Iverson, Bonds, Marino: Which is the best professional athlete without a title?
Throughout the history of the sport, countless luminaries have retired without ever tasting the satisfaction and success of a title.
A situation that does not necessarily haunt them – when it comes to being elected to a Hall of Fame – but is reflected in the comparison of legacies.
Who are the top professional athletes in American sports who never won a championship?
Top 5: 5. Dan Marino
The legendary quarterback never won a Super Bowl with the Miami Dolphins. Marino was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, a three-time first-team All-Pro and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1984.
In 17 seasons as a pro, Marino completed 4,967 passes for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns. He also became the first quarterback in history to surpass 5,000 air yards and 40 touchdown passes in a season.
4-Carmelo Anthony
Despite winning the NCAA championship with Syracuse, ‘Melo’ has not played in an NBA Finals in his 18-year career. A future Hall of Famer, the forward with Puerto Rican roots did win three Olympic gold medals and a basketball World Cup.
Still in March, Anthony-now with the Portland Trail Blazers-ranked 11th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, surpassing former center Hakeem Olajuwon.
3-Charles Barkley
Great commentator and even better player in his playing days. A rebounding and paint king, though he was only 6-foot-9 (small for his position), Barkley got his chance in 1993, when the Phoenix Suns faced the Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan and company in the Finals. They lost.
Barkley, who was part of the legendary 1992 Dream Team and then also Team USA in 1996, won the 1993 MVP and appeared 11 times in the All-Star Game.
2-Barry Bonds
Arguably the greatest player in MLB history along with Babe Ruth and Willie Mays, the famed San Francisco Giants slugger is sidelined from baseball because of his steroid shadow.
Bonds, winner of seven Most Valuable Player awards, home run king (762) and WAR leader (162.8) for his offensive production, helped his teams reach the postseason seven times, but played in only one World Series. Bonds never violated baseball’s anti-doping program, but was prosecuted for lying.
1-Allen Iverson
The shooting guard who changed the culture of basketball in the 2000s. He led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 2001 Finals virtually single-handedly, with the respect of his vintage teammates. He lost to the Lakers of Kobe and Shaq.
Iverson won the Rookie of the Year in 1997, the ‘MVP’ in 2011 and was three times in the NBA’s ideal quintet. He participated 11 times in the All-Star Game and was elected to the HOF in 2016.
