List of NBA teams by single season win percentage

This is a list of the all-time best regular season winning percentages in the NBA.

Win% Winning percentage
W Games won
L Games lost
H Home record
R Road record
N Neutral record
Diff Average point differential[a]
Win% W L H R N Diff Team Season Results W L H R Notes Coach
Regular season Postseason
.878 72 10 39–2 33–8 0–0 12.2 Chicago Bulls 1995–96 Won NBA Championship 15 3 10-0 5-3
  • Started 23-2
  • Best three-loss start in NBA history (41–3, .932)
  • Best start in NBA history for every number of losses from five through ten: (48-5, .906), (54-6, .900), (60-7, .896), (66-8, .892), (71-9, .888)
  • Most road wins in NBA history
  • Second most home wins in NBA history
  • Included 37 of 44 game home winning streak, longest in NBA history
  • Winning streaks of 18 games and 13 games
  • Undefeated January (14-0)
  • Final three losses were by a margin of one point
  • Only team in NBA history to lose consecutive games only once
  • Defeated 64-18 Seattle SuperSonics in NBA Finals
  • Best combined regular and postseason record in NBA history (87–13, .870)[1]
 Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson
.841 69 13 36–5 31–7 2–1 12.3 Los Angeles Lakers 1971–72 Won NBA Championship 12 3 6-2 6-1
  • 33 game winning streak, longest in NBA history
  • 16 game road winning streak, longest in NBA history[2]
  • Started 39-3
  • Undefeated November (14-0) and December (16-0)
  • Best road winning percentage
  • Largest average point differential in NBA history[3]
 Sharman, BillBill Sharman
.841 69 13 39–2 30–11 0–0 10.8 Chicago Bulls 1996–97 Won NBA Championship 15 4 10-1 5-3
  • Started 12–0; started 17-1
  • Second most home wins in NBA history
  • Five streaks of at least 8 consecutive games won[4]
  • Lost three of final four games
  • One win shy of back-to-back 70 win seasons
  • Defeated 64-18 Utah Jazz in NBA Finals
 Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson
.840 68 13 28–2 26–8 14–3 9.4 Philadelphia 76ers 1966–67 Won NBA Championship 11 4 6-2 5-2
  • Started 26-2
  • Best four-loss start in NBA history (46–4, .920)[5][6]
 Hannum, AlexAlex Hannum
.829 68 14 33–6 32–8 3–0 8.2 Boston Celtics 1972–73 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 7 6 4-3 3-3
  • Second most road wins in NBA history
 Heinsohn, TomTom Heinsohn
.817 67 15 40–1 27–14 0–0 9.4 Boston Celtics 1985–86 Won NBA Championship 15 3 10-0 5-3
  • Best home record in NBA history[2]
  • Winning streaks of 14 games and 13 games
 Jones, K. C.K. C. Jones
.817 67 15 36–5 31–10 0–0 10.4 Chicago Bulls 1991–92 Won NBA Championship 15 7 9-3 6-4
  • Winning streaks of 14 games and 13 games[7]
 Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson
.817 67 15 36–5 31–10 0–0 8.5 Los Angeles Lakers 1999–00 Won NBA Championship 15 8
  • Winning streaks of 19 games, 16 games and 11 games
 Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson
.817 67 15 36–5 31–10 0–0 7.2 Dallas Mavericks 2006–07 Lost Western Conference 1st Round 2 4
  • Started 0-4
  • Only team in NBA history with three winning streaks of at least 12 games (17, 13, 12)[8]
  • Undefeated February (10-0)[9]
  • Only team over .800 to be eliminated in the first round
 Johnson, AveryAvery Johnson
.817 49 11 29–1 20–10 0–0 9.9 Washington Capitols 1946–47 Lost Semi-Finals 2 4
  • Winning streaks of 17 games and 15 games
  • Undefeated December (10-0)[10]
 Auerbach, RedRed Auerbach
.805 66 16 34–2 28–13 4–1 12.3 Milwaukee Bucks 1970–71 Won NBA Championship 12 2 8-0 4-2
  • Started 17-1
  • Winning streaks of 20 games, 16 games and 10 games
  • Lost five of final six games
  • 14.5 points postseason average point differential[11]
 Costello, LarryLarry Costello
.805 66 16 35–6 31–10 0–0 10.3 Boston Celtics 2007–08 Won NBA Championship 16 10 13-1 3-9
  • Best single-season improvement in NBA history (42 wins)[12]
 Rivers, DocDoc Rivers
.805 66 16 39–2 27–14 0–0 8.9 Cleveland Cavaliers 2008–09 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 10 4
  • 13 game winning streak
  • Second most home wins in NBA history
 Brown, MikeMike Brown
.797 51 13 31–1 15–12 5–0 8.2 Syracuse Nationals 1949–50 Lost NBA Finals 6 5
  • Started 16–1
  • 12 game winning streak
 Cervi, AlAl Cervi
.793 65 17 35–6 30–11 0–0 7.7 Philadelphia 76ers 1982–83 Won NBA Championship 12 1 7-0 5-1
  • Second highest postseason winning percentage in NBA history
  • 14 game winning streak[13]
 Cunningham, BillyBilly Cunningham
.793 65 17 37–4 28–13 0–0 9.3 Los Angeles Lakers 1986–87 Won NBA Championship 15 3 Riley, PatPat Riley
