The NBA runs on star power and friendly competition these days, but Dillon Brooks still operates from a different playbook. The Phoenix Suns defender built his reputation on what he calls the “dark arts” – a mix of physical defense and mental warfare designed to throw opponents off balance.

Brooks brought that energy into the spotlight again after the Suns locked up the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix dropped a game to Portland before bouncing back with a win over the Golden State Warriors.

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Dillon Brooks takes aim at OKC

That victory set up a first-round playoff clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and known for playing with an edge.

After the Suns rolled past the Warriors 111-96, Brooks sat down for an interview on “NBA on Prime” and didn’t hold back when the topic turned to OKC.

“There are a lot of foul baiters on that team,” Brooks said. “We gotta show our hands. I hope it’s the real playoffs. We can’t be calling too many calls but… Show your hand, we gotta follow the scout, follow them in the paint, and be able to have our rotations proper.”

Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, and Steve Nash laughed at the comment, but nobody challenged him on it.

Brooks made it clear Phoenix planned to match Oklahoma City’s intensity and wouldn’t get caught up in the whistle game. The Suns rank among the league’s top defensive units, so this confidence is earned.

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Brooks wasn’t just talking in general terms either. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 9.0 free throw attempts per game during the regular season, and the Thunder offense leaned heavily on drawing contact.

Brooks frustrates opponents because his defense goes beyond physicality. He crowds players constantly, takes away space, and stays attached to his assignment like glue. The pressure builds over time rather than in single moments.

Players lose their cool dealing with him because the contact never stops and the room to operate shrinks possession after possession. That style wears down even the most disciplined scorers, and Gilgeous-Alexander appears to be Brooks’ next target in a long line of stars who’ve dealt with his relentless approach.

In a league defined by dynasties and championship banners, there exists another, quieter narrative—one shaped not by triumph, but by persistence. The NBA franchises with the most seasons played without a title, as highlighted by CBS Sports, represent a compelling cross-section of professional basketball history. Teams like the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, and Indiana Pacers have each spent decades chasing a championship that has remained just out of reach. Yet, to frame their histories solely through the lens of absence would be to miss the richness of their journeys.

These organizations have consistently contributed to the fabric of the league—producing Hall of Fame talent, iconic playoff moments, and eras of legitimate contention. From the Suns’ fast-paced innovation to the Jazz’s disciplined excellence, and from the Clippers’ transformation into a modern contender to the Nets’ ambitious roster-building experiments, each franchise reflects a different pathway toward relevance. The Pacers, meanwhile, embody a model of sustained competitiveness rooted in identity and culture.

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What binds these teams is not failure, but endurance. Their stories reveal how difficult it is to win even a single NBA championship, and how narrow the margin often is between legacy and longing. In many cases, these franchises have come within a series—or even a possession—of altering their historical trajectory. As such, their title droughts are not merely statistical footnotes; they are ongoing narratives shaped by resilience, reinvention, and the ever-present possibility of breakthrough.

1. Phoenix Suns — 58 seasons, 0 titles

The Phoenix Suns have long been one of the NBA’s most competitive yet unfulfilled franchises. Since their founding in 1968, they’ve made multiple deep playoff runs, including three trips to the NBA Finals (1976, 1993, and 2021), but have fallen short each time. The Suns have featured iconic players such as Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, and Devin Booker, often producing high-powered offenses and entertaining basketball. Despite consistent relevance and periods of contention, a championship has remained elusive, making their drought one of the most notable in league history.

2. Los Angeles Clippers — 56 seasons, 0 titles

The Los Angeles Clippers’ history has been defined by long stretches of futility punctuated by recent competitiveness. Originally founded as the Buffalo Braves, the franchise struggled for decades with instability, poor ownership, and limited playoff success. Their fortunes shifted in the 2010s with the “Lob City” era and later with the acquisitions of stars like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Still, the Clippers have never reached the NBA Finals, and their title drought reflects both their turbulent past and the challenge of overcoming it.

3. Utah Jazz — 52 seasons, 0 titles

The Utah Jazz have been a model of consistency without capturing the ultimate prize. The franchise reached its peak in the late 1990s behind Hall of Famers Karl Malone and John Stockton, making back-to-back Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, only to be denied by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Known for strong coaching, disciplined play, and loyal fan support, the Jazz have remained competitive across multiple eras. Yet, despite their sustained success and playoff appearances, a championship has continually slipped just out of reach.

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4. Brooklyn Nets — 50 seasons, 0 titles

The Brooklyn Nets, formerly the New Jersey Nets, have experienced flashes of prominence but lack an NBA championship to validate their efforts. They reached the Finals in 2002 and 2003, led by Jason Kidd, but were overmatched both times. More recently, the franchise assembled a star-studded roster featuring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, raising expectations dramatically. However, injuries and chemistry issues derailed that era, leaving the Nets still searching for their first NBA title.

5. Indiana Pacers — 50 seasons, 0 titles

The Indiana Pacers have a rich basketball tradition, including success in the ABA, but have yet to win an NBA championship since joining the league in 1976. Their most notable NBA achievement came in 2000 when Reggie Miller led them to the Finals, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, and last year when they went against the Oklahoma City Thunder where they lose too. The Pacers have consistently fielded competitive teams, often built around strong defense and disciplined play. Despite their stability and passionate fan base, the franchise remains in pursuit of its first NBA crown.

Conclusion

The absence of a championship does not diminish the significance of these franchises; if anything, it underscores the difficulty of sustained success in the NBA. Each team’s history is marked by moments that suggest how close they have come—and how much they still have to prove. Ultimately, their continued pursuit keeps one of the league’s most compelling storylines alive: the chase for a long-awaited first title.