15 Sports Superstars Who Really Might Never Win a Title

Of course, every athlete without a title might not win one. 

This list contains veteran superstars who, based on current circumstances, seem most likely to become the next Karl Malone. And, let's not get into the Mark Cuban "what defines a superstar" debate here. These guys are big time.

And, they have been around. That is, most of these athletes are sort of middle-aged in sports years—old enough to have solidified perennial superstar status but young enough to have a few more cracks at a title. 

All of these athletes are good enough to win one but don't look like safe bets to actually do it. The path is not clear, and the worse their current team, the worse their chances.

By no means is this meant to jinx them—if anything, it's always positive to see an all-time great win a championship. For these 15 athletes, it simply seems luck and time have not been on their sides. 

Quick note: Though Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder are sometimes mentioned in this context, their high level of play, intensity and 4-1 series drubbing of the Dallas Mavericks led to their omission from the list. And the Washington Capitals' stellar season left Alexander Ovechkin off the hook, too.

Honorable Mentions: On Their Last Legs?

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Ichiro Suzuki

There's a difference between "might not" and "barring a miracle, won't." The following star athletes get an honorable mention solely by virtue of timing. Some are on good teams, some are not, but all are likely on the last legs of their professional careers.

• Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (32): Won't commit to a retirement plan but is only contracted through 2016. At least he's on a good team. 
• Arizona Coyotes right winger Shane Doan (39): Not under contract for 2016-17.
• Colorado Avalanche right winger Jarome Iginla (38): One year left on his contract, will likely return. 
• Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (42): Playing under a one-year deal, closing in on 3,000 MLB hits.

David Price

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Team: Boston Red Sox

Status: Up and down—won the World Series in 2013, immediately plummeted to have two straight last-place finishes in American League East

The Red Sox signed free-agent pitcher David Price during the MLB offseason for seven years and $217 million. The 2012 Cy Young winner, Price has bounced around the past few seasons but never made it to a World Series.

In fact, now 30 years old, Price is famous for postseason struggles. Yet, upon the Boston signing, he said, "I was just saving all my postseason wins for the Red Sox. I know big things will happen to me in October," per Quinn Roberts of MLB.com.

But will they? Jury's still out. As of April 26, the BoSox are a respectable 11-9. Price got off to a rough start but recently bounced back to strike out 14 against the Atlanta Braves.

J.J. Watt

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Team: Houston Texans

Status: Won a weak AFC South in 2015 with a 9-7 record. Got trounced by the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Game

Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and all-around stud. In five NFL seasons, he has led the league in sacks twice (2012 with 20.5 and 2015 with 17.5).  

And yet, as early superstar retirements become more common in the NFL, 27-year-old Watt's window for a Super Bowl might be smaller than it seems.  

Key word: might. In April, Peter King of MMQB reported Watt said, "I have no idea when it's going to be, when I'll retire. I'm not saying it's not going to be two, three, four years. But I'm also not saying it's going to be nine, 10, 11 years."

The Texans did give young quarterback Brock Osweiler $72 million in the offseason, so at least they're feeling optimistic.

Justin Verlander

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Team: Detroit Tigers

Status: Finished 74-87 in 2015, failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011

Right-hander Justin Verlander was the Tigers' ace for years. He has been an absolute workhorse for much of his career, throwing league-leading innings in 2009 (240), 2011 (251) and 2012 (238.1). In 2011, he won 24 games and took home the Cy Young Award and American League MVP.

After a disappointing 2015 for him and his team, however, one might wonder if the 33-year-old will ever get a World Series ring.

Verlander missed time with a triceps injury in 2015 and only managed five wins in 20 starts. The team has lost pitcher David Price, outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and closer Joakim Soria since the start of 2015 and sat just below .500 at 9-10 as of April 26.

Adrian Peterson

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Team: Minnesota Vikings

Status: Not bad, actually. Finished 2015 at 11-5 and lost in the Wild Card Game (in excruciating fashion)

Adrian Peterson is easily one of the all-time great NFL running backs. He ran for 2,097 yards in 2012 and 1,485 in 2015—his age-30 season. And after a restructured contract, his fate will most likely be tied to Minnesota's in 2016 and 2017.

