Carmelo Anthony And 5 Other Players You Can Never Win a Title With

What I mean by the title is that this is a list of players that you can never win a title with as your No. 1 option, as in your best player or superstar. If any of these guys is your No. 1 option, then I'm sorry but you're not winning a title anytime soon. 

Sure, they'd be great No. 2 or No. 3 option, but that's not what this article is about. 

Some teams have had the misfortune of having these players as their go to guys, and even they know they can only take them so far. 

So let's begin. 

6. Monta Ellis

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MIAMI - JANUARY 01: Monta Ellis # 8 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on January 1, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The Heat won 114-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees tha

Playing in a system like Golden State's has some pretty negative effects on a player. 

For one, it's acceptable to run and pull up for a three pointer on a three-on-one fastbreak. It's also encouraged to outscore your opponents rather than playing lockdown defense and shutting them down.

That's not what championship teams are built around, and that's exactly why Monta Ellis can never be your No. 1 option on a championship team.

For one, he's a lazy defender who's become too accustomed to playing the Warriors' style and not defending when he needs to. He tends to jack up shots, and Monta never took a shot he didn't like. He doesn't possess any of the qualities of a championship leader.

He's not a team leader so to speak, nor is he the hardest working. He doesn't have the burning desire to win and is rather content staying on a team where he is the best player, consistently playing over 40+ minutes. Sure he wouldn't mind winning, but if he doesn't he wouldn't mind that either. And that's just not how a championship caliber player's mentality should be.  

5. Rudy Gay

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PHOENIX - DECEMBER 08: Rudy Gay #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 8, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or usin

Another talented player who's simply not talented enough.

Rudy Gay is a borderline All-Star caliber player. He's just not worthy of a max contract. And he just can't be your No. 1 option if you're a title contender.

Gay is a poor defender who gambles a bit too much for my liking. He's a great athlete but gets a little wild with his play at times. Sure he shown flashes of greatness (game winner vs. Miami Heat) but ultimately Gay is a second option at best. 

He's having a hard time maintaining the title of being the best player on his team, with Zach Randolph putting up monster numbers, so it would be preposterous to think that he could become the No. 1 option on a championship contender when he's barely the No. 1 option on a borderline playoff team. 

If Rudy Gay is your best player going into the playoffs, then you're probably not going very far. 

4. Danny Granger

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 11: Danny Granger #33 of the Indiana Pacers reacts after not drawing a foul from the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on December 11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloadin

Granger is another fine player who seems to have reached his potential. 

As a late first round pick, Granger was a steal for the Pacers. A scoring machine who can light it up from just about anywhere, Granger turned himself into an All-Star at one point. However his scoring has seen a decline since and Granger hasn't been able to turn it around. 

He is simply showing that he's best fitted as a second option on a championship level team. He's forced to put up impressive stats due to the fact that he plays for a poor team, but that doesn't take away from his talent. Still Granger is not anywhere near a No. 1 option type player who will lead you to a title. 

3. Joe Johnson

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 21: Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks against the Miami Heat at Philips Arena on October 21, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

As long as Joe Johnson is content, he is fine. 

I say that because with all the superstars you see in the league today, they are never content. They always want to keep improving, get better, look for extra motivation, add achievements to their list and ultimately win at the highest level. 

Joe Johnson on the other hand doesn't need all that. Sure, he doesn't mind winning a championship, but he doesn't feel he needs to. Which is why he'll never lead to a title as the No. 1 option. It is the same reason the Hawks aren't winning a title any time soon, with Joe Joe at the helm for the next six years. 

There are guys that want it all, and there are guys that don't need much. Joe Johnson falls in the latter.  

2. Kevin Love

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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 03: Kevin Love #42 of the Minnesota Timberwolves wipes his face in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on January 3, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Timberwolves 96-93. NOTE TO USER:

Before people start to overreact, let me address my case. 

Kevin Love is certainly a talented player. He's the best rebounder in the NBA and one of the hardest working players in the league. Unlike most of the star players, he doesn't have a ballooned size ego. 

The reason for his placement on this list is simple: he's not good enough. 

Being an All-Star is certainly a huge achievement for anyone in the NBA, but to win titles you need tohave superstars. I'm sorry Minnesota fans, I just don't see Love ever becoming a superstar. There are some holes in his game as well. He's a weak defender as well as a poor shot blocker, two things which are essential to have in a superstar big man. He's not that athletic but makes up for it with his IQ on the court. 

Let's just put it this way: if Kevin Love is the best player on your team, you're not winning a championship. 

He's a great second or third option though. 

1. Carmelo Anthony

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DENVER, CO - JANUARY 13: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during a break in the action against the Miami Heat at the Pepsi Center on January 13, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Heat 130-102. NOTE TO USER: User express

Yes, It's true. 

After all I've seen this past summer and this offseason, I'm fully inclined to believe that you can never win a title with Carmelo Anthony as your No. 1 option. 

Let me state why:

1. Melo doesn't showcase that desire to win that so many greats such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan have shown. 

2. He's more into the attention rather than determination. You see how he barely addressed winning as the reason why he's holding the Nuggets hostage or why he'd like to go to New York. It's all for his personal comfort and choice. 

3. He doesn't have a commitment to defense. To win titles, your superstar players have to be outstanding defensive players and Melo has never shown the desire at the other end of the floor. 

4. He has no heart (not meant to be literal). What I mean by that is, Carmelo Anthony has absolutely ruined the season for the Nuggets. They can't move on until he decides, and he's taking all the time in the world to do it. He's not signing the extension with the Nuggets but he isn't stating that he will leave for sure. He should simply decide to either stay or go, and stop holding the Nuggets hostage. 

The Nuggets should do everything in their power to trade Carmelo Anthony because he will never lead them to a title. He doesn't have the qualities of championship caliber superstars, which are determination, desire, heart, hard work, motivation and passion. 

He just has one quality that's gotten him this far—talent.