resume includes numerous disappointing playoff outings, leading to a persistent narrative that he falters under pressure. Yet, he holds an underappreciated record of making the playoffs in all 16 of his seasons. However, he hasn`t reached the Finals since 2012 with Oklahoma City or advanced past the second round since 2018 with Houston. Guiding the Clippers to the Finals would significantly challenge many years of criticism arguing he couldn`t achieve this.
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell has been a key player on teams with impressive regular-season records, including two seasons with over 70% wins, like this year`s 64-win Cavaliers. Individually, he`s had brilliant seasons, earning multiple All-Star and expected All-NBA selections. Despite making the playoffs eight times across his time with the Jazz and Cavaliers, he has yet to advance beyond the second round. Last season, the Cavaliers were heavily defeated by the eventual champions, Boston, in a series where Mitchell missed two games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
After finishing as the runner-up last year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the frontrunner for this season`s MVP award, a significant honor often predicting a Hall of Fame trajectory. This level of recognition inherently brings the expectation of achieving the ultimate goal: leading a team to a championship. Despite his already impressive resume, which is set to include multiple consecutive first-team All-NBA honors and top-five MVP finishes, Gilgeous-Alexander is entering a new realm of pressure. Following last year`s early exit despite the Thunder being the top seed in the West, not making a deep playoff push this year will have reputational repercussions, something he hasn`t truly faced before.
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson enjoys an excellent reputation in New York, where he has spearheaded the first back-to-back 50-win seasons since the 1990s Pat Riley era and is the first Knick since Richie Guerin in the 1960s to average 25 points and five assists in consecutive seasons. However, there`s increasing impatience that the Knicks` current contention hasn`t gone far enough to end the franchise`s title drought, which dates back to 1973. As the leader of this core, Brunson is the focal point for both successes and failures. The team`s poor record against elite teams (Cavaliers, Celtics, Thunder) further intensifies the pressure to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2000.
Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors
No one doubts `Playoff Jimmy` Butler`s capacity to perform when it matters most; he led the Heat on remarkable upset runs, reaching the Finals twice during his time in Miami. However, the way his tenure there concluded and his trade process, ultimately leading to a lucrative extension with the Golden State Warriors, makes continued postseason dominance essential – he needs to demonstrate he`s `worth it.` He typically delivers, having a track record of elevating his game in the playoffs (noted by his infrequent All-Star/All-NBA selections compared to his playoff impact). His new team, a franchise with a recent dynasty history, is relying on this. He`s started well, helping the Warriors win Game 1 against the Rockets after navigating the play-in, putting up strong numbers. What Playoff Jimmy has never done is win a championship.
