Last chance saloon for NBA rings: Harden, Paul and Westbrook to make one last shot at a championship

In the NBA, no feat is held in higher regard than the championship ring.

A superstar’s legacy, no matter how well-decorated with individual accolades, is viewed as somewhat incomplete without it. 

Four-time scoring champion Allen Iverson, all-time assists and steals leader John Stockton and two-time regular season MVP Karl Malone each made light work of getting into the Hall of Fame but ultimately failed to win a ring.

The championship, in truth, is a ceaseless reminder that the NBA is worth more than a player posting a 60-point game or averaging a triple-double across a season.

While individual achievements can launch young athletes into new realms of stardom – just look at Luka Doncic averaging 31.7 at Dallas last season – there becomes a point where nothing is valued more than the highest team accolade the league has to offer.

As veterans watch the hourglass drain rapidly towards retirement, the pressure begins to mount on every past and present All-Star without a ring. It understandably forces them to weigh up their options every offseason – double down with current franchise or roll the dice on a new home…

Sportsmail has identified four stars in desperate need of a championship next season and analysed the state of play at their current franchises.

Chris Paul, 37

A 12-time All-Star in 17 seasons within the association, Chris Paul is already a first-ballot Hall of Fame talent.

Considered one of the last true elite pass-first point guards, the two-way star is third overall on the all-time assists charts behind Stockton and Jason Kidd, routinely demonstrating his knack of gelling offences together no matter the roster.

Yet, despite his unquestionable ability, the 37-year-old never managed to carve out a NBA Finals run with the New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets or Oklahoma City Thunder. 

That is, until Phoenix…

It looked as though the stars had aligned for Paul just a year into his Suns deal. Not only had the point guard teamed up with promising young stars Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, but he was arguably joining an organisation at the perfect time – perhaps for the first time in his career.

Paul led Phoenix to the second seed in the Western Conference and navigated his way past the Lakers, Nuggets and Clippers to reach the elusive NBA Finals. But ultimately a loss in Game Six to Milwaukee blighted his closest attempt at a ring. 

Another stellar regular season in 2021-22 landed the Suns with a 64-18 finish, the best record in the NBA, although a 4-2 defeat to the Mavericks in the conference semi-finals pushed home the point that perhaps a ring is just not meant to be for Paul.

Despite reports that Ayton was struggling with team chemistry, Phoenix matched the offer sheet he received from the Indiana Pacers in restricted free agency, handing him a four-year deal worth $133m.

Needless to say, it means the franchise will struggle to find adequate salary cap room to stock the locker room with fresh talent during the off-season.

Nets wantaway Kevin Durant would give Paul the ideal final shot at a championship were he to move to Arizona, but it seems the Suns will struggle to offer the best package without Ayton, who cannot be dealt until the 80 days after the new contract has been signed, especially with the Celtics offering an attractive package around Jaylen Brown.

Sticking with Phoenix is still likely the best move for Paul as it stands, with more or less the same Suns roster proving they can make it to the NBA Finals just two seasons ago.

James Harden, 32

The 2017-18 MVP and scoring machine has made no secret of his desire of winning a championship, having failed to do so at the Thunder, Rockets, Nets and Sixers.

James Harden has made it clear to Philadelphia that chasing a ring is his primary goal by declining his mouth-watering $47.4m player option for 2022-23.

The ‘Beard’ agreed to a new deal with the Sixers worth $33m next season, with a player option of $35.6m for 2023-24. Still a monstrous amount of course, but still over a $14m pay cut.

Frankly, it is no surprise Harden has tunnel vision towards winning a ring. Having racked up plenty of accolades already – as a 10-time All-Star and three-time scoring leader – the shooting guard needs a championship to maintain his legacy.

Ironically, despite his rich portfolio since leaving the Thunder, Harden’s closest shot at a ring was over a decade ago at Oklahoma in 2012, when he, Russell Westbrook and Durant lost 4-1 to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

Harden’s salary cut could make the Sixers major players in the pursuit of stars in free agency, especially if they are able to offload Tobias Harris and his over $37m-a-year contract.

