UJUtah Jazz
UJUtah Jazz has reached the nba champions decider 2 times on record, first in 1996-97 and most recently in 1997-98. 0 wins against 2 runner-up finishes are recorded below, sourced from our full nba champions list.
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
UJUtah Jazz — 0 nba champions.
Franchise history
The Jazz franchise was established as an NBA expansion team in 1974, debuting as the New Orleans Jazz — the name evoking the city's musical heritage. The New Orleans venture struggled financially, and in 1979 the team relocated to Salt Lake City, retaining its incongruous "Jazz" nickname because there was no time before the season to secure league approval for a change. The Utah era took shape through the 1980s as the front office drafted John Stockton (1984) and Karl Malone (1985), who developed into the most prolific pick-and-roll duo in NBA history.
Under head coach Jerry Sloan, the Jazz became one of the league's most consistent teams throughout the 1990s. Their greatest success — and greatest heartbreak — came in back-to-back Finals trips in 1997 and 1998, both against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, the 1998 series famously ending on Jordan's championship-clinching jumper after he stripped the ball from Malone. Despite never capturing a title, Stockton, Malone, and Sloan built one of the most respected small-market franchises in league history.
Sources
Runner-up finishes (2)
See the full nba champions list for the winner each of these years.
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