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This is a list of the all-time best regular season winning percentages in the NBA. [1] [2]

NBA Champions
Conference Champions
Active season

Above .756

PCT W L H R N Diff [a] Team Season Results W L H R Notes Coach
Regular season Postseason
.890 73 9 39–2 34–7 0–0 10.8 Golden State Warriors 2015–16 Lost in NBA Finals 15 9 11–3 4–6
List
    • Most wins in NBA history (73)
    • Best start in NBA history (24–0)
    • Best start in NBA history for every number of losses from 1–2 and 4–9: (29–1, .967), (36–2, .947), (48–4, .923), (55–5, .917), (62–6, .912), (68–7, .907), (69–8, .896), (73–9, .890)
    • Most wins in NBA history, regular season and postseason combined (88)
    • Started 36–0 at home, part of an NBA record 54-straight home wins dating back to 2014–15 season
    • 28 game winning streak dating back to 2014–15, second longest in NBA history
    • Most road wins in NBA history (34)
    • Best road start in NBA history and third longest road winning streak (14–0)
    • Undefeated November (16–0)
    • Best record heading into the All-Star Break in NBA history (48–4, 0.923)
    • Winning streaks of 24 and 11 games
    • Second earliest clinch of playoff berth since 1984 (the 2016–17 Warriors beat it by two days and was eventually beaten by the 2019–20 Bucks)
    • First team in NBA history to make over 1,000 three-pointers in regular-season
    • Only team in NBA history not to have lost to same opponent twice in regular season
    • Only team in NBA history not to lose back-to-back games in regular season
    • The 10th team in NBA history to win a playoff series coming back from a 1–3 playoff series deficit (won 4–3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals)
    • The 11th team in NBA history to lose a playoff series after taking a 3–1 playoff series lead (lost 3–4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals), and the only team to do so in the NBA Finals.
    • Only team in NBA history to finish with same number of regular season and postseason losses (9)
Steve Kerr
.878 72 10 39–2 33–8 0–0 12.2 Chicago Bulls 1995–96 Won NBA Championship 15 3 10–0 5–3
List
    • Best combined regular and postseason record in NBA history (87–13, .870) [3]
    • Second most wins in NBA history (72)
    • Most wins by a championship-winning team
    • Best 3-loss start in NBA history (41–3, .932)
    • Second most road wins in NBA history (33)
    • Started 37–0 at home, part of 44 game home winning streak
    • Winning streaks of 18 and 13 games
    • Undefeated January (14–0)
    • One of five teams in NBA history to have three players selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team
    • Final three losses were by a margin of one point
    • Defeated 64–18 Seattle SuperSonics in NBA Finals
Phil 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
List
    • 33 game winning streak, longest in NBA history
    • 16 game road winning streak, longest in NBA history [4]
    • Started 39–3
    • Undefeated November (14–0) and December (16–0)
    • Second best road winning percentage
    • Highest point-differential in NBA regular-season history (+12.3) [5]
Bill 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
List
    • Started 12–0; started 17–1
    • Second most home wins in NBA history
    • Five eight-game winning streaks [6]
    • Lost three of final four games
    • Defeated 64–18 Utah Jazz in NBA Finals
    • First team to win 30 road games in back-to-back seasons
Phil 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
List
    • Started 26–2
    • Best 50-game start in NBA history (46–4, .920) [7] [8]
Alex 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
List
    • Third most road wins in NBA history
    • Highest winning percentage for a team that did not reach the NBA Finals (.829)
Tom 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
List
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 and 13 games [9]
Phil Jackson
.817 67 15 36–5 31–10 0–0 8.5 Los Angeles Lakers 1999–00 Won NBA Championship 15 8 11–2 4–6
  • Winning streaks of 19, 16, and 11 games
Phil Jackson
.817 67 15 36–5 31–10 0–0 7.2 Dallas Mavericks 2006–07 Lost Western Conference 1st round 2 4 2–1 0–3
List
    • Started 0–4
    • Only team in NBA history with three winning streaks of at least 12 games (17, 13, 12) [10]
    • Undefeated February (10–0) [11]
    • Only team over .800 to be eliminated in the first round