.793 65 17 36–5 29–12 0–0 7.7 Los Angeles Lakers 2008–09 Won NBA Championship 16 7 Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson
.787 59 16 25–2 23–9 11–5 8.3 Boston Celtics 1959–60 Won NBA Championship 8 5
  • 17 game winning streak
  • Undefeated December (15-0)[14]
 Auerbach, RedRed Auerbach
.780 64 18 38–3 26–15 0–0 7.8 Seattle SuperSonics 1995–96 Lost NBA Finals 13 8
  • 14 game winning streak
  • Lost to 72-10 Chicago Bulls in NBA Finals
 Karl, GeorgeGeorge Karl
.780 64 18 38–3 26–15 0–0 8.8 Utah Jazz 1996–97 Lost NBA Finals 13 7
  • Two winning streaks of 15 games[15]
  • Best second half of season in NBA history (36–5, .878)
  • Four game losing streak
  • Lost to 69-13 Chicago Bulls in NBA Finals
 Sloan, JerryJerry Sloan
.780 64 18 37–4 27–14 0–0 6.7 Detroit Pistons 2005–06 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 10 8 Saunders, FlipFlip Saunders
.775 62 18 27–3 27–11 8–4 8.4 Boston Celtics 1964–65 Won NBA Championship 8 4 7-0 1-4
  • 16 game winning streak[16]
 Auerbach, RedRed Auerbach
.768 63 19 31–5 27–12 5–2 11.2 Milwaukee Bucks 1971–72 Lost Western Conference Finals 6 5
  • Started 17–1
 Costello, LarryLarry Costello
.768 63 19 35–6 28–13 0–0 6.4 Boston Celtics 1981–82 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 7 5
  • 18 game winning streak[17]
 Fitch, BillBill Fitch
.768 63 19 35–6 28–13 0–0 6.6 Boston Celtics 1984–85 Lost NBA Finals 13 8
  • Lost to 62-20 Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals
 Jones, K. C.K. C. Jones
.768 63 19 37–4 26–15 0–0 5.8 Detroit Pistons 1988–89 Won NBA Championship 15 2 Daly, ChuckChuck Daly
.768 63 19 37–4 26–15 0–0 6.8 Los Angeles Lakers 1989–90 Lost Western Conference Semi-Finals 4 5 Riley, PatPat Riley
.768 63 19 36–5 27–14 0–0 8.7 Portland Trail Blazers 1990–91 Lost Western Conference Finals 9 7
  • Started 19-1
  • 16 game winning streak[18]
 Adelman, RickRick Adelman
.768 63 19 37–4 26–15 0–0 9.1 Seattle SuperSonics 1993–94 Lost Western Conference 1st Round 2 3
  • Started 16-1
 Karl, GeorgeGeorge Karl
.768 63 19 34–7 29–12 0–0 6.8 San Antonio Spurs 2005–06 Lost Western Conference Semi-Finals 7 6 Popovich, GreggGregg Popovich
.756 62 20 27–8 25–12 10–0 8.6 Philadelphia 76ers 1967–68 Lost Eastern Division Finals 7 6 Hannum, AlexAlex Hannum
.756 62 20 35–6 27–14 0–0 5.9 Boston Celtics 1980–81 Won NBA Championship 12 5
  • Winning streaks of 13 games and 12 games
 Fitch, BillBill Fitch
.756 62 20 37–4 25–16 0–0 7.9 Philadelphia 76ers 1980–81 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 9 7
  • 12 game winning streak and two additional streaks of 10 games
 Cunningham, BillyBilly Cunningham
.756 62 20 33–8 29–12 0–0 6.6 Boston Celtics 1983–84 Won NBA Championship 15 8 Jones, K. C.K. C. Jones
.756 62 20 36–5 26–15 0–0 7.4 Los Angeles Lakers 1984–85 Won NBA Championship 15 4
  • Defeated 63-19 Boston Celtics in NBA Finals
 Riley, PatPat Riley
.756 62 20 35–6 27–14 0–0 7.7 Los Angeles Lakers 1985–86 Lost Western Conference Finals 8 6 Riley, PatPat Riley
.756 62 20 36–5 26–15 0–0 5.8 Los Angeles Lakers 1987–88 Won NBA Championship 15 9
  • 15 game winning streak[19]
 Riley, PatPat Riley
.756 62 20 35–6 27–14 0–0 6.7 Phoenix Suns 1992–93 Lost NBA Finals 13 11
  • Undefeated December (14-0)
  • 14 game winning streak[20]
 Westphal, PaulPaul Westphal
.756 62 20 33–8 29–12 0–0 6.0 San Antonio Spurs 1994–95 Lost Western Conference Finals 9 6
  • 15 game winning streak[21]
  • Started 7-9
 Hill, BobBob Hill
.756 62 20 37–4 25–16 0–0 7.1 Chicago Bulls 1997–98 Won NBA Championship 15 6 10-2 5-4
  • 13 game winning streak
  • Defeated 62-20 Utah Jazz in NBA Finals
 Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson
.756 62 20 36–5 26–15 0–0 6.5 Utah Jazz 1997–98 Lost NBA Finals 13 7 8-3 5-4
  • Lost to 62-20 Chicago Bulls in NBA Finals
 Sloan, JerryJerry Sloan
.756 62 20 31–10 31–10 0–0 7.1 Phoenix Suns 2004–05 Lost Western Conference Finals 9 6
  • Followed a series of going 18-1 with a 6 game losing streak[22]
 D'Antoni, MikeMike D'Antoni
.756 62 20 35–6 27–14 0–0 7.5 Boston Celtics 2008–09 Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals 7 7 5-3 2-4
  • Best two-loss start in NBA History (27–2, .931)
  • Lost seven of next nine games after this start
  • Winning streaks of 19 games and 12 games
 Rivers, DocDoc Rivers
.756 62 20 36–5 26–15 0–0 7.3 Chicago Bulls 2010–11 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 9 7 6-3 3-4
  • Won Central Division by 25 games over 2nd place Indiana Pacers
 Thibodeau, TomTom Thibodeau

