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The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA championship in franchise history in 2023, and while they weren’t able to repeat this season, it does beg the question, are there any teams to have never won the NBA Finals? Well, incredibly there are 10 teams out of the current 30 franchises that have never been able to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Let’s break each of them down.
At first glance, it may seem as though the Brooklyn Nets have not yet won an NBA title simply due to not having been a team for very long. However, let’s not forget that these are simply the old New Jersey Nets. So, while Jason Kidd may now have led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, his only ring came as a player on the Mavericks as the Nets were never able to get it done. However, they’ve made the NBA Finals twice, and it was in back-to-back seasons in 2002 and 2003.
Another franchise that has seemed to bounce around is the Charlotte Hornets. Between their time in New Orleans, there being a Bobcats team and more, it’s been a rollercoaster for the Hornets. That certainly has not translated to success, as they are currently one of the biggest strugglers in the NBA and have never even reached the NBA Finals. Worse yet, they’ve never even made the Eastern Conference Finals.
Speaking of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers made it to the penultimate round in 2024. However, running into the juggernaut of the Boston Celtics did them no favors, as they were swept out of the playoffs. Because of that, Reggie Miller’s old team was unable to reach the NBA Finals, but they’ve been there once before in 2000.
While the other Los Angeles team – the Lakers – have one of the most storied franchise histories in all of sport, their crosstown rivals have not had nearly as much success. Like the Hornets, not only have the Clippers never won a Larry O’Brien Trophy, but they’ve also never been to the NBA Finals. However, the Clippers continuously boast a star-studded roster and after earning a top-four seed in the Western Conference in 2024, it could be just a matter of time before LA finally reaches the NBA Finals.
Hopes were high as ever in Memphis after drafting Ja Morant and seeing just how talented he is, but after some off-court issues and injuries, the Grizzlies took a step back in 2023-24. As a result, Memphis was unable to reach the NBA postseason in 2023-24 and is still yet to reach the NBA Finals. They have come close on occasion however and there is every chance they bounce back next season with Morant back in the lineup.
Despite some incredible superstars like Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love, the Minnesota Timberwolves have never even made the NBA Finals, let alone win a title. While that is true, they were just in the Western Conference Finals in 2024 behind the league’s best defense. With an incredibly talented 22-year-old Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, the future looks bright for the T-Wolves.
We mentioned New Orleans when we covered the Hornets, and the two franchises have another commonality. The Pelicans are the only other franchise in NBA history to have never made the conference finals. Like the Timberwolves, their fanbase still have their hopes high with a strong starting five led by Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Arguably the biggest surprise of the 2023-24 NBA season was the Orlando Magic. After several years of being among the bottom teams in the NBA, they were able to make the playoffs as a top-six seed and avoid the Play-In Tournament. However, it was a quick exit at the hands of the Cavaliers and even Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t bring the team a title. Even still, they made the NBA Finals in 1995 and 2009.
On the other end of the spectrum of the Magic in 2023-24 was the Phoenix Suns. Despite having a big three in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, the team was swept out of the playoffs in the first round. That kept them from winning their first NBA title, and the Phoenix faithful have been let down when they do get that far. The Suns have made three NBA Finals in 1976, 1993 and 2021, but have lost each one.
The final team on this list is one that many consider to have been gatekept by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s. If not for that dynasty, the dynamic duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone may not have to wonder, “what if?” Either way, the Jazz have made two NBA Finals (1997 and 1998) but have never won it all.
Mark has been a lifelong fan of all sports, and five years ago turned it into a profession, specializing in the NFL, NHL and MLB. He is a diehard Baltimore Ravens fan and has had his work published in sites such as Sports Illustrated, Pickswise and other top outlets.