The Vikings had an impressive 2015 season overall with a talented young quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater) at the helm and Peterson carrying the offensive load. Still, Doug Farrar of SI.com wrote, "Bridgewater threw for 3,231 yards and made the Pro Bowl in his second NFL season, but consistency was not his strong suit."

Besides that, Peterson is 31 years old, and running back is a punishing role. The idea that Peterson may never win a Super Bowl has more to do with his own age and position than the Vikings' team status.

Chris Paul

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Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Status: Still in the 2016 NBA playoffs, but with the loss of starters Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to injuries, probably not for long

The Los Angeles Clippers saw a resurgence with the arrival of Paul in 2011. One of the league's top point guards, he has led the Clips to the postseason in five consecutive seasons.

And yet, it looks increasingly like the puzzle pieces don't quite fit. In none of those five seasons have the Clippers made it past the Western Conference Semifinals. Even before injuries to Paul and Griffin, many thought it might be time for significant personnel changes.

In February, Clippers guard Jamal Crawford told ESPN (via Jovan Buha of Fox Sports): "If we don't win it this year—and I'm not speaking for anybody, just real talk—they have to consider it. Because that would be what, five years since Chris came? Blake's been here that long. Five years for myself. A lot of teams don't get that kinda time."

Griffin is 27, and Paul is 30. There is still hope for both, but probably not together with the Clippers.

Henrik Lundqvist

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Team: New York Rangers

Status: Lost in the first round of the NHL playoffs, facing a lot of "end of an era" talk

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is 34 years old and Stanley Cup-less. Despite his team's tendency to perennially make the playoffs, it has failed to take home the big prize since 1994.

And after a 4-1 series loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that saw Lundqvist benched late in two games, it's natural to wonder if this might be the beginning of the end for King Henrik's Cup hopes.

"The question, of course, is whether the Rangers will have a supporting cast to help him win a Stanley Cup before his career officially is registered in the Patrick Ewing Book of New York Stars Who Fell Just Short," Neil Best of Newsday wrote.

Felix Hernandez

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Team: Seattle Mariners

Status: Haven't made the playoffs since 2001

Felix Hernandez won the American League Cy Young in 2010, and he has made the All-Star team in five consecutive seasons. As recently as 2014, he led all AL pitchers with a 2.14 ERA, and in late April, he passed Hall of Famer Randy Johnson to become Seattle's all-time strikeout leader.

Hernandez has consistently been one of the league's best pitchers, and yet, at age 30, his window for a title is closing with each passing season.  

As of April 26, the Mariners sat atop the AL West at 11-9, but this is baseball of course, and it's a long season.

Tony Romo

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Team: Dallas Cowboys

Status: Finished 4-12 in 2015

Tony Romo has been the man in Dallas for a decade, and he has a grand total of two playoff wins to show for it.

After three straight 8-8 seasons from 2011-13, the Cowboys finally finished 12-4 in 2014 and made it past the first round of the playoffs. Then, Romo got injured, and 2015 was a bust.

The Cowboys do have the fourth pick in the 2016 NFL draft, so, there's that. And there's always potential with offensive weapons like wide receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten on the team. Of course, that potential comes with the overused but appropriate "if they stay healthy" caveat.

As for Romo, he is 36 years old and coming off an injury-laden season. There's certainly nothing in the Cowboys' recent history to indicate a Super Bowl title is imminent.

Dwight Howard

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Team: Houston Rockets

Status: Barely nabbed the eighth seed in the Western Conference and predictably got trounced by the Golden State Warriors 

Like him or not, Rockets center Dwight Howard is/was a star. He is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time All-Star.

He is also 30 years old. Injuries limited him to 41 games in 2014-15, and his per-game numbers have dipped from 18.3 points and 12.2 rebounds in 2013-14 to 13.7 and 11.8 in 2015-16.

The big man can opt out of his contract after the season and won't likely be wearing a Rockets uniform much longer. Rumored destinations have included the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks.

A change of scenery might make a difference in Howard's title hunt, but the good news is, Howard's "still a champion," no matter what.

