At the beginning of every new NBA season, there are 30 teams competing for the ultimate prize: the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
As the postseason nears, that number dwindles to 20, and following the Play-In Tournament, 16 teams are left to compete until only one remains. Over the course of the NBA's 76-year history, 19 different franchises have had their moment as the last team standing, but there are 11 others that have never experienced such glory.
With a sweep of the Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets will advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since the franchise joined the NBA. Now, their sights are set on the first championship in franchise history.
Here is a look at the franchises that have not yet reached the NBA Finals.
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Which teams have never made the NBA Finals?
After the Nuggets did away with a 46-year drought, there are just five NBA franchises that have never advanced to the NBA Finals. The Clippers, who entered the NBA as the Buffalo Braves in 1970, are the oldest franchise without a Finals appearance. They have only advanced past the second round once.
The Hornets and Pelicans are the only two NBA franchises that have not advanced past the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
| Team | First NBA season | Seasons |
| Clippers | 1970-71 | 53 |
| Timberwolves | 1989-90 | 34 |
| Hornets** | 1988-89 | 33* |
| Grizzlies | 1995-96 | 28 |
| Pelicans** | 2002-03 | 21 |
*Charlotte did not have a basketball team from 2003 to 2005, hence the lapse of two seasons.
**The Pelicans' franchise history begins in the 2002-03 season when the original Hornets franchise relocated to New Orleans. The current Charlotte franchise has ownership of the franchise history that occurred between 1988 and 2002.
How many NBA teams have never won the NBA Finals?
In addition to the five franchises that have failed to advance to the NBA Finals, there are another six franchises that have never won an NBA title.
Among franchises without an NBA championship, the Suns have made the most NBA Finals appearances with three. Phoenix lost to Boston in 1976, Chicago in 1993 and Milwaukee in 2021.
| Team | Total NBA Finals appearances | Last NBA Finals appearance |
| Suns | 3 | 2021 |
| Magic | 2 | 2009 |
| Nets | 2 | 2003 |
| Jazz | 2 | 1998 |
| Pacers | 1 | 2000 |
| Nuggets | 1 | 2023 |
| Clippers | 0 | — |
| Grizzlies | 0 | — |
| Hornets | 0 | — |
| Pelicans | 0 | — |
| Timberwolves | 0 | — |
Longest NBA Finals droughts
Because of expansion and relocation, there are a number of franchises that won titles during a different era of the NBA's 76-year history. The Hawks and Kings are two examples of franchises that made an NBA Finals appearance — and won — while in a different location.
The Kings' NBA Finals victory came in 1951 when they were known as the Rochester Royals. The Hawks won the 1958 NBA Finals while based in St. Louis.
| Rank | Team | Seasons | Last NBA Finals appearance | Won? |
| 1. | Kings | 72 | 1951 | Yes |
| 2. | Hawks | 62 | 1961 | No |
| 3. | Clippers | 53 | — | — |
| 4. | Wizards | 44 | 1979 | No |
| 5. | Timberwolves | 34 | — | — |
| 6. | Hornets | 33 | — | — |
| 7. | Trail Blazers | 31 | 1992 | No |
| 8. | Rockets | 28 | 1995 | Yes |
| Grizzlies | 28 | — | — |