10 Worst NBA Franchises Since 2000
What criteria mattered? Playoff success, obviously. And incompetency in the front office, too.
10. Portland Trailblazers – A team you probably didn’t expect to see on this list. But they haven’t won a playoff series since the 2000 playoffs (0-6). You may remember the moment: Portland blew a 15-point 4th quarter lead on the road in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, and the Lakers advanced. The franchise has never recovered.
9. LA Clippers – Despite the club’s recent popularity (Blake Griffin! CP3! Lob City!) Donald Sterling’s Clippers have been a disaster over the last 12 seasons. Only two trips to the playoffs (06, 12; but won a series each time), and two seasons over .500. Probably should have knocked them down a few pegs for having Donald Sterling.
8. Sacramento Kings – The C-Webb/Vlade/White Chocolate years seem like forever ago. Might as well be – the Kings haven’t finished over .500 since 2006.
7. Washington Wizards – In the middle of the 00s, they had a nice run with Gilbert Arenas, but that only resulted in one playoff series win (2004-2005). Everything besides that solid 4-year stretch from 05-08? Yuck. Absolute disaster on multiple levels. Two words: Kwame Brown.
6. Milwaukee Bucks – No playoff series victories since 2001, when Glenn Robinson, Sam Cassell and Ray Allen lost in Game 7 of the Conference Finals to Allen Iverson’s 76ers. Since then? 0-4 in the first round. Finished above .500 just once since 2002-2003. Still kicking themselves for drafting Andrew Bogut over Deron Williams and Chris Paul.
5. Golden State Warriors – If not for the magical 2007 postseason – when they shocked top-seeded Dallas – the Warriors might be No. 1 on this list. Going back to 1995, the Warriors have finished above .500 … twice! Happened in 2007 and 2008. That’s rotten. Wanna cringe at their draft history? Ike Diogu. Patrick O’Bryant. Ekpe Udou.
4. Toronto Raptors – Last won a playoff series in 2001 (2nd longest drought in the NBA). But at least they’ve been to the playoffs recently (2007, 2008). Guess they miss Chris Bosh, huh?
3. Charlotte Bobcats – Since joining the league in 2004, they don’t have a playoff victory (swept in 2010 by the Magic), so surely some will say they should top this list. What helps that argument: last year’s 7-59 mark. Only been above .500 once in eight seasons. Hideously bad, indeed. Note: Yes, Michael Jordan is tied to two of the Top 7 teams.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves – Bumbling, inept franchise (Darko!) should be a contender for the playoffs next season with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. But the Wolves have been garbage since Kevin Garnett left. Last year over .500? Way back in 2004-2005. Last playoff series win? In 2003-2004 (lost in the conference finals to the Lakers).
1. New York Knicks – Last playoff series win? That came all the way back in the 1999-2000. Longest drought in the NBA. Let it sink in: the Knicks have gone 12 years without winning a playoff series. Postseason record in that span? Three wins, 15 losses. One word currently describe this mess: Futility. James Dolan, you’re a contender for worst owner in sports. Isiah Thomas, Stephen Marbury, Jerome James, Jared Jeffries, Eddy Curry … I’m off to induce vomiting.

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93 Responses to “10 Worst NBA Franchises Since 2000”
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July 18th, 2012 at 12:32 PM
“Suddenly, the Knicks are loaded.”
July 18th, 2012 at 12:35 PM
2013-2014 Dallas Mavericks.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:37 PM
I think the Bulls have to at least be in the discussion…
July 18th, 2012 at 12:37 PM
KAAAAAAAHN is happy he’s not on the bottom of this list.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:38 PM
as a baseball traditionalist, I demand the Orlando Magic be added to this list somewhere between positions 8 and 9.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:38 PM
I don’t get listing Darko for Minnesota…it’s not like that FA signing (which has been amnestied) even begins to explain Minnesota.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:38 PM
serious question: where would the Knicks be on this list if they’d kept Jeremy Lin? I’ll hang up and listen.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:40 PM
New York Knicks = USS Brigadoon
July 18th, 2012 at 12:40 PM
Every year local Pollyannas talk themselves into the Raptors and booze money in my pocket. Not sure if it’s something specific about this team attracting morons or part of a larger trend of Canadians being terrible at gambling.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:41 PM
Knicks worse that the Bobcats? C’mon Mr. JMac, your bias is showing.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:41 PM
they’d actually be on the ten best teams list if they kept Lin.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:41 PM
Seriously? Made playoffs 7 of last 8 seasons including the best record in the NBA 2 years in a row.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Well, we found a way for the Knicks to be #1!!!!