    • First 1st seed to lose to an 8th seed in a 7-game playoff format
Avery Johnson
.817 67 15 39–2 28–13 0–0 10.1 Golden State Warriors 2014–15 Won NBA Championship 16 5 9–2 7–3
List
    • Winning streaks of 16 and 11 games
    • Second most home wins in NBA history
    • Most wins by a rookie head coach
    • Undefeated in the regular season when allowing under 100 points
Steve Kerr
.817 67 15 40–1 27–14 0–0 10.6 San Antonio Spurs 2015–16 Lost Western Conference Semi-finals 6 4 3–2 3–2
List
    • Shares best home record in NBA history (with 1985–86 Boston Celtics), with only loss inflicted by the 73–9 Warriors
    • Best home start in NBA history (39–0), part of a 48-game home winning streak dating back to 2014–15 season
    • Best season record that was not also league-best record
Gregg Popovich
.817 67 15 36–5 31–10 0–0 11.6 Golden State Warriors 2016–17 Won NBA Championship 16 1 9–0 7–1
List
    • Best playoff record in NBA history (16–1, .941)
    • Longest winning streak in NBA playoff history (15 games)
    • First team in NBA playoff history to start 15–0
    • First team in all four major professional sports in America to start 15–0 in the postseason.
    • Second highest point-differential in NBA playoffs history (+13.5)
    • NBA record 146 regular-season games without back-to-back losses (dating back to 2014–15 season)
    • Winning streaks of 14 and 12 games
    • Second team to win 30 road games in back-to-back seasons (after 1995–96 and 1996–97 Chicago Bulls)
    • Most wins in NBA history over the course of three regular-seasons (207), Chicago Bulls had 203 between 1995–96 and 1997–98
Steve Kerr
.817 49 11 29–1 20–10 0–0 9.9 Washington Capitols 1946–47 Lost semi-finals 2 4 0–3 2–1
List
    • Winning streaks of 17 and 15 games
    • Undefeated December (10–0) [12]
Red 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
List
    • Started 17–1
    • Winning streaks of 20, 16, and 10 games
    • Lost five of final six games
    • Highest point-differential in NBA playoffs history (+14.5) [13]
Larry 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
List
    • Best single-season improvement in NBA history (42 wins) [14]
    • Started 29–3
    • Won title 22 years after the last one in franchise history ( 1986)
    • Played a record 26 games in the postseason
Doc Rivers
.805 66 16 39–2 27–14 0–0 8.9 Cleveland Cavaliers 2008–09 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 10 4 6–1 4–3
List
    • 13 game winning streak
    • Second most home wins in NBA history
Mike Brown
.805 66 16 37–4 29–12 0–0 7.9 Miami Heat 2012–13 Won NBA Championship 16 7 10–3 6–4
List
    • Started 29–14
    • 27-game winning streak ( 2nd-longest in NBA history in a season)
    • First team in NBA history to win 17 games in one month
    • Best second half of season in NBA history (38–3, .927)
Erik Spoelstra
.797 51 13 31–1 15–12 5–0 8.2 Syracuse Nationals 1949–50 Lost NBA Finals 6 5 5–1 1–4
List
    • Started 16–1
    • 12 game winning streak
Al 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
List
Billy Cunningham
.793 65 17 37–4 28–13 0–0 9.3 Los Angeles Lakers 1986–87 Won NBA Championship 15 3 10–0 5–3 Pat Riley
.793 65 17 36–5 29–12 0–0 7.7 Los Angeles Lakers 2008–09 Won NBA Championship 16 7 10–2 6–5 Phil Jackson
.793 65 17 34–7 31–10 0–0 8.5 Houston Rockets 2017–18 Lost Western Conference Finals 11 6 7–3 4–3
List
    • Winning streaks of 17, 14, and 11 games
    • Most three-pointers made in a regular season
    • Most consecutive three-pointers missed in a playoff game
Mike D'Antoni
.787 59 16 25–2 23–9 11–5 8.3 Boston Celtics 1959–60 Won NBA Championship 8 5 5–2 3–3
List
    • 17 game winning streak
    • Undefeated December (15–0) [16]
Red Auerbach
.780 64 18 38–3 26–15 0–0 7.8 Seattle SuperSonics 1995–96 Lost NBA Finals 13 8 8–3 5–5
List
    • 14 game winning streak
    • Lost to 72–10 Chicago Bulls in NBA Finals
George Karl
.780 64 18 38–3 26–15 0–0 8.8 Utah Jazz 1996–97 Lost NBA Finals 13 7 10–1 3–6
List
    • Two 15 game winning streaks [17]
    • Four game losing streak
    • Lost to 69–13 Chicago Bulls in NBA Finals
Jerry Sloan
.780 64 18 37–4 27–14 0–0 6.6 Detroit Pistons 2005–06 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 10 8 8–2 2–6 Flip Saunders
.780 64 18 32–9 32–9 0–0 7.5 Phoenix Suns 2021–22 Lost Western Conference Semi-finals 7 6 5–2 2–4
List
    • Winning streaks of 18 and 11 games
    • Undefeated November (16–0)
    • Second team in league history to finish with 10+ more wins than the previous year for three consecutive years
