In this edition of The MVP Blog, Ben Pawlak takes a walk through the decorated halls of NBA history to identify the 6 best teams that failed to win it all.

These teams were immensely talented, well-coached, statistically accomplished, and they all seemed destined to lift up the Larry O’Brien trophy at seasons end. However, for one reason or another, they ultimately fell short of the goal they had desperately hoped to achieve.

While a specific season will be chosen to highlight the most significant disappointment for each of these teams, a team which won a championship with that same core will be disqualified from this list. For example, this rule means that teams such as the 2015-16 Warriors, an undoubtedly fantastic team which lost the NBA Finals after going up 3-1 in the series and finished the regular season with an NBA record 73-9 record will be disqualified from this list. The 2015-16 Warriors are disqualified since that same core of key players (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green) won multiple NBA titles for the Warriors in other seasons (2014-15, 2016-17, and 2018-19).

The teams which were chosen for this list will appear in order of most recent season to least recent season. Honorable mentions for this list include the 2004-05 Phoenix Suns, the 1997-98 Utah Jazz, the 1993-94 New York Knicks, and the 1972-73 Boston Celtics.

Without any further ado, let’s take a deep dive into the 6 best teams that failed to win an NBA title.

2021-2022 Phoenix Suns

Record: 64-18 (1st in Western Conference)

Coach: Monty Williams

Key Players: Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, Cameron Johnson, and JaVale McGee

Stats/Accolades:

• Suns enter the 2021/22 season after blowing a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals, eventually losing 4-2 to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
• Best record/best NETRTG in the NBA.
• Devin Booker averages 27/5 on 47/38/87 splits (All-Star Starter).
• Chris Paul averages 15/11/2 on 49/32/84 splits (All-Star Starter).
• Deandre Ayton averages 17/10 on 64% from the field.
• Mikal Bridges finishes 2nd in DPOY voting and averages 14/4.
• In the regular season, the Suns shot 48.5% from the field, best in the NBA.
• Monty Williams is named NBA Coach of the Year.

Playoff Run/How They Lost

• First Round: The Suns beat the Pelicans in 6 games.
• The Suns took a 2-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.
• Game 3 (A): The Suns shoot better from the field, from three, and from the foul line than the Mavericks. However, Chris Paul and Devin Booker combine to commit 12 total turnovers. Jalen Brunson pours in 28 points on 10/21 shooting, while Luka Doncic racks up 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, leading the Mavericks to a 103-94 win. Not an ideal 37th birthday for CP3. 
• Game 4 (A): The Suns sputter out of the gate in Game 4, going down 37-25 after the first quarter, and they’re never able to fully recover. Dallas successfully protects home court once again on the back of an absurd night from beyond the arc, shooting 20/44 as a team. Chris Paul, bogged down by foul trouble which eventually leads to him fouling out early in the fourth quarter, amasses a meager statline of 5/5/7 on just 4 shot attempts. Dorian Finney-Smith has the game of his life, going 8 for 12 from three and grabbing 8 rebounds as well. Luka Doncic puts together another impressive performance with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 assists.
• Game 6 (A): After a huge win on home court in Game 5 in which Devin Booker spent a considerable amount of time antagonizing Luka Doncic, the Suns return to Dallas in search of a closeout victory. However, Booker’s antics only served to motivate Luka and the Mavs to take care of business on both ends. Booker shoots 6/17 and commits 8 turnovers, while Chris Paul commits 5 turnovers of his own. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic runs the show in front of a boisterous home crowd, scoring 33 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, dishing 8 assists, and racking up 4 steals. Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, and Spencer Dinwiddie combine for 43 points including 13 threes. 
• Game 7 (H): The Suns fall victim to what is arguably the most embarrassing Game 7 defeat in NBA history. Despite being on home court for this crucial game, the Suns were met with a chorus of boos at halftime, trailing 57-27. Luka Doncic scored 27 first half points, matching Phoenix’s first half total all by himself. At the half, Devin Booker and Chris Paul had 3 combined points, all of which were scored on free throws. Doncic finished with 35/10/4/2 on 12/19 from the field and 6/11 from three in just 30 minutes. He laughed at Phoenix’s pathetic attempts to slow him down, enjoying every second of seeing the demoralized Suns prove his theory that “everybody acts tough when they’re up”. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 30 of his own on 11/15 from the field, while Jalen Brunson shot 11/19 and scored 22 of his 24 points in the second half. With 6:18 left in the 4th quarter, the Mavs led 111-65, and that 46 point cushion was their largest lead of the game. The Mavs shot 56.8% from the field and 48.7% from three in Game 7, but it was their relentless defense which really put the Suns to the sword. Booker shot 3/14 with 4 turnovers and Chris Paul scored just 10 points. In fact, Phoenix’s leading scorer for the game was Cameron Johnson with 12 points off the bench. Deandre Ayton played just 17 minutes, recording 5 points and 4 rebounds before refusing to check back into the game after being subbed out by Monty Williams for “quitting on the team”. As the final buzzer sounded, the Suns were once again booed off the floor, the final act of this humiliating Game 7 loss.