July 18th, 2012 at 12:42 PM
You know baseball is in the middle of its season now, right?
July 18th, 2012 at 12:43 PM
New Jersey has been pretty much useless for about 6 straight years.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:43 PM
TBL probably thinks they drafted him.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Jesus, Jason. How much did you pay for the Jeremy Lin t-shirsey? Will you relax the Knicks if we all chip in and send you $17.95?
July 18th, 2012 at 12:44 PM
ONLY 28 MORE DAYS TIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT!!!
/national asstime
July 18th, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Some good stuff on the Astros at baseball prospectus the last two days. Sorry about Jed Lowrie.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Sure…but since 2000 they have a couple of finals appearances.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:45 PM
OK, I’ve slowed down and pressed ctrl+f5, let’s try it again:
Donald Sterling’s Clippers have been a disaster over the last 12 seasons
This is too generous. You know what? It’s not even satisfying to have to say it a second time. I was happy with my first sentence construction but that beautifulness is gone to the wind
July 18th, 2012 at 12:45 PM
I would have the Clippers 3 or 4 spots higher (lower?) based mostly on Sterling.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:45 PM
And the hit parade continues. No way are the Bobcats NOT number one on an unbiased, “let’s not try to let personal feelings interject” list.
Shut up already.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:45 PM
ONLY 28 MORE DAYS TIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT!!!
/national asstime
The Indians have got to be more interesting than what the Browns will do this year.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:46 PM
The Knicks let last year’s MVP walk. I agree, Terrible franchise.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:46 PM
I thought TBL was a Lakers fan in 2000?
July 18th, 2012 at 12:46 PM
The Wolves gave Darko 4 years, $20 million.
He was just waived two years after that awful deal.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Did he get hurt? Bummer.
@BrianMac suggested Swihart, Cecchini, and Pimentel for Garza in their weekly chat. I closed the window. You keep your crappy pitchers in Illinois, where they belong, thank you very much.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:47 PM
But have you seen their new logo and team merch??!?!?!
Contenders!
July 18th, 2012 at 12:47 PM
They beat the Milwaukee Bucks to get there. The East was really bad as a whole when they had Kidd, Kittles, RJ and K-Mart. I mean, think about that. Those 4 were the best players on the best team in the East at one point. Ew.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:47 PM
No way, Weeden might win ROY and then retire from old age.
/Also Richardson
July 18th, 2012 at 12:47 PM
ridiculously underachieved since 2000…also, they may have been great in the regular season, but in the playoffs they have been exposed as a 1 man baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand a 1 man baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand
July 18th, 2012 at 12:48 PM
fixed.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Damn, I was hoping this would be a Lisk joint
July 18th, 2012 at 12:49 PM
YES.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Some good stuff on the Astros at baseball prospectus the last two days. Sorry about Jed Lowrie.
Yep, I’ll live with it though. I keep telling myself how young this team is. But I can’t hide my disappointment in Jason Castro, among others.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
/team Trout
//where’s Yardwork?
July 18th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
The Knicks have finally made a turn in the right direction over the past few years between bringing in Amare, Melo, and Chandler, and by also not overpaying for a marketing gimmick of a PG.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Lists! On a sports blog! Fuck yeah!!
July 18th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
I think we’re at a point where we really can’t hold the fact that a small market team didn’t draft a 1st or 2nd All-NBA teamer against them. It’s not like Milwaukee was gonna keep Chris Paul or Deron Williams past their rookie contract anyways. What with most NBA stars more concerned with being “global icon” or “expanding their brand” over sticking it out with a small market team and work hard to try to win a championship.
I realize OKC shots hole in that theory, but Durant just happen to be more like Duncan than Shaq. personality wise. They just got lucky.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
No..golf is fucking boring and..not a sport..
July 18th, 2012 at 12:51 PM
Garza isn’t a crappy pitcher and I don’t know much about the three pitchers suggested in a trade. If they’re in the Red Sox system, then it doesn’t matter. I doubt Boston makes another deal with Theo since he knows the system so well.
