The Phoenix Suns remain one of only 10 NBA franchises that have yet to win an NBA championship.
The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz are the other nine.
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The Pacers have a chance to remove themselves from the list as they face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals that begin Thursday with Game 1 at Paycom Center.
The Thunder haven’t won a title since they moved to Oklahoma City from Seattle starting in the 2008-09 season. The franchise won the 1979 championship as the Seattle SuperSonics.
The Thunder, which won the Western Conference, are the top overall seed, while the Pacers are a fourth seed out of the East.
The Suns failed to reach even the play-in tournament this season, but they hold a distinction that can be viewed in a variety of ways when it comes to this list of 10 teams without an NBA title.
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Phoenix has the most wins, best winning percentage and most finals appearances of any team that hasn’t won an NBA championship.
This doesn’t count ABA wins and losses, as the Pacers and Nets were ABA teams before joining the NBA.
Jul 17, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns assistant coach Willie Green (center) in the huddle with Chris Paul (3), Jae Crowder (99), Deandre Ayton (22), Mikal Bridges (25) and Devin Booker (1) against the Milwaukee Bucks during game five of the 2021 NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Phoenix Suns – 2,465-2,142 record (53.5%).
Utah Jazz – 2,194-1,920 record (53.3%).
Indiana Pacers – 1,980-1,970 record (50.1%).
Orlando Magic – 1,356-1,529 record (47.0%).
New Orleans Pelicans – 852-998 record (46.1%).
Phoenix Suns Charles Barkley and Danny Ainge play against the Chicago Bulls during Game 4 of the 1993 NBA Finals at Chicago Stadium on June 16, 1993.
Memphis Grizzlies – 1,046-1,347 record (43.7%),
Charlotte Hornets – 1,193-1,602 record (42.7%).
Los Angeles Clippers – 1,893-2,549 record (42.6%).
Brooklyn Nets – 1,680-2,270 record (42.5%).
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Minnesota Timberwolves – 1,196-1,680 record (41.6%).
Basketball: NBA Finals: Boston Celtics Jo Jo White (10) in action vs Phoenix Suns at Boston Garden. Game 5. Boston, MA 6/4/1976 CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X20559 )
Phoenix has reached the finals three times. Indiana is making its second finals appearance.
Three NBA Finals: Suns (1976, lost to Boston Celtics; 1993, lost to Chicago Bulls; 2021, lost to Milwaukee Bucks).
Two – Magic (1995, lost to Houston Rockets; 2009 lost to Los Angeles Lakers), Jazz (1997, 1998 lost to Bulls both times), Nets (2002, lost to the Lakers; 2003, lost to San Antonio Spurs) and Pacers (2000, lost to Lakers; 2025, faces Thunder).
Zero – Pelicans, Grizzlies, Hornets, Clippers and T-Wolves.
The Suns have played more seasons than the other nine teams on the list. They joined the NBA in 1968.
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The Jazz joined the NBA in 1974 as the New Orleans Jazz.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns most finals appearances of any team without NBA title