
It’s super hard to make it far in the playoffs without star power surrounding you, but it’s not impossible. There are a few instances in NBA history in which big-time players reached the NBA Finals without a single All-Star teammate and you can find all of the cases below.
Just a caveat: Sometimes, players who didn’t get picked for the All-Star team missed out because they were hurt early in the season, not because they weren’t some of the best in the NBA. A good example is Jimmy Butler this year. He didn’t make the All-Star cut but ended up on an All-NBA Team, which is why you’ll see Bam Adebayo‘s name on this list full of basketball legends.


Averaged 24.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg and 9.8 apg in the playoffs and won Western Conference Finals MVP
Bam Adebayo (Miami): 2023


Averaged 20.4 ppg, 9.2 and 3.2 apg in the playoffs
Teammate Jimmy Butler made the All-NBA 2nd Team.


Lost in the NBA Finals to Golden State (2-4)
Averaged 25.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 6.2 apg in the playoffs and won Eastern Conference Finals MVP


Won in the NBA Finals against Phoenix (4-2)
Averaged 30.2 ppg, 12.8 rpg and 5.1 apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP


Won in the NBA Finals against Golden State (4-3)
Advertisement
Averaged 26.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 7.6 apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Tony Parker (San Antonio): 2014


Won in the NBA Finals against Miami (4-1)
Averaged 17.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg and 4.8 apg in the playoffs
Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas): 2011


Won in the NBA Finals against Miami (4-2)
Averaged 27.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 2.5 apg in the playoffs
Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers): 2008


Lost in the NBA Finals against Boston (2-4)
Averaged 30.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 5.6 apg in the playoffs
LeBron James (Cleveland): 2007


Lost in the NBA Finals against San Antonio (0-4)
Averaged 25.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 8.0 apg in the playoffs
Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas): 2006


Lost in the NBA Finals against Miami (2-4)
Advertisement
Averaged 27.0 ppg, 11.7 rpg and 2.9 apg in the playoffs
Ben Wallace (Detroit): 2005


Lost in the NBA Finals against San Antonio (3-4)
Averaged 10.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 2.4 bpg in the playoffs
Ben Wallace (Detroit): 2004


Won in the NBA Finals against Los Angeles (4-1)
Averaged 10.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg and 2.4 bpg in the playoffs
Tim Duncan (San Antonio): 2003


Won in the NBA Finals against New Jersey (4-2)
Averaged 24.7 ppg, 15.4 rpg and 3.3 bpg in the playoffs and and won Finals MVP
Jason Kidd (New Jersey): 2003


Lost in the NBA Finals against San Antonio (2-4)
Averaged 20.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 8.2 apg in the playoffs
Jason Kidd (New Jersey): 2002


Lost in the NBA Finals against LA Lakers (0-4)
Advertisement
Averaged 19.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 9.1 apg in the playoffs
Karl Malone (Utah): 1998


Lost in the NBA Finals against Chicago (2-4)
Averaged 26.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg and 3.4 apg in the playoffs
Michael Jordan (Chicago): 1998


Won in the NBA Finals against Utah (4-2)
Averaged 32.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 3.5 apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Teammate Scottie Pippen made All-NBA 2nd Team
Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston): 1995


Won in the NBA Finals against Orlando (4-0)
Averaged 33.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 2.8 bpg apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Teammate Clyde Drexler made the All-NBA 2nd Team
Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston): 1994


Won in the NBA Finals against New York (4-3)
Advertisement
Averaged 28.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 4.0 bpg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Clyde Drexler (Portland): 1992


Lost in the NBA Finals against Chicago (2-4)
Averaged 26.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 7.0 apg in the playoffs
Michael Jordan (Chicago): 1991


Won in the NBA Finals against LA Lakers (4-1)
Averaged 31.1 pg, 6.4 rpg and 8.4 apg in the playoffs
Clyde Drexler (Portland): 1990


Lost in the NBA Finals against Detroit (1-4)
Averaged 21.4 pg, 7.2 rpg and 7.1 apg in the playoffs
Isiah Thomas (Detroit): 1989


Won in the NBA Finals against LA Lakers (4-0)
Advertisement
Averaged 18.2 pg, 4.3 rpg and 8.3 apg in the playoffs
Isiah Thomas (Detroit): 1988


Lost in the NBA Finals against LA Lakers (4-3)
Averaged 21.9 pg, 4.7 rpg and 8.7 apg in the playoffs
Moses Malone (Houston): 1981


Lost in the NBA Finals against Boston (2-4)
Averaged 26.8 pg, 14.5 rpg and 1.6 bpg in the playoffs
Julius Erving (Philadelphia): 1980


Lost in the NBA Finals against Los Angeles (2-4)
Averaged 24.4 pg, 7.6 rpg and 4.4 apg in the playoffs
Seattle SuperSonics: 1978


Lost in the NBA Finals against Washington (3-4)
Elvin Hayes (Washington): 1978


Won in the NBA Finals against Seattle (4-3)
Averaged 21.8 ppg, 13.3 rpg and 2.5 bpg in the playoffs
Advertisement
Alvan Adams (Phoenix): 1976


Lost in the NBA Finals against Boston (2-4)
Averaged 17.9 pg, 10.1 rpg and 5.2 apg in the playoffs
Rick Barry (Golden State): 1975


Won in the NBA Finals against Washington (4-0)
Averaged 28.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 6.1 apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee): 1974


Lost in the NBA Finals against Boston (3-4)
Averaged 32.2 ppg, 15.8 rpg and 4.9 apg in the playoffs
Bob Davies (Rochester): 1951


Won in the NBA Finals against New York (4-3)
Averaged 15.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 5.4 apg in the playoffs
Story originally appeared on HoopsHype
Source: Yahoo Sports