Please fix the website, Jason. There’s no longer a component of discussion here and it’d be great if we could have an uninterrupted conversation during the next Lisk Magic Football post.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:51 PM
No way, Weeden might win ROY and then retire from old age.
/Also Richardson
Remember how excited the Bengals were in the off season after they drafted KiJana Carter? Yeah.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:51 PM
What I saw about almost every non-Lisk post.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:51 PM
The Pistons post 2007 have been an awful franchise.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:52 PM
*say
Now I am posting too quickly.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:53 PM
I actually think they somewhat overachieved during the mid-2000s. Saying they have been great during the regular season doesn’t help you’re argument. And, a 1-man band is fine when that guy is an MVP.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:53 PM
i remember the texans after they signed ahman green…does that help?
July 18th, 2012 at 12:53 PM
I am aware…but I think of all things that cripple a franchise, $5M/year to a bench guy isn’t one of them. Drafting 3 PGs in one draft, and drafting the worst one first, while flipping the most productive to date should be on the list? Losing draft picks for salary cap circumvention for Joe Smith!
July 18th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
I know a ton of people who are jumping on the browns over 4.5 wins this year. I have no fucking clue how the are so optimistic looking at the schedule. Than again, they are Browns fans.
/This is my 10th time trying to post this fast comment.
//So fucking annoying
July 18th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
I find it boring, also, but as someone who can spend an entire afternoon watching track & field and be completely engaged, it’s not my place to judge.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Swihart is a switch-hitting catcher they threw a bunch of money at to bail on U Texas. Pimentel is meh and Cecchini is decent and far away. I just don’t really think the Sox need to make that trade. I don’t really care for Garza or Dempster, and I don’t think you trade either for Lester + a prospect.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
I blame Pedo State U’s trainers. Ki Jana wasn’t ready for that first professional cut.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:55 PM
The Columbus Bluejackets should be number 1 on this list.
/Scott Howson’s a loser and terrible GM
July 18th, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Hey, my favorite black guy with an incredibly Irish name.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:56 PM
I’m enjoying this war. Next week, ms621 invites Trent Richardson to a flag football game in Hawaii.
/Robert Edwards’d
July 18th, 2012 at 12:57 PM
i remember the texans after they signed ahman green…does that help?
You’re a hippie who hangs out with French people and shrugs a lot.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:57 PM
I love how Banders just randomly pops in from time to time to offer his opinion. You should hang out here some more. Judging by the commenters that keep falling off like flies, we could use all the help.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Whoa, whoa. Don’t bring me into this.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:58 PM
I think he should do some writing for the site.
July 18th, 2012 at 12:59 PM
I think he should do some writing for the site.
I agree.
May I suggest the nom de plume of Cap Rooney?
July 18th, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Yes. It’s divine.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Laughed so hard at this.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:00 PM
The Browns and Bengals should become one team like Antigua and Barbuda.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Nah, Lisk is much better than me. He manages to make oodles of data both comprehensible and entertaining. I’m more of the “/Looks at stat sheet. Wow, they were really bad on third down, that must be why they lost. Print!”
July 18th, 2012 at 1:01 PM
im cool with that.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Yeah, until that MVP gets shut the fuck down by LeBron and the TEAM goes home without a title. By the way, I’m a Bulls fan.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:01 PM
No one is saying it was a good deal. I guess the point was that the Twolves have made 5 or 6 moves far worse than that. A 5M contract in the NBA isn’t huge.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Reggie Cleveland all-star
July 18th, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Lolz at Cavs entering the Dwight Howard talks.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:04 PM
why waste the time?
July 18th, 2012 at 1:04 PM
You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.
I don’t know you, USATBLSIT, but I hate you more than anyone I have ever known in my life.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:06 PM
My thoughts exactly. It’s absolutely pointless.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:08 PM
The Knicks were one of the better teams in the NBA once Woodson took over, even after Lin got hurt. They ran into the eventual NBA champs in the first round, where Chandler got the flu, Shump and Davis blew out their knees, and Amare busted his hand. They’ll be fine.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:09 PM
im cool with that.
Drat.
/resorts to “you live in Cleveland” jokes.
//remembers that you’re cool with that too.
