This is a list of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise post-season appearance droughts. This list includes the all-time and the active consecutive non-playoffs. Aside from the NBA playoff appearance droughts, this list also includes droughts of series wins, appearances in the NBA Finals and NBA championship wins. The oldest franchise to never win the championship is the Suns (54 seasons), while the Royals/Kings and the Hawks have even longer championship droughts (71 and 64 seasons, respectively). Five franchises have never been to the NBA Finals, tied with the National Hockey League for the highest number among the major North American sports. The oldest such team is the Braves/Clippers franchise (52 seasons); the Kings and the Hawks have appearance droughts that are even longer (71 and 61 seasons, respectively). The longest a franchise has gone without appearing in the playoffs at all is 16 seasons: the Kings franchise from 2006 to 2023.
Of the 20 franchises that have won an NBA championship, 5 have droughts of 41 seasons or more, which is to say that the past 40 championships have been shared among only 15 franchises: the Lakers (8), Bulls (6), Spurs (5), Warriors (4), Pistons (3), Celtics (3), Heat (3), Rockets (2), Mavericks (1), Cavaliers (1), Raptors (1), Bucks (1), Nuggets (1), Thunder (1), and Knicks (1). By contrast, the other three major North American sports have each had at least 18 franchises become champions over the same period of time.Major League Baseball has 22 different franchises that have won championships and have droughts of less than 38 years; the National Football League has 18 such franchises, and the National Hockey League has 18 such franchises.
Active droughts
NBA Playoffs appearance droughts Appearance droughts updated through May 30, 2026. Playoff picture at NBA.com. Play-in games do not count as a playoff game or series.
^ Longest drought in team history† Tied for longest drought in team history
SeasonsTeamLast appearancein NBA playoffsReference10Charlotte Hornets ^2016 First Round5Washington Wizards2021 First Round4Chicago Bulls2022 First Round4Utah Jazz2022 First Round3Brooklyn Nets2023 First Round3Sacramento Kings2023 First Round2New Orleans Pelicans2024 First Round2Dallas Mavericks2024 NBA Finals1Milwaukee Bucks2025 First Round1Miami Heat2025 First Round1Los Angeles Clippers 2025 First Round1Golden State Warriors2025 Conference Semifinals1Memphis Grizzlies2025 First Round1Indiana Pacers2025 NBA Finals 2026 Playoff teamsBoston Celtics2026 First RoundToronto Raptors2026 First RoundAtlanta Hawks2026 First RoundOrlando Magic2026 First RoundDenver Nuggets2026 First RoundHouston Rockets2026 First RoundPortland Trail Blazers2026 First RoundPhoenix Suns2026 First RoundMinnesota Timberwolves2026 Conference SemifinalsLos Angeles Lakers2026 Conference SemifinalsPhiladelphia 76ers2026 Conference SemifinalsDetroit Pistons2026 Conference SemifinalsOklahoma City Thunder2026 Conference FinalsCleveland Cavaliers2026 Conference FinalsNew York Knicks2026 NBA FinalsSan Antonio Spurs 2026 NBA Finals
NBA Playoffs series win droughts Droughts updated through May 30, 2026. Playoff picture at NBA.com
^Longest drought in team history♦Most consecutive series losses in team history
+ Current Playoff series loss streak Seasonssince winTeamLast series winin NBA Playoffs LosingstreakSeries losses – teamsRef Charlotte Hornets ^2002 Eastern First Round 4 ♦ 2002 New Jersey2010 Orlando2014 Miami2016 Miami Sacramento Kings ^2004 Western First Round4 2004 Minnesota2005 Seattle2006 San Antonio 2023 Golden State Orlando Magic ^2010 Eastern Semifinals8 ♦ 2010 Boston2011 Atlanta2012 Indiana2019 Toronto 2020 Milwaukee 2024 Cleveland2025 Boston2026 Detroit Chicago Bulls ^2015 Eastern First Round3 2015 Cleveland2017 Boston2022 Milwaukee Washington Wizards2017 Eastern First Round32017 Boston2018 Toronto2021 Philadelphia New Orleans Pelicans 2018 Western First Round32018 Golden State2022 Phoenix2024 Oklahoma City Portland Trail Blazers 2019 Western Semifinals4 2019 Golden State2020 L. A. Lakers2021 Denver2026 San Antonio Toronto Raptors 2020 Eastern First Round3 2020 Boston2022 Philadelphia2026 Cleveland Houston Rockets2020 Western First Round3 2020 L. A. Lakers2025 Golden State2026 L. A. Lakers Utah Jazz2021 Western First Round22021 L. A. Clippers2022 Dallas Brooklyn Nets2021 Eastern First Round32021 Milwaukee2022 Boston2023 Philadelphia Los Angeles Clippers2021 Western Semifinals42021 Phoenix2023 