Top 10 Players Without An MVP
By Richard Diaz
Love of Sports Correspondent
I realize several critics are complaining about Kobe Bryant receiving the MVP award this week.
Yet, to that end, all I can say is quit drinking the ‘Haterade.’ With the award having been gifted to the likes of Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki the past few seasons, it was actually a nice change of pace to see it go a player who’s actually deserved it more than that.
It’s kind of hard to believe that Kobe’s been in the league for so long without receiving that honor. Until now, he was one of many that had played at a phenomenal level without receiving the distinction. This, in turn, led me to wonder what other players are renowned for their greatness, but without an MVP?
With that in mind, here’s a look at my Top 10 NBA greats who never received the biggest individual award their sport has to offer.
TOP 10 MVP-LESS PLAYERS OF ALL TIME
10. Rick Barry
Aside from the 25,000+ points he scored throughout his career, Barry’s one of two players in league history to shoot 90% from the free throw line for his career. It’s also worth mentioning he could do more than just score, as his ability to pass the ball was exceptional, given that he was a forward. So, even though he successfully led teams in both the ABA and NBA to championships, and also led both leagues in scoring, the top individual prize ultimately escaped him.
9. Elgin Baylor
Many credit Baylor for being the guy who took the game to the air. Before him, players weren’t likely to take to the skies and hang for as long as it took to get off a clean shot. Unfortunately, he was kind of like Flash in the Justice League. You know, there was Bill Russell as Superman, Wilt Chamberlain as Batman and then that other guy who never got the credit he deserved.
8. Jerry West
Simply put, the guy was an All-Star during each of his 14 seasons in the league. He ended his NBA career with 25,192 points, but more impressively, averaged 27.0 points per game, good for fourth-highest in NBA history. He did win the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 and the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1972, but not once did he take home the league award.
7. Patrick Ewing
He single-handedly guided an average Knicks team to the playoffs on multiple occasions, and he’s the franchise’s all-time leader in rebounds, blocked shots, steals and points. He’s arguably one of the best shooting centers to ever play the game and finished his career as an 11-time All-Star.
6. Dominique Wilkins
He was the league’s scoring champion during the 1985-86 season and won Slam Dunk competitions in 1985 and 1990. Nicknamed ‘The Human Highlight Film,’ he was the embodiment of excitement on the court and generally proved to be an unstoppable force as it relates to scoring at will. Nique ended his career as a nine-time NBA All-Star and even went on to win a Euroleague Championship in 1996.
5. John Havlicek
As it relates to scoring, when you read down the list of all-time Celtics greats, Havlicek is the name you’ll find at the top. His 26,000+ points are still the best in Boston’s celebrated history, which is amazing in itself. He ended his career as a 13-time NBA All-Star and won the NBA Finals MVP in 1974.
4. John Stockton
Much like Rocky Balboa in Philadelphia, you’ll find a bronze statue of Stockton in front of the EnergySolutions Arena in Utah. He holds the NBA record for career assists with 15,806, which is pretty much 5,483 more than the No. 2 guy. His assists-per-game average of 14.5 in 1990 is still the highest for a single season, and not to be ignored is the fact he logged over 1,000 assists in seven different seasons. Until proven otherwise, he’ll go down as a member of the best ever ‘pick and roll’ duo.
3. Isiah Thomas
Ignoring everything he’s ruined since retiring, Thomas has to go down as one of the best players ever. He managed to lead the Pistons to back-to-back championships during a time where Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson were dominating the league. He also won an NBA All-Star Game and NBA Finals MVP award. Aside from being the Pistons’ all-time scoring leader, he also holds their records for games played, steals and assists.
2. George Gervin
Other than his Airness, Gervin will go down as the one guy who made everything look easy. Even though he retired without making an appearance in a single championship game, his legacy is still the stuff of legend. I mean, if you want to see what a real finger roll looks like, pull up some vintage footage of ‘The Iceman,’ then sit back and enjoy. Before M.J. came around, Gervin had the most scoring titles of any shooting guard. And if not for the Admiral, he’d still hold several franchise records in San Antonio.
