The postseason has long been a stage where familiar contenders return year after year, yet scattered across league history are teams whose playoff trips have become rare sightings, brief sparks in stretches defined by rebuilding identities.

For some franchises, reaching spring basketball has meant battling through unstable rosters, unlucky timing or cycles that never quite align. Their appearances arrive in short bursts.

These teams carry stories shaped by scarcity—moments of promise followed by long waits that test patience and reshape expectations. Their paths offer a different lens on NBA competition, one built less on tradition and more on the pursuit of a breakthrough.

New Orleans Pelicans | 9 playoff appearances

The New Orleans Pelicans stand out in the playoff scarcity conversat

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