10 Pro Sports Franchises With The Longest Championship Droughts
By Daniel Friedman
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The Golden State Warriors ended their 40-year NBA title drought on Tuesday night, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. They join a list of several teams that have ended lengthy gaps between championships in recent years -- including the Chicago Blackhawks, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins.
However, there are still plenty of franchises that haven't won a championship in a long time, and we'll look at the 10 that have been waiting the longest.
(NOTE: For this list, only teams that have won a championship are being taken into consideration. So, for example, the Buffalo Sabres and Houston Astros won't be found here.)
10. New York Knicks (42 years)
Their last NBA title came in 1973, and by the looks of things, they won't win another until 2073.
9. Milwaukee Bucks (44 years)
Oscar Robertson helped the Bucks win a championship in his first season with the team. It's been a struggle for Milwaukee ever since.
8. Kansas City Chiefs (45 years)
The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV, marking the second consecutive year an AFL team took home the grand prize. Nowadays, well, let's just say it's a good thing the Royals are competing for championships again, because the Chiefs sure aren't.
7. New York Jets (46 years)
The Jets are still trying to replace Joe Namath. Given their performance over the past few seasons, you'd happily sign up for those heartbreaking AFC championship losses again.
6. Toronto Maple Leafs (47 years)
The first pocket calculator was produced in the same year Toronto won their last Stanley Cup, which has come in handy, considering the increasingly larger numbers needed to measure the Leafs' title drought.
5. Atlanta Hawks (57 years)
They were actually the St. Louis Hawks at the time, and they defeated Red Auerbach's Boston Celtics.
4. Detroit Lions (57 years)
The Lions are getting better, but even Barry Sanders couldn't rush his way through this now 57-year barrier between Detroit and a Super Bowl title.
3. Sacramento Kings (64 years)
Like the Hawks, the franchise was located elsewhere at the time. Unlike the Hawks, they weren't even called the Kings -- they were known as the Royals. Multiple relocations and name changes have done nothing to help the Kings win their first championship since 1951.
2. Cleveland Indians (66 years)
Bob Feller and Co. beat the Boston Braves in six games. They haven't won a title since 1948, and last advanced to the World Series in 1997.
1. Chicago Cubs (106 years)
The good news is that if "Back to the Future Part II" is accurate, they'll win the World Series this season. Only problem is, Miami's also in the National League.
