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Jun 12, 2023 · There are now 10 teams awaiting their first championship: Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Jazz, Magic, Nets, Pacers, Pelicans, Suns and Timberwolves.
3.1 NBA Finals in which neither team had previously won a championship 3.2 NBA Finals in which neither franchise had won a championship in 20-plus seasons 4 Teams awaiting their first NBA championship
- Charlotte Hornets
- Brooklyn Nets
- Indiana Pacers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Utah Jazz
- Orlando Magic
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Los Angeles Clippers
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Memphis Grizzlies
The Hornets have never been to the conference finals, haven’t won a postseason series since 2002 and have just three playoff appearances since and none since 2016. Michael Jordan’s Hornets have a ways to go to become a title contender. Best finish:They have reached the conference semifinals four times.
The Nets have taken chances to win a championship since moving to Brooklyn from New Jersey − trying first with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett about a decade ago and then recently with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden. Harden was traded last season, and Irving and Durant were traded this season. Money doesn’t always buy a title. Best finis...
The Pacers are amid an accelerated reboot with the emergence of Tyrese Haliburton, 23, and Bennedict Mathurin, 20, plus veterans Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. The mindset among ownership and the front office is to make moves that elevate the Pacers to contenders. But there’s some patience, too. Best finish:Lost to the Lakers in the 2000 Finals. Bef...
The Timberwolves have Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and capable contributors in Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson, Jaden McDaniels and Taurean Prince, and as ownership changes hands from Glen Taylor to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, there should be an infusion of spending and promises to improve. Best finish:Reached the Western...
The rebuild seems headed in the right direction post-Donovan Mitchell, but like the Magic, the Jazz are still behind too many teams in the West to make a push for a title, at least as the roster stands now. Best finish:Runner-up to the Bulls in 1997 and 1998, losing both Finals in six games.
The Magic have been close, losing in the 1995 and 2009 Finals. With Shaquille O’Neal first and later Dwight Howard, they were not ready to win a title in those seasons. There’s something to work with in Orlando (Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., Cole Anthony) but contention isn’t right around the corner. Best finish:Run...
The Thunder is a team of the future with their talent, youth and future draft picks. They won 40 regular-season games to make the play-in tournament, where they lost to the Timberwolves for the No. 8 seed. They have an MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (fifth place) and up-and-coming Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aleks...
Time is running out on this group of Clippers fronted by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George who have been sidelined too often make a big enough impact when they’re on the court together. Best finish:Lost to Phoenix in six games during the 2021 conference finals.
Wouldn’t it be intriguing to see a healthy Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram for a full season? They were 23-12 two-plus months into the season, tied for first place with Denver. They have components that might be able to contend − if healthy. Best finish:Lost twice in the conference semifinals (2008, 2018).
The Grizzlies had the fifth-best record in the league this season with one of the youngest teams led by Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. Memphis got in its own way this season, losing in the first round as the No. 2 seed to the seventh-seeded Lakers. There’s time to get it right. Best finish:Lost to San Antonio in the conference final...
- Jeff Zillgitt
- NBA Reporter
Oct 28, 2024 · The NBA is not traditionally kind to franchises trying to break into its championship club for the very first time. Before the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA title in 2019, a group of just 11 ...
- Phoenix Suns. 68 votes. Total NBA Playoffs appearances: 29. 2021 - Lost in the NBA finals. 3x NBA Finals runner-up (1976, 1993, 2021)
- Memphis Grizzlies. 63 votes. Total NBA Playoffs appearances: 11. 2020 - Lost in first round of Western Conference playoffs.
- Los Angeles Clippers. 62 votes. Total NBA Playoffs appearances: 16. 2021 - Lost in the Western Conference finals. Western Conference finals (2021)
- Brooklyn Nets. 67 votes. Total NBA Playoffs appearances: 22. 2021 - Lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals. 2x NBA Finals runner-up (2002, 2003)
The Boston Celtics have won the most championships of any NBA team. Shown are the championship banners hanging in their home arena, TD Garden. The NBA Finals is the championship series for the National Basketball Association (NBA) held at the conclusion of its postseason.
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San Antonio became the first former ABA franchise to win an NBA championship in 1999. The Nuggets waited 56 years for their first league trophy, capping the five-game series against Miami with a ...