    • 47-0 when leading after 3 quarters (NBA record for most wins without a loss in those situations) [18]
Monty Williams
.780 64 18 37–4 27–14 0–0 11.3 Boston Celtics 2023–24 TBD 0 0 0–0 0–0
List
    • Winning streaks of 11 and 9 games
    • Started franchise record 20–0 at home
    • Includes a 3–2 record in the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament
    • Did not post a losing streak of more than two games [19]
Joe Mazzulla
.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 [20]
Red Auerbach
.768 63 19 31–5 27–12 5–2 11.2 Milwaukee Bucks 1971–72 Lost Western Conference Finals 6 5 3–3 3–2
  • Started 17–1
Larry Costello
.768 63 19 35–6 28–13 0–0 6.4 Boston Celtics 1981–82 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 7 5 4–3 3–2
  • 18 game winning streak [21]
Bill Fitch
.768 63 19 35–6 28–13 0–0 6.6 Boston Celtics 1984–85 Lost NBA Finals 13 8 9–2 4–6
  • Lost to 62–20 Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals
K. C. Jones
.768 63 19 37–4 26–15 0–0 5.8 Detroit Pistons 1988–89 Won NBA Championship 15 2 8–1 7–1 Chuck Daly
.768 63 19 37–4 26–15 0–0 6.8 Los Angeles Lakers 1989–90 Lost Western Conference Semi-finals 4 5 3–2 1–3 Pat Riley
.768 63 19 36–5 27–14 0–0 8.7 Portland Trail Blazers 1990–91 Lost Western Conference Finals 9 7 8–1 1–6
List
    • Started 19–1
    • 16 game winning streak [22]
Rick Adelman
.768 63 19 37–4 26–15 0–0 9.1 Seattle SuperSonics 1993–94 Lost Western Conference 1st round 2 3 2–1 0–2
List
    • Started 16–1
    • First team to lose to an 8th seed
George Karl
.768 63 19 34–7 29–12 0–0 6.8 San Antonio Spurs 2005–06 Lost Western Conference Semi-finals 7 6 5–2 2–4 Gregg Popovich
.767 56 17 30–5 26–12 1–0 11.7 Milwaukee Bucks 2019–20 Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals 5 5 2–3 3–2
  • Earliest team to clinch a playoff berth since 1984
  • 18 game winning streak [23]
Mike Budenholzer
.758 50 16 26–7 24–9 0–0 8.2 Chicago Bulls 2011–12 Lost Eastern Conference 1st round 2 4 2–1 0–3
  • Held tie-breaker over San Antonio Spurs
Tom Thibodeau
.758 50 16 28–5 22–11 0–0 7.2 San Antonio Spurs 2011–12 Lost Western Conference Finals 10 4 6–1 4–3
  • Won last ten games of the regular season and first ten games of the playoffs
Gregg Popovich
.756 62 20 27–8 25–12 10–0 8.6 Philadelphia 76ers 1967–68 Lost Eastern Division Finals 7 6 4–3 3–3 Alex Hannum
.756 62 20 35–6 27–14 0–0 5.9 Boston Celtics 1980–81 Won NBA Championship 12 5 7–2 5–3
  • Winning streaks of 13 and 12 games
Bill Fitch
.756 62 20 37–4 25–16 0–0 7.9 Philadelphia 76ers 1980–81 Lost Eastern Conference Finals 9 7 6–2 3–5
  • 12 game winning streak and two additional streaks of 10 games
Billy Cunningham
.756 62 20 33–8 29–12 0–0 6.6 Boston Celtics 1983–84 Won NBA Championship 15 8 12–1 3–7 K. C. Jones
.756 62 20 36–5 26–15 0–0 7.4 Los Angeles Lakers 1984–85 Won NBA Championship 15 4 8–2 7–2
List
    • Defeated 63–19 Boston Celtics in NBA Finals
    • NBA record 52 regular-season games with 30+ assists
    • Started 3-5
Pat Riley
.756 62 20 35–6 27–14 0–0 7.7 Los Angeles Lakers 1985–86 Lost Western Conference Finals 8 6 6–2 2–4 Pat Riley
.756 62 20 36–5 26–15 0–0 5.8 Los Angeles Lakers 1987–88 Won NBA Championship 15 9 12–2 3–7
List
    • 15 game winning streak [24]
    • Won 3 straight series 4-3 (Jazz, Mavericks and Pistons)
Pat Riley
.756 62 20 35–6 27–14 0–0 6.7 Phoenix Suns 1992–93 Lost NBA Finals 13 11 7–6 6–5
List
    • Undefeated December (14–0)
    • 14 game winning streak [25]
Paul Westphal
.756 62 20 33–8 29–12 0–0 6.0 San Antonio Spurs 1994–95 Lost Western Conference Finals 9 6 4–4 5–2
List
    • 15 game winning streak [26]
    • Started 7–9
Bob 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
List
    • 13 game winning streak
    • Defeated 62–20 Utah Jazz in NBA Finals
Phil 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
Jerry Sloan
.756 62 20 31–10 31–10 0–0 7.1 Phoenix Suns 2004–05 Lost Western Conference Finals 9 6 4–4 5–2
  • Followed a series of going 18–1 with a 6-game losing streak [27]
Mike 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
List
    • 2nd best two-loss start in NBA History (27–2, .931)
    • Lost seven of next nine games afterwards
    • Winning streaks of 19 and 12 games
Doc 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
Tom Thibodeau
.756 62 20 32–9 30–11 0–0 7.7 San Antonio Spurs 2013–14 Won NBA Championship 16 7 11–2 5–5
List
    • 19-game winning streak
    • Undefeated March (16–0)
Gregg Popovich

