The 29 most hopeless fan bases in professional sports

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13, 2015: Cleveland Browns fans hold up signs reading 'HELP' during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 13, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 24-10. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

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Apr 1, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) looks over to the bench in the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Washington Wizards won 106- 99. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

21. Washington Wizards

Last championship: 1977-78

Last winning season: 2014-15

It may be hard to believe, but once upon a time the Washington Bullets ran the post-Bill Russell/pre-Doctor J Eastern Conference in the NBA. They went to three NBA Finals in five years, winning one in 1978. But it’s been a long time since the days of Wes Unseld and Washington D.C. dominance in the NBA. Since that time, the highlight of basketball in the nation’s capital has been an aged Michael Jordan putting on a final comeback display — more an act of defiance against his former employer than anything else.

The Bullets have since been rebranded as the Wizards, but the results have mostly been the same. The franchise went through a 33-year stretch of only making it out of the first round of the playoffs twice (in 1982 and 2005). During that same run they had one fewer seasons of less than 30 (7) wins than total playoff appearances (8).

What is perhaps most frustrating about the Wizards’ issues is that they have repeatedly drafted players that were thought to be the one to turn things around, only to showcase the ability to do so…. after they’d booked on D.C.

In the last 20 years alone, the Wizards have selected Juwan Howard, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, and traded for Chris Webber a year into his career. All of these players went on to great things, but most if it happened in another team’s jersey. Perhaps the team’s most recent building block, 2010 No. 1 pick John Wall, will be able to stick it out long enough to turn things totally around.

Next: 20. Seattle Mariners