List of NBA franchise post-season droughts
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 (48 seasons), while the Royals/Kings and the Hawks have even longer championship droughts (65 and 58 seasons, respectively). Only seven (7) franchises have never been to the NBA Finals, the oldest of which is the Braves/Clippers franchise (45 seasons); the Kings and the Hawks have appearance droughts that are even longer (65 and 58 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 15 franchises become champions over the same period of time.[1]
Active droughts
NBA Playoffs appearance droughts
- Appearance droughts updated through May 1, 2016.
- Playoff picture at NBA.com[2]
^ | Longest drought in team history |
† | Tied for longest drought in team history |
NBA Playoffs series win droughts
- Through May 1, 2016.
- Playoff picture at NBA.com[2]
^ | 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 |
[a] Charlotte was inactive for 2 years following the 2001–02 season.
NBA Division Championship droughts
Updated through April 6, 2016.
^ | Longest drought in team history |
† | Tied for Longest drought in team history |
♦ | 2015-16 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
^ | Longest drought in team history |
† | Tied for longest drought in team history |
Seasons | Team | Last appearance in Conference Finals |
Result | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
46 | Los Angeles Clippers ^ | Never | — | [24] |
37 | Washington Wizards ^[e] | 1979 | Won vs. San Antonio | [15] |
26 | Charlotte Hornets ^ | Never | — | [17] |
21 | Toronto Raptors ^ | Never | — | [28] |
16 | Portland Trail Blazers ^ | 2000 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [32] |
16 | New York Knicks | 2000 | Lost vs. Indiana | [11] |
15 | Milwaukee Bucks ^ | 2001 | Lost vs. Philadelphia | [13] |
15 | Philadelphia 76ers † | 2001 | Won vs. Milwaukee | [6] |
14 | Sacramento Kings | 2002 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [4] |
14 | New Orleans Pelicans ^ | Never | — | [14] |
13 | Brooklyn Nets [k] | 2003 | Won vs. Detroit | [12] |
12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2004 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [3] |
9 | Utah Jazz | 2007 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [8] |
8 | Detroit Pistons | 2008 | Lost vs. Boston | [20] |
9 | Denver Nuggets | 2009 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [10] |
6 | Orlando Magic | 2010 | Lost vs. Boston | [7] |
6 | Phoenix Suns | 2010 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [5] |
6 | Los Angeles Lakers † | 2010 | Won vs. Phoenix | [9] |
5 | Chicago Bulls | 2011 | Lost vs. Miami | [16] |
5 | Dallas Mavericks | 2011 | Won vs. Oklahoma City | [22] |
4 | Boston Celtics | 2012 | Lost vs. Miami | [18] |
3 | Memphis Grizzlies | 2013 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [21] |
2 | Miami Heat | 2014 | Won vs. Indiana | [27] |
2 | Indiana Pacers | 2014 | Lost vs. Miami | [19] |
2 | San Antonio Spurs | 2014 | Won vs. Oklahoma City | [30] |
2 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2014 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [31] |
— | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2015 | Won vs. Atlanta | [25] |
— | Atlanta Hawks | 2015 | Lost vs. Cleveland | [26] |
1 | Houston Rockets | 2015 | Lost vs. Golden State | [23] |
— | Golden State Warriors | 2015 | Won vs. Houston | [29] |
2016 Conference Finalists | ||||
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (4) Atlanta Hawks |
||||
(3) Miami Heat vs (2) Toronto Raptors |
||||
(1) Golden State vs (5) Portland Trail Blazers |
||||
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs (3) Oklahoma City Thunder |
NBA Finals appearance droughts
Seasons | Team | Last appearance in NBA Finals |
Result | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
65 | Sacramento Kings[a] | 1951 | Won vs. New York | [4] |
55 | Atlanta Hawks[b] | 1961 | Lost vs. Boston | [26] |
46 | Los Angeles Clippers | Never | — | [24] |
42 | Milwaukee Bucks | 1974 | Lost vs. Boston | [13] |
40 | Denver Nuggets | Never | — | [10] |
37 | Washington Wizards[c] | 1979 | Lost vs. Seattle | [15] |
27 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Never | — | [3] |
26 | Charlotte Hornets | Never | — | [17] |
24 | Portland Trail Blazers | 1992 | Lost vs. Chicago | [32] |
23 | Phoenix Suns | 1993 | Lost vs. Chicago | [5] |
21 | Toronto Raptors | Never | — | [28] |
21 | Houston Rockets | 1995 | Won vs. Orlando | [23] |
21 | Memphis Grizzlies | Never | — | [21] |
18 | Utah Jazz | 1998 | Lost vs. Chicago | [8] |
18 | Chicago Bulls | 1998 | Won vs. Utah | [16] |
17 | New York Knicks | 1999 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [11] |
16 | Indiana Pacers | 2000 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [19] |
15 | Philadelphia 76ers | 2001 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [6] |
14 | New Orleans Pelicans | Never | — | [14] |
13 | Brooklyn Nets[d] | 2003 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [12] |
11 | Detroit Pistons | 2005 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [20] |
7 | Orlando Magic | 2009 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [7] |
6 | Boston Celtics | 2010 | Lost vs. Los Angeles Lakers | [18] |
6 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2010 | Won vs. Boston | [9] |
5 | Dallas Mavericks | 2011 | Won vs. Miami | [22] |
4 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2012 | Lost vs. Miami | [31] |
2 | Miami Heat | 2014 | Lost vs. San Antonio | [27] |
2 | San Antonio Spurs | 2014 | Won vs. Miami | [30] |
2015 Finalists | ||||
— | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2015 | Lost vs. Golden State | [25] |
— | Golden State Warriors | 2015 | Won vs. Cleveland | [29] |
- 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 Washington Wizards last appeared in the 1979 Conference Finals and NBA Finals as the Washington Bullets.