///drat.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:13 PM
LeBron guarded him for like 15 minutes total in that series, but that’s besides the point. Losing to the Heat in the 2011 playoffs doesn’t mean they are one of the 10 worst francishes in the NBA.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Drat.
/resorts to “you live in Cleveland” jokes.
//remembers that you’re cool with that too.
///drat.
how about: Long-Putter wielding Brigadoon
July 18th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Where’s Dallas on this list? Sure they won a title, but their defense of that title was a joke.
/Simmons
//and probably TBL
July 18th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
how about: Long-Putter wielding Brigadoon
Oooh, that’s good.
Spencer, you’re a belly-putter using sumbitch.
/Boom. Roasted.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Wait until next year when they go 10-72
July 18th, 2012 at 1:24 PM
This has nothing to do with anything but Fuzzy was on Feherty and it was awesome. He took a massive shit on the Belly/Long putter and slow players. I would suggest trying to catch it.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Three of the four California teams are on here…at least we (sort of) have the niners.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:28 PM
HOW DARE YOU POST THIS WITHOUT FIRST SAYING JORDAN IS THE BEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME AND THATS ALL THE MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!11111
/can’t remember who jumped on me about Jordan’s legacy a while back
//oh wait!
///nope. still can’t remember
////side note: first comment i have posted in a week or so but apparently i posted it too quickly?
July 18th, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Being too hungover to defend title is a perfectly acceptable justification.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:32 PM
There sure doesn’t seem to be much competitive balance in the NBA.
July 18th, 2012 at 1:37 PM
BRIGADOON!
July 18th, 2012 at 1:37 PM
One player has way too much influence in a basketball game compared to baseball, football, soccer etc.
July 18th, 2012 at 2:17 PM
c’mon, TBL. Bobcats have to be #1.
July 18th, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Milwaukee Bucks – No playoff series victories since 2001, when Glenn Robinson, Sam Cassell and Ray Allen lost in Game 7 of the Conference Finals to Allen Iverson’s 76ers. Since then? 0-4 in the first round. Finished above .500 just once since 2002-2003.Still kicking themselves for drafting Andrew Bogut over Deron Williams and Chris Paul.
I think we’re at a point where we really can’t hold the fact that a small market team didn’t draft a 1st or 2nd All-NBA teamer against them. It’s not like Milwaukee was gonna keep Chris Paul or Deron Williams past their rookie contract anyways. What with most NBA stars more concerned with being “global icon” or “expanding their brand” over sticking it out with a small market team and work hard to try to win a championship.
I realize OKC shots hole in that theory, but Durant just happen to be more like Duncan than Shaq. personality wise. They just got lucky.
Outside of the next Lebron coming to Milwaukee or Cleveland or wherever, what can a team like this do to actually ever be competitive in the NBA today? San Antonio is amazingly efficient for a smaller market(though had some great talent stay home the last 20 years) and OKC can build around Durant. The Bucks are just fodder for the bigger market teams. How the hell do you root for this team knowing there is no chance. They Packers do great in the NFL being small market. The Brewers new owner makes them competitive and raises there payroll. NBA basketball needs 2-3 stars to make a run, and being in a big market is a major advantage. The Knicks being #1 is funny, since if I had to put a longer term bet on who is the most primed to win in the next 30 years, you gotta say Knicks even with current management. Kohl is good owner, he seems to hire good people, I just don’t know how Milwaukee can compete in today’s NBA.
July 18th, 2012 at 2:37 PM
/much better at reading than commenting
July 18th, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Drafting Bogut over Paul and Williams has nothing to do with being a small market team. It has everything to do with overvaluing a foreign player while devaluing American ones. It’s been a plague in the NBA for the past 10 years or so.
July 19th, 2012 at 7:49 AM
This, I found funny. Syrup of ipecac can help you with that. (I keed, I keed.)
Jason, my heart bleeds for you, brotha. As we saw briefly last year, when the Knicks are good it draws casual eyeballs to the Association.
When they stink, well…
July 19th, 2012 at 8:23 AM
Bogut played college basketball in the United States and won the Naismith award, so he’s nothing at all like a normal International player. That really has nothing to do with it. It is more about the premium paid to size / a big man at play here. That’s led teams to draft players like Oden, Olowokandi, Bowie et al over talented guards.