NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 13: David West #3 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a lay up during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 13, 2016 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Candidates:
PF David West, Golden State
A 14th-year NBA vet, David West’s been an underrated player for most of his career, especially as a core piece for the New Orleans Hornets and Indiana Pacers. With New Orleans, he was a two-time All-Star, averaging 20+ points in both of those seasons. In Indiana, he continued to be a vital piece for an Eastern Conference Finals team, both with his skill, but also with his gritty defense and strong locker room presence. He’s clearly embraced the art of the ring chase, sacrificing more money to play for the Spurs last year and the Warriors this year.
SF Kyle Korver, Cleveland
You can’t call Kyle Korver a “ring chaser,” because he was traded to Cleveland — but maybe that’s even more of a feather in his cap for why he deserves a title. Another 14-year veteran, Korver’s played for 5 franchises and established himself as one of the greatest shooters in the history of the game. His three-point percentage is 43.1% for his career, including a 48.5% mark for Cleveland in this regular season. Although Korver did crack the All-Star once as a nod to the balanced Atlanta Hawks team, he’s the consummate role player that championship teams need.
Deron Williams clearly thought his best chance at a ring was on the back of LeBron James.
PG Deron Williams, Cleveland
A 12-year vet, Deron Williams can make the argument that he had the better peak than either David West or Kyle Korver. In his prime, he was one of the best point guards in the entire league, averaging 20 points and 10 assists for Utah. He made three All-Stars games and even cracked the top 10 in NBA voting in 2009-10. Of course, his career’s hit some snags since then, with inconsistent effort along the way.
Coach Mike Brown, Golden State
Yes, coaches can be “ring chasers,” too. Mike Brown’s an established veteran who checked his ego at the door and accepted a smaller role as a Golden State assistant, similar to David West agreeing to be a sub for the team. Depending on your vantage point, you can make the argument that Mike Brown was a bad NBA coach — or that he was a scapegoat along the way. The bad: he was fired 3 times, twice by Cleveland, and couldn’t get LeBron James a title in Cleveland. On the bright side: he has a 61.6% winning percentage as a coach and did improve his defenses. Now, you can make the argument that Brown already has a title as an assistant with San Antonio so he’s not a real ring chaser. However, this title would mean more than before, since he’ll be the one with the keys this trip as he takes over Steve Kerr‘s duties and will consequently have a larger impact on the series than others mentioned.
- TAGS
- David West
- Deron Williams
- Kyle Korver
- Mike Brown
- NBA Finals
- Ring Chaser
