Since 2010, the hierarchy in the NBA has been completely turned upside down. Gone were the days of low-scoring defensive battles and arriving was the offensive resurrection that we have come to enjoy today. With the change in play becoming more and more prevalent, all 30 NBA teams went through significant changes which led to different tiers of playoff success and in many cases, failure.
- Tier 7 – No Playoff Games Won
- Tier 6 – Lost In The First Round Of The Playoffs
- Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Tier 5 – Lost In The Second Round Of The Playoffs
- Tier 4 – Lost In The Conference Finals
- Tier 3 – Lost In The NBA Finals
- Tier 2 – Won One NBA Championship
- Tier 1 – Won Multiple NBA Championships
Below is a brief look into the best places that every team has finished since the 2010 season in the NBA. There are teams that became dynasties like the Golden State Warriors with four NBA championships in an eight-year span. There are also the teams who haven’t even recorded a single playoff win like the Detroit Pistons. Let’s take a closer look at the playoff journeys of all 30 teams since 2010.
This is every NBA team’s biggest playoff success since 2010 by tiers.
Tier 7 – No Playoff Games Won
Detroit Pistons
Unfortunately for the Detroit Pistons, the last 14 years have not been good to them and with a 2-15 start to 2023-24, it doesn’t look like the misery will let up anytime soon. Since 2010, the Pistons have made just two playoff appearances, both resulting in first-round sweeps at the hands of their opponents.
In 2016, Detroit would be swept by future NBA champion, the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2019, they would be swept by the Milwaukee Bucks led by MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Since 2016, the Pistons have failed to record a .500 record or better and have not won more than 23 games since 2020.
Tier 6 – Lost In The First Round Of The Playoffs
Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves
The following three NBA teams on Tier 6 were good enough to make the NBA playoffs while stealing one or more games from their opponent but failed to secure the series overall. The Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats have been to the playoffs three times since 2010. In 2010, they lost to the Orlando Magic in a sweep which was the same result as their 2014 matchup with the Miami Heat. In 2016, they would finally record a playoff win and push the Heat to seven games but lost by 33 points in Game 7.
The Sacramento Kings broke their 17-year-long playoff drought just last season in 2022-23. Not only did they win 48 games but they proceeded to push the defending NBA champions to seven games in the series. It would take seven games and 50 points from Stephen Curry in Game 7 to take down the Kings who are one of the teams on the rise in the NBA in 2023-24 led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have also been to three postseasons since 2010 with all of their trips coming since 2018. After years of falling short, the Timberwolves have come on as of the last few years. They fought valiantly against the Nuggets in 2023 as well as the Grizzlies in 2022. They lost both of those series in six games as opposed to their other playoff trip in 2018 when they lost in five games to the Houston Rockets.
Tier 5 – Lost In The Second Round Of The Playoffs
Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards
The following six NBA teams have all advanced to the second round or Conference Semifinals of the NBA playoffs since 2010 but no further than that. The Utah Jazz have been to the second round four times over the last 14 years with their most recent appearance coming in 2021 in a loss to the Clippers. Prior to that loss, the Jazz also went to the second round in 2010, 2017, and 2018 where they suffered losses to the Lakers, Warriors, and Rockets respectively.
As for the New York Knicks, they have been to the second round of the NBA playoffs just twice since 2010. In 2013, they went to the second round where they lost in six games to the Indiana Pacers. Their most recent appearance in the second round was just last season in 2022-23. After defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks would fall to the future Conference champion Miami Heat in six games led by Jalen Brunson’s 31.0 points per game.
The Philadelphia 76ers have been cursed when it comes to getting past the second round of the playoffs. Despite having one of the best big men in the game and largely successful regular seasons, the 76ers have failed in all six of their appearances in the Conference Semifinals. This includes the last three seasons in which they have suffered losses to the Hawks, Heat, and Celtics in disheartening fashion.
The New Orleans Pelicans have only made it back to the Western Conference Semifinals once since 2010. This run came in 2018 when the team was still led by Anthony Davis. Despite their momentum along with 27.8 points, 14.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game from Davis in the series, the Pelicans fell to the 2018 Warriors in five games as they went on to repeat as NBA champions.
