This is a list of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise post-season appearance droughts. This list includes the all-time and the active consecutive non-playoffs. Aside from the NBA playoff appearance droughts, this list also includes droughts of series wins, appearances in the NBA Finals and NBA championship wins. The teams which have never made an NBA Playoffs appearance, an NBA Finals appearance and have never won an NBA championship are listed from the year they entered the league.
Of the 30 current NBA franchises, 13 have never won the NBA championship. The oldest such franchise is the Suns (47 seasons), while the Royals/Kings and the Hawks have even longer championship droughts (64 and 57 seasons, respectively). Only seven (7) franchises have never been to the NBA Finals, the oldest of which is the Braves/Clippers franchise (44 seasons); the Kings and the Hawks have appearance droughts that are even longer (64 and 57 seasons, respectively). The longest a franchise has gone without appearing in the playoffs at all is 15 seasons: the Braves/Clippers franchise from 1977 to 1991.
Of the 17 franchises that have won an NBA championship, 8 have droughts of 32 seasons or more, which is to say that the past 32 championships have been shared among only 9 franchises: the Lakers (8), the Bulls (6), the Spurs (5), the Celtics (3), the Pistons (3), the Heat (3), the Rockets (2), the Mavericks (1), and the Warriors (1). By contrast, the other three major North American sports have each had at least 13 franchises become champions over the same period of time.[1][2][3]
Contents
Active droughts[edit]
NBA Playoffs appearance droughts[edit]
- Appearance droughts updated through the 2014-15 season.
- Playoff picture at NBA.com[4]
^ | Longest drought in team history |
† | Tied for longest drought in team history |
- A The Charlotte Hornets last earned a playoff berth in the 2014 NBA Playoffs as the Charlotte Bobcats.
NBA Playoffs series win droughts[edit]
- Series win droughts updated through the 2014-15 season.
- Playoff picture at NBA.com[4]
^ | Longest drought in team history |
† | Tied for Longest drought in team history |
♦ | Most consecutive series losses in team history |
§ | Equals most consecutive series losses in team history |
- The Charlotte Hornets last won an NBA Playoffs series in 2002, as the original incarnation of the franchise before the original franchise moved to New Orleans for the 2002–03 season. The current incarnation of the franchise, formerly known as the Charlotte Bobcats, never won an NBA Playoffs series. The team was inactive for 2 years following the 2001–02 season.
NBA Division Championship droughts[edit]
- Division Championship droughts updated through the 2014-15 season.
^ | Longest drought in team history |
† | Tied for Longest drought in team history |
♦ | Current Division Champion |
Left click once on Seasons since win column heading then once on Division column heading
to show teams listed in order of division championships.
NBA Conference Finals appearance droughts[edit]
- Conference Finals Appearance droughts through the 2015 playoffs.
^ | Longest drought in team history |
† | Tied for longest drought in team history |
Seasons | Team | Last appearance in Conference Finals |
Result | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
45 | Los Angeles Clippers‡ ^ | Never | — | [29] |
36 | Washington Wizards ^[e] | 1979 | Won vs. San Antonio | [23] |
25 | Charlotte Hornets ^ | Never [f] | — | [17] |
20 | Toronto Raptors ^ | Never | — | [22] |
15 | Portland Trail Blazers ^ | 2000 | Lost vs. L.A. Lakers | [30] |
15 | New York Knicks | 2000 | Lost vs. Indiana | [14] |
14 | Milwaukee Bucks † | 2001 | Lost vs. Philadelphia | [24] |
14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 2001 | Won vs. Milwaukee | [10] |
13 | Sacramento Kings | 2002 | Lost vs. L. A. Lakers | [6] |
13 | New Orleans Pelicans ^ | Never | — | [34] |
12 | Brooklyn Nets [k] | 2003 | Won vs. Detroit | [26] |
11 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2004 | Lost vs. L.A. Lakers | [5] |
8 | Utah Jazz | 2007 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [11] |
7 | Detroit Pistons | 2008 | Lost vs. Boston | [7] |
6 | Denver Nuggets | 2009 | Lost vs. L.A. Lakers | [13] |
5 | Orlando Magic | 2010 | Lost vs. Boston | [9] |
5 | Phoenix Suns | 2010 | Lost vs. L.A. Lakers | [8] |
5 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2010 | Won vs. Phoenix | [12] |
4 | Chicago Bulls | 2011 | Lost vs. Miami | [21] |
4 | Dallas Mavericks | 2011 | Won vs. Oklahoma City | [33] |
3 | Boston Celtics | 2012 | Lost vs. Miami | [25] |
2 | Memphis Grizzlies | 2013 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [31] |
1 | Miami Heat | 2014 | Won vs. Indiana | [16] |
1 | Indiana Pacers | 2014 | Lost vs. Miami | [15] |
1 | San Antonio Spurs | 2014 | Won vs. Oklahoma City | [32] |
1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2014 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [18] |
2015 Conference Finalists | ||||
— | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2015 | Won vs. Atlanta | [20] |
— | Atlanta Hawks | 2015 | Lost vs. Cleveland | [19] |
— | Houston Rockets | 2015 | Lost vs. Golden State | [28] |
— | Golden State Warriors | 2015 | Won vs. Houston | [27] |
‡ The Clippers have never been to the Conference Finals since they began in the 1970-71 season.
