Well, the NBA can tick another one off the list.
Phoenix Suns fans know the roster all too well.
It’s the one that says, “Current franchises will never win an NBA championship.”
With the Denver Nuggets beating the Miami Heat, 4-1, to win this year’s title, it’s one more team we can cross off the “never” list.
But Phoenix is staying there with the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, LA Clippers, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Phoenix stands out among these for another reason: no current NBA franchise has gone longer in its history (which, for some teams, includes time spent in previous cities) without EVER winning an NBA title than the Suns. : 54 years old, despite three previous finals. appearances (1976, 1993, 2021). The team’s first NBA season was 1968-69.
The Clippers are second at 52, but that includes the franchise’s time as the San Diego Clippers (1978-84) and Buffalo Braves (1970-78). The Kings and Hawks franchises have gone longer than the Suns and Clippers without winning one, but each franchise can technically boast of having done so a long time ago in its history while in other cities (Rochester in 1951 and St. Louis in 1958, respectively). Oklahoma City didn’t win any as the Thunder, but did when the franchise was based in Seattle as the Supersonics.
Technically the Nuggets franchise has lasted longer without any type of championship if you count the long gone ABA where the franchise was formed in 1967. But we are talking about the NBA here and the team joined the league in 1976 with several other ABAs. teams (like the Spurs, winner of several NBA titles).
The NBA is a league where one or two players can transform a team, which is why small town franchises can compete with the big ones in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. So even smaller markets like Milwaukee and Portland have had their headline times.
Phoenix, however, is no small town. It is the fifth largest city in the United States and also the largest city in the NBA not to win a title. It is a bit embarrassing. The Big Four – New York, LA (Lakers) Chicago and Houston can all boast multiple NBA titles.
Additionally, the franchises in the biggest cities after Phoenix – Philadelphia and San Antonio – also have more than one title in their history.
It’s time to join the club.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Teams without an NBA champion with the Phoenix Suns still on the list