These Stars Need to Make It to the NBA Finals ASAP

Forget LeBron...the legacy of these players depends on it.

Forget LeBron...What About the Legacy of These Guys? - Entering this NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, there's plenty of talk about how a LeBron James loss will tarnish his legacy. Yes, a Cavs' defeat would drop King James to 2-4 in the Finals, but last time we checked, LeBron still has two championship rings. And lest you forget, this is LeBron's fifth straight Finals appearance. What about the legacies of NBA stars like Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant? They don't have any titles to their names. These NBA stars need to get to the Finals ASAP! — By Mark Lelinwalla(Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Forget LeBron...What About the Legacy of These Guys? - Entering this NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, there's plenty of talk about how a LeBron James loss will tarnish his legacy. Yes, a Cavs' defeat would drop King James to 2-4 in the Finals, but last time we checked, LeBron still has two championship rings. And lest you forget, this is LeBron's fifth straight Finals appearance. What about the legacies of NBA stars like Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant? They don't have any titles to their names. These NBA stars need to get to the Finals ASAP! — By Mark Lelinwalla(Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Carmelo Anthony - At 31 years old with 13 seasons under his belt, Carmelo Anthony only has an appearance in the Western Conference Finals to show for it. The 2009 showing with the Denver Nuggets is the deepest postseason run of his career. Melo has the rep as one of the best scorers in the NBA, but he needs that championship ring to complete his career. With his New York Knicks coming off a franchise-worst 17-65 this season, though, he's going to be hard-pressed to even get within sniffing distance of the Finals...even with team president Phil Jackson by his side. Good luck, though.(Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

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Carmelo Anthony - At 31 years old with 13 seasons under his belt, Carmelo Anthony only has an appearance in the Western Conference Finals to show for it. The 2009 showing with the Denver Nuggets is the deepest postseason run of his career. Melo has the rep as one of the best scorers in the NBA, but he needs that championship ring to complete his career. With his New York Knicks coming off a franchise-worst 17-65 this season, though, he's going to be hard-pressed to even get within sniffing distance of the Finals...even with team president Phil Jackson by his side. Good luck, though.(Photo: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Chris Paul - As great as Chris Paul has been throughout his 10 years in the NBA, it's shocking to think that he's never even reached the Conference Finals. His Los Angeles Clippers squandered a 3-1 Western Conference semifinals lead over the Houston Rockets that would have got him there this year. If any player on this list sorely needs to play in the finals, it's CP3. Where he ranks among the all-time great point guards hinges on it.(Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

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Chris Paul - As great as Chris Paul has been throughout his 10 years in the NBA, it's shocking to think that he's never even reached the Conference Finals. His Los Angeles Clippers squandered a 3-1 Western Conference semifinals lead over the Houston Rockets that would have got him there this year. If any player on this list sorely needs to play in the finals, it's CP3. Where he ranks among the all-time great point guards hinges on it.(Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

Kevin Durant - The Oklahoma City Thunder fans will be in a tough spot next season. They are hoping that their star player, Kevin Durant, can bounce back from a season-ending foot injury and propel them back into the upper echelon of the Western conference. If that return to form means a return to the NBA Finals (first trip back since the 2011-12 season), then good. If not, they could watch KD opt out of his current contract in July 2016 and sign a lucrative deal to chase titles elsewhere. So for Durant, a title run in the 2015-16 season could determine how the next few chapters of his career are written.(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

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Kevin Durant - The Oklahoma City Thunder fans will be in a tough spot next season. They are hoping that their star player, Kevin Durant, can bounce back from a season-ending foot injury and propel them back into the upper echelon of the Western conference. If that return to form means a return to the NBA Finals (first trip back since the 2011-12 season), then good. If not, they could watch KD opt out of his current contract in July 2016 and sign a lucrative deal to chase titles elsewhere. So for Durant, a title run in the 2015-16 season could determine how the next few chapters of his career are written.(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Derrick Rose - Derrick Rose has only played in 181 of his last 394 games due to a rash of injuries. Still, when healthy, Rose remains one of the NBA's most dynamic players. At 26, Rose still has time, but of course the questions will always be around his health. Leading the Chicago Bulls back to the NBA Finals is the only way D. Rose will be able to silence them.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Derrick Rose - Derrick Rose has only played in 181 of his last 394 games due to a rash of injuries. Still, when healthy, Rose remains one of the NBA's most dynamic players. At 26, Rose still has time, but of course the questions will always be around his health. Leading the Chicago Bulls back to the NBA Finals is the only way D. Rose will be able to silence them.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Blake Griffin - A bulk of the Los Angeles Clippers' playoff shortcomings fall on Chris Paul because he's their All-Star floor general. But some of the blame should rest on the shoulders of Blake Griffin. The younger of the two players, at 26 to Paul's 30, Griffin has been unable to assert his will in key games and it has cost the Clippers. He'll need to step up his game if the Clippers are ever going to put together that elusive title run.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Blake Griffin - A bulk of the Los Angeles Clippers' playoff shortcomings fall on Chris Paul because he's their All-Star floor general. But some of the blame should rest on the shoulders of Blake Griffin. The younger of the two players, at 26 to Paul's 30, Griffin has been unable to assert his will in key games and it has cost the Clippers. He'll need to step up his game if the Clippers are ever going to put together that elusive title run.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Dwight Howard - Dwight Howard is just not the dominating center who once willed the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals. In fact, he's not even close to being that. His heart and will were questioned in one disastrous season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012-13. Since then, he's proved that being a second star to James Harden in Houston is a more suitable role than a tag team with Kobe Bryant. Here's the deal though — if Howard wins a title, all of the above is forgotten. If he doesn't, they'll remain sticking points to his career forever.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Dwight Howard - Dwight Howard is just not the dominating center who once willed the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals. In fact, he's not even close to being that. His heart and will were questioned in one disastrous season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012-13. Since then, he's proved that being a second star to James Harden in Houston is a more suitable role than a tag team with Kobe Bryant. Here's the deal though — if Howard wins a title, all of the above is forgotten. If he doesn't, they'll remain sticking points to his career forever.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Russell Westbrook  - If Kevin Durant leaves Oklahoma City next year, the Thunder will be Russell Westbrook's squad to run. He already auditioned for that role quite well in KD's lengthy absence this season, but doing it full time would be a whole other story. That or KD could skip town and Russ could become the franchise's main trading chip. If the latter happens, Westbrook's ability to lead his own team to the Finals and beyond will not only be counted on, but expected.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Russell Westbrook  - If Kevin Durant leaves Oklahoma City next year, the Thunder will be Russell Westbrook's squad to run. He already auditioned for that role quite well in KD's lengthy absence this season, but doing it full time would be a whole other story. That or KD could skip town and Russ could become the franchise's main trading chip. If the latter happens, Westbrook's ability to lead his own team to the Finals and beyond will not only be counted on, but expected.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

James Harden - Like Carmelo Anthony, James Harden has more than built a reputation for being a scoring machine. The Beard's Houston Rockets showed heart overcoming a 3-1 deficit to edge the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in the Western Conference semis, but weren't even close in losing to the Golden State Warriors in five games in the Conference Finals. Being a top scorer and not winning big games is getting old for Harden. He needs to take that extra step...and soon.(Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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James Harden - Like Carmelo Anthony, James Harden has more than built a reputation for being a scoring machine. The Beard's Houston Rockets showed heart overcoming a 3-1 deficit to edge the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in the Western Conference semis, but weren't even close in losing to the Golden State Warriors in five games in the Conference Finals. Being a top scorer and not winning big games is getting old for Harden. He needs to take that extra step...and soon.(Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)