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)

related: Longest Winning Streaks in One Season