2017-2018 Houston Rockets

Record: 65-17 (1st in Western Conference)

Coach: Mike D’Antoni

Key Players: James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, Trevor Ariza, P.J. Tucker, and Gerald Green

Key Stats/Accolades:

• Rockets trade to acquire Chris Paul before 2017 free agency.
• Best record and ORTG in the NBA.
• James Harden wins MVP averaging 30/9/5 on 45/37/86 splits. (All-Star Starter)
• The Rockets averaged 15.3 3PM per game, best in the NBA.

Playoff Run/How They Lost

• First Round: The Rockets beat the Timberwolves in 5 games.
• Second Round: The Rockets beat the Jazz in 5 games.
• The Rockets took a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, but Chris Paul suffered a Grade 2 strain in his right hamstring and missed both Game 6 and Game 7 as a result of that injury.
• Game 6 (A): Harden drops 32/7/9/3, but he also commits 9 turnovers. “Game 6 Klay” drops 35/6/4 on 9/14 from three, Curry drops 29/5/6, and Draymond racks up 4/10/9/4/5 as the Rockets get blown out on the road, 115-86.
• Game 7 (H): Harden shoots 12/29 from the field including 2/13 from three and commits 5 turnovers. Durant drops 34/5/5 and Curry drops 27/9/10, making 12 threes in the process. The Rockets missed 27 consecutive three pointers, and this unprecedented statistic punctuates a 101-92 loss.

2015-2016 Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 55-27 (3rd in Western Conference)

Coach: Billy Donovan

Key Players: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter Freedom, and Andre Roberson

How the Season Ended: Lost 96-88 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on the road against the Golden State Warriors

Key Stats/Accolades:

• Kevin Durant averages 28/8/5 on 51/39/90 splits (All-Star Starter).
• Russell Westbrook averages 24/8/10 (All-Star Starter).
• The Thunder were the best rebounding team in the NBA.

Playoff Run/How They Lost

• First Round: The Thunder beat the Mavericks in 5 games.
• Second Round: The Thunder beat the Jazz in 5 games.
• The Thunder took a 3-1 series lead over the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
• Game 5 (A): Durant shoots 12/31, Westbrook shoots 11/28 with 7 TO, Curry drops 31/7/6/5 and the Thunder lose 120-111.
• Game 6 (H): Durant shoots 10/31, Westbrook shoots 10/27, “Game 6 Klay” drops 41 points with 11 threes and Curry drops 31/10/9, and the Thunder lose 108-101.
• Game 7 (A): Westbrook shoots 7/21, Curry drops 36/5/8 with 7 threes, and the Thunder are eliminated in a 96-88 loss.
• July 4th, 2016: Kevin Durant shocks the world by announcing that he will be leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors in free agency.

2014-2015 Los Angeles Clippers

Record: 56-26 (3rd in Western Conference)

Coach: Doc Rivers

Key Players: Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, JJ Redick, Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, and Matt Barnes

Key Stats/Accolades:

• Best ORTG in the NBA.
• Chris Paul averages 19/5/10/2 on 49/40/90 splits (All-Star).
• Blake Griffin averages 22/8/5 (All-Star Starter).
• DeAndre Jordan averages 12/15/2 on 71% FG (best FG% in the NBA).
• First Round: The Clippers beat the Spurs in 7 games. Chris Paul battles through a left hamstring strain and hits a game-winning runner over Tim Duncan in Game 7.
• The Clippers took a 3-1 series lead over the Rockets in the second round.

Playoff Run/How They Lost

• Game 5 (A): Redick, Crawford, Rivers, and Barnes combine to shoot 9/41 from the field and 4/22 from three, Harden drops 26/11/10, and the Clippers lose 124-103.
• Game 6 (H): Redick, Crawford, Rivers, and Barnes combine to shoot 14/46 from the field and 5/24 from three, Dwight Howard drops 20/21, and the Clippers lose 119-107.
• Game 7 (A): Redick, Crawford, Rivers, and Barnes combine to shoot 11/36 from the field and 5/21 from three, Harden drops 31/7/8/3/1, and the Clippers lose 113-100.

2001-2002 Sacramento Kings

Record: 61-21 (1st in Western Conference)

Coach: Rick Adelman

Key Players: Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby, Doug Christie, Vlade Divac, Bobby Jackson, and Hedo Turkoglu

Key Stats/Accolades:

• Best record/best NETRTG in the NBA.
• Chris Webber averages 25/10/5/2/1 (All-Star).
• Peja Stojakovic averages 21/5 on 48/42/88 splits (All-Star).
• The Kings had 7 players average at least 10 PPG.

