Which NBA Teams Have Never Won a Championship?

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 28: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies, Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves battle for position in the third quarter of the game at Target Center on February 28, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Sep 23, 2024, 2:45 PM
  • Eleven NBA teams have never won a championship.
  • The SuperSonics won an NBA Finals before becoming the Thunder.
  • The Nuggets, previously included in this list, won their first title in 2023.

Theย NBA oddsย for making the playoffs are difficult enough, and winning a title can sometimes seem impossible, especially for some franchises.

The Denver Nuggets, who were previously among the 12 teams who have never won an NBA championship, won the 2023 title by beating the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, 4-1.

Following this championship run, the list is now down to 11 teams who have never lifted the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy throughout their tenure in the league.

This list only counts 11 teams and franchises in their current form. For example, the Thunder have never won a title in Oklahoma City, but the Seattle SuperSonics won the 1978-79 NBA Finals before they moved.

NBA Teams Without A Championship

  • Indiana Pacers
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Orlando Magic
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Utah Jazz
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Minnesota Timberwolves

Which Teams Have Never Appeared In the NBA Finals?

Five NBA franchises have never advanced far enough to play in the NBA Finals. They are:

  • Los Angeles Clippers (est. 1970)
  • Minnesota Timberwolves (est. 1989)
  • Charlotte Hornets (est. 1988)
  • Memphis Grizzlies (est. 1995)
  • New Orleans Pelicans (est. 2002)

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.