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When the Spurs face off against either the Heat or the Pacers in the NBA Finals beginning on Thursday night, we’ll get to see two outstanding teams at the height of their powers playing for the distinction of being remembered as the best team in the NBA for 2012-13. In a few years, most of us will probably forget the loser of this series; even if the series is incredibly close, their defeat will likely relegate them to obscurity for the rest of time. The reality, though, is that some of the best teams in league history have come up short in the Finals (or earlier), and while they certainly deserve criticism for missing out on a title they also deserve better than being completely forgotten.
These teams ran into a host of factors that caused their demise, from the Bill Russell and Michael Jordan dynasties, to injuries, to one unfortunate play changing the tenor of the entire series. While they may not be excuses for coming up short, these instances at least give us a legitimate explanation as to why things didn’t work out for otherwise championship-caliber teams. From Wilt Chamberlain’s 76ers in '68 to Chris Webber’s Kings in '02, these are the Best NBA Teams to Never Win an NBA Title.
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20. 2006-07 Phoenix Suns
Record and standing: 61-21, 1st in Pacific Division
Hall of Famer(s): Steve Nash
Scoring leader: Amar'e Stoudemire (20.4 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Shawn Marion (9.8 RPG)
Assists leader: Steve Nash (11.6 APG)
Round eliminated: Western Conference Semifinals
It wasn't so long ago that the "seven seconds or less" Suns were well on their way to a shot at the NBA Finals, until a hockey-style check changed the course of the franchise. After a 61-21 regular season that saw them post winning streaks of 15 and 17 games and finish with the league's second best record, they reached the Western Conference Semifinals against the Spurs by topping the Lakers in five games.
Late in Game 4, Robert Horry delivered a hip check that sent Suns star Steve Nash flying into the scorer's table, and in the subsequent furor key Suns players Amar'e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw "technically" left the bench area to go to their teammate's aid. Because of this rule violation they were suspended for Game 5 (which the Suns lost), and the Spurs would then finish them off back in San Antonio and subsequently go on to win the title.
19. 2005-06 Dallas Mavericks
Record and standing: 60-22, 2nd in Southwest Division
Hall Of Famer(s): Dirk Nowitzki
Scoring leader: Dirk Nowitzki (26.6 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Dirk Nowitzki (9.0 RPG)
Assists leader: Jason Terry (3.8 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
Most will remember the 2005-06 Mavericks for the gut-wrenching way in which they lost in the Finals—coughing up a 2-0 series lead and falling to Dwyane Wade and the Heat in six games—but this was a very good team that had a great season leading up to that unceremonious ending. With Dirk Nowitzki in top form and getting strong contributions from Josh Howard and Jason Terry, the Mavs were strong on both ends of the floor as they finished in the top 10 in the NBA in both points scored and points allowed. They showed the kind of late-game chops befitting of a champion as well, beating the No. 1-seeded Spurs in overtime of Game 7 in the Western Conference Semifinals and topping the Suns in a series where all but one game was won by single digits.
18. 1997-98 Indiana Pacers
Record and standing: 58-24, 2nd in Central Division
Hall of Famer(s): Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin
Scoring leader: Reggie Miller (19.5 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Dale Davis (7.8 RPG)
Assists leader: Mark Jackson (8.7 APG)
Round eliminated: Eastern Conference Finals
The Pacers put an incredibly deep team on the court in 1997-98, fielding a veteran squad the saw none of their key rotation players miss significant time all year long. On the strength of strong scoring from the outside with Reggie Miller and the inside with Rik Smits, Indiana posted the East's second best record and earned Larry Bird the NBA's Coach of the Year award.
Miller and Smits both made the All-Star team as well, and going into the All-Star break Indiana had the best record in the NBA. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals and were paired against an aging Bulls squad looking to complete their second three-peat. This back and forth series saw the home team win every game, and the Pacers fell by just five points the deciding game 7 in Chicago.
