As the NBA takes a pause to (hopefully) wait out the COVID-19 crisis, we take a look at which fan bases have the most to lament or exalt if/when play resumes.
30) Golden State Warriors
'19-'20 has obviously been a rough season for the Warriors and their fans, and that sound you hear is the world's smallest violin being played by the other 29 fanbases. After one of the most dominant four year stretches in NBA history, the Warriors have finally come back down to earth due to injuries and salary cap restrictions. But they still have their big three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green that will theoretically re-ignite the new San Francisco fanbase in '20-'21.
29) Los Angeles Lakers
Sure, it's been nine years since the last Lakers title, and they were about to snap a six year playoff drought in 2020, but there's still not much that the L.A. fans can complain about. They can still effortlessly swing deals for the biggest stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis and seem primed for title contention for the next few years. The Lakers also hold the NBA record for most Finals appearances with 31, are second in titles with 16 (five of which did come in Minneapolis), and had missed the postseason just five times in 65 years between 1949 and 2013.
28) Boston Celtics
Like their longtime rivals on the other coast, the Celtics never seem to struggle for very long. They do have just two Finals appearance and one title in the past three decades but it's hard imagine fans of any other team shedding many tears for the Boston faithful. With Brad Stevens at the helm and young stars like Jayson Tatum on the court, they'll continue to thrive in the '20s. If any Celtics fans start to waver in their confidence, all they have to do is stare up at the record 17 championship banners hanging in T.D. Garden.
27) Miami Heat
Though the franchise just celebrated its 30th anniversary, the Heat already have more titles than the Suns, Kings, Jazz, Hawks, Clippers, Nuggets, Pacers, Nets, and Bucks combined. Even after losing arguably the greatest player of all time to free agency and the franchise's all-time legend to retirement, Miami didn't rebuild, it just reloaded around Jimmy Butler. This spot might need a re-evaluation when Pat Riley finally steps down, but for now Heat fans can rest assured the team will always be either in contention or a move or two away from it.
26) San Antonio Spurs
Nominally a small market team by NBA standards, the Spurs were nonetheless arguably the premier franchise of the last two decades, winning five titles in a 15-year span. They obviously fouled up the Kawhi Leonard situation and things have slipped downhill in a hurry, but Gregg Popovich recently signed a three-year extension and the front office is still one of the league's shrewdest outfits.
25) Toronto RaptorsThis might seem high for a team that just won a championship and has only been in existence for 25 seasons but consider for Raptors fans that a) those first 24 years were brutal, and b) Kawhi Leonard immediately leaving seemed almost inevitable. This is still a fun and talented team that remained a surprise title contender in '19-'20, but they'll likely continue to rise up this list the further removed we are from their 2019 title.
24) Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have really struggled in the wake of their exhilarating 2011 title, but they've also experienced a quick turnaround between one franchise legend (Dirk Nowitzki) retiring and another one (Luke Doncic) stepping into his shoes. Plus, with Mark Cuban at the helm, this team will continue to spend as much money as is necessary to contend for a long time.
23) Oklahoma City Thunder
It's been 12 years now in Oklahoma without a title despite the presence of four of the greatest players of this generation in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Paul George. There's been some serious playoff heartbreak during that stretch, especially in 2016, and even at the best of times Thunder fans must have envisioned the small market struggles they're now grappling with in '19-'20 and beyond. But, as mentioned, it's been only 12 years of heartbreak for the Thunder fanbase, and all of it for a team that was stolen from Seattle.
22) Houston Rockets
Their last title came in the first Clinton administration, so why are the Rockets coming in this low, behind more recent champs like the Cavs and Pistons? Because they rarely struggle, with no playoff droughts longer than four years in their history in Houston, they're set for the near future with James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and their management has always been committed to building via risky trades and free agency moves.
21) Cleveland Cavaliers
Similar to the Raptors above, Cavs fans had only a brief period of championship glow basking before the PTSD of past traumas proved provincial again. LeBron James has ditched the city twice now, and the squad as currently concocted has little or no hope for the next few seasons. But at least there was that 2016 title, with an improbable comeback for the ages and a game seven that will live on in NBA lore as one of the greatest contests in league history.
20) Brooklyn Nets
It's presumptuous to apply "suffering" to fans in Brooklyn, which has hosted the Nets for only eight seasons now, but it's also fair to assume the New Jersey fans mostly still root for this team. As such, it's been a rough few decades since the ABA merger, with the Nets fielding some of the league's all-time worst teams and biggest lottery pick flameouts. Their only NBA Finals appearances were mere blips, back-to-back losses in 2002 and 2003 to the dynasty Lakers and Spurs.
