There have been some bad NBA teams over the years, but the worst teams in NBA history may not hold a candle to the 2023-2024 Detroit Pistons.
No team has ever finished with a winning percentage worse than .100, but the Pistons continue solidifying their chances of achieving the wrong kind of history.
Here is a look at the 10 worst NBA teams ever.
10. 1998-99 Vancouver Grizzlies
Record: 8-42 (.160)
With a lockout caused by team owners, the NBA had a shortened season in 1998-99. The Vancouver Grizzlies had a standout season from Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but there wasn't enough impact from the team to avoid a poor win-loss record despite adding Mike Bibby with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Despite getting off to a 3-3 start through six games, the Grizzlies closed their campaign, going 5-39 the rest of the way.
9. 1993-94 Dallas Mavericks
Record: 13-69 (.159)
Coming off an even worse season the year prior in 1992-93, the Dallas Mavericks' grand prize for having one of the worst seasons in NBA history was the No. 4 overall pick after some bad lottery luck. After bringing in Jamal Mashburn, under first-year head coach Quinn Buckner, the Mavs failed to show much improvement. Derek Harper was traded to the New York Knicks midseason as the team was 6-42 at the All-Star break.
8. 2004-05 Atlanta Hawks
Record: 13-69 (.159)
Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Despite bringing in Josh Childress (No. 6 pick) and Josh Smith (No. 17) in the 2004 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks could not succeed. After hiring Mike Woodson to be the head coach and trading for Antoine Walker and other veteran players, the Hawks lost 32 of their final 35 games with multiple lengthy losing streaks, including stretches that spanned 13 and 14 straight games.
7. 2009-10 New Jersey Nets
Record: 12-70 (.146)
Anchored by Brook Lopez in the middle, the New Jersey Nets started the season with 18 consecutive losses, never turning their fate around as the worst team in the NBA in 2009-10. No team had ever managed to start a season 0-18 following a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. It wasn't until a win against the Charlotte Bobcats in early December that New Jersey managed to end the streak.
6. 1986-87 Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 12-70 (.146)
In their third season in Los Angeles, the Clippers produced what was at the time the worst winning percentage in franchise history (.146). The team had Mike Woodson as a leading scorer, with a variety of double-figure scorers, but an inability to produce efficient results as a team, or to get stops on defense.
5. 1997-98 Denver Nuggets
Record: 11-71 (.134)
The 1997-98 Denver Nuggets finished with an 11-71 record after getting off to a poor 2-38 start through 40 games, including a 23-game losing streak. The team managed to win a few games after, entering the All-Star break at 4-42 overall. However, the team did not succeed in closing the season, including adding another 16 straight losses along the way.
4. 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks
Record: 11-71 (.134)
Led by the veteran playmaking of Derek Harper, the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks proved unable to achieve much success. The season featured some flashes of potential from midseason addition rookie Jim Jackson, but there wasn't much reason for optimism when looking beyond that.
3. 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 10-72 (.122)
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
With the focus on tanking to pull off "The Process" to land a superstar, the Philadelphia 76ers pulled out all the necessary stops to lose enough to gain the top odds in the 2016 NBA Draft. Doing so enabled them to land Ben Simmons. Still, the team's focus for this particular season was Jahlil Okafor, as Joel Embiid remained sidelined due to a second consecutive season-ending injury. The Sixers broke the record for the longest losing streak in American professional sports history after dropping 27 straight contests.
2. 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 9-73 (.110)
Led by Fred Carter, the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers finished with a 9-73 record. The Sixers set a new record for the longest losing streak in NBA history, dropping 20 consecutive games. Philadelphia finished 59 games behind the eventual champion Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division standings by the end of the regular season.
1. 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats
Record: 7-59 (.106)
Despite adding Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo in the top 10 of the 2011 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Bobcats had a poor 7-59 record during the NBA's lockout-shortened season. The team posted the lowest winning percentage in NBA history, including a staggering 23-game losing streak.
