Life is always filled with regrets, and everyone experiences them. Just as the saying goes in poetry, "People have joys and sorrows, and the moon has its phases of brightness and darkness." There are always some players in the NBA who evoke a sense of pity, such as Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady, because although their career influence is significant, it always feels incomplete due to the lack of a championship ring. Among current NBA players, there are also three such individuals: Chris Paul, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook.
Chris Paul
Paul was selected fourth overall in the 2005 draft, and he has now played for 19 seasons. Throughout his career, he has been close to winning the championship four times. Perhaps it's a matter of fate that he hasn't been favored by the gods. He has won the steals title six times, the assists title five times, made the All-NBA First Team four times, and the All-NBA Defensive First Team seven times. With over 12,000 assists, ranking third in history, and 2,664 steals, also ranking third in history, and scoring 22,608 points, ranking 36th in history, do these honors still make you doubt him? If he can secure a championship in the future, he will undoubtedly rank among the top five point guards in history.
James Harden
Harden entered the league as the third pick in the 2009 draft and has played for 15 seasons. Apart from the championship, Harden has won almost every honor, including MVP, Sixth Man of the Year, scoring titles, assists titles, and All-NBA First Team selections. The only regret is the absence of a championship. Currently, at the shooting guard position, apart from Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, Harden is the strongest performer. Looking at the Clippers' current record, which ranks eighth in the West and is steadily improving, it seems that making the playoffs is uncertain. At 35 years old and nearing the end of his career, if Harden can win a championship, he could also rank among the top five shooting guards in history.
Russell Westbrook
Westbrook was drafted fourth overall in the 2008 season and has played for 16 seasons. Westbrook is indeed known for his explosive statistics, with honors including 1 MVP, 2 All-NBA First Team selections, 5 All-NBA Second Team selections, 2 scoring titles, and 3 assists titles. What do these achievements make you think of? Definitely the lack of a championship! His historical status is certainly within the top 20, considering he holds the record for the most triple-doubles with 201.
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