NBA Longest Losing Streaks - Regular Season
This is the list with the all-time worst losing streaks in NBA history in the regular season.
The 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers could not survive the departure of LeBron James and became the first team with 26 consecutive losses in one regular season. They were alone at the top for a couple of years until the Philadelphia 76ers tied them in 2013-14. Ten years later the 2023-24 Pistons recorded the worst losing streak in NBA history, with 28 losses in a row in a single season.
If you take into account streaks that spanned over 2 seasons the 76ers also have a 28-game losing streak between the 10 losses that closed their 2014-15 season and the 18 with which they opened 2015-16.
Longest Losing Streaks in One Season
| Losses | Team |
NBA season From - to
|
| 28 |
Detroit Pistons
|
2023-24
|
| 26 |
Philadelphia 76ers
|
2013-14
|
| 26 |
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
2010-11
|
| 23 |
Charlotte Bobcats
|
2011-12
|
| 23 |
Denver Nuggets
|
1997-98
|
| 23 |
Vancouver Grizzlies
|
1995-96
|
| 20 |
Houston Rockets
|
2020-21
|
| 20 |
Dallas Mavericks
|
1993-94
|
| 20 |
Philadelphia 76ers
|
1972-73
|
| 19 |
Memphis Grizzlies
|
2017-18
|
| 19 |
Orlando Magic
|
2003-04
|
| 19 |
Vancouver Grizzlies
|
1995-96
|
| 19 |
Dallas Mavericks
|
1992-93
|
| 19 |
Los Angeles Clippers
|
1988-89
|
| 19 |
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
1981-82
|
| 19 |
San Diego Clippers
|
1981-82
|
| Losses | Team |
NBA season From - to
|
| 18 |
San Antonio Spurs
|
2023-24
|
| 18 |
New York Knicks
|
2018-19
|
| 18 |
Philadelphia 76ers
|
2015-16
|
| 18 |
Charlotte Bobcats
|
2012-13
|
| 18 |
New Jersey Nets
|
2009-10
|
| 18 |
Boston Celtics
|
2006-07
|
| 18 |
Utah Jazz
|
1981-82
|
| 17 |
Phoenix Suns
|
2018-19
|
| 17 |
Philadelphia 76ers
|
2014-15
|
| 17 |
Los Angeles Clippers
|
1999-00
|
| 17 |
Los Angeles Clippers
|
1998-99
|
| 17 |
Toronto Raptors
|
1997-98
|
| 17 |
Dallas Mavericks
|
1993-94
|
| 17 |
Orlando Magic
|
1991-92
|
| 17 |
Miami Heat
|
1988-89
|
| 17 |
San Diego Rockets
|
1967-68
|
| 17 |
San Francisco Warriors
|
1964-65
|
Note: the following table does not include Playoff games.
Longest Losing Streaks Spanning Over 2 Seasons
| Losses | Team |
NBA season From - to
|
| 28 (10+18) |
Philadelphia 76ers
|
2014-15 (10)
2015-16 (18) |
| 24 (19+5) |
Cleveland Cavaliers
|
1981-82 (19)
1982-83 (5) |
| 21 (14+7) |
Detroit Pistons
|
1979-80 (14)
1980-81 (7) |
| 20 (4+16) |
Los Angeles Clippers
|
1993-94 (4)
1994-95 (16) |
| 20 (12+8) |
New York Knicks
|
1984-85 (12)
1985-86 (8) |
| 19 (1+18) |
New Jersey Nets
|
2008-09 (1)
2009-10 (18) |
| 19 (4+15) |
Philadelphia 76ers
|
1971-72 (4)
1972-73 (15) |
| Losses | Team |
NBA season From - to
|
| 18 (15+3) |
Minnesota Timberwolves
|
2010-11 (15)
2011-12 (3) |