Top 3 players from Denver Nuggets who could've won the NBA Championship but didn't

# 2 Allen Iverson

Former Philadelphia 76ers guard 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.

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#1 Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony will have yet another shot at the NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22 season

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.

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