19) Memphis Grizzlies
It's been less than 20 years in Memphis, so no one is feeling too bad for neophyte Grizzlies fans (especially no one in Vancouver). They've reached the playoffs in over half of those seasons but past the first round only three times, and the Conference Finals just once, in 2013. The grit n' grind era is over, but the ascension of Ja Morant as a superstar now seems imminent and the team was a surprise playoff contender before the '19-'20 season suspended activities.
18) New Orleans Pelicans
No team has been in their current location for less time than the Pelicans but it has been a rough six years in New Orleans. The Pelicans (formerly Hornets) have reached the playoffs only twice, and fans had to watch in horror as Anthony Davis forced a trade to the Lakers. Zion Williamson will certainly heal some wounds, but for how long before he bolts as well?
17) Milwaukee Bucks
After winning the 1971 title, in just their third year of existence, it's been a long history of playoff disappointments for the Bucks and their fans. The '71-'72 and '73-'74 teams were arguably even better but fell in Conference Finals and NBA Finals upsets, respectively. They've since suffered Conference Finals defeats in 1982, 1983, 1986, 2000, and 2019. Anything is possible now with Giannis but that realm of possibilities also includes the star skipping town for a bigger market as soon as it's possible. A cancellation of the '19-'20 season where the Bucks were barreling towards the playoffs with the league's best record would be huge gut punch.
16) Detroit Pistons
15) Chicago Bulls
Two proud Midwestern franchises that have fallen on hard times, with a quick turnaround always possible but not reasonable to expect right now. The Pistons haven't won a playoff series since 2008, back when Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace were still on the roster, while the Bulls have slumped considerably ever since a 2012 ACL tear ended Derrick Rose's MVP level of play.
14) Philadelphia 76ers
Anxiety amongst Philadelphia fans has certainly decreased ever since the Eagles' Super Bowl title, but the expectations on this Sixers team is still palpable. With LeBron James finally out of the way in 2019, they still stumbled against the Raptors, and with the continual injury issues for Joel Embiid, may have already missed their best chance.
13) Orlando Magic
Unlike their fellow Florida late '80s expansion franchise, the Magic are still without a title, despite the presence of two of the league's all-time greatest centers in Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard. Things seem to be trending up right now with Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon, but what's the real ceiling here and how long will it last? True Magic fans know deep down that early playoff exits before free agency/trade departures are the most likely answers to those questions.
12) Minnesota Timberwolves
It was a rough first 30 years for Timberwolves fans, with just nine playoff appearances, all of which ended in first round losses save for a Conference Finals run in 2004. It's even more distinct recently, with just one playoff game win in the last 15 years. The future doesn't seem much brighter, despite the presence of #1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns plus All-Star D'Angelo Russell. Minneapolis has a long history of NBA success with five Lakers titles in the late '40s and early '50s, but it's difficult to envision them adding anything to that legacy for the fans any time soon.
11) Portland Trail Blazers
The '76-'77 Blazers were one of the most endearing teams in NBA history and brought a title home to Portland, but Blazers fans have been gutted so many times since. It started with Bill Walton's injuries and departure, carried over to the Clyde Drexler early '90s teams continually running into dominant opponents, and then stomach-churning Conference Finals losses in 1999 and 2000. The roster right now is certainly entertaining, centered around Damian Lillard, but as currently constituted, their 2019 Conference Finals sweep was likely their ceiling.
10) Charlotte Hornets
Not many cities are lucky enough to receive a new franchise almost immediately after losing a previous one to relocation. Charlotte fans also got a bonus when the Hornets name was abdicated and allowed to return to the city that bears the nickname for good reason. But on court success has been scarce ever since NBA basketball started in the Queen City in 1988. The Hornets have just 10 playoff appearances in 32 years, six of which ended with first round losses and four with second round losses. They're one of just three franchises, along with the Pelicans and Clippers, to never reach a Conference Finals, and they're stuck in yet another rut right now, though the '19-'20 squad did show more promise than expected.
9) Indiana Pacers
ABA success came easy for the Pacers, who played in five Finals and won three titles, but their NBA legacy has mainly involved postseason disappointments. Cellar dwellers for their first 13 seasons in the NBA, the Pacers have since put together three thrilling but ultimately unfulfilling runs of contention. The Reggie Miller led squads reached at least the Conference Finals five times in a seven season span, but kept bumping up against Michael Jordan's Bulls or Patrick Ewing's Knicks. Then, there was the Ron Artest squads that sometimes looked like the NBA's best team but were ultimately undone by the Malice in the Palace. More recently, they had a great run with a young Paul George but again were felled by an all-time great, as LeBron James' Heat defeated them in back-to-back Conference Finals. Can Victor Oladipo and company beat back the trend? It seems possible but unlikely.