1. Clyde Drexler
Throughout his career, Drexler was probably the best player in the NBA not named Michael Jordan. “Clyde the Glide” could drive to the hoop in a manner that was just completely unstoppable. He was a 10-time NBA All-Star and was easily among the most versatile players of his time. Unlike many of today’s big-time players, Drexler was a force on both sides of the ball, including blocked shots, which is rare for someone his size. When all was said and done, he ended his career as one of three guys to tally 20,000+ points, 6,000+ rebounds and 6,000+ assists.
HONORABLE MENTION
George Mikan and Dolph Schayes have to be mentioned within the list, but the only difference here is the fact that both guys were superstars before the advent of the NBA MVP award.
If I were to include current players, LeBron James would definitely be worth consideration, especially given the fact the award went where it did for three years before Kobe.
Comments
will on 05/08 at 10:42 AM
Nobody who ever watched Patrick Ewing on an everyday basis would mistake him for an MVP. His counting stats add up to a nice pile of numbers but nobody at garden ever wanted to see Patrick taking the 15 footer with a game on the line.
Adam on 05/08 at 11:09 AM
I hope this list isn’t serious...or at least serious with the order. Telling me that Jerry West is below Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, or Dominique Wilkins is a fucking joke.
Kevin on 05/08 at 11:19 AM
I imagine it is serious, but I would also venture to guess that its not OFFICIAL. Why can’t someone make a list without someone acting like they have been personally offended.
Things I’d like for lunch today.
1) Hot Dog
2)Cheeseburger
3)Penaut Butter
Is this list a “fucking joke” because you like Burritos?
dan on 05/08 at 12:35 PM
well I am personally offended that you listed only peanut butter and without the jelly.
William Carlos Williams on 05/08 at 12:38 PM
nash has two mvps and zeke has none.
ewing took his team to the finals, and took the bulls to the brink with an inferior knicks team; nash had a team with an all-nba pf/c, a blur of a backup pg, a versatile all star at sf, the 6th man of the year, coach of the year, and most improved player and beat the Spurs the same amount of times that Stephon Marbury’s Suns beat the Spurs.
Ewing is remembered as a loser who could never get it done. Nash is still lionized by the media.
Richard on 05/08 at 12:49 PM
LOL, I couldn’t have put it better myself, Kevin. As for Ewing, If it weren’t for Jordan, it may have been the Knicks with a Championship or two...and it would have been thanks to Ewing carrying an average team on his back. But again, it’s all a matter of perspective.
RJ on 05/10 at 06:42 AM
Um, Adam, does it really matter what order the players are in? And Will, I’d be a little more careful throwing the word “nobody” around in reference to Ewing. I watched him on an everyday basis and you cannot tell me he wasn’t deserving of at least one MVP. And I’m not a nobody.
kg on 05/11 at 11:02 PM
the past two years with nowitzki and nash have been an absolute joke. next will be manu and then to win the mvp all youll have to do is fall on the ground and pretend youre hurt when someone breathes on you. wait not manu, probably the golden child of the nba lebron. clyde was a stud in the jordan/ewing era where falling on the ground got you beat up. i used to think the slashers were ruining the game, but now its the euros
Yankeeh8tr on 05/14 at 02:58 PM
“But now it’s the Euros"…
How typically American (read: ignorant) to trash foreigners who outperform your own. Nash is Canadian by the way - if you’d have passed your grade 6 geography you’d know that Canada is North of you moron! Manu is also not from Europe. Who was your choice the last couple of years? A rapist whiner (Kobe)? Tim Duncan is deserving but then again - he’s only a “psuedo-American” since he’s not from the continental US, Alaska, or Hawaii. I’ll leave it to you kg to look it up since you obviously need the education!
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