17. 1991-92 Portland Trailblazers
Record and standing: 57-25, 1st in Pacific Division
Hall of Famer(s): Clyde Drexler
Scoring leader: Clyde Drexler (25.0 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Buck Williams (8.8 RPG)
Assists leader: Clyde Drexler (6.7 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
It's easy to be the forgotten team when you've lost in the Finals to the Michael Jordan-led Bulls, as several squads on this list are. Nevertheless, this Portland team had incredible depth and talent, posting the best record in the Western Conference and winning each of their playoff series in six or fewer games.
While the Finals are best remembered for Jordan's Game 1 shrug, the Blazers were in excellent position after splitting the first four games as Clyde Drexler went toe-to-toe with MJ. Clyde's struggles from the field over the final two games (he shot just .378 percent) made the difference, as Portland dropped a close Game 5 at home before falling to the Bulls in Game 6 back in Chicago.
16. 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks
Record and standing: 67-15, 1st in Southwest Division
Hall of Famer(s): Dirk Nowitzki
Scoring leader: Dirk Nowitzki (24.6 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Dirk Nowitzki (8.9 RPG)
Assists leader: Jason Terry (5.2 APG)
Round eliminated: Western Conference First Round
The fact that they suffered one of the most shocking upsets in playoff history has completely obscured from memory how talented and deep the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks were. After falling in the previous season's NBA Finals after holding a 2-0 lead, the Mavericks brought back almost the exact same team and responded with an even better season as Dirk Nowitzki won his first MVP award and Dallas finished with the NBA's best record.
No one (including the Mavs, it seems) gave their first-round matchup with the Golden State Warriors much thought. However, feeding off the incredible energy of their home crowd and an abysmal performance by Nowitzki, the Warriors stunned the 67-win Mavericks in six games.
15. 1969-70 Los Angeles Lakers
Record and standing: 46-36, 2nd in Western Division
Hall of Famer(s): Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain
Scoring leader: Jerry West (31.2 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Wilt Chamberlain (18.4 RPG)
Assists leader: Jerry West (6.9 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
After a hugely disappointing defeat in the Finals the year before, the 1969-70 Lakers entered the season feeling like the title was theirs for the taking. The Celtics had been dismantled in the offseason with the retirements of Bill Russell and Sam Jones, but the Lakers never totally got on track as they were forced to deal with injuries to stars Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West that allowed these key players to participate in just 12, 54, and 74 regular season games, respectively.
They nevertheless clawed their way into the Finals once they had their fully healthy squad, sweeping the Hawks in the Western Conference Finals in truly impressive fashion. Their seven game battle is best remembered for Game 7, where playing in Madison Square Garden the Lakers were upstaged by Willis Reed's (brief) return and Walt Frazier's heroics as they fell to the Knicks.
14. 1979-80 Philadelphia 76ers
Record and standing: 59-23, 2nd in Atlantic Division
Hall of Famer(s): Julius Erving
Scoring leader: Julius Erving (26.9 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Caldwell Jones (11.9 RPG)
Assists leader: Maurice Cheeks (7.0 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
For every legendary performance, there is a team on the wrong side of history. Such is the case with the 1979-80 Sixers, who despite a great season and playoff run are merely a footnote thanks to Magic Johnson's incredible effort at center in Game 6 of the Finals on the road in Philadelphia. The fact remains, though, that the Sixers squad was by all measures one of the league's best; they allowed the fourth fewest points per game and the lowest opponent field goal percentage, and were 10th in total offense.
Julius Erving was fourth in the league in scoring, and Darryl Dawkins (6'11") and Caldwell Jones (7'1") were a formidable presence in the paint. Despite these strengths, they wouldn't have enough to stop Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (for five games) and Magic in the Finals.
