Longest remaining NBA title droughts

It was a long title drought, but in the 74-year history of the NBA - 77 years if you count the BAA - there's teams who have waited longer. And are still waiting!

The Sacramento Kings returned to the playoffs this year after 17 years, but their last title was 72 years and three cities ago (four if you count their three years splitting time between Kansas City and Omaha). The Rochester Royals won it all in 1951, and the franchise never returned to the Finals as the Royals or Kings.

The Atlanta Hawks have been waiting since 1958, when the franchise was still in St. Louis. They were the only team to beat the man the Finals MVP trophy is named after, Bill Russell, in the Finals. Of course, they were also the team that traded Russell away after drafting him No. 2 overall in 1956. Perhaps that's why they haven't sniffed the Finals since, coming closest with conference finals losses in 2015 and 2021.

The Phoenix Suns have reached the NBA Finals three times in their 54 years in the NBA, and they have three Finals losses. They lost to former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in 2021, lost to former MVP Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games in 1993 and lost to former MVP Dave Cowens and the Boston Celtics in six games in 1976. Perhaps with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, they can make it back to the Finals - and lose to former MVP Joel Embiid in six games.

The last team that's been waiting more than half a century for a title is the Los Angeles Clippers, who spent their first eight years as the Buffalo Braves before moving to San Diego, and then L.A. In Buffalo, the team was essentially forced out of town by tiny Canisius College, and in Los Angeles, 33 years under disgraced former owner Donald Sterling made them a laughing stock. Under Steve Ballmer, they reached their first conference finals in 2021, but that's as far as they got.

Will Denver give hope to these long-suffering teams? Unfortunately for them, Nikola Jokic is still only 28 years old. He might be on top for a while. At least these teams are used to waiting.