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The Denver Nuggets have had a rich history of producing great players and coaches despite not having enough post-season success or an NBA Championship to back that up. The franchise has made it to four Western Conference finals since their inception in 1976, failing to go all the way each time.
In 27 post-season appearances the Nuggets have won lesser than 40% of their ties, which goes to show that Denver's post-season blues are not an anomaly and need drastic changes to get over the hump despite having a solid team right now.
Denver has produced or acquired multiple Hall-of-Famers and All-Stars who, just like the franchise, have not reached the promised land despite coming close. However, there are outliers like Chauncey Billups, but we will save that for another time.
For now, we will concentrate on current superstars who are yet to win an NBA championship or stars who have retired without winning a ring.
Top three Denver Nuggets legends not to win an NBA Championship
#3 Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo has a towering resume that includes eight All-Star appearances, four Defensive Player of the Year awards, a six-time NBA All-Defensive team honoree, a two-time NBA rebounding leader and two-time NBA blocks leader.
Mutombo earned the moniker "Mt. Mutombo" for his jaw-gaping shot-blocking and rebounding ability. The center was a cornerstone for the Denver Nuggets and was the key to one of the biggest upsets witnessed as the eighth seed Denver Nuggets defeated first seed Seattle Supersonics on the back of Mutombo's defensive prowess.
His best opportunity to win an NBA championship came in 2001 when he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers to complement superstar guard Allen Iverson and to compete against potential matchups against Western Conference goliaths such as Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson.
Mutombo had the best season of his career as he earned his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award on the back of impressive performances.
Mutombo averaged 13.9 points, 13.7 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in the post-season, helping lead the 76ers quest for an NBA Championship. The highlight of his playoff run came against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, as he dominated, scoring 23 points, grabbing 19 rebounds and blocking 7 shots.
The 76ers faced a Lakers team led by Shaq and Kobe at the height of their powers in the NBA Finals. Philly ended up inflicting the Lakers' only defeat in the playoffs that season after winning game 1 of the Finals, only to drop the next four games on the trot and lose the NBA Championship.
Mutombo will always be known for his iconic finger wagging and his five brilliant years as a Denver Nuggets star despite not having an NBA championship to show for it. The Denver Nuggets recognized his achievements and retired his jersey to the rafters in 2016.
# 2 Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson is a legendary point guard who revolutionized the way a scoring guard played as he oozed swagger with his mesmerizing crossovers and no-look layups, among others. Iverson's impact was felt off the court too as he ingrained his presence in pop culture, paving the way for the pre-match fashion statements that we see today with his stylish wardrobe.
Iverson was short for a guard but played like a big man, driving into the paint and dunking at will or bamboozling defenders with his fancy layup package. He gave us moments that we can never forget, whether it was walking over Tyronn Lue after snapping his ankles or hitting Michael Jordan with a deadly crossover that had the G.O.A.T scrambling.
Iverson piled on individual accolades as he became a 11-time All-Star, 2000-01 NBA MVP, six-time All-NBA team honoree, NBA Rookie of the Year, four-time NBA scoring champion and a three-time NBA steals leader. This indeed gives Iverson a towering resume despite the lack of team success.
He came close to winning an NBA championship with the Philadelphia 76ers as he led the franchise to the NBA Finals in 2001, while averaging an astonishing 32.9 points, 2.4 steals, 4.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
Unfortunately, the 76ers ran into a dominant Lakers dynasty led by Shaq and Kobe in the Finals and lost 4-1 despite handing the L.A. their first defeat in the 2001 playoffs.
When you think of Philadelphia basketball, you will think of Allen Iverson, despite Philly boasting of other legends such as Dr.J. "The Answer" will forever go down in history as one of the greatest scoring guards despite not winning an NBA championship ring.
#1 Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony is a future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer who boasts an impressive resume that consists of ten NBA All-Star appearances, six-time All-NBA team honors and a 2013 scoring championship.
Melo will likely go down as one of the greatest scoring forwards in NBA history as he nears the top-eight on the NBA's all-time scoring list. For all his individual accolades, Melo lacked the one thing he has relentlessly pursued since his rookie season, an NBA championship.
Melo was once a superstar and a cornerstone of both the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks but unfortunate injuries and an earlier perceived lack of willingness to adapt his game to the changing times in the league put him in a very precarious position.
To his credit, he was able to flip the narrative and mold his game to suit his team and the league in Portland, carving a niche for himself as a star role player and showing adaptability that he was perceived to lack before.
Melo has been on multiple superteams who have failed to make it all the way despite possessing high-quality talent such as the Oklahoma City Thunder with Russell Westbrook and Paul George, and the Houston Rockets with Chris Paul and James Harden.
However, the closest he came to making it to the NBA Finals was on a Denver Nuggets team in 2008-09 that had acquired NBA champ and veteran PG Chauncey Billlups and had a red-hot Melo as the primary scoring option.
Melo averaged 27.2 points, 1.8 steals, 4.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds as he guided the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals, only to lose to the eventual champions Los Angeles Lakers led by the late great Kobe Bryant.
Melo could never get over the playoffs hump in his seven seasons with the Nuggets or his six seasons with the Knicks. He finally has a chance to put that ghost to rest as he gears up for the 2021-22 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, playing alongside his best friend LeBron James.
