Most NBA Playoff games played without a championship: Where Al Horford, Chris Paul, James Harden rank on list

Kyle Irving

Most NBA Playoff games played without a championship: Where Al Horford, Chris Paul, James Harden rank on list image

Celtics big man Al Horford has played in six Eastern Conference Finals and soon-to-be two NBA Finals over his 17-year career.

Tallying 181 playoff games, Horford has been a mainstay in the postseason since he stepped foot in the NBA. He has only missed the playoffs twice.

For as much winning as Horford has experienced, he has never won the big one.

Prior to 2024, Horford's lone NBA Finals appearance was in 2022 when Boston fell to the Warriors in six games. His other deep playoff runs were cut short by LeBron James' Cavaliers three times and Jimmy Butler's Heat once.

As Horford looks to climb the mountaintop for the first time in his career in the 2024 NBA Finals, where does he rank among players with the most playoff games played without a ring?

The Sporting News has you covered with the full list below.

MORE: Celtics vs. Mavericks prediction: Will Doncic or Tatum win first championship?

Most NBA Playoff games played without a championship

Horford's 181 playoff games without a championship ring are among the most in NBA history — but he doesn't top the list.

That (dis)honor belongs to the Jazz dynamic duo of the 90s, as Karl Malone and John Stockton rank first and second with 193 and 182 playoff games played without a title, respectively.

Utah made back-to-back NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998 but, of course, ran into the buzzsaw that was Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Malone also made an NBA Finals appearance with the Lakers in 2004 but lost to the Pistons.

Horford will pass Stockton with his second game of the 2024 NBA Finals, but he will have a chance to remove his name from the list if Boston can hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Horford is one of three active players in the top 10 on this infamous list.

RankPlayerPlayoff Games PlayedFinals Appearances
1.Karl Malone1933
2.John Stockton1822
3.Al Horford*1812
4.Sam Perkins1673
5.James Harden*1661
6.Chris Paul*1491
7.Kyle Korver1452
T-8.George Hill1441
 Reggie Miller1441
 Charles Oakley1441

*Indicates active player

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.