Kings Keep 5th-Longest NBA Conference Finals Drought

With the Knicks' loss, the Kings stay pat on one of the most dreadful lists in the NBA.

Apr 4, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) handles the ball defended by Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5). / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks have not been to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000, keeping their drought alive after losing to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Conference Semi-Finals on Sunday. Their 24-year absence is the third-longest active drought in the league, despite their two-seed status giving fans hope for a better outcome.

The top of the longest active Conference Finals drought list is the Washington Wizards, who have not made a Conference Finals since the Washington Bullets took a trip to the NBA Finals in the 1978-79 season. Despite winning the NBA Finals in 1978, the Wizards franchise has seen little success in the modern era.

The second-longest active drought belongs to the Charlotte Hornets, who have not seen a Conference Finals in their franchise's history. The Charlotte franchise has gone 34 seasons of little-to-no playoff success.

The Sixers have the 4th longest Conference Finals drought in the NBA right now.

Only the Knicks, Hornets, and Wizards have had longer droughts. pic.twitter.com/oN3BhdAVmH

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 10, 2023

The Sacramento Kings, a franchise that recently went 16 seasons without even making the playoffs, holds the fifth-longest active Conference Finals drought at 22 seasons. The Kings have not even reached the second round of the playoffs since 2004, as it has been a rough two decades for Sacramento fans.

While the Kings are on the rise, so are many other NBA franchises. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who have not made a Conference Finals since 2004, ended their drought and are four wins away from a trip to the NBA Finals after taking down the reigning champion Denver Nuggets in Sunday's Game 7.

The Kings need a strong offseason if they want to be the next NBA team to break their Conference Finals drought.

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