Which NBA teams have never won a championship?

ByKeith Jenkins

Friday, March 21, 2025 2:51PM

The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are in a constant battle for the most championships in NBA history. In 2024, the Celtics won their 18th NBA title, breaking a tie with the Lakers. While the two organizations continue to duke it out at the top of the list, several teams - 10 to be exact -- are still trying to find their way on it.

In 2023, the Denver Nuggets became the latest team to join the list of all-time NBA champions, defeating the Miami Heat in the Finals and winning the franchise's first title. Here's a look at the 10 NBA teams that remain in search of their first championship, along with their number of Finals appearances.

The Nets won two ABA championships with Julius Erving leading the way but have fallen short of winning an NBA title since selling Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers at the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. The then-New Jersey Nets, led by Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, came close with back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. The Nets ran into Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers one year and Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in the other.

Like the Nets, the Pacers were one of the best franchises in the ABA, winning three championships before the 1976 merger. Also like the Nets, the Pacers ran into Shaq and the Lakers in the Finals. Reggie Miller looked primed to finally win that elusive NBA title in 2000. But Shaq, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers stopped Miller's Indiana squad in six games, winning their first of three straight championships. The Pacers haven't been back to the Finals since.