List of all-time NBA win–loss records

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Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, the team with the best all-time regular season win–loss record percentage in the NBA.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) was founded in 1946 and began operations as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). Following the BAA's merger with the National Basketball League (NBL), the BAA rebranded as the NBA. The 1949–50 NBA season marked the first season following the merger.

The NBA has kept a record of its win–loss statistics since its inception. These records include wins and losses recorded during a team's playing time in the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[a] Defunct BAA/NBA franchises are also accounted for, provided that they played at least one season in the BAA or NBA.[a] The records do not count wins and losses recorded by a team's playing time in the American Basketball Association (ABA), despite the 1976 ABA–NBA merger.[2]

The San Antonio Spurs have the highest win–loss record percentage, with 2,283–1,502 (.603).[3] Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves maintain the lowest win–loss record percentage, with 1,091–1,621 (.402).[3]

The Boston Celtics lead the association with the most played games, with 6,032.[3] Conversely, the Pelicans have played the fewest overall games, with 1,686.[3] The Celtics have also recorded the most wins, with 3,570; the Sacramento Kings have recorded the most losses with 3,221.[3] The Pelicans have also recorded both the fewest wins (782) and losses (904).[3] Of teams established after the ABA–NBA merger, only the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat have a winning regular season record; the Heat are also the lone team founded post-merger to maintain a winning playoff record.

At the end of the regular season, 12 teams (the top 6 seeds per conference) will have clinched a playoff berth. Meanwhile, the 7th through 10th seeds in both conferences enter in a Play-in Tournament to determine both conferences' final two playoff seeds. Through the end of the 2023 Play-In Tournament, the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New Orleans Pelicans are tied for most Play-in games played (3). The Hawks have the most Play-in wins (3), and are tied with the Celtics, Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Portland Trail Blazers for the highest winning percentage, having won all their Play-in games. Five different teams have recorded the most Play-in losses (2), and all five have the lowest Play-in win–loss percentage with an 0–2 record (.000). Play-in game played.

As of the end of the 2023 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers have the most post-season games played (777), wins (464), and losses (313), as well as the highest post-season winning percentage with 464–313 (.597) of any NBA team.[4] The Minnesota Timberwolves have the fewest post-season wins (21) and the lowest post-season winning percentage with 21–42 (.333).[5] The New Orleans Pelicans have the fewest post-season games played (55).[6]

Active franchises

Regular season

Larry Bird, a notable player for the Boston Celtics, the team with the most recorded wins in NBA history.
Kevin Garnett dunking during his tenure with Minnesota Timberwolves, the team with the lowest all-time win–loss record percentage in NBA history.
Best win–loss record in division ⁂
Rank Team GP Won Lost Pct. First NBA season Division Notes
1 San Antonio Spurs 3,867 2,305 1,562 .596
1976–77
 Southwest ⁂
2 Boston Celtics 6,114 3,634 2,480 .594 1946–47 Atlantic ⁂
3 Los Angeles Lakers 5,996 3,550 2,454 .591 1948–49 Pacific ⁂ [b]
4 Utah Jazz 4,032 2,177 1,855 .540 1974–75 Northwest ⁂ [c]
5 Phoenix Suns 4,525 2,429 2,096 .537 1968–69 Pacific
6 Oklahoma City Thunder 4,606 2,470 2,136 .536 1967–68 Northwest [d]
7 Milwaukee Bucks 4,525 2,389 2,136 .528 1968–69 Central ⁂
8 Miami Heat 2,885 1,521 1,364 .527 1988–89 Southeast ⁂
9 Portland Trail Blazers 4,362 2,292 2,070 .525 1970–71 Northwest
10 Philadelphia 76ers 5,941 3,101 2,840 .522 1949–50 Atlantic [e]
11 Houston Rockets 4,606 2,369 2,237 .514 1967–68 Southwest [f]
12 Chicago Bulls 4,680 2,383 2,297 .509 1966–67 Central
13 Dallas Mavericks 3,543 1,797 1,746 .507 1980–81 Southwest
14 Denver Nuggets 3,869 1,954 1,915 .505 1976–77 Northwest
15 Indiana Pacers 3,868 1,930 1,938 .499 1976–77 Central
16 Atlanta Hawks 5,937 2,927 3,010 .493 1949–50 Southeast [g]
17 New York Knicks 6,105 2,974 3,131 .487 1946–47 Atlantic
18 Golden State Warriors 6,103 2,969 3,134 .486 1946–47 Pacific [h]
19 Toronto Raptors 2,310 1,096 1,214 .474 1995–96 Atlantic
20 Detroit Pistons 5,998 2,827 3,171 .471 1948–49 Central [i]
21 New Orleans Pelicans 1,768 831 937 .470 2002–03 Southwest [j]
22 Orlando Magic 2,803 1,315 1,488 .469 1989–90 Southeast
23 Cleveland Cavaliers 4,353 2,032 2,321 .467 1970–71 Central
24 Sacramento Kings 6,005 2,748 3,257 .458 1948–49 Pacific [k]
25 Washington Wizards 5,087 2,272 2,815 .447 1961–62 Southeast
26 Charlotte Hornets 2,713 1,174 1,539 .433 1988–89 Southeast [j]
27 Memphis Grizzlies 2,311 998 1,313 .432 1995–96 Southwest [l]
28 Brooklyn Nets 3,868 1,654 2,214 .428 1976–77 Atlantic [m]
29 Los Angeles Clippers 4,360 1,843 2,517 .423 1970–71 Pacific [n]
30 Minnesota Timberwolves 2,794 1,147 1,647 .411
1989–90
 Northwest
This list is accurate through the end of the 2023–24 NBA season.[9]

