Teams that never made it to the NBA Finals

These six teams have never seen the stage of the NBA Finals. Many of them have endured a long postseason drought or have never been lucky enough to land an All-Star that would lead to a deepening playoff run.

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The Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans never even made it to the conference finals. Some of the worst playoff games in recent times have come from the Los Angeles Clippers, who have stars but never make it to the penultimate period of the game.

Los Angeles Clippers (Joined the NBA as the Buffalo Braves in 1970, wNBA Finals: 0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte Hornets (Joined the NBA in 2004, NBA Finals: 0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Orleans Pelicans (Joined the NBA in 2003, NBA Finals: 0)

 

The Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets all saw the Western Conference finals, but unfortunately they could never get past that level. In 2004, defending MVP Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals, but they lost to the “Kobe Shaq” Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

 

Memphis Grizzlies (Joined the NBA in 1995, NBA Finals: 0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minnesota Timberwolves (Joined the NBA in 1990, NBA Finals: 0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denver Nuggets (Joined the NBA in 1976, NBA Finals: 0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc Gasol and Mike Conley led the Memphis Grizzlies to the Western Conference finals in 2013, only to be swept by Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs.

However, the Denver Nuggets have made it to the Western Conference finals multiple times. The most recent one happened last season. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray lead the team to two straight 3-1 comebacks in the 2020 NBA playoffs. They reached the Western Conference finals with Carmelo Anthony in 2009 and Alex English and Fat Lever in 1985. In fact, the Nuggets had seen the Finals, but before their time with the ABA (before the merger).