13. 2004-05 Indiana Pacers
Record and standing: 44-38, 3rd in Central Division
Hall of Famer(s): Reggie Miller
Scoring leader: Jermaine O'Neal (24.3 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Jeff Foster (9.0 RPG)
Assists leader: Jamaal Tinsley (6.7 APG)
Round eliminated: Eastern Conference Semifinals
While the season was still young when the infamous Malice in the Palace brawl broke out, the Indiana Pacers had assembled a team that looked ready to make a lot of noise in the Eastern Conference. Veteran star Reggie Miller—playing in his final season—was complemented by budding stars Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest, with Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley providing excellent depth as well. Up until November 19 in Detroit, things were going well; the Pacers were 6-2, cruising to another win, and looked every bit the part of championship contender.
Then the Malice at the Palace happened and when the dust settled the Pacers were forced to play without the services of Artest (entire season plus playoffs), Jackson (30 games), and O'Neal (15 games). As a result, the Pacers were never truly able to compete with their top squad, and ultimately fell in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the same Pistons squad they rumbled with months earlier.
12. 1992-93 Phoenix Suns
Record and standing: 62-20, 1st in Pacific Division
Hall of Famer(s): Charles Barkley
Scoring leader: Charles Barkley (25.6 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Charles Barkley (12.2 RPG)
Assists leader: Kevin Johnson (7.8 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
After acquiring Charles Barkley the summer before, the Phoenix Suns thought they had all the pieces in place for a championship season in 1992-93. And, for the most part, they were right; Barkley was simply superb, winning the MVP award and guiding his team to the franchise's second ever trip to the NBA Finals. The problem was that they were up against a Bulls squad that was beginning to hit its prime and was looking to complete their first three-peat.
The offensive battle that Barkley waged with Michael Jordan made the 1993 Finals one of the most memorable in recent memory. Buoyed by Sir Charles' 27-13-6 average, the Suns won two of three games in Chicago for what would seemingly be a decisive advantage in the series, but they dropped all three matchups at home to lose the title to the Bulls in six games.
11. 1995-96 Seattle Supersonics
Record and standing: 64-18, 1st in Pacific Division
Hall of Famer(s): Gary Payton
Scoring leader: Shawn Kemp (19.6 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Shawn Kemp (11.4 RPG)
Assists leader: Gary Payton (7.5 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
For a little while it looked like Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton were the heir apparents to the Bulls' dynasty, as Kemp's stunning athleticism paired flawlessly with Payton's excellent distribution and lockdown defense to create as formidable a tandem as existed in the NBA outside of Jordan and Pippen. The Supersonics proved just how good they could be in 1995-96, posting the most wins in franchise history and reaching the franchise's first Finals in nearly 20 years.
Once there, though, they had to face a Bulls squad that is regarded by many as the greatest team in NBA history. Many wrote off the Sonics after they fell behind 0-3, but to their credit they clawed back on the heels of a pair of monster games from Kemp. Back in Chicago, however, the Bulls reined the Sonics in and took the title in Game 6.
10. 1992-93 New York Knicks
Record and standing: 60-22, 1st in Atlantic Division
Hall of Famer(s): Patrick Ewing
Scoring leader: Patrick Ewing (24.2 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Patrick Ewing (12.1 RPG)
Assists leader: Greg Anthony (5.7 APG)
Round eliminated: Eastern Conference Finals
The Knicks had the Eastern Conference on lock in 1992-93, as their 60 total wins were tied for the most in a regular season in franchise history. Under the guidance of Pat Riley, star Patrick Ewing enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career as he helped anchor a bruising interior defense. Despite having one of the lowest total scoring offenses in the league (they were 24th out of 27 in points per game), the Knicks were dominant on the defensive end as they allowed the fewest points in the league and the lowest opponent field goal percentage, both better than the second place teams by significant margins.
They even took the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls, before Michael Jordan awoke and rallied his team back to win four straight and the series.