Play-in Tournament

Damian Lillard led the Portland Trail Blazers to the first Play-in tournament victory in NBA history.[10]

The NBA introduced a Play-in Tournament in the 2019–20 NBA season to compensate for the suspension of the regular season and a difference in the amount of games played between teams, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2019–20 season, if a conference's 9th seed was within 4 games of the 8th seed in the standings, a play-in scenario between the two seeds would be triggered.[11] The 8th seed would need to win one game, while the 9th seed would need to win two in the matchup.[11] Ultimately, the Western Conference's Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies would face off in a Play-in game.[11]

The future of the Play-in Tournament was then explored, with many reports concurring that it would indeed become a permanent fixture in the NBA.[12][13] Due to the success of the Play-in tournament and the COVID-19 pandemic persisting into the NBA's 2020–21 season, the league installed a Play-in tournament involving both conference's 7th- through 10th-placed teams in the regular season standings.[14][15] The format of the Play-in tournament involves the 7th-place team playing the 8th-place team with the winner clinching the 7th seed in the playoffs. The 9th-place team plays the 10th-place team with the loser being eliminated from playoff contention. The loser of the 7th-8th matchup will then play the winner of the 9th-10th matchup, with the winner clinching the 8th seed and the loser being eliminated.[16]

Best win–loss record in division ⁂
Team active in play-in ‡
Rank Team GP Won Lost Pct. App. Division
1
(tie)		 Atlanta Hawks 3 3 0 1.000 2 Southeast ⁂
Los Angeles Lakers 2 2 0 1.000 2 Pacific ⁂
Boston Celtics 1 1 0 1.000 1 Atlantic ⁂
Brooklyn Nets 1 1 0 1.000 1 Atlantic ⁂
Portland Trail Blazers 1 1 0 1.000 1 Pacific ⁂
6
(tie)		 Memphis Grizzlies 3 2 1 .667 2 Southwest ⁂
Minnesota Timberwolves 3 2 1 .667 2 Northwest ⁂
New Orleans Pelicans 3 2 1 .667 2 Southwest
9
(tie)		 Chicago Bulls 2 1 1 .500 1 Central ⁂
Indiana Pacers 2 1 1 .500 1 Central ⁂
Miami Heat 2 1 1 .500 1 Southeast
Oklahoma City Thunder 2 1 1 .500 1 Northwest
Washington Wizards 2 1 1 .500 1 Southeast
14
(tie)		 Cleveland Cavaliers 2 0 2 .000 1 Central
Charlotte Hornets 2 0 2 .000 2 Southeast
Golden State Warriors 2 0 2 .000 1 Pacific
Los Angeles Clippers 2 0 2 .000 1 Pacific
San Antonio Spurs 2 0 2 .000 2 Southwest
This list is accurate through the end of the 2023 Play-in Tournament.