- d The Brooklyn Nets last appeared in the 2003 Conference Finals and NBA Finals as the New Jersey Nets.
NBA championship title droughts
Seasons | Team | Last NBA championship | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
65 | Sacramento Kings[a] | 1951 | [4] |
58 | Atlanta Hawks[b] | 1958 | [26] |
48 | Phoenix Suns | Never | [5] |
46 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Never | [25] |
46 | Los Angeles Clippers | Never | [24] |
45 | Milwaukee Bucks | 1971 | [13] |
43 | New York Knicks | 1973 | [11] |
42 | Utah Jazz | Never | [8] |
40 | Denver Nuggets | Never | [10] |
40 | Brooklyn Nets | Never | [12] |
40 | Indiana Pacers | Never | [19] |
39 | Portland Trail Blazers | 1977 | [32] |
38 | Washington Wizards[c] | 1978 | [15] |
37 | Oklahoma City Thunder[d] | 1979 | [31] |
33 | Philadelphia 76ers | 1983 | [6] |
27 | Orlando Magic | Never | [7] |
27 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Never | [3] |
26 | Charlotte Hornets | Never | [17] |
21 | Houston Rockets | 1995 | [23] |
21 | Memphis Grizzlies | Never | [21] |
21 | Toronto Raptors | Never | [28] |
18 | Chicago Bulls | 1998 | [16] |
14 | New Orleans Pelicans | Never | [14] |
12 | Detroit Pistons | 2004 | [20] |
8 | Boston Celtics | 2008 | [18] |
6 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2010 | [9] |
5 | Dallas Mavericks | 2011 | [22] |
3 | Miami Heat | 2013 | [27] |
2 | San Antonio Spurs | 2014 | [30] |
Defending | NBA champion | ||
— | Golden State Warriors | 2015 | [29] |
- 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 Washington Wizards last won an NBA championship in 1978 as the Washington Bullets.
- d The Oklahoma City Thunder last won an NBA championship in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics.
All-time droughts
Longest post-season droughts in team history
Updated through the 2016 playoffs.
^ | Denotes active streak |
Longest NBA Playoffs appearance droughts
- Appearance droughts updated through the 2015–16 NBA season.
^ | Denotes active streak |
Streak | Team | NBA Playoffs appearance droughts |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|
15 seasons | Los Angeles Clippers[a] | 1977–1991 | [24] |
12 seasons | Golden State Warriors | 1995–2006 | [29] |
12 seasons | Minnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota Timberwolves ^ | 2005–2016 | [3] |
10 seasons | Dallas Mavericks | 1991–2000 | [22] |
10 seasons | Sacramento Kings ^ | 2007–2016 | [4] |
9 seasons | Utah Jazz[b] | 1975–1983 | [8] |
9 seasons | Golden State Warriors | 1978–1986 | [29] |
9 seasons | Sacramento Kings | 1987–1995 | [4] |
8 seasons | Washington Bullets | 1989–1996 | [15] |
8 seasons | Denver Nuggets | 1996–2003 | [10] |
8 seasons | Memphis Grizzlies[c] | 1996–2003 | [21] |
8 seasons | Los Angeles Clippers | 1998–2005 | [24] |
8 seasons | Atlanta Hawks | 2000–2007 | [26] |
- 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
- 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 |
Team is currently in the 2016 playoffs. |
Seasons | Team | NBA Conference Finals appearance droughts |
Subsequent appearance in Conference Finals |
Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
46 | Los Angeles Clippers ^ [a] | 1971 † – 2016 | Active drought | [24] |
44 | Atlanta Hawks | 1971 – 2014 | 2015 | [26] |
38 | Golden State Warriors | 1977 – 2014 | 2015 | [29] |
37 | Washington Wizards ^[b] | 1980 – 2016 | Active drought | [15] |
26 | Charlotte Hornets ^ [d] | 1989 † – 2016 | Active drought | [17] |
25 | New Jersey Nets [c] | 1977 † – 2001 | 2002 | [12] |
23 | Denver Nuggets | 1986 – 2008 | 2009 | [10] |
20 | Toronto Raptors ^ | 1996 † – 2015 | Active drought | [28] |
20 | Sacramento Kings [e] | 1982 – 2001 | 2002 | [4] |
- 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 two seasons between 2002 and 2004.
- e Includes 4 seasons as Kansas City Kings.
Finals droughts
NBA Finals in which neither team had previously won a championship
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.
- Abbreviation in parentheses - Current location of NBA franchise.
NBA Finals in which neither franchise had won a championship in 20-plus seasons
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
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.
See also
- 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
- General
- "Team Index". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
- Specific
- ↑ Major League Baseball has 18 different franchises that have won championships and have droughts of less than 32 years; the National Football League has 16 such franchises, and the National Hockey League has 15 such franchises.
- 1 2 "Playoff picture". NBA.com. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Minnesota Timberwolves". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Sacramento Kings". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Phoenix Suns". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Philadelphia 76ers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Orlando Magic". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Utah Jazz". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Los Angeles Lakers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Denver Nuggets". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "New York Knicks". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Brooklyn Nets". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Milwaukee Bucks". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "New Orleans Pelicans". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Washington Wizards". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Chicago Bulls". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Charlotte Hornets". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Boston Celtics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Indiana Pacers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Detroit Pistons". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Memphis Grizzlies". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dallas Mavericks". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Houston Rockets". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Cleveland Cavaliers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Atlanta Hawks". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Miami Heat". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Toronto Raptors". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Golden State Warriors". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "San Antonio Spurs". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "Oklahoma City Thunder". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Portland Trail Blazers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
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