The Brooklyn Nets have two appearances in the Eastern Conference Semifinals since 2010. In 2014, the Nets would fall to the Miami Heat in five games led by LeBron James’ 30.0 points per game. Brooklyn would get back to the second round in 2021 led by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Unfortunately for them, they would fall in Game 7 thanks to a potential game-winning shot from Durant coming with his toe on the three-point line.
The final team in Tier 5 with losses in the Conference Semifinals is the Washington Wizards. Since 2010, the Wizards have been to the second round three times including back-to-back seasons in 2014 and 2015. In 2014 and 2015, they lost a pair of six-game series against the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers. In their most recent appearance in 2017, they lost in seven games to the Celtics behind 27.4 points per game from Isaiah Thomas.
Tier 4 – Lost In The Conference Finals
Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets
The next eight teams in Tier4 have all gotten as far as the Conference Finals since 2010, failing to make the NBA Finals just narrowly. The first of these teams is the Orlando Magic who advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals one season after making the NBA Finals in 2010. In this 2010 series, the Magic would fall to the Celtics in six games despite 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game from Dwight Howard. The team has made four first-round exits since that time.
The Chicago Bulls have also made just one Conference Finals appearance since 2010 which came during the 2011 season highlighted by MVP Derrick Rose. The Bulls would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat but barely put up a fight. Losing in five games to the newly-formed Big 3 featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Rose led the Nulls with 23.4 points and 6.6 assists per game but it was not enough to muster more than one win against the Heat.
The Portland Trail Blazers have made 10 playoff appearances since 2010 with just one resulting in a trip to the Western Conference Finals. That trip to the NBA’s final four would come in 2019 against the Golden State Warriors. Even without Kevin Durant and with 22.0 points per game apiece from Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Trail Blazers would be swept in four games. They have not appeared in the NBA playoffs since 2020.
The Los Angeles Clippers have yet to appear in an NBA Finals in their franchise’s 54-year history. Prior to 2021, the team had never even been to a Conference Finals before defeating the Utah Jazz in six games in the 2021 playoffs. In the 2021 Western Conference Finals, the Clippers would fall to the Phoenix Suns in six games even with 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game from star Paul George.
The Memphis Grizzlies have had some great teams over the last 14 seasons but none reached the heights that their 2013 squad did. That year, Memphis advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first and only time in franchise history. Memphis would face the San Antonio Spurs who quickly dismissed them in a four-game sweep. Memphis had five players all average double figures in scoring but were never in a position to take home one game in the series.
The Atlanta Hawks had two cracks at the NBA Finals since 2010 and fell short both times in the Eastern Conference Finals. In 2015, the Hawks advanced to the Conference Finals to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers led by LeBron James. Cleveland proved to be too much for Atlanta as they swiftly took care of them in four games. In 2021, Trae Young led the Hawks back to the Conference Finals but they would fall again to the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In 2013 and 2014, the Indiana Pacers had two of their best seasons in franchise history. Star Paul George led Indiana to back-to-back Conference Finals appearances, both against the Miami Heat. In 2013, the Pacers lost in seven games thanks to LeBron James’ 32 points in Game 7. In 2014, Miami would need only six games and 22.8 points per game from LeBron James to eliminate the Pacers. Indiana has not been past the first round since.
Finally, the Houston Rockets are also two-time losers of the Western Conference Finals since 2010. Their first appearance came in 2015 when James Harden dropped 28.4 points per game but Houston fell in five games to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors. In 2018, Houston won 65 games and went back to the Conference Finals against Golden State. Even after going up 3-2 in the series, the Rockets could not contain Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry as the Warriors came back to win the series and their third NBA title in four years.
Tier 3 – Lost In The NBA Finals
Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns
Since 2010, three NBA teams have reached the Finals only to have their hearts broken and be left deprived of championship glory. The Boston Celtics have been to two NBA finals during this stretch with losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. The 2010 loss to Los Angeles came in seven games at the hands of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and company while the 2022 loss featured a fourth championship for the Warriors core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had their best season early on in the 2010s led by an extremely young trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Durant was already a scoring champion and MVP candidate while Westbrook and Harden had yet to reach their top MVP form. In 2012, this young Thunder team ran into the Miami Heat led by their own trio of NBA talent, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The Heat demolished the Thunder in five games in LeBron’s first championship ever.