Playoffs

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, who have recorded both the highest postseason win–loss percentage, and the most postseason wins in NBA history.
Anthony Edwards, a member of the Timberwolves who have also recorded the lowest postseason win–loss percentage.
Best win–loss record in division ⁂
Most recent champion ★
Team active in play-in ‡
Qualified for most recent playoffs ✔
Team in playoff drought †
Rank Team App. GP Won Lost Pct. Last playoff
appearance		 Titles Division
1 Los Angeles Lakers 61 777 464 313 .597 2023 ✔ 17 Pacific ⁂
2 Boston Celtics 60 719 407 312 .566 2023 ✔ 17 Atlantic ⁂
3 Miami Heat 23 290 162 128 .559 2023 ✔ 3 Southeast ⁂
4 Golden State Warriors 37 384 212 172 .552 2023 ✔ 7 Pacific
5 San Antonio Spurs 39 403 222 181 .551 2019 † 5 Southwest ⁂
6 Cleveland Cavaliers 23 234 126 108 .538 2023 ✔ 1 Central ⁂
7 Chicago Bulls 35 349 187 162 .536 2022 † 6 Central
8 Philadelphia 76ers 52 482 248 234 .515 2023 ✔ 3 Atlantic
9 Detroit Pistons 43 370 188 182 .508 2019 † 3 Central
10 Phoenix Suns 32 320 160 160 .500 2023 ✔ 0 Pacific
11 Oklahoma City Thunder 32 331 164 167 .495 2020 † 1 Northwest ⁂
12 New York Knicks 43 391 193 198 .494 2023 ✔ 2 Atlantic
13 Houston Rockets 34 322 158 164 .491 2020 † 2 Southwest
14 Milwaukee Bucks 35 306 150 156 .490 2023 ✔ 2 Central
15 Indiana Pacers 27 241 115 126 .477 2020 † 0 Central
16 Toronto Raptors 13 123 57 66 .463 2022 † 1 Atlantic
17 Dallas Mavericks 24 227 105 122 .463 2022 † 1 Southwest
18 Utah Jazz 31 292 135 157 .462 2022 † 0 Northwest
19 Orlando Magic 16 133 59 74 .444 2020 † 0 Southeast
20 Los Angeles Clippers 17 147 64 83 .435 2023 ✔ 0 Pacific
21 Portland Trail Blazers 36 274 119 155 .434 2021 † 1 Northwest
22 Atlanta Hawks 49 390 168 222 .431 2023 ✔ 1 Southeast
23 Sacramento Kings 29 194 83 111 .428 2023 ✔ 1 Pacific
24 Denver Nuggets 28 230 98 132 .426 2023 ★ 1 Northwest
25 Washington Wizards 30 237 99 138 .418 2021 † 1 Southeast
26 Brooklyn Nets 24 171 70 101 .409 2023 ✔ 0 Atlantic
27 New Orleans Pelicans 8 55 22 33 .400 2022 † 0 Southwest
28 Memphis Grizzlies 13 98 38 60 .388 2023 ✔ 0 Southwest
29 Charlotte Hornets 10 63 23 40 .365 2016 † 0 Southeast
30 Minnesota Timberwolves 11 63 21 42 .333 2023 ✔ 0 Northwest
This list is accurate through the end of the 2023 NBA Finals.

Defunct franchises

17 BAA/NBA franchises are now

Denver Nuggets have the lowest win–loss record percentage, with .177. The Baltimore Bullets have the most games played (450), wins (158), and losses (292) for a defunct NBA franchise. The Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons, Indianapolis Jets, Pittsburgh Ironmen, and Toronto Huskies
are all tied for fewest games played (60).

Only teams that recorded playing time in the BAA/NBA are included, as the NBA does not recap NBL statistics nor does it officially count ABA statistics.

Regular season

Rank Team GP Won Lost Pct. First BAA/
NBA season		 Last BAA/
NBA season
1 Chicago Stags 237 145 92 .612 1946–47 1949–50
2 Washington Capitols 271 157 114 .579 1946–47 1950–51
3 Anderson Packers 64 37 27 .578 1949–50
4 Cleveland Rebels[o] 60 30 30 .500 1946–47
5
St. Louis Bombers
 237 122 115 .515 1946–47 1949–50
6 Indianapolis Olympians 269 132 137 .491 1949–50 1952–53
7 Toronto Huskies[o] 60 22 38 .367 1946–47
8 Sheboygan Red Skins 62 22 40 .355 1949–50
9 Baltimore Bullets[p] 450 158 292 .351 1947–48 1954–55
10 Detroit Falcons[o] 60 20 40 .333 1946–47
11 Waterloo Hawks 62 19 43 .306 1949–50
12 Indianapolis Jets[o] 60 18 42 .300 1948–49
13 Providence Steamrollers[o] 168 46 122 .274 1946–47 1948–49
14 Pittsburgh Ironmen[o] 60 15 45 .250 1946–47
15
Denver Nuggets[q]
 62 11 51 .177 1949–50

