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The highest-point of any NBA player's career would be to reach the NBA Finals and win a championship irrespective of the individual accolades and accomplishments they have.
However, despite being highly talented not every player is lucky enough to win a ring as we can see in the case of some legends and Hall-of-Famers such as Karl Malone, Elgin Baylor and Charles Barkley.
Some of these legends know what it means to get to the cusp of victory only for it to be snatched away at a moment's notice during the NBA Finals due to a multitude of reasons such as injury, calls not going their way or even one bad game which could have turned the tide of the tie.
Some of these stars have made it to the Finals more than once but have failed to see things through and win a championship, while some have won titles but have made more NBA Finals appearances to do so, such as the legendary Hall-of-Famer Jerry West.
There are a couple of current NBA players who have felt what these stars have felt as they have lost more than they have won in the NBA Finals. Without further ado, here are the top 3 current players in the NBA with the worst Finals record.
Current players with the worst NBA Finals records
Many NBA players who grew up dreaming of lifting the Larry O'Brien trophy retired without ever having reached an NBA Finals. However, a couple of players have made the trip to the Finals multiple times, and have suffered heartbreak more than the immense joy of lifting the NBA championship.
#3 Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson has carved a niche for himself as a tough, rebounding center who has plenty of playoff experience. Thompson is largely known for his nine-year stint as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he was an integral piece in their NBA Finals runs.
Thompson was part of the Cavs team that was a favorite in the Eastern Conference and made the NBA Finals for four straight years from 2014-18. However, Thompson and the Cavs did not have the best Finals record despite a roster featuring the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Love.
He only managed to win one ring in his four Finals appearances as the Cavs ran into a dominant Golden State Warriors dynasty at the height of their powers. Glaring errors such as J.R. Smith's brain-freeze moment along with the Warriors' depth and their style of play seemed too big of an obstacle for the Cavs to surpass.
Considering the state of affairs of his current team, the Sacramento Kings, it is highly unlikely that Thompson will reach another NBA Finals game anytime soon.
Also check out: Who is Charles Barkley's Wife, Maureen Blumhardt?
#2 Andre Iguodala
Andre Iguodala is renowned for being a key piece in the Golden State Warriors dynasty which dominated the league for almost half a decade. The former NBA Finals MVP is a three-time champion and one of the best defensive stoppers the league has seen.
Iguodala made his name as a clutch player who could be counted on taking crucial shots and getting stops in high-pressure situations.
However, Iguodala has a pretty bad Finals record compared to most, counting his loss with the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals, Andre has lost three out of the six Finals he has participated in.
A 50% win percentage in the NBA Finals is unthinkable and a dream for most but in the current times that serves as the second worst record.
#1 LeBron James
Most NBA players cannot even dream of making it to ten NBA Finals and winning four titles. Unfortunately for LeBron, that is the biggest argument that works against him in the G.O.A.T debate.
LeBron's 40% win percentage in the Finals is the third worst record in the history of the league after Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. That is elite company, but not the category King James would have wanted to be placed in.
To LeBron's credit, most of the teams he went to the Finals with apart from a couple of them did that on the back of his magnificent and sometimes historic performances.
He also faced dynasties such as the Warriors, who were a permanent roadblock on his path to the championship. Post Kyrie Irving's exit, Cleveland lacked the firepower to compete against a GSW team featuring the likes of future Hall-of-Famers Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, leading LeBron to a miserable 3-6 record before winning with the Lakers in 2020.
King James will go down as one of the best to ever do it once he hangs up his sneakers, though his Finals record is something that would be a conversation in NBA circles long after that.
