NBA history may be written by victors, but there have been plenty of lovable losers over the course of the league's lengthy existence.
It pays to win on the hardwood. Victories translate to heightened television visibility, lengthier campaigns, and more endorsement deals. Simply put, winning games is the currency by which the league operates on.
And yet, not every side has been able to compete for the NBA's grandest trophy, let alone win it.
There are more than a handful of sides seeking their first NBA title. Will they be able to conquer their demons and make their mark atop the gleaming wood surface? Only time will tell.
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With that, here's what you need to know regarding the talented 10 sides who are yet to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
NBA teams that have never won a championship
Ten teams have fallen short of basketball's grandest prize: Nets, Hornets, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Magic, Suns, and Jazz.
Those tortured 10 teams have collected 11 NBA Finals appearances between them. The Pacers are the most recent side to compete in the spectacle, doing so in 2025.
Still, all 10 are yearning for a grasp of that glint gold Larry O'Brien Trophy that goes to the ultimate champion at the end of every season.
| Team | Finals appearances | Last Finals appearance |
| Phoenix Suns | 3 | 2021 |
| Utah Jazz | 2 | 1998 |
| Orlando Magic | 2 | 2009 |
| Indiana Pacers | 2 | 2025 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 2 | 2003 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 0 | N/A |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 0 | N/A |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 0 | N/A |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 0 | N/A |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 0 | N/A |
NBA teams to never play in an NBA Finals
Of the 10 teams to fall short of title contention, just five have failed to make an NBA Finals appearance: the Hornets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, and Pelicans.
New Orleans, Memphis, Minnesota, and Charlotte represent fairly young sides, having been established in 2002, 1995, 1989, and 1988, respectively. Things have lasted much longer for the Clippers, who have gone more than 50 years without appearing on basketball's grandest stage.
Los Angeles' streak spans across the franchise's time in both Buffalo and San Diego. The Clips have just one Western Conference Finals appearance to their name, falling to the Suns in six games back in 2021.
Most NBA Finals appearances without a win
The Suns have made the most NBA Finals without securing the glistening gemstone, appearing in three such contests — in 1976, 1993, and 2021.
Each of Phoenix's NBA Finals losses have come in six-game sets. In 1976, the side — led by Rookie of the Year Alvan Adams — saw its title hopes go up in smoke at the hands of the Celtics.
The Suns' 1993 looked a handful, posting a league-best 62-20 record. Charles Barkley captured MVP honors while Phoenix blitzed past its first three Western Conference foes. The Suns were dealt a cruel hand in the championship series, jousting with the Bulls and their talisman, Michael Jordan. Suffice to say, Phoenix was defeated, falling 4-2 as Jordan and Chicago landed their second-straight championship.
Phoenix's most recent appearance in the Finals came in 2021. Devin Booker and Chris Paul spearheaded a versatile Suns bunch who scored momentous series wins over the Lakers (4-2), Nuggets (4-0), and Clippers (4-2). That set up a duel with the Bucks.
Phoenix opened up a 2-0 lead over its adversaries, but it was unable to quell Giannis Antetokounmpo's might, dropping four straight to fall short of the finish line.
Oldest NBA team without a championship
The Clippers are the oldest side still without a title, having gone 55 years without a title win. Established in 1970, Los Angeles hasn't finished all that close to hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. They haven't appeared in a Finals yet and only have a single Western Conference Finals showing to their name — a 4-2 defeat to the Suns in 2021.
NBA championship wins by team
| Team | Championships | Finals appearances | Years won |
| Celtics | 18 | 23 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024 |
| Lakers | 17 | 32 | 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020 |
| Warriors | 7 | 12 | 1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 |
| Bulls | 6 | 6 | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| Spurs | 5 | 6 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 |
| 76ers | 3 | 9 | 1955, 1967, 1983 |
| Pistons | 3 | 7 | 1989, 1990, 2004 |
| Heat | 3 | 7 | 2006, 2012, 2013 |
| Rockets | 2 | 4 | 1994, 1995 |
| Knicks | 2 | 8 | 1970, 1973 |
| Bucks | 2 | 3 | 1971, 2021 |
| Raptors | 1 | 1 | 2019 |
| Nuggets | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cavaliers | 1 | 5 | 2016 |
| Mavericks | 1 | 3 | 2011 |
| Thunder | 1 | 3 | 1979 |
| Trail Blazers | 1 | 2 | 1977 |
| Kings | 1 | 1 | 1951 |
| Wizards | 1 | 2 | 1978 |
| Hawks | 1 | 1 | 1958 |