NBA Finals appearance droughts[edit]
- Appearance droughts through the 2015 playoffs.
- a The Sacramento Kings last appeared in the 1951 NBA Finals as the Rochester Royals.
- b The Atlanta Hawks last appeared in the 1961 NBA Finals as the St. Louis Hawks.
- c The Los Angeles Clippers have never appeared in an NBA Finals since it entered the league in the 1970–71 season.
- d The Denver Nuggets have never appeared in an NBA Finals since it entered the league in the 1976–77 season.
- e The Washington Wizards last appeared in the 1979 Conference Finals and NBA Finals as the Washington Bullets.
- f Neither the original incarnation of the Charlotte Hornets, who existed from the 1988–89 season until the 2001–02 season, nor the current incarnation of the Charlotte Hornets, who have existed since the 2004–05 season, have ever appeared in an NBA Conference Finals.
- g The Minnesota Timberwolves have never appeared in an NBA Finals since it entered the league in the 1989–90 season.
- h The Memphis Grizzlies have never appeared in an NBA Finals since it entered the league in the 1995–96 season.
- i The Toronto Raptors have never appeared in an NBA Conference Finals since it entered the league in the 1995–96 season.
- j The New Orleans Pelicans have never appeared in an NBA Conference Finals since it entered the league in the 2002–03 season.
- k The Brooklyn Nets last appeared in the 2003 Conference Finals and NBA Finals as the New Jersey Nets.
NBA championship title droughts[edit]
- Win droughts up to 2014-15 season.
- a The Sacramento Kings last won an NBA championship in 1951 as the Rochester Royals.
- b The Atlanta Hawks last won an NBA championship in 1958 as the St. Louis Hawks.
- c The Phoenix Suns have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1968–69 season.
- d The Cleveland Cavaliers have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1970–71 season.
- e The Los Angeles Clippers have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1970–71 season.
- f The Utah Jazz has never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1974–75 season.
- g The Denver Nuggets have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1976–77 season.
- h The Indiana Pacers have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1976–77 season.
- i The Brooklyn Nets have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1976–77 season.
- j The Washington Wizards last won an NBA championship in 1978 as the Washington Bullets.
- k The Oklahoma City Thunder last won an NBA championship in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics.
- l The Orlando Magic have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1989–90 season.
- m The Minnesota Timberwolves have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1989–90 season.
- n Neither the original incarnation of the Charlotte Hornets, who existed from the 1988–89 season until the 2001–02 season, nor the current incarnation of the Charlotte Hornets, who have existed since the 2004–05 season, have ever won an NBA championship.
- o The Memphis Grizzlies have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1995–96 season.
- p The Toronto Raptors have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 1995–96 season.
- q The New Orleans Pelicans have never won an NBA championship since it entered the league in the 2002–03 season.
All-time droughts[edit]
Longest post-season droughts in team history[edit]
- Updated through the 2014-15 season.
^ | Denotes active streak |
Longest NBA Playoffs appearance droughts[edit]
- Appearance droughts updated through the 2014-15 season.
^ | Denotes active streak |
Streak | Team | NBA Playoffs appearance droughts |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|
15 seasons | Los Angeles Clippers[a] | 1977–1991 | [29] |
12 seasons | Golden State Warriors | 1995–2006 | [27] |
11 seasons | Minnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota Timberwolves | 2005–2015 | [5] |
10 seasons | Dallas Mavericks | 1991–2000 | [33] |
9 seasons | Utah Jazz[b] | 1975–1983 | [11] |
9 seasons | Golden State Warriors | 1978–1986 | [27] |
9 seasons | Sacramento Kings | 1987–1995 | [6] |
9 seasons | Sacramento Kings | 2007–2015 | [6] |
8 seasons | Washington Bullets | 1989–1996 | [23] |
8 seasons | Denver Nuggets | 1996–2003 | [13] |
8 seasons | Memphis Grizzlies[c] | 1996–2003 | [31] |
8 seasons | Los Angeles Clippers | 1998–2005 | [29] |
8 seasons | Atlanta Hawks | 2000–2007 | [19] |
- a Streak included Buffalo Braves 1977–78 seasons, and San Diego Clippers 1979–84 seasons.
