After 108 years without a championship, the Chicago Cubs finally won a World Series, breaking the longest championship drought in American sports history. Professional Basketball has only been around since 1946, so while no NBA can match the 108 year drought of the Cubs, there are several teams with prolonged title droughts.
With the Cubs getting the monkey (or goat in this case) off their back, let’s take a look at which NBA franchises have gone the longest without reaching the promised land.
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Source: Riot Games
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9.) Portland Trailblazers (39 years)
A shaggy haired Bill Walton led the team to the title in 1977. Portland has a superstar in Damian Lillard, but still seem far away from a title in the vaunted Western Conference. (Source: Twitter)
8.) Denver Nuggets/Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets/Indiana Pacers (40 years)
Each of these teams who came from the ABA in 1976 are without a title. The Spurs are the exception with 5. (Source: Twitter)
7.) Utah Jazz (42 years)
Karl Malone and John Stockton came close but were twice denied by Michael Jordan and the Bulls. The Jazz do not have a championship. (Source: Twitter)
5.) Milwaukee Bucks (45 years)
Two NBA legends, Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (formerly Lew Alcindor) led the Bucks to a title back in 1971 in dominant fashion. (Source: Twitter)
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Source: EsportsHeaven
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Source: Riot Games Forums
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Source: Riot Games
1.) Rochester Royals/Sacramento Kings (65 years)
The franchise won a title in 1951 as the Rochester Royals. The Kings knocked on the door in 2002 but lost a controversial series to the eventual champion Lakers. (Source: Twitter)
Out of all of these franchises, the Los Angeles Clippers seem to be the only one of the group with a real shot to end their drought this season, but even they are not expected to do so. The Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trailblazers, and Oklahoma City Thunder all have solid teams but are long shots to compete for a championship this year.
Source: Twitter
However, as the Cubs have just shown, even if it takes over 100 years, anything is possible.
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