Pistons coach Chuck Daly famously said, "Once you win a ring, everyone treats you differently." For many great NBA teams, that elusive championship defines how they are remembered.
While the 1980s and 1990s were dominated by dynasties like the Celtics, Lakers, Pistons, and Bulls, several outstanding teams came close but fell short, forever left in the shadow of those champions. From Patrick Ewing’s New York Knicks to Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns, these teams were good enough to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy but never did.
The New York Knicks of the 1990s
Few teams embodied grit and determination like the New York Knicks of the 1990s. Led by Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing, the Knicks were perennial contenders in the Eastern Conference. They reached the NBA Finals in 1994 and again in 1999, but the Knicks never captured the ultimate prize.
In 1994, Ewing and the Knicks pushed the Houston Rockets to seven games but were outdueled by Hakeem Olajuwon. Five years later, a scrappy Knicks squad made an improbable Finals run as an eighth seed, only to fall to the San Antonio Spurs. While the Knicks played with heart and toughness, they often ran into Michael Jordan’s Bulls or the dominant Pistons. Despite their resilience, the lack of a title leaves them in the “what if” category of NBA lore.
The Milwaukee Bucks of the 1980s
The Milwaukee Bucks of the 1980s were another casualty of the NBA’s golden age of dynasties. Coached by Don Nelson and led by stars like Sidney Moncrief, Marques Johnson, and later Terry Cummings, the Bucks were a consistent playoff force. However, they were repeatedly stymied by the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, two of the decade’s dominant franchises.
Though the Bucks regularly won over 50 games, their inability to break through to the Finals was a testament to the unforgiving competition of the era. They remain one of the best teams never to win it all.
The Phoenix Suns and Charles Barkley
When Charles Barkley joined the Phoenix Suns in 1992, the team immediately became a title contender. Barkley, who won the MVP award in 1993, led the Suns to the NBA Finals that season. The Suns were a high-octane offensive powerhouse, with Barkley supported by Kevin Johnson and Traverse City native Dan Majerle.
Despite their talent, the Suns faced an unstoppable opponent in Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The 1993 Finals went six games, with Jordan delivering one of his finest performances. Barkley’s Suns came heartbreakingly close but could not dethrone the Bulls’ dynasty.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (2010s)
The Oklahoma City Thunder of the early 2010s had the talent to dominate the NBA for a decade. With Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, the Thunder reached the Finals in 2012 but lost to the Miami Heat.
The young core was broken up after Harden was traded to Houston, leaving Thunder fans wondering what might have been. Even without Harden, the Thunder remained contenders, but injuries and stiff competition kept them from returning to the Finals.
The Utah Jazz of the 1990s
The Utah Jazz, led by Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton, reached the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. However, they were defeated both times by Jordan’s Bulls. While the Jazz had great regular-season success, some argue they were overrated. Despite their Hall of Fame duo, they lacked the depth and versatility of the league’s truly elite teams.
These teams—bursting with talent and ambition—came close but never crossed the championship threshold. For fans, the memories of their near-misses remain bittersweet, proof of how hard it is to reach the mountaintop in a league dominated by legends. As Chuck Daly’s words remind us, history treats champions differently, leaving these teams as cautionary tales of greatness unfulfilled.