The Sedin Twins

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Team: Vancouver Canucks

Status: Finished with just 75 points in 2015-16, better than only the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, and missed the playoffs

Daniel and Henrik Sedin were drafted by the Canucks in 1999. In the 15 seasons that have followed, they have put up All-Star careers—Henrik took home the Hart and Ross trophies in 2010, and Daniel the Pearson and Ross in 2011.   

And yet, the Canucks are sort of like the New York Rangers—always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Though the team has made the NHL postseason six of the past eight years, injuries made for a disappointing 2015-16 campaign.

"It's a challenge, but once our experienced players got hurt, we didn't have the depth and we had to put young players in situations that they probably weren't ready for," Vancouver general manager Jim Benning said, per Ben Kuzma of the National Post.

The Canucks do have a shot at landing the No. 1 pick in the April 30 draft lottery. The Sedin twins, meanwhile, are 35 years old, and the clock continues to run.

Carmelo Anthony

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Team: New York Knicks

Status: Finished 2015-16 season at 32-50, missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony was the third pick in the 2003 NBA draft. He went to the playoffs in each of his seven full seasons with the Denver Nuggets but never got past the Western Conference Finals.

Many thought the blockbuster trade that brought him to New York in 2011 would get him over the hump. Instead, the Knicks have devolved.

In March, Anthony spoke about the success of his friends—Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul—per Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: "I don't think envy is kind of the right word. I do look at my peers and say, 'Damn, what am I doing wrong? I should be there.'"

With the emergence of young forward Kristaps Porzingis, team president Phil Jackson calling the shots and possibly a new head coach on deck, things are looking up for the Knicks, but maybe not fast enough for Melo, now 31 years old.

Giancarlo Stanton

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Team: Miami Marlins

Status: Haven't made the playoffs since 2003, haven't finished a regular season over .500 since 2009

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is a three-time All-Star who smashed a National League-leading 37 home runs in 2014. And yet, he has never seen the playoffs or even a .500 season.

After signing a 13-year, $325 million extension in 2014, the 26-year-old doesn't appear to be going anywhere for a while. His World Series hopes are inextricably linked to the Marlins—a team with a tumultuous recent history.  

After an egregious fire sale in 2012, it was easy to wonder if owner Jeffrey Loria even cared about winning. In the 2015 offseason, however, the Marlins brought in former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and (somewhat uncharacteristically) did not trade ace Jose Fernandez. Perhaps Loria is serious about improvement? 

Still, they've got a long way to go to become legitimate contenders. 

Sergio Garcia

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Status: On the list of best PGA golfers to never win a major

At age 36, Sergio Garcia has eight PGA Tour wins and four second-place major finishes under his belt.

Garcia once said he didn't have the chops to win a major but later expressed regret over the comment. In 2015, he said, "I'm not saying that winning a major is not important, but it's not the most important thing in the world," per Steve DiMeglio of USA Today.

Dustin Johnson is also mentioned in this context but is younger (31) and, frankly, it just seems like he'll eventually (probably) get there.

Philip Rivers

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Team: San Diego Chargers

Status: Finished 4-12 in 2015

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been with the team since Eli Manning put him there in 2004. During that time, he has thrown for over 4,000 yards seven times.

And yet, 2015 only held more disappointment for the QB despite his own stellar numbers (437 completions on 661 attempts for 4,792 yards). In October, he became the eighth player in league history to throw for 500-plus yards in a loss. His team missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.

Rivers, 34, signed a four-year extension in August. In November, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, "Three months after committing to be a one-team man for his entire career, Rivers is wasting away on that team. He is a good quarterback being held back from greatness. He is finding out why we maybe just can't have nice things in San Diego."

Ryan Braun

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Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Status: Finished 2015 with a 68-94 record, haven't made the playoffs since 2011

Ryan Braun has been with the Brewers his whole career (since 2007) and has made it to the postseason just twice. He has made six All-Star teams, including one in 2015, and he won the National League MVP in 2011.

Not only are the Brewers in full rebuild mode, but they also play in the same division as the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals—three teams that made the postseason in 2015.

Braun, now 32, is signed with the team through 2020, so the path to a World Series looks pretty, well, invisible.