Longest NBA Droughts (2026)

[Brian in Mesa]

Now that the New York Knicks have won another championship after 53 years, let's see who else hasn't won in a while - or ever.

The Sacramento Kings have the longest active and all-time NBA title drought, last winning in 1951 as the Rochester Royals, and have not captured a championship since relocating to Sacramento in 1985 (75 seasons).

Following them are the Atlanta Hawks, whose only title came in 1958 as the St. Louis Hawks, marking a 68-year drought since then.

Other notable long droughts include the Phoenix Suns (58 years, never won a title), Los Angeles Clippers (56 years, never won a title), the Utah Jazz (52 years, never won a title), the Brooklyn Nets (50 years, never won a title), the Indiana Pacers (50 years, never won a title), the Portland Trail Blazers (49 years, last title in 1977), and the Washington Wizards (48 years, last title in 1978 as the Washington Bullets).

Which streak is broken next?

 

[Chaplin]

Currently, the 3 best teams on that list are the Suns, Jazz and Blazers. Everyone else doesn't seem to me like they have much of a future. I think the Jazz probably have the best future out of us 3, with us and the Blazers kind of neck and neck.

This is an impossible question to answer though.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Trail Blazers seem to be on the right path.

I'd like to think the Suns could figure out a way to win a championship. Short term, they need to get lucky or excellent at finding the right players.

However, the cost of trading for Durant put them years behind. It's kind of like starting a basketball and spotting an opponent a 25 point lead before the game begins.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I just basically threw a dart at the list and came up with the Brooklyn Nets.

 

[95pro]

We get it, the Lakers have championships...

 

[Raindog]

The Trail Blazers seem to be on the right path.

I'd like to think the Suns could figure out a way to win a championship. Short term, they need to get lucky or excellent at finding the right players.

However, the cost of trading for Durant put them years behind. It's kind of like starting a basketball and spotting an opponent a 25 point lead before the game begins.

This +1000. The Suns are going to have get MEGA lucky to have any chance at even being a viable contender for the next five years (or likely longer).

Like literally stumbling on both the next Giannis AND Jokic somehow with their combination of occasional late first round and sparing second round picks. I hope no one is holding their breath.

 

[AZ Native]

OK Brian. I have to go with the Suns (and have since 68). It's way too late to jinx them.