Creating the strongest starting 5 featuring NBA players who never won a championship

#3 Charles Barkley, Small Forward

Baylor v Gonzaga

The fact that Charles Barkley hasn't won a ring is well-documented in the media, mostly because of his banter with Shaquille O'Neal on TNT. Barkley was a phenomenal player in his time, outrebounding guys much bigger than him and scoring for fun in the paint.

An MVP winner and an 11-time All-Star, Charles Barkley tried his best to win a championship with the Phoenix Suns. He left the team in 1996 to try his luck with the Houston Rockets by forming a super team with Hakeem Olajuwon, but even that alliance couldn't bring him the satisfaction of winning a ring.

#2 Karl Malone, Power Forward

Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Clippers

John Stockton's accomplice at Utah Jazz, Karl Malone was also the victim of the Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen Chicago Bulls team running rampage in the 90s to win six titles. Two of these came in back-to-back years against the Utah Jazz, as both Malone and Stockton couldn't lead their franchise to a championship win.

Karl Malone averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds for his career, with an effective field goal percentage of 51%. In an attempt to win a championship, Malone later joined the LA Lakers, but joining forces with the conference rivals went in vain as the Utah Jazz legend had to retire without a championship.

#1 Patrick Ewing, Center

Charlotte Hornets v Detroit Pistons

A Madison Square Garden favorite, Patrick Ewing spent 16 seasons starting at center for the New York Knicks. A 7-time All-NBA inductee, Rookie of the Year winner and 3 time NBA All-Defensive member, Ewing came painfully close to the Larry O'Brien trophy in 1994, losing game 6 and game 7 by narrow margins to a Hakeem Olajuwon-helmed Houston Rockets side.

That was Patrick Ewing's best chance to win a trophy, because Michael Jordan later returned from his sabbatical to play for the Chicago Bulls again, making it virtually impossible to come out of the East until he played for Phil Jackson.