Which NBA Teams Have Never Won a Championship?

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)
  • Ten NBA teams have never won a championship.
  • The Nuggets, previously included in this list, won their first title in 2023.
  • The Thunder won their first post-Seattle title in 2025.

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

The Oklahoma City Thunder defied the league’s gravity, methodically building a contender with excellent scouting and capital management. They removed their name from the list of 11 teams that have never won an NBA championship in 2025.

The Denver Nuggets similarly removed themselves in 2023. Now, both the Nuggets and the Thunder are near the top of the NBA championship odds market for 2026.ย 

Meanwhile, the list of current teams who have never lifted the Larry Oโ€™Brien Championship Trophy is down to 10 names.

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
  • 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.