With Durant and Utah Jazz franchise talent Donovan Mitchell flirting with moves away, the 32-year-old could be handed another star alongside Joel Embiid.

Philadelphia have been blessed with the development of rising star Tyrese Maxey, who averaged 17.5 points per game and flourish off the catch-and-shoot as Harden ran the point.

Although he may not be averaging the crazy scoring numbers he posted in Houston, Harden has identified the need to adapt to a more distributive role with Sixers, which could bear fruit in the long-term following his 10.5 assist per game average last season.

However, while general manager Elton Brand strives to build a championship roster around Embiid and Harden, it is hard not to view last season’s playoff defeat to the Miami Heat as the same old story for Philidelphia.

Despite their consistent impressive displays during the regular season, neither Harden nor Embiid have turned into monsters during the playoffs, which leaves several question marks as to whether they can successfully get the job done next year.

Russell Westbrook, 33

Unlike his former Oklahoma and Houston team-mate Harden, Russell Westbrook collected his $47m player option in Los Angeles, committing to the Lakers despite their disappointing regular season last campaign. 

James and Anthony Davis failed to lead the franchise to the Western Conference play-in, finishing 11th in the standings to eliminate any outside shot at a championship.

During his career, Westbrook’s explosive nature and style of play has propelled the point guard to new realms of individual success.

He is now the all-time undisputed king of triple-doubles, having racked up 194 since his first in 2009.

The 33-year-old incredibly averaged a triple-double across an entire season on four separate occasions between 2016 and 2021, a feat only managed once by Oscar Robertson in 1961-62.

No doubt, Westbrook will be fondly remembered for his individual success, effort and energy on the basketball court, but he legacy will forever be blemished without a championship.

The good news for 2017 MVP is that he is on the same roster as LeBron – a four-time NBA champion – and Davis, who averaged 23.2 points and 9.9 rebounds last season.

The bad news, of which there is plenty, is that the Lakers have gone all-in on an ageing squad in pursuit of James’ final ring, and the roster weakens with age in every passing campaign.

The franchise may also look to ship Westbrook in a bid to free up funds in free agency. Despite the veteran’s quality, there is no doubt his $47m contract could be better spent.

If the Lakers make a return to the playoffs next season – perhaps even as the eighth seed – and appropriately manage the load of LeBron, Davis and Westbrook throughout the regular season, there is no denying the strength of the trio on any given night.

However, if a ring was truly at the top of his wish list, Westbrook may have been wiser to decline the player option and sign for less as Harden did, enhancing the Lakers trade power during the offseason.

Carmelo Anthony, 38

As the last and oldest baller on the list, Carmelo Anthony enters his 20th season of his NBA career as a free agent, following a torrid season in Los Angeles.

It is expected the former Knicks star will call an end to his time in basketball at the end of next season, giving him one more shot at a ring before he retires.

Due mostly to his age, the forward has settled for spots on the bench in recent seasons, tasked with coming on in an impact role as part of the rotation.

A 10-time All-Star and scoring champion in 2013, Anthony has carved out a legacy as the ninth highest scorer in NBA history, second only to LeBron amongst active players.

Now a fairly inexpensive asset, having settled for a minimum at the Trailblazers and the Lakers, the stretch four could still offer a budding championship some useful minutes off the bench, averaging 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds last season.

Although a ring would no doubt enhance his overall legacy in years to come, it is apparent that – no matter where he goes – Anthony will have relied heavily on a starting five to get him there, unlike Paul, Harden and Westbrook who will likely retain regular minutes next year.

Nevertheless, with the Bucks, Heat, Clippers and Suns each in win-now mode having failed to reach the 2022 NBA Finals, a highly competitive franchise is bound to take him on a minimum, as Anthony strives for one last shot at a championship.