8) New York Knicks
The pain of New York fans will always be hyper-inflated by the media, but it's difficult to deny the authenticity of the suffering of the Knicks faithful. Sure, at least there's a couple championship trophies in their display case, but that last title in 1973 seems more like it was over 100 years ago. From the pain of dropping seemingly winnable NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999 to the 21st century enduring of Isiah Thomas and James Dolan decisions, Knicks fans have little to celebrate and even less reason to believe it's getting better any time soon.
7) Denver Nuggets
No NBA team has played in the same city for longer without making a Finals appearance than the Nuggets. Their current 43-year drought might finally end in the near future thanks to a strong roster built around Nikola Jokic. But you can excuse Denver fans for not fully buying in right now on a franchise with just four playoff series wins in the last 30 years. Unlike the Pacers, the Nuggets can't even fall back on ABA success. Though they were a charter member and consistently a title contender, they reached the ABA Finals just once, losing to the Nets in 1976.
6) Los Angeles Clippers
Danny Manning. Donald Sterling. Bill Walton. Michael Olowokandi. Ron Harper. Shaun Livingston. You can forgive Clippers fans for thinking the team is cursed. Will Kawhi Leonard and company finally break it? It would be quite a feat. In their 41 years in Southern California (seven in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles), the Clippers have made just 11 postseasons, and reached the second round just four times. They are by far the oldest franchise without a Conference Finals appearance, let alone without an NBA Finals trip. Things are obviously trending up right now and a Conference Finals appearance seems imminent, but diehard Clippers fans will believe it when they see it.
5) Washington Wizards
They're the only franchise in our top 10 that have won a post-merger title but a review of their recent history makes this appearance at #5 reasonable. Since reaching back-to-back Finals in 1978 and 1979, winning in the former, the Wizards have just 11 playoff appearances over the next 40 years, never advancing past the second round and never tracking as a legitimate title threat. All of their biggest stars have flamed out due to off-court issues (Gilbert Arenas) or injuries (John Wall) and while the other D.C. sports teams are enjoying championship success, the Wizards seem as far away as ever from reaching that point.
4) Atlanta Hawks
In their 14 years in St. Louis, starting in '55-'56, the Hawks made 13 playoff appearances, 11 Conference Finals, four NBA Finals, and won the only title in franchise history in 1958. Things have been decidedly different since they moved to Atlanta in 1968. After back-to-back Conference Finals losses in their first two seasons in the new city, the Atlanta Hawks have made it that far just once in the succeeding 50 years. The '80s Dominique Wilkins, '90s Mookie Blaylock, and '00 Joe Johnson teams all came up short come playoff time. It remains to be seen if the team can build up a contender again around Trae Young, but with major free agents consistently balking, it will likely take some luck and especially shrewd maneuvers to get there.
3) Utah Jazz
The first pro team in Salt Lake City, the Utah Stars of the ABA, won a title in their first season in the city after relocating from Los Angeles. The second pro team, the Jazz, have fared quite differently after moving from New Orleans in 1979. Despite reaching the playoffs for 20 consecutive seasons starting in '83-'84, the Jazz never brought home a trophy. Franchise legends Karl Malone and John Stockton hold essentially every record possible for an individual player without a title, while strong later teams built around Deron Williams and Donovan Mitchell have continued the trend. They were looking like a legitimate title contender in '19-'20, but now fans have to question whether Rudy Gobert's coronavirus antics have disrupted their chemistry.
2) Sacramento Kings
At least no one has been talking about the franchise moving lately. The Kings came incredibly close to relocating to Seattle in 2013 but a new arena deal came through to keep them in California's capital for the indefinite future. If they had moved, they wouldn't be leaving behind an especially successful tenure in Sacramento. Since starting play in the city in '85-'86, they have reached the playoffs only 10 times in 33 years, and as far as the Conference Finals just once, in a devastating loss in 2002 that many fans blame on the questionable officiating. They also hold a playoff drought of 14 years and counting, which has broken the NBA record for most seasons for a franchise that was continuously located in one city. Long before moving to Sacramento, this franchise did win a title in 1951 as the Rochester Royals.
1) Phoenix Suns
They're the oldest NBA franchise without a title, over 50 years and counting now, and the three teams closest to them on that list, the Clippers, Jazz, and Nets, have relocated at least once. They're also tied with the Jazz, Nets, and Magic for most NBA Finals appearances without a title, with two. Those two series losses were painful ones, losing out to the Celtics in 1976 after a triple overtime game five defeat, and then in 1993, putting up a valiant effort against Michael Jordan and the Bulls. The "Seven Seconds or Less" Suns of the '00s are arguably the most fondly remembered team era in league history that didn't even reach the NBA Finals, let alone win a title. Things have been dire since then, with miserly owner Robert Sarver racking up lottery pick after lottery pick with no improvement in the standings.