9. 2010-11 Miami Heat
Record and standing: 58-24, 1st in Southeast Division
Hall of Famer(s): LeBron James, Dwyane Wade
Scoring leader: LeBron James (26.7 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Chris Bosh (8.3 RPG)
Assists leader: LeBron James (7.0 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
Given how recently this one occurred, it should be easy to remember the incredible scrutiny that followed this team every step of the way. From the moment LeBron made his "Decision," the Heat were under the microscope right until the last piece of confetti fell celebrating Dallas' championship. Given the incredibly difficult circumstances under which they had to operate, it's kind of remarkable the Heat were able to win 58 games and get past each of their playoff opponents in five games. And let's not forget, too, that Dallas was a really good team who had a star player in Dirk Nowitzki at the very top of his game, so it's not as if they didn't deserve their ring.
8. 1985-86 Los Angeles Lakers
Record and standing: 62-20, 1st in Pacific Division
Hall of Famer(s): Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy
Scoring leader: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23.4 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Maurice Lucas (7.4 RPG)
Assists leader: Magic Johnson (12.6 APG)
Round eliminated: Western Conference Finals
After falling to the Celtics in the 1983-84 Finals and then defeating them the next year, the stage was set for a memorable rubber match during the 1985-86 season. Both teams were at the height of their powers, and it seemed inevitable that they would have one final showdown to determine who was truly the superior team. The Celtics did their part, and the Lakers likewise finished the regular season with the Western Conference's best record.
After getting through the first two rounds of the playoffs relatively easily, they surprisingly no-showed the Western Conference Finals against Ralph Sampson, Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets, bowing out in just five games. The rematch with the Celtics would have to be put on hold for one more year.
7. 1967-68 Philadelphia 76ers
Record and standing: 62-20, 1st in Eastern Division
Hall of Famer(s): Wilt Chamberlain, Chet Walker, Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham
Scoring leader: Wilt Chamberlain (24.3 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Wilt Chamberlain (23.8 RPG)
Assists leader: Wilt Chamberlain (8.6 APG)
Round eliminated: Eastern Division Finals
Rightly or not, Wilt Chamberlain battled the label of "loser" throughout his career, and the 1967-68 NBA Finals did little to help his cause. Playing on a team with three other future Hall of Famers, Wilt seemingly had it made during this season. He became the only center in NBA history to lead the league in assists and his 76ers team finished with by far the best record in the league, putting up a staggering 122.6 points per game and reaching the Eastern Division Finals for an inevitable showdown with their rivals from Boston.
They engaged in a memorable battle that culminated in one of the most perplexing Game 7s of all time, as Wilt did not attempt a single shot in the second half and the 76ers seemed to deliberately keep the ball away from him on offense. As a result, the Celtics won the game and left fans scratching their heads as to what was going on in Philadelphia.
6. 1997-98 Utah Jazz
Record and standing: 62-20, 1st in Midwest Division
Hall of Famer(s): Karl Malone, John Stockton
Scoring leader: Karl Malone (27.0 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Karl Malone (10.3 RPG)
Assists leader: John Stockton (8.5 APG)
Round Eliminated: NBA Finals
The competition in the Western Conference during the 1997-98 season was incredible, especially on the front lines. Utah's Karl Malone posted an outstanding season despite having to go against the likes of Shaq (Lakers) and an in-his-prime Vin Baker (Seattle) and the twin towers of Tim Duncan and David Robinson (Spurs) on a nightly basis. Even though John Stockton missed the first 18 games of the season with a knee injury, the Jazz still managed to post the West's best record and storm into the Finals by winning eight of their last nine playoff games against the Spurs and Lakers. From there, though, there's really only one thing anyone remembers about how the rest of Utah's season went: Michael Jordan's "Final Shot."
5. 1986-87 Boston Celtics
Record and standing: 59-23, 1st in Atlantic Division
Hall of Famer(s): Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton
Scoring leader: Larry Bird (28.1 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Robert Parish (10.6 RPG)
Assists leader: Larry Bird (7.6 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
After putting up what many consider to be the greatest season in NBA history in 1985-86, the Celtics had the No. 2 pick in the draft and looked like they'd grabbed another franchise cornerstone when they selected Maryland's Len Bias. However, Bias' tragic death after a cocaine overdose less than 48 hours after being drafted was the first of several turns of bad luck for the Celtics, as injuries began to derail the defending champions' title aspirations.
