Sep 10, 2026 · 1h 52m
NBA drought rankings expose seven franchises’ divergent futures
The Seven Teams Without a Playoff Series Win in the 2020s!
The episode tests whether ending a playoff drought reflects genuine organizational progress or merely a favorable short-term window.
- 1Orlando, Charlotte, Portland, Washington, New Orleans, Chicago, and Sacramento face different paths out of the 2020s drought.
- 2Long-term rankings turn on ownership, draft equity, young cores, roster flexibility, and organizational stability more than immediate talent.
- 3Luke Epplin’s account of the 1983 Sixers shows how Moses Malone transformed a talented, dysfunctional team into a dominant champion.
Don't miss
Luke Epplin explains how Moses Malone’s arrival transformed Philadelphia and why Malone insisted teammates share the credit.
The brief
Zach Lowe and Law Murray rank the seven NBA teams without a playoff series win in the 2020s, separating immediate postseason chances from deeper organizational health.
The debate turns on injuries, depth, ownership, draft equity, young cores, and roster flexibility, with Portland and New Orleans emerging as tests of organizational direction.
A hypothetical Domantas Sabonis trade exposes Sacramento’s limited leverage: finding a deal for his contract and skill set that meaningfully improves the Kings is difficult.
Luke Epplin discusses Moses and the Doctor, tracing the 1983 Sixers’ personalities, ABA roots, rivalries, dysfunction, and unusually candid media culture.
The standout history is Moses Malone’s arrival in Philadelphia, which Epplin presents as the force that aligned the Sixers’ talent, leadership, and championship ambition.
Books & mentions
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