The Detroit Pistons have shocked the world by losing their 27th straight game, which is second in NBA history and the most in a single season. Quite frankly, the Pistons have been absolutely shocking all season long as they only have two wins and rank 28th in offense and 26th in defense. As bad as they have been, there has been a worse NBA team that holds the record for most straight losses.
- 1. Philadelphia 76ers – 28 Consecutive Losses
- T-2. Detroit Pistons – 27 Consecutive Losses (2023)
- T-2. Cleveland Cavaliers – 26 Consecutive Losses
- T-2. Philadelphia 76ers – 26 Consecutive Losses
- 5. Cleveland Cavaliers – 24 Consecutive Losses
- T-6. Charlotte Bobcats – 23 Consecutive Losses
- T-6. Denver Nuggets – 23 Consecutive Losses
- T-6. Vancouver Grizzlies – 23 Consecutive Losses
- 9. Detroit Pistons – 21 Consecutive Losses
- T-10. Dallas Mavericks – 20 Consecutive Losses
- T-10. Houston Rockets – 20 Consecutive Losses
- T-10. Los Angeles Clippers – 20 Consecutive Losses
- T-10. New York Knicks – 20 Consecutive Losses
- T-10. Philadelphia 76ers – 20 Consecutive Losses
We have collected the teams with the longest losing streaks in NBA history to get an idea of just how badly the Pistons’ season has gone despite the presence of budding star Cade Cunningham and head coach Monty Williams who signed a 6-year, $78.5 million deal this year. Here are the teams with the longest losing streaks in NBA history.
1. Philadelphia 76ers – 28 Consecutive Losses
Philadelphia 76ers’ remarkable 28 consecutive losses during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons were part of a deliberate strategy known as “The Process.” The team, under the leadership of general manager Sam Hinkie, aimed to acquire high draft picks and rebuild with young, promising talent. The 76ers’ focus on draft picks during this period yielded promising results. Joel Embiid, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, was selected during this time. Despite injuries delaying his debut until the 2017 season, Embiid has since become one of the league’s premier talents as a two-time scoring champion and reigning MVP as of the 2023-24 season.
The losing streak was a challenging period for the players involved, but it allowed young talents like Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, and Michael Carter-Williams to gain valuable playing time and experience. Interestingly, none of these players are relevant in today’s league even if Simmons was part of the title-contending roster in the late 2010s. “The Process” sparked debates about the ethics of intentionally losing to secure better draft positions when looking at the embarrassing record. Despite criticism, the 76ers’ approach brought attention to the importance of team-building strategies and might have influenced the league moving forward.
T-2. Detroit Pistons – 27 Consecutive Losses (2023)
Season: 2023-24
This season, the Detroit Pistons are one loss away from tying the all-time record. Instead of making the news due to Cade Cunningham’s improvements on the court (22.4 PPG, 7.1 APG) or Monty Williams’ coaching prowess, but rather the team’s horrific record to start the year. Right now, the Pistons hold a 2-28 record as they rank 28th in scoring and 26th in defense. The fans have had enough, chanting “sell the team” to stop the embarrassment.
It might be time for the Pistons to play around with some new rotations because tying the record for most consecutive losses will not be a good look for the franchise. Detroit is playing the Boston Celtics next and that should end up being a loss barring some unforeseen circumstances. Avoiding the record for most consecutive losses should be the goal of the team because expecting another “Malice At The Palace” due to downright poor play could be a possible occurrence.
T-2. Cleveland Cavaliers – 26 Consecutive Losses
Cleveland Cavaliers endured a challenging period marked by a formidable 26-game losing streak, tying for the second-longest in league history. This streak followed the departure of basketball icon LeBron James, who had left the Cavaliers in free agency to join the Miami Heat. The sudden absence of a player of James’ caliber significantly impacted the team’s performance, leading to a prolonged struggle on the court.
The Cavaliers went from a 61-21 record and making the second round of the playoffs to only 19 wins and missing the playoffs. LeBron James is known for his ability to uplift a team singlehandedly but the roster was simply poor with 34-year-old Antawn Jamison acting as the leading scorer with 18.0 points per game and 31-year-old Baron Davis adding 13.9 points per game as the second-leading scorer.
T-2. Philadelphia 76ers – 26 Consecutive Losses
5. Cleveland Cavaliers – 24 Consecutive Losses
Seasons: 1981-82, 1982-83
During the 1981-82 and 1982-83 NBA seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers faced a daunting challenge as they navigated through a remarkable 24-game losing streak, marking one of the toughest periods in the franchise’s history. The Cavaliers, grappling with a combination of on-court challenges and roster transitions, struggled to find their footing during this tumultuous period.
The team won 15 games in the 1982 season, ranking 21st out of 23 teams in offense and having the second-lowest attendance in the league. Quite frankly, nobody wanted to see a team led by Ron Brewer (19.4 PPG) and James Edwards (16.7 PPG) lose games consistently. The losing streak extended into the 1983 season, as the Cavaliers went on to win only 23 games and rank dead last in attendance. It is astonishing how much the Cleveland franchise struggled in their history and appearing twice on the list of longest losing streaks is not a great look.
