5 Best NBA Regular Season Records Of All Time – Hoop Heads Podcast (2024)

Throughout the NBA, there have been numerous amazing moments worth noting. Some teams have displayed more of these gripping moments than others, pretty much stealing the spotlight for an entire season, sometimes through difficulties like team injuries and more.

Every now and again, you’ll see a season from a team that’s truly spectacular and is really something for the history books. Before you head to the NBA betting lines, we’re going to take a trip down memory lane recapping some of these glorious season records from some of the best teams that the NBA has to offer.

  1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers had a fantastic season in 1971. It started with hiring one of the best coaches that the team has had to date, Bill Sharman. NBA records were set when the Lakers won a massive 33 games in one season throughout the course of this year. The team was led by Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West at the time, and we bet they were pleased with being part of such a historical moment! Their successes only continued as time went on.

When the team made it to the playoffs, they lost a mere three games in total and eventually went on to win the first championship in their name since they originally relocated to Los Angeles in 1960. The team even managed to score the NBA title later on in 1972 after the historic season, and they ended up beating the New York Nicks in 5 different games. It was certainly an impressive season, and one that fans of the Lakers are sure to recount even to this day. Only the Chicago Bulls would eventually beat their record over 25 years later.

  1. Philadelphia 76ers

Heading back to the 1966-67 season, the Philadelphia 76ers had a season that people won’t soon forget. The season was so magnificent that the team is known to this day as one of the best to have participated in the NBA. At the beginning of the season they began with a 46-4 victory – fans already knew from that moment on that the team would have a season to remember.

It’s not difficult to see why the team had such an impressive season. They had some big names along for the ride, including coach Alex Hunnam and star player Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain is known as one of the biggest names and the best talents to ever grace the NBA, even to this day. Chamberlain himself managed to get roughly 24 points and 8 assists per game during this season. Alongside other players like Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham, the 76ers ended up getting an average of 125 points for each season. Let’s put it this way – you would not want to be the team going up against the 76ers during this season!

The season ultimately ended for them with a spectacular victory against the Boston Celtics and a well deserved NBA title win. Unsurprisingly, Chamberlain also managed to win MVP for the season. You really can’t have a list about the best regular seasons in the NBA without mentioning this season from the Philadelphia 76ers.

  1. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls had a tough season to beat in 1996-97 following their epic NBA title win in the 1995-96 season. Everyone was itching to see what kind of performance they’d get from superstars Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. Once again, the team delivered a spectacular season.

They had a record of 69-13 during this season, and still managed to deliver an excellent performance despite two major injuries to two key players, Luc Longley and Toni Kukoc, and even a suspension of Dennis Rodman. Playing against Michael Jordan served to essentially be a death sentence for any team that would dare go up against the Bulls this season – he was a force to be reckoned with. He even managed to make his place on the All NBA Defensive First Time thanks to this season.

Unsurprisingly the Bulls ended up winning their season, following a spectacular play off against Utah Jazz in the finals. They won several championships in the years to follow, so it’s unsurprising that the team is often thought to be one of the most efficient in NBA history.

  1. Boston Celtics

If you want to talk about a great season, the 1972-73 season was just that for the Boston Celtics. Featuring huge names like Dave Cowens and JoJo White, the team was an unstoppable force this season. They ended up winning a massive 68 games and just lost 14. Dave Cowens even went on to win MVP, while Tom Heinsohn won Coach of the Year. The only reason they didn’t win the season the year after was because of injuries on the team.

  1. Golden State Warriors

The 2015-16 season from the Golden State Warriors is certainly something worth praising. They managed to set a 73-9 record for themselves during this season. They won 34 games throughout the course of the season. They ultimately lost the season to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but otherwise this was a perfect season for the team.

5 Best NBA Regular Season Records Of All Time – Hoop Heads Podcast (2024)

FAQs

Who has the best regular season record in NBA history? ›

The Celtics won 9 of their matchups while the Lakers have only won 3. The best single regular season record was recorded by the Golden State Warriors in the 2015–16 season. In that season, the Warriors recorded 73 wins and 9 losses with a winning percentage of .

What is the best NBA record for 82 games played in a season? ›

TEAMREC
1Warriors73-9
2Bulls72-10
3Bulls69-13
4Lakers69-13
11 more rows

What is the winningest team in NBA history? ›

The Boston Celtics lead the way in NBA lore with 18 championships, the most recent coming in 2024. The Boston Celtics claimed their 18th NBA championship, ending a 16-year title drought.

What is the GSW best record? ›

The Warriors entered the season as the defending NBA champions and they set the best ever regular-season record of 73–9 , breaking the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls record of 72–10 .

Who beat the 73 9 Warriors? ›

In 2016, the Warriors set the record for best regular season record at 73–9 before losing the Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers (against whom they played a record four straight finals) and becoming the first team to lose a series after leading 3–1 in the Finals.

Who is better, LeBron or Jordan? ›

If you look at certain numbers, Jordan may have a slight edge. He's won slightly more championships, more MVPs and more All-Defensive Team honors. On the other hand, James has scored more points than Jordan—or anybody else who ever played in the NBA.

What's the worst NBA regular season record? ›

The 1972-73 76ers are in the mix for worst team, as they hold the record for most losses in an NBA regular season with 73. Unlike the Bobcats in 2011, the Sixers didn't give fans false hope at the start, losing 15 straight games right out of the gate.

Has any team went 82 0? ›

Has an NBA team ever finished a season with a record of 82-0? No, no NBA team has ever achieved a record of 82-0.

What is the longest undefeated streak in NBA history? ›

On Nov. 5, 1971, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Baltimore Bullets 110-106, starting an epic winning streak that lasted more than two months, and culminated with 33 consecutive victories, still an NBA record, and the longest winning streak in American pro sports.

Which NBA franchise has never won a championship? ›

Which teams have never won an NBA championship? There are 10 active NBA teams that have not yet won an NBA championship: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz.

What NBA team has lost by the most points? ›

It was just over two years ago that the Oklahoma City Thunder set an NBA record after losing by 73 points.

Who is the oldest NBA team? ›

The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The Kings are the oldest team in the NBA, and the first team in the major professional North American sports leagues located in Sacramento. The team plays its home games at the Golden 1 Center.

Who is the best GSW of all time? ›

The Warriors had the biggest name of those early NBA years on its roster in Wilt Chamberlain. "The Big Dipper" is widely considered one of the best centers of all time. As a Warrior, Chamberlain scored an NBA record 100 points in a single game, one of the greatest achievements in all of sports.

What's the best NBA record of all time? ›

The Chicago Stags have the best record by a team, with a record of 145-92.
TEAMREC
1Stags145-92
2Spurs2305-1562
3Celtics3634-2480
4Lakers3550-2454
12 more rows

What was the worst loss for the Golden State Warriors? ›

The Warriors made franchise history with a disastrous 140-88 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday at TD Garden. For all the wrong reasons.

Which NBA player has the most regular season wins? ›

K. Abdul-Jabbar

What is LeBron's best regular season record? ›

LeBron James had his best record in a season in 2008-09, with a record of 66-15.

What player has the best single season in NBA history? ›

Best NBA Regular Season Individual Seasons
#PlayerSeason
1Wilt Chamberlain1962
2Wilt Chamberlain1963
3Wilt Chamberlain1961
4Elgin Baylor1962
13 more rows

What is the longest undefeated season in NBA history? ›

On Nov. 5, 1971, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Baltimore Bullets 110-106, starting an epic winning streak that lasted more than two months, and culminated with 33 consecutive victories, still an NBA record, and the longest winning streak in American pro sports.

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