Karl Malone

A two-time NBA MVP, third in league history in scoring, and 1st-Team All-NBA 11 times, but top of the bio always has to mention his record 19 playoff appearances without a title

FEATURED LISTS

So close and yet so far: 26 greatest players who played in an NBA Finals but never won a title

June 20, 2026

We previously ran down the list of greatest players without an NBA Finals appearance. Now we tackle the players that made it at least once to the deciding series for the Larry O’Brien trophy, but weren’t victorious.

Fraudulent voting: 20 controversial NBA league MVP decisions

April 21, 2021

Over the hill and on the court: 31 NBA players who stayed active into their 40s

November 21, 2024

Second acts: 22 franchise legends who ended their career with a brief stop on an unfamiliar team

October 1, 2022

Avengers disassembled: 10 NBA “super teams” that fell short of expectations

October 11, 2023

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Names and nicknames

Utah Jazz

Awards and honors

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FULL archive

So close and yet so far: 26 greatest players who played in an NBA Finals but never won a title

We previously ran down the list of greatest players without an NBA Finals appearance. Now we tackle the players that made it at least once to the deciding series for the Larry O’Brien trophy, but weren’t victorious.

June 20, 2026July 31, 2026

Head of the class: 18 greatest Naismith Hall of Fame NBA induction classes

There’s no doubt the 2020 Naismith Hall of Fame class was star studded but does it truly go down as the greatest of all time? We examine that with a ranking of the 16 greatest classes in the institution’s history.

February 11, 2026July 17, 2026

Mark of shame: 10 dishonorable NBA career records

Though it’s not always an indictment of them as players, these record holders probably wouldn’t list these particular accomplishments as an early bullet point on their resumes.

December 11, 2024July 29, 2026

Over the hill and on the court: 31 NBA players who stayed active into their 40s

With LeBron James set to hit the big 4-0 in December, we take a look at the 31 players who previously remained active in the NBA into their 40s

November 21, 2024July 30, 2026

You’re the best around: 80 greatest NBA players of the 1980s

We conclude our Totally ’80s series by ranking the 80 greatest players of the decade, based solely on statistics, accolades, and awards compiled between the ’80-’81 and ’88-’89 seasons.

July 21, 2024July 27, 2026

Unexcused absence: Nine players who missed the All-Star Game for reasons other than injury

Joel Embiid and Julius Randle are joining a long list of players who have sat out the All-Star Game due to injury but here are the more rare examples where other life events and factors got in the way.

February 11, 2024July 27, 2026

Avengers disassembled: 10 NBA “super teams” that fell short of expectations

Three or more superstars teaming up together as a “super team” has produced some of the greatest results in NBA history, but there have been some spectacular failures as well, especially in the last few years.

October 11, 2023July 30, 2026

Leaders of the pack: 16 players who hold a major NBA statistical career record

We crowned a new NBA three-point king during the ’21-’22 season and LeBron James will soon be the all-time leading scorer. They join an illustrious list of 16 players that currently hold one of the major NBA career statistical records.

January 21, 2023July 29, 2026

Second acts: 22 franchise legends who ended their career with a brief stop on an unfamiliar team

The star players on this list are indelibly linked with a single franchise where they built their legend, but closed out their career looking not-quite-right in a different jersey.

October 1, 2022July 29, 2026

Dream interpretations: Debunking 19 myths about the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team

It’s the 30th anniversary of their triumphant gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the Dream Team continues to fascinate basketball fans of all ages. This includes plenty of enduring conspiracies, mistruths, and half-truths, 19 of which are debunked here.

July 21, 2022July 30, 2026

Noms de plume: 75 greatest NBA and ABA player nicknames

From the iconic to the cool to the slightly derisive, we count down the 75 greatest player nicknames in NBA history.

November 1, 2021June 7, 2026

Hollow trophies: 14 early playoff exits by reigning league MVPs

The reigning MVP has led their team to the NBA or ABA championship 26 times in the history of the two leagues. But in these 15 examples, the ultimate regular season honor was sullied by subsequent postseason disappointment. Can Nikola Jokic avoid a similar fate in 2021?

May 11, 2021July 30, 2026

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Basketball, Listed

Karl Malone

FEATURED LISTS

So close and yet so far: 26 greatest players who played in an NBA Finals but never won a title

Fraudulent voting: 20 controversial NBA league MVP decisions

Over the hill and on the court: 31 NBA players who stayed active into their 40s

Second acts: 22 franchise legends who ended their career with a brief stop on an unfamiliar team

Avengers disassembled: 10 NBA “super teams” that fell short of expectations

index

related topics

Names and nicknames

Utah Jazz

Awards and honors

Stat leaders and records

FULL archive

So close and yet so far: 26 greatest players who played in an NBA Finals but never won a title

Head of the class: 18 greatest Naismith Hall of Fame NBA induction classes

Mark of shame: 10 dishonorable NBA career records

Over the hill and on the court: 31 NBA players who stayed active into their 40s

You’re the best around: 80 greatest NBA players of the 1980s

Avengers disassembled: 10 NBA “super teams” that fell short of expectations

Leaders of the pack: 16 players who hold a major NBA statistical career record

Second acts: 22 franchise legends who ended their career with a brief stop on an unfamiliar team

Dream interpretations: Debunking 19 myths about the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team

Noms de plume: 75 greatest NBA and ABA player nicknames

Hollow trophies: 14 early playoff exits by reigning league MVPs