- b Streak included New Orleans Jazz 1975–79 seasons.
- c Streak included Vancouver Grizzlies 1996–2001 seasons.
Longest Conference finals droughts[edit]
- Appearance droughts updated through the 2014-15 season. The current Conference Finals format introduced in 1971.
^ | Denotes active streak |
† | Year the team joined the NBA |
Seasons | Team | NBA Conference Finals appearance droughts |
Subsequent appearance in Conference Finals |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
45 | Los Angeles Clippers ^ [a] | 1971 † – 2015 | Active drought | [29] |
44 | Atlanta Hawks | 1971 – 2014 | 2015 | [19] |
38 | Golden State Warriors | 1977 – 2014 | 2015 | [27] |
36 | Washington Wizards ^[b] | 1980 – 2015 | Active drought | [23] |
25 | New Jersey Nets [c] | 1977 † – 2001 | 2002 | [26] |
25 | Charlotte Hornets ^ [d] | 1989 † – 2015 | Active drought | [17] |
23 | Denver Nuggets | 1986 – 2008 | 2009 | [13] |
20 | Toronto Raptors ^ | 1996 † – 2015 | Active drought | [22] |
20 | Sacramento Kings [e] | 1982 – 2001 | 2002 | [6] |
- a Streak includes seasons as Buffalo Braves and San Diego Clippers.
- b Team last qualified for the Conference Finals as Washington Bullets.
- c Current Brooklyn Nets; includes 1 season as New York Nets.
- d Franchise inactive for 2 seasons between 2002 and 2004.
- e Includes 4 seasons as Kansas City Kings.
Finals droughts[edit]
NBA Finals in which neither team had previously won a championship[edit]
In these instances, the matchup ensured that one team would win the first NBA championship in its history.
- *- In these cases, each team was making its first NBA Finals appearance.
- ^- Team had previously appeared in the National Basketball League finals before said league was merged for the NBA's formation.
- †- Defunct franchise.
NBA Finals in which neither franchise had won a championship in 20-plus seasons[edit]
Teams that had never won the NBA championship are included, even if they were less than 20 seasons old at the time.
Season | Won | Drought (seasons) | Lost | Drought (seasons) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Golden State Warriors | 39 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 44* |
2006 | Miami Heat | 17* | Dallas Mavericks | 25* |
1999 | San Antonio Spurs | 22* | New York Knicks | 25 |
1994 | Houston Rockets | 26* | New York Knicks | 20 |
1978 | Washington Bullets | 16* | Seattle SuperSonics | 10* |
1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2* | Baltimore Bullets | 9* |
1957 | Boston Celtics | 10* | St. Louis Hawks | 7* |
1955 | Syracuse Nationals | 5* | Fort Wayne Pistons | 6* |
1951 | Rochester Royals | 2* | New York Knicks | 4* |
1949* | Minneapolis Lakers | 0* | Washington Capitols | 2* |
1947 | Philadelphia Warriors | 0* | Chicago Stags | 0* |
Numbers marked with * indicates that the number is counted from either the franchise's first year in the NBA or the first year of the league (1946, then known as the BAA).
Cities awaiting their first NBA championship[edit]
This list includes cities with current NBA franchises which have never had their team(s) win an NBA championship, sorted by the number of seasons the city was represented in the NBA.
- Win droughts updated through the 2014 playoffs.
See also[edit]
- List of NBA franchise post-season streaks
- List of National Basketball Association longest losing streaks
- List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks
- List of Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise post-season droughts
- List of National Football League (NFL) franchise post-season droughts
- List of National Hockey League (NHL) franchise post-season droughts
- List of Major League Soccer (MLS) club post-season droughts
References[edit]
- General
- "Team Index". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
- Specific
- ^ "Stanley Cup Playoffs". TSN. CTV Global Media. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ "Super Bowl History". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ "Baseball-Reference Playoff and World Series Index". baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ a b "Playoff picture". NBA.com. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Minnesota Timberwolves". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Sacramento Kings". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Detroit Pistons". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Phoenix Suns". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Orlando Magic". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Philadelphia 76ers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Utah Jazz". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Los Angeles Lakers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Denver Nuggets". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "New York Knicks". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Indiana Pacers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Miami Heat". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Charlotte Bobcats". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Oklahoma City Thunder". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Atlanta Hawks". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Cleveland Cavaliers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Chicago Bulls". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Toronto Raptors". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Washington Wizards". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Milwaukee Bucks". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Boston Celtics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Brooklyn Nets". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Golden State Warriors". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Houston Rockets". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Portland Trail Blazers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Memphis Grizzlies". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "San Antonio Spurs". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dallas Mavericks". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "New Orleans Pelicans". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
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