While countless NBA teams had success in the 2000s, others — sadly — did not. In fact, for some teams, the years from 2000 to 2010 are ones they’ll never want to think about again! Whether it was due to poor management, bad draft choices, or subpar coaching, here’s a look at the 10 worst NBA franchises of the 2000s.
Charlotte Bobcats
Let’s just say the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) did not get off to a great start when they joined the league in 2004. Their early years were plagued by bad drafting, limited star power, and a lack of consistent coaching.
Los Angeles Clippers
Despite being in one of the NBA’s biggest markets, the Los Angeles Clippers struggled due to poor ownership under Donald Sterling. Not to mention, they were also plagued by injuries and mishandled their draft picks
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks spent most of the 2000s mired in mediocrity and dysfunction. Simply put, bad trades, poor draft picks, and an unwillingness to rebuild led to a revolving door of players and coaches.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite having one of the best players in Kevin Garnett, the Minnesota Timberwolves only made one playoff appearance in the 2000s. One! The team didn’t bring in enough talent to support Garnett, which then led to many first-round exits.
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards had very limited success in the 2000s, primarily due to Gilbert Arenas’s injury issues and off-court troubles. Although they made a few playoff appearances during these years, the team also went through multiple rebuilding phases.
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings were competitive early in the decade, but questionable management decisions quickly sent the team into a downward spiral. After their Western Conference Finals appearance in 2002, they failed to rebuild effectively and had several losing seasons in a row.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks struggled to gain traction throughout the 2000s. Their inability to draft well or attract top free agents kept them from breaking into the top of the Eastern Conference.
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Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors struggled after they traded Vince Carter in 2004. In fact, while they had a few young prospects, they struggled to ever put together a competitive team.
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Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks were a struggling franchise for most of the 2000s. In fact, they were near the bottom of the league until a series of solid draft picks helped them climb back to playoff contention.
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Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are one of the NBA’s top franchises, but the 2000s were challenging, to say the least. Despite the excitement surrounding the 2007 “We Believe” team, they couldn’t capitalize on the success and quickly returned to their losing ways.
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