NBA: Ranking the 11 franchises to never win a championship

8. Memphis Grizzlies

Best finish: Conference finals (one time) 

Iconic player(s): Mike Conley, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph 

Championship outlook: Fair 

For the first 15 years of their existence, the Memphis Grizzlies were one of the most underwhelming franchises in the NBA. In those 15 years, they only made the playoffs three times and failed to win a single game in each of those three first-round series.

However, since then, they’ve made the playoffs in seven of their last nine campaigns and even made it to the conference finals in 2013. Before the hiatus, the Grizzlies were on pace to make a return to the playoffs this season, behind the impressive rookie season from Ja Morant.

The early returns on Morant have been great, and he’s looking more and more like a future superstar. The Grizzlies have a foundation for the next era of basketball. Now, the key will be to successfully build around it.