The Celtics limped into the Finals despite injuries to key players Bill Walton, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Danny Ainge, and were simply no match for a very strong Lakers squad. With Bias, the Celtics would surely have been able to ease the burden on their veterans and put on a better showing than the six game defeat they suffered at the hands of their rivals.
4. 2001-02 Sacramento Kings
Record and standing: 61-21, 1st in Pacific Division
Hall of Famer(s): Chris Webber
Scoring leader: Chris Webber (24.5 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Chris Webber (10.1 RPG)
Assists leader: Mike Bibby (5.0 APG)
Round eliminated: Western Conference Finals
The Kings made the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years in the 2001-02 season, and they did it with an absolutely stacked roster. Chris Webber enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, Peja Stojakovic emerged as a deadly shooter from long distance, and Mike Bibby proved an excellent option as both a scorer and distributor from the point guard spot.
Their seven game playoff battle with the Lakers was an all-time classic series, but Game 6 was also cited by disgraced referee Tim Donaghy as one that was fixed by the officials. Allegedly, the refs wanted the series extended to seven games, and thus made several suspect calls that allowed the Lakers to attempt 18 more free throws than the Kings in the fourth quarter alone.
3. 1994-95 Orlando Magic
Record and standing: 57-25, 1st in Atlantic Division
Hall of Famer(s): Shaquille O'Neal
Scoring leader: Shaquille O'Neal (29.3 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Shaquille O'Neal (11.4 RPG)
Assists leader: Anfernee Hardaway (7.2 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
The Magic were already coming off a strong 1993-94 campaign in which they went 50-32, and they added veteran big man Horace Grant in the offseason to complement their already formidable duo of Shaq and Penny Hardaway. The result was a spectacular regular season that saw Orlando post the second best home record in NBA history as they went 39-2 in the Orlando Arena. They also had the distinction of being the only team to best Michael Jordan in the playoffs after he won his first title, knocking out the recently-returned legend and his Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Unfortunately for the Magic, the huge momentum killer of Nick Anderson's infamous missed free throws in Game 1 of the Finals ruined their season as they were swept by a sixth seeded, veteran Houston Rockets squad.
2. 1972-73 Boston Celtics
Record and standing: 68-14, 1st in Atlantic Division
Hall of Famer(s): John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens
Scoring leader: John Havlicek (23.8 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Dave Cowens (16.2 RPG)
Assists leader: John Havlicek (6.6 APG)
Round eliminated: Eastern Conference Finals
If you were wondering which Boston Celtics squad put up the best record in franchise history, it wasn't a group led by Russell or Bird. No, in fact it is the 1972-73 squad that bears this distinction, as led by veteran stars John Havlicek and Jo Jo White and third year man Dave Cowens, the Celtics dominated the league and cruised into the Eastern Conference Finals. Their defeat there at the hands of the eventual champion Knicks gives the Celtics the dubious distinction of being the only team out of five to win 68-plus games that didn't win the NBA title.
1. 1968-69 Los Angeles Lakers
Record and standing: 55-27, 1st in Western Division
Hall of Famer(s): Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain
Scoring leader: Jerry West (25.9 PPG)
Rebounds leader: Wilt Chamberlain (21.1 RPG)
Assists leader: Jerry West (6.9 APG)
Round eliminated: NBA Finals
To put themselves over the championship hump, the Lakers acquired Wilt Chamberlain in the run-up to the 1968-69 season. They figured that, combined with their All-Stars Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, this trio would dominate the league and finally push the Lakers past the rival Celtics. To an extent, they were right; all three of their players made the All-Star team, Baylor and West made first and second team All-NBA, respectively, forward Bill Hewitt was named to the All-Rookie first team, and West won Finals MVP.
Sounds like a championship season, right? Wrong. Despite a herculean (and MVP) effort from West, the Lakers dropped a heartbreaking Finals to the Celtics in seven games, with Chamberlain inexplicably riding the bench late in Game 7.