Phoenix2024 Dallas2025 Denver Atlanta Hawks2021 Eastern Semifinals42021 Milwaukee2022 Miami2023 Boston2026 New York Milwaukee Bucks2022 Eastern First Round42022 Boston2023 Miami2024 Indiana2025 Indiana Memphis Grizzlies2022 Western First Round32022 Golden State2023 L. A. Lakers2025 Oklahoma City Phoenix Suns2023 Western First Round32023 Denver2024 Minnesota2026 Oklahoma City Miami Heat2023 Eastern Conference Finals32023 Denver2024 Boston2025 Cleveland Dallas Mavericks2024 Western Conference Finals12024 Boston Golden State Warriors2025 Western First Round1 2025 Minnesota Boston Celtics2025 Eastern First Round2 2025 New York2026 Philadelphia Denver Nuggets2025 Western First Round2 2025 Oklahoma City2026 Minnesota Indiana Pacers 2025 Eastern Conference Finals1 2025 Oklahoma Cityz 30002026 Playoff Series 0 Winners 30003000 Minnesota Timberwolves2026 Western First Round02026 San Antonio Los Angeles Lakers2026 Western First Round02026 Oklahoma City Philadelphia 76ers2026 Eastern First Round02026 New York Detroit Pistons2026 Eastern First Round02026 Cleveland Cleveland Cavaliers2026 Eastern Semifinals02026 New York Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 Western Semifinals02026 San Antonio New York Knicks2026 Eastern Conference Finals03-series win streak San Antonio Spurs2026 Western Conference Finals03-series win streak
Includes 10 seasons as the Charlotte Bobcats. Charlotte was also inactive for two years following the season.
NBA Conference Finals appearance droughts
^ Longest drought in team history
SeasonsTeamLast appearancein Conference FinalsResultReference Washington Wizards ^1979Won vs. San Antonio Charlotte Hornets ^0Never (enfranchised 1988) Philadelphia 76ers ^2001Won vs. MilwaukeeSacramento Kings2002Lost vs. L.A. Lakers New Orleans Pelicans ^0Never (enfranchised 2002) Brooklyn Nets 2003Won vs. Detroit Utah Jazz2007Lost vs. San Antonio Detroit Pistons2008Lost vs. Boston Orlando Magic2010Lost vs. Boston Chicago Bulls2011Lost vs. Miami Memphis Grizzlies2013Lost vs. San Antonio Houston Rockets 2018Lost vs. Golden State Toronto Raptors2019Won vs. Milwaukee Portland Trail Blazers 2019Lost vs. Golden State Phoenix Suns2021Won vs. L.A. Clippers Los Angeles Clippers2021Lost vs. Phoenix Milwaukee Bucks 2021Won vs. Atlanta Atlanta Hawks2021Lost vs. Milwaukee Golden State Warriors 2022Won vs. Dallas Denver Nuggets2023Won vs. L.A. Lakers Los Angeles Lakers2023Lost vs. Denver Miami Heat2023Won vs. BostonBoston Celtics2024Won vs. IndianaDallas Mavericks2024Won vs. MinnesotaIndiana Pacers2025Won vs. New YorkMinnesota Timberwolves2025Lost vs. Oklahoma City.85 Z2026 Conference Finalists 2019.5 zzz New York Knicks2026Won vs. Cleveland Oklahoma City Thunder2026Lost vs. San Antonio San Antonio Spurs2026Won vs. Oklahoma City Cleveland Cavaliers2026Lost vs. New York
NBA Finals appearance droughts
SeasonsTeamLast appearancein NBA FinalsResultReferenceSacramento Kings1951Won vs. New YorkAtlanta Hawks1961Lost vs. BostonLos Angeles Clippers0Never (enfranchised 1970)Washington Wizards1979Lost vs. SeattleCharlotte Hornets0Never (enfranchised 1988)Minnesota Timberwolves0Never (enfranchised 1989)Portland Trail Blazers1992Lost vs. ChicagoHouston Rockets1995Won vs. OrlandoMemphis Grizzlies0Never (enfranchised 1995)Utah Jazz1998Lost vs. ChicagoChicago Bulls1998Won vs. UtahPhiladelphia 76ers2001Lost vs. L. A. LakersNew Orleans Pelicans0Never (enfranchised 2002)Brooklyn Nets2003Lost vs. San AntonioDetroit Pistons2005Lost vs. San AntonioOrlando Magic2009Lost vs. L. A. LakersCleveland Cavaliers2018Lost vs. Golden StateToronto Raptors2019Won vs. Golden StateLos Angeles Lakers2020Won vs. MiamiMilwaukee Bucks2021Won vs. PhoenixPhoenix Suns2021Lost vs. MilwaukeeGolden State Warriors2022Won vs. BostonDenver Nuggets02023Won vs. MiamiMiami Heat02023Lost vs. DenverDallas Mavericks2024 Lost vs. BostonBoston Celtics2024 Won vs. DallasOklahoma City Thunder2025Won vs. IndianaIndiana Pacers2025Lost vs. Oklahoma City0 Z2026 Finalists 2018.5 zzz New York Knicks2026Won vs. San AntonioSan Antonio Spurs2026Lost vs. New York
The Sacramento Kings last appeared in the 1951 NBA Finals as the Rochester Royals. Predates NBA-ABA merger. The Atlanta Hawks last appeared in the 1961 NBA Finals as the St. Louis Hawks. Predates NBA-ABA merger. The Washington Wizards last appeared in the 1979 Conference Finals and NBA Finals as the Washington Bullets. The Brooklyn Nets last appeared in the 2003 Conference Finals and NBA Finals as the New Jersey Nets.