See also

Notes

  • a Formula for average point differential:
  • The Boston Celtics appear ten times on the list, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers with eight appearances and the Chicago Bulls with six.
  • Phil Jackson appears six times on the list; Pat Riley appears five times and Gregg Popovich four.
  • Jackson (coaching the Lakers and the Chicago Bulls) and Red Auerbach (coaching the Celtics and the Washington Capitols) are the only coaches to appear leading different teams.

References

  1. ^ Matt Chandler (2019). Pro basketball records : a guide for every fan. North Mankato, MN: Capstone. p. 40. ISBN  9781543559323.
  2. ^ Russell Ash (2002). Top 10 of everything 2003 (1st American ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 254. ISBN  9780789489180.
  3. ^ "1995–96 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  4. ^ a b NBA.com: Regular Season Records: Miscellaneous
  5. ^ "1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  6. ^ "1996–97 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  7. ^ ESPN – Elias Says ... – ESPN
  8. ^ "1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  9. ^ Chicago Bulls 1991–92 Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  10. ^ ESPN – Atlanta vs. Dallas Recap, February 26, 2007
  11. ^ 2006–07 Dallas Mavericks Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  12. ^ 1946–47 Washington Capitols Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  13. ^ 1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks Games – Basketball-Reference.com Archived 2011-08-04 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Mark Murphy, C’s can do as they please – Stars sit, but team still clinches homecourt, Boston Herald, April 6, 2008.
  15. ^ 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  16. ^ 1959–60 Boston Celtics Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  17. ^ 1996–97 Utah Jazz Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  18. ^ 2021–22 Phoenix Suns Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  19. ^ 2023–24 Boston Celtics Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  20. ^ 1964–65 Boston Celtics Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  21. ^ 1981–82 Boston Celtics Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  22. ^ 1990–91 Portland Trail Blazers Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  23. ^ "2019–20 Milwaukee Bucks Schedule and Results". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  24. ^ 1987–88 Los Angeles Lakers Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  25. ^ 1992–93 Phoenix Suns Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  26. ^ 1994–95 San Antonio Spurs Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  27. ^ 2004–05 Phoenix Suns Games – Basketball-Reference.com