NBA Stars Who Have Never Sniffed the Playoffs

The 2012 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and for a good group of players, this year was their first chance at making the second season. Guys like Rudy Gay, Eddy Curry, Nick Young and Randy Foye all made the playoffs for the first time—but there are still a good handful of stars on the outside looking in.

We'll always remember the careers of John Stockton, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley as superstars who never won a title. But what about those big name players who didn't even make the playoffs ever?

Exempt from this list are players who have three years of experience or less in the league. But as for the rest? Let's take a look at stars who haven't made the playoffs yet in their career.

Eric Gordon

Gordon just finished his fourth season in the league, although, it certainly wasn't a complete one, as he was on the bench for most of the year with injuries.

The guard from Indiana certainly hasn't had any luck when it comes to the postseason—he was drafted by an historically bad Clippers squad, and just when they started getting good, he was swapped to the New Orleans Hornets in the Chris Paul trade.

Gordon should be a top 20 player when he is healthy, and he's a free agent this summer and can go sign with a contender (his hometown Indiana Pacers come to mind), but he's at least two/three years away from the playoffs if he stays in New Orleans.

Brook Lopez

Much like Gordon, Lopez is a fourth-year player who missed much of the year with injuries. Missing their big guy in the middle certainly didn't help his Nets' playoff chances, and they tumbled down the standings even with point guard star Deron Williams at the helm.

Lopez may have to wait even longer, especially if Deron Williams bolts in free agency.

However, an underrated storyline in this offseasons' free agency class is that Lopez is also a free agent and could sign elsewhere if he wishes. Should Williams leave, Lopez must as well. The lack of Williams puts the Nets squarely among the NBA's worst, even if Lopez is healthy.

Andrea Bargnani

This one shouldn't come as a surprise.

Bargnani is one of those players who if he never makes the playoffs, it won't be shocking. He's a good scorer but poor at everything else and certainly isn't capable of leading a team by himself.

Bargnani just finished his sixth season with the Raptors, and they've never won more than 41 games since they drafted him.

David Lee

David Lee will enter his eighth season next year, still looking for those elusive playoffs.

He spent his first five seasons in New York and the last two with Golden State, and all of his squads have been eliminated from playoff contention by a combination of back luck, injuries or just utter lack of talent.

Lee isn't much help, either. A talented scorer and rebounder for certain, but he's a definite defensive liability, and he doesn't have enough defenders around him to compensate.

I'm adding Lee to the list of "Players who could certainly never reach the playoffs."

Kevin Love

Poor Kevin Love.

This was supposed to be the year he made the playoffs. He finally had a great coach, and Ricky Rubio proved the wait was worth it. The Wolves were one of the most interesting and fun teams to watch in the league, and Love and the Pups were finally gonna snag a late playoff spot.

Then Rubio fatefully met Kobe Bryant's knee and tore his ACL, leaving the Wolves back in the lottery. Hopefully for Love's sake, Rubio can fully recover and hapless Minnesota can FINALLY crack the postseason.