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b BAA win–loss records are included, as the NBA claims the BAA's history as its own. For example, at NBA History online its table of one-line "NBA Season Recaps" begins 1946–47 without comment. NBL statistics are not included, as unlike with BAA statistics prior to the BAA-NBL merger, the NBA has not included NBL statistics when recapping their history.[1]
  2. Minneapolis from 1948–1960
    .
  3. ^ The Utah Jazz played in New Orleans from 1974–1979.
  4. ^ The Thunder played as the Seattle SuperSonics from 1967–2008, before relocating to Oklahoma City and rebranding as the "Thunder".
  5. Syracuse Nationals from 1949–1963
    .
  6. ^ The Rockets played in San Diego from 1967–1971.
  7. Tri-Cities Blackhawks, before relocating and rebranding as the Milwaukee Hawks in 1951, and then again to St. Louis in 1955, before settling as the Atlanta Hawks in 1968
    .
  8. 1962. They would rebrand as the Golden State Warriors to begin the 1971–72 season
    .
  9. Fort Wayne from 1948–1957
    .
  10. ^
    Charlotte Bobcats, which began play in the 2004–05 NBA season. The New Orleans Hornets rebranded as the New Orleans Pelicans, with the 2013–14 NBA season being their first under the Pelicans name. The Bobcats then rebranded as the Charlotte Hornets, first playing under the Hornets name in 2014.[7] This second incarnation of Charlotte Hornets retained statistics and records of the original Charlotte Hornets franchise which played from the 1988–89 NBA season to the 2001–02 NBA season, as well as the statistics and records accumulated while playing as the Bobcats.[8] Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans franchise was retroactively regarded as a 2002–03 season expansion franchise, maintaining the statistics and records accumulated from that season onwards, including during their temporary tenure as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets from 2005–2007
    .
  11. Kansas City Kings from 1975–1985. Finally, the franchise settled in Sacramento in 1985
    .
  12. ^ The Grizzlies played in Vancouver from 1995–2001.
  13. New Jersey in 1977. They moved back to New York and rebranded as the Brooklyn Nets in 2012
    .
  14. ^ The Clippers played as the Buffalo Braves from 1970–1978, before rebranding as the Clippers and relocating to San Diego, where they played from 1978–1984. They once again relocated to Los Angeles in 1984.
  15. ^ a b c d e f This team folded prior to the BAA–NBL merger and therefore its history occurred entirely prior to the BAA becoming the NBA.
  16. ^ This team's history and records are not affiliated with the current day Washington Wizards who played as the Baltimore Bullets from 1963–64 to 1972–73.
  17. ^ This team's history and records are not affiliated with the current day Denver Nuggets team.

References

  1. ^ "NBA Season Recaps". National Basketball Association. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Aschburner, Steve (September 5, 2013). "We All Count Numbers But Do All Numbers Count?". Hang Time Blog. National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "NBA & ABA Team Index". Basketball-Reference. Sports-Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  4. ^ "NBA Teams: Los Angeles Lakers Records Year by Year". landofbasketball.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "NBA Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves Records Year by Year". landofbasketball.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "NBA Teams: New Orleans Pelicans Records Year by Year". landofbasketball.com. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  7. ^ Windhorst, Brian (July 19, 2013). "Charlotte Hornets back in 2014-15". ESPN. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  8. ^ Feldman, Dan (May 20, 2014). "Charlotte Hornets assume historical records from New [Orleans] Pelicans". ProBasketballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  9. ^ "All-Time Team Records" (PDF). 2019–20 Official NBA Guide. NBA Properties, Inc. October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Stein, Marc (August 15, 2020). "Damian Lillard Gets Help Moving Portland Out of the Yacht Club". The New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "Everything you need to know about Trail Blazers play-in game(s) vs. Memphis Grizzlies". NBC Sports. August 13, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Wimbish, Jasmyn (April 27, 2021). "NBA wants to adopt postseason play-in tournament permanently, per report". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  13. ^ Feldman, Dan (April 26, 2021). "Report: NBA expected to permanently adopt play-in tournaments". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  14. ^ "NBA 2020-21 season explainer: Schedule, COVID-19 protocols, playoff format and big questions". ESPN. December 6, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  15. ^ "How does the NBA play-in tournament work? Dates, projections and rules explained". ESPN. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021. Since there is a chance for teams to finish with an uneven number of games played because of COVID-19 complications, the NBA will use winning percentage to determine the standings.
  16. ^ "FAQ: NBA Play-In Tournament". National Basketball Association. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
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