Lastly, in Tier 3, we have the Phoenix Suns. Back in 2021, the Suns hit their stride at the perfect time heading into the NBA playoffs with Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton all making contributions. The Suns went through the Lakers, Nuggets, and Clippers to reach the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. After building a 2-0 series lead, the Bucks would come back and win four straight games to snatch away Phoenix’s first championship ever.
Tier 2 – Won One NBA Championship
Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets
There have been nine different teams to win NBA championships since 2010, and six of those teams are one-time champions. The first of these teams is the Dallas Mavericks who won their franchise’s first NBA title in 2011. After defeating the Trail, Blazers, Lakers, and Thunder, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks squared off with LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Nowitzki would lead Dallas to a 4-2 series win and claim Finals MVP honors with 26.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game on 41.6% shooting.
The San Antonio Spurs were the next team to win one NBA championship. After losing in the Finals in 2013 to the Miami Heat, the Spurs got their revenge in the 2014 series in dominant fashion. It took just five games for San Antonio to defeat Miami, led by Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard’s sensational defensive display along with 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Two years later, Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers would pull off the greatest upset in NBA playoff history. After leaving Miami for Cleveland in 2015, James led them to their second straight NBA Finals appearance in 2016. Their opponent was the 73-9 Golden State Warriors, and after falling behind 3-1 in the series, their chances looked bleak. Then, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving would lead the Cavaliers to three straight wins and their first title in franchise history. James was named Finals MVP for the third time with 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game.
The 2019 season would be the next time we saw a one-time champion over the last 14 years. The Toronto Raptors led by a newly-acquired Kawhi Leonard would go on to shock the world in their 2019 playoff run. After winning 58 games, the Raptors earned their way to the NBA Finals to take on the Warriors who were going for their fourth title in five years. Injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson derailed those hopes as Kawhi Leonard played lights out and completed a miraculous 4-2 series win with Finals MVP honors averaging 28.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
Two seasons later, the Milwaukee Bucks would cash in on their first NBA championship since 1971. The 2021 team was led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and the perfect blend of a supporting cast with Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and Bobby Portis leading the charge. In the 2021 NBA Finals, the Bucks met the Phoenix Suns who jumped out to a 2-0 series lead. Giannis Antetokounmpo completely took over from that point, leading Milwaukee to four straight wins and the NBA championship. Giannis became Finals MVP with 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.
As you can see, five of these championship teams over the last 14 years won the first championship in franchise history. The final member to join that list was the Denver Nuggets just last season in 2022-23. The Nuggets, led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, sliced their way through the Western Conference playoffs fairly easily, setting up a date with the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Jokic and the Nuggets would make quick work of the Heat in five games with Jokic as the best player on the court with 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game.
Tier 1 – Won Multiple NBA Championships
Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat
As you can see, three NBA teams were able to outshine the other 27 over the last 14 seasons with multiple runs to the NBA championship. No team has won as much as the Golden State Warriors since 2010, winning four NBA titles while advancing to six NBA finals. The Warriors picked up wins over the Cavaliers in 2015, 2017, and 2018 and then took home their fourth championship in an eight-year span in 2022.
The Los Angeles Lakers have won two NBA championships in a tale of two completely different eras for their franchise. The 2010 NBA championship came in a grudge match to avenge their 2008 Finals loss to the Boston Celtics. Kobe Bryant would lead them to victory in seven games over Boston in 2010 for his fifth NBA title and second Finals MVP. In 2020, the duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the Lakers to an NBA championship during the Bubble. James would claim his fourth NBA title and fourth Finals MVP award in his career after the Lakers took down the Heat.
Finally, the Miami Heat have also won two NBA championships since 2010 with six appearances under their belts. The Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh led Miami to four straight finals appearances from 2011 through 2014, winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. The wins saw LeBron James capture his first two championships and Finals MVP awards, defeating the Thunder in five games in 2012 and the Spurs in seven games in 2013.
