A Hall of Fame point guard who then became one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, leading the Sonics to a 1979 title and breaking Red Auerbach’s vaunted wins record
FEATURED LISTS
Sonic boom: Ranking the 23 greatest players in Seattle SuperSonics history
Always a bridesmaid: 15 players who have finished second in NBA MVP voting but never won
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss: 22 NBA coaches who had multiple stints with the same franchise
So close and yet so far: 26 greatest players who played in an NBA Finals but never won a title
index
Click here for index
related topics
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.
Cold comfort: 18 NBA Coach of the Year winners whose team made an early playoff exit
Being named Coach of the Year is one of the premier honors for NBA coaches but doesn’t mean much if it coincides with playoff disappointment
In memoriam: 21 prominent basketball people who passed away in 2025
A Bosnian legend, a clown prince of the NBA, a Knicks champion, a former Jazz owner, a basketball “Wizard” and an all-time winningest NBA coach are amongst those we lost in 2025
Sonic boom: Ranking the 23 greatest players in Seattle SuperSonics history
While their history is officially retained by the Oklahoma City Thunder according to the NBA record books, they’re still the Seattle SuperSonics to us and we examine the 23 greatest players that suited up for them between their founding in 1967 and their departure from the city in 2008.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss: 22 NBA coaches who had multiple stints with the same franchise
Following their firing, re-signing, retiring, or demotion, these 22 coaches came back to the same NBA franchise a second time, often inexplicably and usually with diminishing returns.
Gold standards: Ranking the 18 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball teams
From the original “dream team” that brought home gold from Berlin in 1936 (with James Naismith watching) to the legendary 1992 edition to the latest American champions in 2016, we rank the 18 U.S. men’s basketball teams based on both their performance at the Olympics and their roster as a whole.
Always a bridesmaid: 15 players who have finished second in NBA MVP voting but never won
Some of the greatest players in NBA history have been denied winning the MVP trophy, and many of them finished as close as possible without being first.
I can’t dance: 15 greatest NBA players who (played in Division I but) never reached the NCAA Tournament
Several likely 2020 lottery picks, like Obi Toppen, Cole Anthony, and Vernon Carey, were denied an opportunity to experience March Madness before reaching the NBA when the 2020 NCAA Tournament was cancelled. At least they’ll be in good company, joining these 15 NBA superstars who played Division I college basketball but never in the ultimate postseason.