List of all-time NBA win–loss records
The following is a listing of all 30 current National Basketball Association (NBA) teams ranked by win-loss record percentage, accurate as of the end of the 2019–20 NBA season. The records include wins and losses recorded by a team's playing time in the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[lower-alpha 1] Defunct BAA/NBA franchises are also listed, provided they played at least one season, beginning with the 1949–50 NBA season, which was the first season following the merger between the BAA and the National Basketball League (NBL).[lower-alpha 2] Additionally, 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 .618.[3] The Minnesota Timberwolves have the lowest win-loss record percentage, with .396.[3] The Boston Celtics have recorded the most wins, with 3,426; the Sacramento Kings have recorded the most losses with 3,094.[3] The Boston Celtics lead the association with the most played games, with 5,796.[3] Conversely, the Pelicans have played the least overall games, with 1,450.[3]
Active franchises
Regular season
The following listing is accurate through the end of the 2019–20 NBA season.[4]
Best win-loss record in division |
Rank | Team | Won | Lost | Pct. | First NBA season | Total games | Division |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Antonio Spurs | 2,194 | 1,355 | .618 | 1976–77 | 3,549 | Southwest |
2 | Los Angeles Lakers | 3,385 | 2,301 | .595 | 1948–49 | 5,686 | Pacific |
3 | Boston Celtics | 3,426 | 2,370 | .591 | 1946–47 | 5,796 | Atlantic |
4 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2,327 | 1,961 | .543 | 1967–68 | 4,288 | Northwest |
5 | Utah Jazz | 2,008 | 1,706 | .541 | 1974–75 | 3,714 | Northwest |
6 | Portland Trail Blazers | 2,169 | 1,875 | .536 | 1970–71 | 4,045 | Northwest |
7 | Houston Rockets | 2,269 | 2,019 | .529 | 1967–68 | 4,288 | Southwest |
8 | Phoenix Suns | 2,220 | 1,987 | .528 | 1968–69 | 4,207 | Pacific |
9 | Miami Heat | 1,338 | 1,229 | .521 | 1988–89 | 2,567 | Southeast |
10 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2,185 | 2,022 | .519 | 1968–69 | 4,207 | Central |
11 | Philadelphia 76ers | 2,900 | 2,723 | .515 | 1949–50 | 5,623 | Atlantic |
12 | Chicago Bulls | 2,227 | 2,135 | .511 | 1966–67 | 4,362 | Central |
13 | Indiana Pacers | 1,789 | 1,761 | .504 | 1976–77 | 3,550 | Central |
14 | Dallas Mavericks | 1,615 | 1,610 | .501 | 1980–81 | 3,225 | Southwest |
15 | Denver Nuggets | 1,749 | 1,802 | .493 | 1976–77 | 3,551 | Northwest |
16 | Atlanta Hawks | 2,766 | 2,853 | .492 | 1949–50 | 5,619 | Southeast |
17 | Detroit Pistons | 2,753 | 2,927 | .485 | 1948–49 | 5,680 | Central |
18 | New York Knicks | 2,799 | 2,988 | .484 | 1946–47 | 5,787 | Atlantic |
19 | Golden State Warriors | 2,787 | 2,998 | .482 | 1946–47 | 5,785 | Pacific |
20 | Toronto Raptors | 955 | 1,037 | .479 | 1995–96 | 1,992 | Atlantic |
21 | Orlando Magic | 1,191 | 1,294 | .479 | 1989–90 | 2,485 | Southeast |
22 | New Orleans Pelicans | 673 | 777 | .464 | 2002–03[lower-alpha 3] | 1,450 | Southwest |
23 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1,867 | 2,168 | .463 | 1970–71 | 4,035 | Central |
24 | Sacramento Kings | 2,593 | 3,094 | .456 | 1948–49 | 5,687 | Pacific |
25 | Washington Wizards | 2,153 | 2,616 | .451 | 1961–62 | 4,769 | Southeast |
26 | Charlotte Hornets | 1,050 | 1,345 | .438 | 1988–89[lower-alpha 3] | 2,395 | Southeast |
27 | Brooklyn Nets | 1,485 | 2,065 | .418 | 1976–77 | 3,550 | Atlantic |
28 | Memphis Grizzlies | 826 | 1,167 | .414 | 1995–96 | 1,994 | Southwest |
29 | Los Angeles Clippers | 1,659 | 2,383 | .410 | 1970–71 | 4,042 | Pacific |
30 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 980 | 1,496 | .396 | 1989–90 | 2,476 | Northwest |
Playoffs
The following playoff listing is accurate through the end of the 2020 NBA Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers have the most post-season wins (454), most post-season games played (755), and highest post-season winning percentage (.601) out of any NBA team. The Minnesota Timberwolves have the fewest post-season wins (18) and the lowest post-season winning percentage (.346). The New Orleans Pelicans have the fewest post-season games played (49).
