{"id":488,"date":"2024-02-11T15:46:33","date_gmt":"2024-02-11T15:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/?p=488"},"modified":"2025-10-13T17:24:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:24:16","slug":"top-5-nba-teams-that-never-won-a-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/2024\/02\/top-5-nba-teams-that-never-won-a-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 NBA Teams That Never Won a Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on October 13, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NBA\u2019s inaugural season was 1946-1947<\/a>. To give a little historical context to that, Harry Truman was the President, Elvis was years away from offending anyone, and the price of gas was roughly 21 cents a gallon. Every year since, the NBA has crowned a champion, even in the pandemic-created bubble season of 2020. Famous dynasties like the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and most recently the Golden State Warriors are widely known by even casual basketball fans. For argument\u2019s sake, you can include the Bad Boys Detroit Pistons, Clutch City Houston Rockets, Pop\u2019s San Antonio Spurs, and the Three-headed Monster Miami Heat teams in the dynasty conversation as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about those teams with stellar, in one case historic, regular seasons that never won an NBA championship? Understandably, they don\u2019t get the same recognition and historical appreciation as champions, but that shouldn\u2019t diminish the fact that those teams had spectacular seasons. In no particular order, here are five of the best NBA teams that never won a championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t
\n\t\n\n\n\n\t
\n\t\t\"2016\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

via Sports Logos.net<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t

About logos<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t \n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

\n \n 2015-16<\/a><\/span>\n Golden State Warriors<\/span>\n \n Roster and Stats<\/span>\n <\/h2>\n \n\n\n
\n \n
Previous Season<\/div><\/a>\n \n \n
Next Season<\/div><\/a>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n Record:<\/strong>\n \n 73-9, Finished 1st in NBA<\/a> \n Western Conference \n \n \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n

Coach:<\/strong> Steve Kerr<\/a> (73-9)
\n\n(Luke Walton<\/a> served as interim \nhead coach from Oct 27, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016 while Steve Kerr \nrecovered from back surgery. He led Golden State to a 39-4 start)<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Executive:<\/strong> Bob Myers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n

\n PTS\/G:<\/strong> \n 114.9 (1st of 30)\n Opp PTS\/G:<\/strong> \n 104.1 (19th of 30)\n <\/p>\n

\n \n SRS<\/a><\/strong>: 10.38 (1st of 30)\n \n Pace<\/a><\/strong>: 99.3 (2nd of 30)\n <\/p>\n

\n Off Rtg<\/a><\/strong>: 114.5 (1st of 30)\n Def Rtg<\/a><\/strong>: 103.8 (5th of 30)\n Net Rtg<\/strong>: +10.7 (2nd of 30)\n <\/p>\n

\n Expected W-L<\/a><\/strong>: 65-17 (2nd of 30)\n <\/p>\n \n\n\n

\n Preseason Odds:<\/strong>\n Championship +480<\/a>, Over-Under \n 59.5\n <\/a>\n \n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \n Arena:<\/strong> \n Oracle Arena\n \n\n \n Attendance:<\/strong>\n 803,436 (7th of 30)\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n

NBA 2016 Playoffs<\/a>:<\/strong><\/span>\n
Won NBA Western Conference First Round (4-1) versus Houston Rockets<\/a>\n (Series Stats<\/a>)
Won NBA Western Conference Semifinals (4-1) versus Portland Trail Blazers<\/a>\n (Series Stats<\/a>)
Won NBA Western Conference Finals (4-3) versus Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>\n (Series Stats<\/a>)
Lost NBA Finals (3-4) versus Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>\n (Series Stats<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t\n