It’s not as easy as it might appear to decide which team has performed the worst in the NBA history. This is because there are a lot of variables to take into account.
One of the best indicators that a club is not ready for big things is when they lose a lot of consecutive games. This is especially true in a league where teams have such a full schedule that it appears impossible to win anything ever again, not even by chance. The Providence Steamrollers won just 6 games in 1948—the lowest amount of victories for an entire regular league season—though the number is deceptive because only 52 games were played at the time. In the same way, we cannot consider the historic Charlotte Bobcats of 2012, who won just 7 games over a 66-game season due to the lockout that year.
Top 10 List Of Worst NBA Teams In History
1. Charlotte Bobcats (2011/12)
The 2011–12 Bobcats’ best feature is that they were 1-0 at the beginning of the season, but after that it was all downhill. From mid–January to mid–February, Charlotte lost 16 games in a row; that wasn’t even the worst losing streak of the season; the team finished with a 23-game losing streak, narrowly missing out on the lowest winning percentage, and their home winning percentage of.121 was among the lowest in an NBA season.
The Bobcats’ season was shortened by a lockout, which was fortunate for fans of the team, as only 66 games were played. The Bobcats’ top scorer was Gerald Henderson, with 15.1 points per game, followed in second place by Corey Maggette (15.0). Kemba Walker had a difficult rookie campaign, averaging 12.1 points per game and shooting under 40%. Walker would go on to become one of the best players in franchise history, so Charlotte fans have at least one steal from what was arguably the worst team in the NBA.
2. Philadelphia 76ers (1972/73)
The 1972–73 76ers are among the worst teams in NBA history. They own the record for the most losses in a regular season with 73. Unlike the Bobcats in 2011, the Sixers did not give fans false hope right away, as they lost 15 games in a row at the beginning of the season. This was one of four losing streaks of at least 13 games that season. Fred Carter led Philadelphia in scoring with an average of 20.0 points per game, and he also led the qualified players in assists per game with 4.6. Fortunately for Carter, better things were to come, as he stayed with the team long enough to witness the turnaround, as the 1976–77 team reached the NBA Finals under Julius Erving.
3. Providence Steamrollers (1947/48)
The Providence Steamrollers were one of two teams that did not survive the BAA/NBA merger. Their second season (1947–48) was the worst, with only six wins, lowest overall in a season in BAA/NBA history. Nevertheless, as the league continues to play 82 games, it could be difficult to match or surpass the record low. Kenny Sailors led the team with just 12.7 points per game on 30.0% shooting, which may seem like a low shooting percentage but was the best. As for the heyday of the Providence Steamrollers, it is understandable if you cannot recall its glory days.
4. Dallas Maverick (1992/93)
Consider a look at what the Mavericks did to finish out the regular season in April 1993 if you believe the 2015–16 76ers were on the verge of 73 losses. They were at 9-71 going into the final two games. With one game remaining, Jim Jackson scored 32 points to help the Mavericks defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-100 and escape suffering 73 losses. In the season finale, the Mavericks managed to contain Hakeem Olajuwon and defeated the 55-win Houston Rockets 128-123, capping a season filled with disappointments with a victory.
However, there weren’t many wonderful moments prior to that. With 18.2 points per game and a 39.3% 3-point shooting percentage, Derek Harper led the team in scoring and was selected to two NBA All-Defensive teams throughout his career. It was the Mavericks’ third consecutive losing season. This run of bad luck would last until 2000–01, when Dirk Nowitzki led the team to their first of 11 consecutive seasons with 50 wins.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (2015/16)
With 73 losses, the 2015–16 76ers were perilously near to becoming as notorious as the 1972–73 team. With 18 straight losses, this season got off to an even worse start. The Sixers dropped 12 games in a row to begin the season 1-30 after eventually pulling out a victory. The NBA playoffs were undoubtedly never discussed. Robert Covington averaged 12.8 points per game, the highest scoring total among the team’s qualified players. Jahlil Okafor only participated in 53 games, yet he averaged 17.5. With five games remaining, Carl Landry led Philadelphia to a 107-93 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, who were without several important players, with a 22-point, nine-rebound performance. It ensured that the Sixers would not set franchise and league records for the most consecutive losses.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (1986/87)
In the Clippers’ franchise history, there have been several difficult seasons; the lowest point of wins was in 1986–1987. After going 3-3 to begin the season, the “other” club in Los Angeles appeared respectable, but things took a turn for the worst, leading to a 14-game losing run that ended the season. With 17.1 points per game, Mike Woodson—who is now more well-known for his coaching career—led the Clippers. After appearing in just 10 games, three-time All-NBA player Marques Johnson had a potentially fatal cervical disc rupture, jeopardising his career. He only participated in 10 more games during his career and missed the following two seasons as well.
7. Atlanta Hawks (2004/2005)
Some teams are simply overloaded with players who are in the wrong stages of their careers. Among these teams were the Hawks of 2004–05. With 20.4 points per game, Antoine Walker led them in scoring but was traded back to the Boston Celtics just before the NBA trade deadline. While Josh Smith and Boris Diaw were still too young to make a significant impact, former All-Star Kenny Anderson was in the final year of his career. The Hawks’ coach, Mike Woodson, was the same guy that survived the Clippers season of 1986–87. After enduring the terrible season, Woodson went on to lead two victorious Hawks teams in 2008–09 and 2009–10.
8. Denver Nuggets (1997/98)
The Nuggets finished the season with just 11 wins, five seasons after the 1992–93 Mavericks. The Nuggets had a 3–28 start, which included a 23–game losing run from the middle of December through January. After that, they won three of seven to somewhat increase their victory total, but they subsequently dropped their next sixteen games in a row. They had eleven after winning the season’s penultimate match. With 14.7 points per game, Johnny Newman led the club in scoring, followed closely by LaPonso Ellis (14.3). Bill Hanzlik had the lowest record during an NBA season because he was fired after his first season and never secured a head coaching position again.
9. New Jersey Nets (2009/10)
During one of the Nets’ final seasons in New Jersey, they made little effort to encourage the community to attend games. With a team-high average of 18.8 points per game, Brook Lopez was an exciting young centre for the Nets. The squad had trouble scoring, averaging only 92.4 points per game, which was the lowest in the league, aside from Lopez and Devin Harris. Before firing head coach Lawrence Frank, the Nets lost 16 of their first 18 games, and then they lost two more under acting head coach Tom Barrise. Kiki Vandeweghe seized charge and emerged victorious in his opening match, although his overall record was 12-52.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (2010/11)
In the history of the league, this was one of the largest falls from grace. The Cleveland Cavaliers went from having an Eastern Conference Finals record of 61-21 to 19-63 in the course of one summer. This was the fallout after LeBron James, the basketball superstar, left. Everyone thought that James, the Chosen One, would win their first-ever championship when his local team selected him with the first pick overall. But even with LeBron’s heroic attempts, he was unable to. Not during his initial tenure, anyway. Following a dismal 2009–10 season loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, James moved from Cleveland to play for the Miami Heat. The Cavaliers were unprepared for their star’s departure and had thought that he would resign. And it came at a heavy price.
Conclusion
The Bobcats are regarded as the worst NBA team ever, having finished the season with a 34–48 record. This set a record for the worst winning percentage in a season (.106), “surpassing” the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers (.110) for the lowest winning percentage in NBA history. On March 28, 2012, they lost 88-83 at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves, ending their chances of making the playoffs with a 7-41 record.
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