Notes

See also

References

  1. ^ "1995–96 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1996_games.html. Retrieved December 12, 2009. 
  2. ^ a b NBA.com: Regular Season Records: Miscellaneous
  3. ^ "1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1972_games.html. Retrieved December 12, 2009. 
  4. ^ "1996–97 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1997_games.html. Retrieved December 12, 2009. 
  5. ^ ESPN – Elias Says ... – ESPN
  6. ^ "1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1967_games.html. Retrieved December 12, 2009. 
  7. ^ Chicago Bulls 1991–92 Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  8. ^ ESPN – Atlanta vs. Dallas Recap, February 26, 2007
  9. ^ 2006–07 Dallas Mavericks Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  10. ^ 1946–47 Washington Capitols Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  11. ^ 1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  12. ^ Mark Murphy, C’s can do as they please – Stars sit, but team still clinches homecourt, Boston Herald, April 6, 2008.
  13. ^ 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  14. ^ 1959–60 Boston Celtics Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  15. ^ 1996–97 Utah Jazz Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  16. ^ 1964–65 Boston Celtics Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  17. ^ 1981–82 Boston Celtics Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  18. ^ 1990–91 Portland Trail Blazers Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  19. ^ 1987–88 Los Angeles Lakers Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  20. ^ 1992–93 Phoenix Suns Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  21. ^ 1994–95 San Antonio Spurs Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  22. ^ 2004–05 Phoenix Suns Games – Basketball-Reference.com