- The Hornets haven’t made the postseason since 2016.
- Seven teams have been more than two years without making the postseason.
- The Pistons ended their playoff drought in 2025.
Even with the introduction of the play-in tournament, teams are still managing to build long playoff droughts.
Some of it is due to severe mediocrity, while other franchises intentionally miss the playoffs to enhance their draft lottery odds.
It can be a challenge to return from the irrelevance of being an outsider in NBA championship odds, as numerous teams have found in recent years.
Which NBA Teams Have the Longest Playoff Droughts?
| Rank | Team | Years Since Making the Playoffs |
| 1 | Charlotte Hornets | 9 |
| 2 | San Antonio Spurs | 6 |
| T-3 | Portland Trail Blazers | 4 |
| T-3 | Washington Wizards | 4 |
| T-5 | Utah Jazz | 3 |
| T-5 | Toronto Raptors | 3 |
| T-5 | Chicago Bulls | 3 |
| T-8 | Atlanta Hawks | 2 |
| T-8 | Brooklyn Nets | 2 |
| T-8 | Sacramento Kings | 2 |
Which NBA Team Has the Longest Active Playoff Drought?
The Charlotte Hornets have the longest active playoff drought at nine seasons. Charlotte last made the playoffs in 2016, losing a seven-game series to the Miami Heat.
The San Antonio Spurs, one of the most successful franchises in NBA history, have the second-longest drought. San Antonio is on its way back to contention behind the incomparable Victor Wembanyama. There’s a good chance the Spurs are a playoff team for the next decade with their core of Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper.
Tied for the third-longest droughts at four seasons apiece, the Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards are further from contention. Washington is in the depths of a rebuild. Portland made strides in the right direction in 2024-25, but has a long way to go to compete effectively in a stacked Western Conference.
Which NBA Team Had the Longest All-Time Playoff Drought?
The Sacramento Kings have the longest playoff drought in NBA history. Sacramento lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2005-06 and didn’t return to the postseason until a first-round loss at the hands of the Golden State Warriors in 2022-23.
The Kings’ 16-year drought broke the previous record set by the Buffalo Braves/San Diego Clippers/Los Angeles Clippers between 1977 and 1991.
Only six teams in league history have had a playoff drought of a decade or longer. The Kings and Hornets are currently tied at an NBA record 21 seasons without winning a playoff series. Both franchises have lost in the first round in their last four playoff appearances.
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