NBA championship title droughts
SeasonsTeamLast NBA championshipReference Walter A. Brown Trophy Sacramento Kings1951Atlanta Hawks1958Phoenix Suns0Never (enfranchised 1968)Los Angeles Clippers0Never (enfranchised 1970)Utah Jazz0Never (enfranchised 1974)Brooklyn Nets0Never (joined NBA in 1976)Indiana Pacers0Never (joined NBA in 1976)Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy Portland Trail Blazers1977Washington Wizards1978Philadelphia 76ers1983Orlando Magic0Never (enfranchised 1989)Minnesota Timberwolves0Never (enfranchised 1989)Charlotte Hornets0Never (enfranchised 1988) Houston Rockets1995Memphis Grizzlies0Never (enfranchised 1995)Chicago Bulls1998New Orleans Pelicans0Never (enfranchised 2002)Detroit Pistons2004Dallas Mavericks2011Miami Heat2013San Antonio Spurs2014Cleveland Cavaliers2016 Toronto Raptors2019Los Angeles Lakers2020Milwaukee Bucks2021Golden State Warriors2022Denver Nuggets2023Boston Celtics02024Oklahoma City Thunder2025New York Knicks02026
The Sacramento Kings last won an NBA championship in 1951 as the Rochester Royals. The Atlanta Hawks last won an NBA championship in 1958 as the St. Louis Hawks. Predates the NBA-ABA merger. The Washington Wizards last won an NBA championship in 1978 as the Washington Bullets.
All-time droughts
NBA championship droughts
TeamSeasonsLast titleDroughtNext titleSacramento Kings74–presentAtlanta Hawks67–presentPhoenix Suns57–presentLos Angeles Clippers55–presentNew York Knicks52–Utah Jazz51–presentBrooklyn Nets49–presentMilwaukee Bucks49–Indiana Pacers48–presentPortland Trail Blazers48–presentWashington Wizards47–presentDenver Nuggets46–Cleveland Cavaliers45–Oklahoma City Thunder45–Philadelphia 76ers42–presentDetroit Pistons40–Golden State Warriors39–Charlotte Hornets37–presentMinnesota Timberwolves36–presentOrlando Magic35–presentMemphis Grizzlies30–presentDallas Mavericks30–
Closest approaches without winning
Updated through the 2025 NBA Finals.
+Last team to leave list – Denver Nuggets 2023 Team Conference Quarter-Final appearances Conference Semi-Final appearances Conference Final appearances NBA Final appearances Fewest wins short of NBA Championship Indiana Pacers 29 12 10 2 01 win short : 2025 Phoenix Suns 33 21 10 3 02 wins short : 1976, 1993, 2021 Utah Jazz 31 17 6 2 02 wins short : 1997, 1998 Brooklyn Nets 24 8 2 2 02 wins short : 2003 Orlando Magic 18 5 4 2 03 wins short : 2009 Los Angeles Clippers 19 9 1 6 wins short : 2021 Minnesota Timberwolves 13 3 3 06 wins short : 2004 Memphis Grizzlies 14 4 1 08 wins short : 2013 New Orleans Pelicans 9 2 9 wins short : 2008 Charlotte Hornets 10 4 9 wins short : 2001
Longest post-season droughts in team history
Updated through the 2025–26 season. ^Denotes active drought