A new NBA season is underway and that can only mean one thing, further elite-level sporting action is just around the corner. The NBA will get underway in a few months and excitement is already reaching a fever pitch ahead of the new campaign. And plenty of that excitement is due to last season’s epic playoffs.
The story of the postseason was undoubtedly the Miami Heat. The American Airlines Center outfit had to play through two additional games just to reach the playoffs, but once they were there, they undoubtedly left their mark. Inspired by the brilliance of Jimmy Butler – who proved once and for all that he is the ultimate big game player – the Heat knocked off the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
The Story of the 2023 Playoffs
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. were left reeling after being dismantled 4-1 despite being heavy favorites. But before the rest of the nation could compose themselves, the Heat were at it again. In the conference semifinals, they knocked off Jalen Brunson and his New York Knicks. That set up a spot in the conference finals against the Boston Celtics, who had topped the Eastern Conference for the majority of the season. Surely the run would end here.
Right? Wrong.
With Jimmy Buckets front and center once more, the Heat raced into a 3-0 series lead and had their spot in the NBA Finals all but confirmed. Not so fast though. Back came the Celtics, reeling off three straight victories to set up a seventh-game decider at the TD Garden.
Finally, the Heat’s luck looked set to run out, however once more, Butler pulled his team out of the fire. The 34-year-old six-time NBA All-Star would top scorer with 28 points as Miami became just the second team in history to reach the NBA finals as an eighth-seed. Unfortunately for them, however, the Denver Nuggets would lay in wait.
The Colorado-based side had a superstar in their own in the form of Nikola Jokić, and the prowess of the Serbian Giant proved too much to manage. He successfully led his side to a 4-1 series victory, handing them the first Larry O’Brien Championship trophy in history. Such was their dominance last term that the latest NBA odds currently make them out to be +475 favorites to make it two straight championships next season.
But while the Heat and the Nuggets were reeling off victory after victory in the most recent postseason, not all teams are so lucky. In fact, some have fans who can’t even remember their team’s last series win. Here are the five teams that have waited the longest to pick up a victory in the postseason.
Charlotte Hornets – 22 Years
The Hornets were established in 1988 and made it to the playoffs in their first year in the NBA. Since then, they have made it to the playoffs only ten times and are without a series victory since reaching back-to-back Conference Semifinals back in 2001 and 2002.
A significant issue facing the Carolina outfit is a lack of star power. While they have had solid rosters, no player has been able to help them kick on and become a force to be reckoned with. With the emergence of point guard LaMelo Ball, who won Rookie of the Year back in 2021, the Hornets’ future looks bright. However, they remain without a playoff berth in seven years, the longest active drought in the NBA today.
Sacramento Kings – 20 Years
The Kings were regular playoff contenders in the early 2000s, making eight consecutive postseason appearances, but they have not made it past the first round since 2004. It looked as though that would change last season as they stunned everyone en route to claiming the Pacific Division title, despite being ranked outsiders. In the postseason, however, they would run into the Golden State Warriors, and the experience of Steph Curry and Co. would be too much to handle, with them eventually running out 4-3 series winners.
The team has struggled with several issues over the last few years, including coaching and ownership changes, as well as injuries to key players, and inconsistent play. With De’Aaron Fox now their captain and undisputed star man, he may very well lead them to glory in the coming years.
Minnesota Timberwolves – 20 Years
The Timberwolves have had a rough run since their inception in 1989. They have qualified for the playoffs plenty of times throughout their history, including racking up eight consecutive postseasons in the late 90s and early 2000s. They broke their playoff hoodoo in 2004 when they reached the Western Conference finals however, that remains the only season in which they have ever won a postseason series.
Following that run, the Timberwolves would have to wait 14 years for their next postseason trip, and guess what? Yes, that too ended in the first round. However, Minnesota has qualified for the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, and brighter pastures could be around the corner.
