Ranking the Top 10 NBA Players who never won a championship ring...
6. John Stockton
- 10x All-Star
- 9x Assist Leader
- 2x Steals Leader
Stockton’s 15,806 assists are nearly 5,000 more than second-place Jason Kidd. His 3,265 steals are also a record.
Despite never winning a title, Stockton led the Jazz to two NBA Finals (1997, 1998), falling to Michael Jordan’s Bulls. Paired with Karl Malone, he ran the pick-and-roll to perfection, making Utah a perennial contender.
His efficiency—51.5% field goal percentage and 38.4% from three—maximized his impact, even as a non-scoring lead guard. Stockton’s ironman streak of playing every game in 16 seasons is simply absurd.
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Critics note his lack of a ring, but Stockton faced juggernauts like Jordan’s Bulls and Magic’s Lakers ... what was he supposed to do?
HoopsHype on Stockton:
"John Stockton’s assists and steals record will never be beaten, as the Jazz legend finished his career with 15,806 assists (3,715 more than the second-highest player) and 3,265 steals (581 more than anyone else). Was he ever the best point guard in the NBA? Perhaps not. But the longevity speaks for itself, and Stockton was excellent for a very long time."
But who ranks ahead of Stockton on the list of the greatest NBA players without a ring? Find out below.
More NBA: Ranking the Top 10 NBA Players who never won a championship ring: No. 5