The only player who is considered an ABSOLUTE GREAT WHO NEVER ONCE LOST IN THE FINALS is Michael Jordan. Havlicek, Mikan and Duncan also never lost.
The rest of the players lost and so they are officially and forever out of the question of who is the greatest basketball player of all-time?
The definition of greatest is according to Merriam Webster's is: chief or preeminent over others - often used in titles; also, long continued or markedly superior.
So by definition the greatest means to have never lost due to preeminence and superiority. WHEN YOU LOSE, YOU ARE NOT THE SUPERIOR, YOU ARE THE INFERIOR.
Therefore, the only three in the question for greatest are those who never lost because they forced their team to win, or were a part of a great team which mixed the talents equally.
This list goes year-by-year to highlight Finals losers who people try and hope they can say are GOAT. NOPE. THE PERSON WHO IS THE GREATEST PLAYER EVER COULD NOT LOSE IN THE FINALS EVEN ONCE, OR THEY WOULDN'T BE THE GREATEST.
The greatest by definition cannot lose.
The 1957 St. Louis Hawks lost to the Celtics in the Finals - Bob Pettit lost in the Finals.
The 1958 Boston Celtics lost to the St. Louis Hawks in the Finals: Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, and Bill Sharman lost in the Finals.
The 1959 Minneapolis Lakers lost to the Celtics in the Finals - Elgin Baylor lost in the Finals.
In 1960 St. Louis lost to Boston - Bob Pettit lost in the Finals.
In 1961 St. Louis lost to Boston - Bob Pettit and Lenny Wilkens lost in the Finals.
In 1962 Baylor and West lost again to Boston
In 1963 Baylor and West lost again to Boston.
