Teams That Have Never Won the NBA Finals: Updated List
Updated October 15, 2026
Updated October 15, 2026
Winning an NBA championship is the ultimate goal for every franchise, but some teams have spent decades chasing their first title. While historic franchises like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have collected numerous championships, others have never lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
As of now, 10 of the league's 30 franchises have never won an NBA championship. Some have reached the NBA Finals multiple times, while others have never advanced beyond the conference finals.
The list includes two franchises that won championships in the American Basketball Association (ABA), which operated separately from the NBA before the 1976 merger. For fans following which franchise might finally break through, we provide NBA predictions and analysis throughout the basketball season.
Here is a closer look at all 10 NBA teams that have never won a championship.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 2
The Brooklyn Nets have reached the NBA Finals twice, but both appearances came when the franchise played in New Jersey.
Led by Jason Kidd, the Nets reached consecutive NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. They were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002 before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in six games the following year.
The franchise does have championship history outside the NBA. Playing as the New York Nets, it won ABA championships in 1974 and 1976, with Julius Erving leading both teams.
Despite those accomplishments and subsequent attempts to assemble championship-caliber rosters, Brooklyn is still searching for its first NBA title.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 0
The Charlotte Hornets are among the NBA franchises that have never reached the NBA Finals. Charlotte originally entered the league in 1988, developing into a competitive team during the 1990s with players such as Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and Muggsy Bogues.
However, the Hornets have never advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The franchise's history is unusual. The original Hornets relocated to New Orleans in 2002, while Charlotte received another NBA team in 2004, initially called the Bobcats. When Charlotte reclaimed the Hornets name in 2014, the NBA assigned the original Charlotte franchise history to the current Hornets. Despite several playoff appearances across those eras, an NBA championship remains elusive.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 2
The Indiana Pacers have one of the richest basketball histories among franchises without an NBA championship. Before joining the NBA in 1976, Indiana won three ABA championships in 1970, 1972, and 1973.
Their first NBA Finals appearance came in 2000, when Reggie Miller helped lead the Pacers to the Eastern Conference championship. Indiana ultimately lost to Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers in six games.
The Pacers returned to the NBA Finals in 2025, taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games before losing the deciding contest. Indiana's ABA success and two NBA Finals appearances make it one of the more accomplished franchises still pursuing its first NBA championship.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 0
The Los Angeles Clippers have never appeared in the NBA Finals, despite a franchise history dating back to 1970. Originally founded as the Buffalo Braves, the organization subsequently moved to San Diego before settling in Los Angeles in 1984.
The franchise experienced a sustained period of success during the "Lob City" era, featuring Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. However, those teams repeatedly fell short in the playoffs.
The Clippers finally reached their first Western Conference Finals in 2021, defeating the Utah Jazz in the second round before losing to the Phoenix Suns in six games. That breakthrough remains the closest the Clippers have come to playing for an NBA championship.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 0
Founded in Vancouver in 1995, the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis in 2001 and eventually developed a reputation for physical, defensive-minded basketball. Their most successful postseason run came in 2013, when the "Grit and Grind" Grizzlies reached the Western Conference Finals.
Led by Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen, Memphis defeated the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder before being swept by the San Antonio Spurs. The franchise later enjoyed another competitive period featuring Ja Morant, winning consecutive Southwest Division titles in 2022 and 2023.
Nevertheless, Memphis has never advanced to the NBA Finals, leaving the franchise without a championship appearance.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 0
The Minnesota Timberwolves joined the NBA in 1989 and have reached the Western Conference Finals three times. Their first appearance came in 2004, when Kevin Garnett won the regular-season MVP award and guided Minnesota to the conference finals. The Timberwolves lost to the Lakers in six games.
Two decades later, Minnesota returned to the Western Conference Finals in 2024, led by Anthony Edwards. However, the Dallas Mavericks eliminated the Timberwolves in five games. Minnesota reached the same stage again in 2025, only to lose to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Despite those deep playoff runs, the Timberwolves are still searching for their first NBA Finals appearance.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 0
The New Orleans Pelicans have never reached the Western Conference Finals, making them one of the franchises with the least postseason success on this list. The organization's history began in New Orleans in 2002, when the Charlotte Hornets relocated to Louisiana. The franchise adopted the Pelicans name in 2013.
One of its best seasons came in 2007-08, when Chris Paul led the then-Hornets to 56 regular-season victories and the Western Conference semifinals. They lost to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games. Another promising postseason run occurred in 2018, when Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday helped New Orleans sweep Portland before falling to Golden State.
The Pelicans have yet to advance beyond the second round of the NBA playoffs.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 2
The Orlando Magic have reached the NBA Finals twice since entering the league in 1989. Their first appearance came in 1995, just six seasons after the franchise was established. Led by Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway, Orlando reached the Finals but was swept by Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets.
The Magic returned in 2009, this time behind Dwight Howard, who helped Orlando defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Lakers defeated Orlando in five games to claim the championship. Those two Finals appearances remain the franchise's greatest postseason achievements, with Orlando still searching for its first NBA title.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 3
Few franchises have experienced as much championship disappointment as the Phoenix Suns. Founded in 1968, Phoenix has reached the NBA Finals three times without winning a title.
The Suns made their first appearance in 1976, losing to the Boston Celtics in six games. They returned in 1993, led by MVP Charles Barkley, but Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls defeated them in another six-game series. Phoenix's third opportunity came in 2021, when Devin Booker and Chris Paul helped the team return to the Finals.
The Suns won the first two games against Milwaukee but lost four straight as Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the championship. Phoenix remains one of the most accomplished NBA franchises without a championship.
NBA Championships: 0 | NBA Finals Appearances: 2
The Utah Jazz have never won an NBA championship, despite fielding one of the league's most successful teams during the 1990s. Led by Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton, Utah reached consecutive NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.
Unfortunately for the Jazz, both appearances came against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, who defeated Utah in six games on both occasions. Those losses prevented Malone and Stockton from securing championships during their remarkable partnership.
Utah continued enjoying regular-season success in subsequent years, but the franchise has not returned to the NBA Finals since 1998. While the Bulls earned their place among the best NBA dynasties in history, the Jazz remain one of their most memorable championship victims.
The Jazz, Suns, and eight other franchises are still seeking their first NBA championship. For some, that means ending decades of frustration. For others, simply reaching the NBA Finals would represent a historic breakthrough.