Best win-loss record in division |
Team active in playoffs |
Rank | Team | Won | Lost | Pct. | Last playoff appearance | Total games | Division |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Los Angeles Lakers | 454 | 301 | .601 | 2020 | 755 | Pacific |
2 | Boston Celtics | 381 | 289 | .569 | 2020 | 670 | Atlantic |
3 | Miami Heat | 138 | 107 | .563 | 2020 | 239 | Southeast |
4 | San Antonio Spurs | 222 | 181 | .551 | 2019 | 403 | Southwest |
5 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 125 | 104 | .546 | 2018 | 229 | Central |
6 | Golden State Warriors | 190 | 159 | .544 | 2019 | 349 | Pacific |
7 | Chicago Bulls | 186 | 158 | .541 | 2017 | 344 | Central |
8 | Philadelphia 76ers | 228 | 219 | .510 | 2020 | 447 | Atlantic |
9 | Detroit Pistons | 188 | 182 | .508 | 2019 | 370 | Central |
10 | New York Knicks | 186 | 189 | .496 | 2013 | 375 | Atlantic |
11 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 164 | 167 | .495 | 2020 | 331 | Northwest |
12 | Houston Rockets | 158 | 164 | .491 | 2020 | 322 | Southwest |
13 | Phoenix Suns | 133 | 141 | .485 | 2010 | 274 | Pacific |
14 | Milwaukee Bucks | 126 | 140 | .479 | 2020 | 266 | Central |
15 | Indiana Pacers | 115 | 126 | .477 | 2020 | 241 | Central |
16 | Toronto Raptors | 55 | 62 | .470 | 2020 | 117 | Atlantic |
17 | Utah Jazz | 127 | 148 | .462 | 2020 | 275 | Northwest |
18 | Dallas Mavericks | 93 | 109 | .460 | 2020 | 202 | Southwest |
19 | Orlando Magic | 59 | 74 | .444 | 2020 | 133 | Southeast |
20 | Portland Trail Blazers | 117 | 151 | .437 | 2020 | 268 | Northwest |
21 | Atlanta Hawks | 153 | 202 | .431 | 2017 | 355 | Southeast |
22 | Los Angeles Clippers | 53 | 70 | .431 | 2020 | 123 | Pacific |
23 | Sacramento Kings | 80 | 107 | .428 | 2006 | 187 | Pacific |
24 | Washington Wizards | 98 | 134 | .422 | 2018 | 232 | Southeast |
25 | Brooklyn Nets | 63 | 88 | .417 | 2020 | 151 | Atlantic |
26 | New Orleans Pelicans | 20 | 29 | .408 | 2018 | 49 | Southwest |
27 | Denver Nuggets | 77 | 118 | .395 | 2020 | 195 | Northwest |
28 | Memphis Grizzlies | 29 | 46 | .387 | 2017 | 75 | Southwest |
29 | Charlotte Hornets | 23 | 40 | .365 | 2016 | 63 | Southeast |
30 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 18 | 34 | .346 | 2018 | 52 | Northwest |
Defunct franchises
The following is a listing of the all-time win-loss records of defunct NBA franchises.[3] Amongst defunct franchises, the Chicago Stags have the highest win-loss record percentage, with .612. The 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 Denver Nuggets, Sheboygan Red Skins, and Waterloo Hawks are tied for the fewest games played, with 62.
For the purposes of the defunct franchises win-loss records listing, teams that recorded playing time in the BAA are only included if they additionally played during at least one season following the BAA–NBL merger. For this reason, the Pittsburgh Ironmen, Indianapolis Jets, Detroit Falcons, Toronto Huskies, and Cleveland Rebels are excluded.
Regular season
Rank | Team | GP | Won | Lost | Pct. | First NBA season | Last 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 | St. Louis Bombers | 237 | 122 | 115 | .515 | 1946–47 | 1949–50 |
5 | Indianapolis Olympians | 269 | 132 | 137 | .491 | 1949–50 | 1952–53 |
6 | Sheboygan Red Skins | 62 | 22 | 40 | .355 | 1949–50 | |
7 | Baltimore Bullets[lower-alpha 4] | 450 | 158 | 292 | .351 | 1947–48 | 1954–55 |
8 | Waterloo Hawks | 62 | 19 | 43 | .306 | 1949–50 | |
9 | Denver Nuggets[lower-alpha 5] | 62 | 11 | 51 | .177 | 1949–50 |
References
- "NBA Season Recaps". National Basketball Association. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
- Aschburner, Steve (September 5, 2013). "We All Count Numbers But Do All Numbers Count?". Hang Time Blog. National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- "NBA & ABA Team Index". Basketball-Reference. Sports-Reference. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- "All-Time Team Records" (PDF). 2019–20 Official NBA Guide. NBA Properties, Inc. October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- Windhorst, Brian (July 19, 2013). "Charlotte Hornets back in 2014-15". ESPN. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- Feldman, Dan (May 20, 2014). "Charlotte Hornets assume historical records from New [Orleans] Pelicans". ProBasketballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
Notes
- 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.[1]
- For the purposes of this list, 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.
- The New Orleans Pelicans began play as the New Orleans Hornets in the 2002–03 NBA season, due to the original Charlotte Hornets (which began play in the 1988–89 NBA season) relocating to New Orleans. The city of Charlotte was then awarded the 30th NBA franchise, dubbed the 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.[5] 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—while 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.[6]
- 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.
- This team's history and records are not affiliated with the current day Denver Nuggets team.