T-6. Charlotte Bobcats – 23 Consecutive Losses
T-6. Denver Nuggets – 23 Consecutive Losses
Denver Nuggets endured a challenging season, finishing with a record of 11-71. The team faced struggles on both ends of the court, ranking near the bottom in points per game (28th) and opponent points per game (26th) and had a poor 23-game losing streak. The Nuggets’ season depended on Johnny Newman (14.7 PPG) and LaPhonso Ellis (14.3 PPG) but they could not shape the otherwise poor offensive team.
Following a discouraging 23-game losing streak in the 1997-98 NBA season, a stretch that matched the struggles of the 1995–96 Vancouver Grizzlies, the Denver Nuggets found themselves with a dismal 2–38 record after 40 games, sharing a win-loss percentage of .050 with the 1993–94 Mavericks. The team’s challenging season reached a low point, holding a 4–42 record at the All-Star break. In response to the ongoing difficulties, General Manager Allan Bristow was relieved of his duties, marking a pivotal moment in the franchise’s efforts to address the persistent struggles and chart a new improvement course.
T-6. Vancouver Grizzlies – 23 Consecutive Losses
Season: 1995-96
The most extended losing streak in the history of the Grizzlies occurred during the 1995-96 season when the franchise was known as the Vancouver Grizzlies and played in Vancouver. This notable 23-game losing streak began on February 16, 1996, with a 100-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and concluded on April 3 with a 105-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The challenging stretch highlighted a difficult period for the team, marking a significant chapter in the early history of the franchise. The team only won 15 games in the entire season, ranking last in points scored (89.8). Greg Anthony was the leading scorer in the season as a 6’0” point guard who posted 14.0 points per game over 69 games. That should explain just how poor the Grizzlies were offensively.
9. Detroit Pistons – 21 Consecutive Losses
Seasons: 1979-80, 1980-81
The Detroit Pistons faced a tumultuous period during the 1979-80 NBA season. Second-year owner Bill Davidson took decisive action by dismissing second-year head coach Dick Vitale after a disappointing 4-8 start. However, the coaching change did little to alter the team’s fortunes as the Pistons experienced a challenging stretch that included a 14-game losing streak, setting a franchise single-season record at the time.
Continuing into the 1980-81 season, the Pistons started in the worst way by losing seven straight games which took their streak to 21 straight losses. The 1980 Pistons have to be one of the worst in recent memory because they only won 16 games and ranked second-to-last in defense. Luckily, Isiah Thomas would have his All-Star rookie campaign in the 1982 season so the struggle would not last for too long.
T-10. Dallas Mavericks – 20 Consecutive Losses
Dallas Mavericks as they navigated a rebuilding phase that culminated in a challenging record of 11-71. The team faced difficulties on both ends of the court, ranking near the bottom in points per game (26th) and opponent points per game (27th), reflecting the struggles they encountered throughout the season.
While the roster featured recognizable names such as Derek Harper, who averaged 18.2 points per game, and the emerging talent Jim Jackson with 16.3 points per game, the team faced a unique mix of experience and youth. Harper, at 31 years old, represented the veteran presence, while Jackson, at just 22 years old, symbolized the younger generation. This combination created a dynamic that proved to be challenging and unsustainable for achieving consistent success on the court as the Mavericks had a whopping 20-game losing streak which is tied for the 10th-highest ever.
T-10. Houston Rockets – 20 Consecutive Losses
Houston Rockets endured a challenging stretch, suffering a notable 20-game losing streak that tied for the tenth-longest in league history. This difficult period was marked by a series of setbacks, including injuries, roster changes, and a demanding schedule. Franchise player James Harden only appeared in eight games and forced his way out of the team shortly after All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook was traded.
The 20 consecutive losses reflected the Rockets’ struggles on both ends of the court, as they faced challenges in scoring and defending against opponents. The season was one of transition for the Rockets, marked by significant changes in personnel and a shift in team dynamics. Rookie head coach Stephen Silas was likely brought in to lose games on purposes, and the tanking commenced. Without any stars and Christian Wood and John Wall only appearing in 40 games each, the Rockets were a putrid team to follow.
T-10. Los Angeles Clippers – 20 Consecutive Losses
Los Angeles Clippers team appears on this list. The Los Angeles Clippers’ most extended period of consecutive losses occurred with a 20-game losing streak that spanned the transition from the 1993-94 season to the 1994-95 season. This challenging stretch commenced on April 18, 1994, with a narrow 131-134 loss to the Golden State Warriors and concluded on December 7, 1994, with a hard-fought 96-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Clippers’ resilience and eventual triumph marked the end of this significant losing streak because it was getting quite embarrassing for a franchise located in one of the major destinations around the NBA. Until today, the Clippers have yet to play in an NBA Finals and that is another record that needs to be broken sooner rather than later.
T-10. New York Knicks – 20 Consecutive Losses
New York Knicks endured their lengthiest stretch of consecutive losses with a 20-game losing streak that spanned from the 1984-85 season to the 1985-86 season. This challenging period commenced on March 23, 1985, with a 105-113 defeat against the Kansas City Kings and concluded on November 12, 1985, with a redemptive 103-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Knicks fans have had their struggles throughout history, including recently as they have not made the Finals since 1999, but there were great moments including championships won in 1970 and 1973 with Walt Frazier and Willis Reed acting as the stars. Hopefully, the Knicks can get back to greatness to forget their 2-6 Finals record and their 20-game-losing streak which is a part of their history.
T-10. Philadelphia 76ers – 20 Consecutive Losses
