About the Worst NBA Teams
Bad seasons are an unavoidable part of NBA history, and they often serve as the foundation for future greatness. The NBA draft lottery system, designed to prevent deliberate tanking, gives the worst teams the best odds at the top pick. This creates a silver lining for franchises enduring historically bad campaigns.
The most famous example is the 1996-97 San Antonio Spurs, who went 20-62 after David Robinson was injured. That terrible season earned them the #1 pick, which they used to draft Tim Duncan. Duncan went on to win five championships with the Spurs, turning one bad year into two decades of dominance.
Not every bad season leads to redemption. Some franchises endure multiple losing seasons without finding the franchise-altering talent they need. The draft lottery is inherently uncertain, and even high picks can bust. What separates the organizations that recover from those that do not is front office competence, player development, and organizational culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the worst record in NBA history?
The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers went 9-73, the most losses in a full 82-game season. The 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats hold the worst winning percentage at .106 (7-59) in a lockout-shortened season.
Has a terrible team ever quickly become a contender?
Yes. The 1996-97 Spurs went from 20-62 to drafting Tim Duncan and winning the championship just two seasons later in 1999. The 2010-11 Cavaliers drafted Kyrie Irving and later re-acquired LeBron James, winning the 2016 title.
What is tanking in the NBA?
Tanking refers to a team deliberately losing games to improve their draft lottery odds. The NBA has implemented reforms like the draft lottery flattening (2019) to discourage tanking by giving similar odds to the worst teams.
Do bad teams always get the #1 pick?
No. Under the current lottery system, the worst team has only a 14% chance at the #1 pick. Teams with the worst records are guaranteed a top-5 pick, but not necessarily #1.