Playoff Run/How They Lost

• First Round: The Kings beat the Jazz in 4 games.
• Second Round: The Kings beat the Mavericks in 5 games.
• The Kings took a 3-2 series lead over the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
• Game 6 (A): Webber drops 26/13/8, Shaq drops 41/17, and Kobe drops 31/11/5, but these incredible performances only serve as a backdrop to the true story of this game, the refereeing. Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals would come to be considered as one of the most controversial games in NBA history. The Lakers made just 5 shots from the field in the fourth quarter, but they were also awarded 27 free throws in that quarter. The Kings frontcourt combined for 11 fouls (Webber with 5, Divac fouling out with 6), many of which were questionable. The allegations of corruption were only magnified in the years to follow. After an investigation, the FBI found that Tim Donaghy, a former referee who worked for the NBA from 1994 to 2007, had bet tens of thousands of dollars on NBA games in cooperation with the mob. He also allegedly worked with other crooked referees to ensure that their bets hit, and through his lawyer, Donaghy filed a court document in 2008 alleging that Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals was fixed. In addition, Donaghy asserts that the league was in on the fix, and the referees of Game 6 knew that it was their job to ensure that the series was extended to 7 games for the sake of the league itself.
• Game 7 (H): Mike Bibby leads the Kings with 29/5/4, Chris Webber chips in with 20/8/11/2, but Vlade Divac fouls out for the second straight game. For the Lakers, Shaq racks up 35/13/4 while Kobe notches 30/10/7/2. Over the course of Game 7, the lead changes 19 times, and the score gets tied up on 16 separate occasions. The Kings shoot 16/30 from the foul line and 2/20 from three in their own building, which proves to be Sacramento’s downfall (at least in Game 7). The game enters overtime with the score 100-100, but Mike Bibby is the only player who is willing to shoot the ball in the clutch for Sacramento. The Kings lose in overtime, 112-106. The Lakers would go on to win their third straight championship, cementing their historic three-peat in a sweep over the New Jersey Nets. Between the 1990-91 season and the 2001-02 season, Phil Jackson won 9 championships, achieving 3 separate three-peats as head coach of 2 different franchises. Since their inaugural season in 1985, the Sacramento Kings are yet to appear in an NBA Finals.

1992-1993 Phoenix Suns

Record: 62-20 (1st in Western Conference)

Coach: Paul Westphal

Key Players: Charles Barkley, Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson, Richard Dumas, Cedric Ceballos, Tom Chambers, and Danny Ainge

Key Stats/Accolades:

• Best record and ORTG in the NBA.
• Charles Barkley wins MVP averaging 26/12/5/2/1 (All-Star Starter).
• Dan Majerle averages 17/5/4/2 and shoots 38% from three (All-Star).
• The Suns had 7 players average at least 11 PPG.

Playoff Run/How They Lost

• First Round: The Suns beat the Lakers in 5 games
• Second Round: The Suns beat the Spurs in 6 games
• Western Conference Finals: The Suns beat the Sonics in 7 games
• The Suns lost Game 1 and Game 2 in the NBA Finals on home court against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
• Game 1 (H): Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson combine to shoot 13/38 from the field. Michael Jordan drops 31/7/5/5 on 14/28 shooting, while Scottie Pippen adds 27/9/5/2 of his own to beat the Suns 100-92.
• Game 2 (H): Barkley bounces back in a big way, dropping 42/13 on 16/26 shooting. However, Kevin Johnson scores just 4 points on 2/8 shooting and commits 4 turnovers. For the Bulls, Jordan goes off for 42/12/9/2 on 18/36 shooting, and Pippen stuffs the stat sheet with a 15/12/12 triple double, tacking on 2 steals and 2 blocks in a 111-108 win.
• Game 4 (A): After winning a crucial Game 3 with their backs against the wall, the Suns look to even the series in Chicago. Barkley records a triple double with 32/12/10/3/1, while Majerle, Dumas, and Johnson combine for 50 points on 20/36 shooting. However, Michael Jordan simply cannot be stopped, pouring in 55 points on 21/37 shooting. Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant chip in to combine for 31/22/12/4/3, and the Bulls beat the Suns in yet another close game, 111-105, securing a 3-1 series lead.
• Game 6 (H): The Suns win Game 5 in Chicago to give themselves a lifeline as they return to Phoenix for the last two games of the Finals. Barkley drops 21/17, Majerle has 21/8 of his own, and Johnson adds 19/10/5. Michael Jordan does his thing, dropping 33/8/7 on 13/26 shooting, Pippen records 23/12/5/4, and B.J. Armstrong steps up for Chicago with 18 points on 6/10 from the field and 4/5 from three. Down 2 with 14.1 seconds left, the Bulls swing the ball around to find John Paxson wide open on the left wing, and he drains a three with 3.9 seconds left on the clock to give the Bulls a 1 point lead. Horace Grant blocks Kevin Johnson’s floater, sealing the first three-peat for the Chicago Bulls. The Suns season ends as they lose in Game 6, 99-98.

Which team is your pick for the best NBA team to never win it all? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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Author: Ben Pawlak

Published: 5/20/22 at 4:15pmEST

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Sources/Works Cited:

Google Images, Google, https://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en.

“NBA.com.” The Official Site of the NBA for the Latest NBA Scores, Stats & News. | NBA.com, https://www.nba.com/.

Sports Reference LLC. Basketball-Reference.com – Basketball Statistics and History. https://www.basketball-reference.com/. 7 February 2022.

StatMuse, https://www.statmuse.com/.