Ranking The Worst NBA Teams Ever By Tiers
Embarking on a journey through the annals of NBA history, we dive headfirst into the realm of the league’s most notorious underachievers, those teams that could not shake the tenacity of losing. From woeful seasons to lackluster performances, join us as we rank the NBA’s worst teams ever, shedding light on the ignominious moments that have become a testament to resilience, or in this case, the lack thereof, in the world of professional basketball.
Here is Fadeaway World’s ranking of all the worst teams ever divided into a tier system. While there is steep competition in each tier, unfortunately, there has to be one team that usurps all and stands alone in Tier 1 as the single worst side in the history of basketball. Let’s find out which team that is as we rank the 20 best into five tiers.
Tier 5: Incapable Teams
1996-97 Vancouver Grizzlies
Regular Season Record: 14-68
28th PPG (89.2)
21st OPPG (99.4)
Unfortunately, the 1996-97 Vancouver Grizzlies also find themselves in the conversation for one of the league’s most challenging seasons. With a 14-68 regular-season record, they faced significant struggles on both ends of the court. Offensively, the Grizzlies ranked near the bottom in points per game (28th), illustrating difficulties in finding consistent scoring options.
Defensively, the Grizzlies faced similar challenges, ranking 21st in opponent points per game. They struggled to contain opponents and lacked the defensive identity needed to compete effectively. The roster, comprised mostly of young and inexperienced players, faced a steep learning curve in adapting to the demands of the NBA. Despite these hardships, the season would serve as a building block for the franchise’s future as the Grizzlies eventually relocated to Memphis and evolved into a more competitive and well-rounded team in subsequent seasons.
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors
Regular Season Record: 12-57
8th PPG (80.2)
9th OPPG (87.4)
With a regular-season record of 12-57, the Philadelphia Warriors found themselves at the bottom of the league standings. Offensively, they struggled to find consistent scoring options, ranking near the bottom in points per game (PPG) as there were only 10 teams in the league at the time. Their offensive inefficiency was evident in their difficulty generating points and establishing a cohesive scoring identity.
Defensively, the Warriors faced similar difficulties, ranking near the bottom in opponent points per game. Their struggles on the defensive end compounded their overall woes, leaving them vulnerable to opponents’ offensive onslaughts. Despite the hardships of the 1952-53 campaign, the franchise would eventually find success by the 1960s, notably with the likes of rookie Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60), showcasing that even in the face of adversity, a team can rebound and evolve into a more formidable force in the years to come.
1949-50 Denver Nuggets
Regular Season Record: 11-51
13th PPG (77.7)
17th OPPG (89.2)
The 1949-50 Denver Nuggets were poor and that is being kind. They finished with only 11 wins, ranking 13th in offense and 17th in defense out of 17 total teams in the league. Only four players averaged in double-digit scoring, the highest being Kenny Sailors who averaged 17.3 points per game. Dillard Crocker added 13.6 points per game but it wasn’t enough to make the team any good on offense.
Unfortunately, the Nuggets appear twice on this list and that goes to show some of the struggles the franchise has had over their history. However, their 1949-50 season was not the worst in history as there is a worse season yet to come for them. To be fair, the 2022-23 season was iconic as they ended up winning their first championship.
1998-99 Los Angeles Clippers
Regular Season Record: 9-41
19th PPG (90.4)
27th OPPG (99.2)
The 1998-99 NBA season was shortened due to a lockout, resulting in a condensed 50-game schedule for each team. The Los Angeles Clippers struggled during this season, finishing with a 9-41 record. The roster lacked star power and experience, contributing to their overall struggles during this challenging season. Only Maurice Taylor was effective as he added 16.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
No other player was able to perform consistently as the second-leading scorer was Lamond Murray (12.2 PPG). While individual player statistics from this season may provide a more granular view of the team’s performance, the overall record and team rankings underscore the Clippers’ difficulties during the 1998-99 season.
1967-68 San Diego Rockets
Regular Season Record: 15-67
11th PPG (112.4)
11th OPPG (121.0)
The 1967-68 San Diego Rockets faced significant challenges in their inaugural season as an NBA franchise. Finishing with a record of 15-67, they struggled on both ends of the court, ranking near the bottom in both points per game (11th) and opponent points per game (11th) among 12 total teams.
Offensively, the Rockets had difficulty finding consistent scoring options, and their struggles were evident in their low points per game average. Defensively, they faced challenges in limiting opponents’ scoring, with a high average of points allowed per game. Despite the presence of John Block (20.2 PPG) and Don Kojis (19.9 PPG), the Rockets were simply a poor team when it came to winning games.
1970-71 Cleveland Cavaliers
Regular Season Record: 15-67
17th PPG (102.1)
11th OPPG (113.3)
The 1970-71 Cleveland Cavaliers faced a challenging inaugural season as an NBA expansion team. The team struggled mightily, finishing with a record of 15-67. Both offensively and defensively, the Cavaliers encountered difficulties, ranking last in points per game, last in offensive rating, and last in defensive rating. Clearly, this team was not quite fit to be competitive in the NBA considering it was their first season.
Offensively, the Cavaliers had trouble finding consistent scoring options, and their struggles were reflected in their low points-per-game average. Walt Wesley posted 17.7 points per game in 82 games, John Johnson added 16.6 points, and four other players averaged double-digit scoring. Still, the Cavaliers were not scoring as much as other teams mainly due to their poor 42.4% field-goal percentage.
1980-81 Dallas Mavericks
Regular Season Record: 15-67
21st PPG (101.5)
19th OPPG (109.9)
The 1980-81 Dallas Mavericks faced the typical struggles of an expansion team in their inaugural NBA season. The team finished with a record of 15-67, reflecting the challenges of integrating new players and establishing a competitive identity. Head coach Dick Motta could not help but accept losses coming frequently as the team simply struggled with the second-lowest pace in the league offensively and a dead-last defensive rating.
Geoff Huston was the best contributor with an average of 16.1 points and 4.9 assists per game, but no other player outside of Jim Spanarkel (14.4 PPG) was able to provide much help. Not having a player who could score 20 points per game normally leads to the demise of an NBA team and the 1980-81 Mavericks were one example.
1981-82 Cleveland Cavaliers
Regular Season Record: 15-67
21st PPG (103.2)
19th OPPG (111.7)
The 1981-82 Cleveland Cavaliers experienced a challenging season, finishing with a record of 15-67. This marked another difficult campaign for the Cavaliers, as they struggled on both ends of the court. Offensively, they ranked near the bottom in points per game (21st), facing difficulties in finding consistent scoring options. Defensively, the team encountered challenges in limiting opponents’ scoring, ranking 19th in opponent points per game.
The Cavaliers were in a rebuilding phase during this period, with a roster that lacked star power and experience. The team’s struggles were indicative of the challenges faced by many teams in the transition or rebuilding phases but luckily, they won’t appear on the list again even during the times when LeBron James was not on the roster.
Tier 4: The Weakest Rosters
2009-10 New Jersey Nets
Regular Season Record: 12-70
30th PPG (92.4)
17th OPPG (101.5)
The 2009-10 New Jersey Nets endured a challenging season, finishing with a record of 12-70, which stands as one of the lowest winning percentages in NBA history. The team faced struggles on both ends of the court, ranking bottom in points per game (30th). Offensively, the Nets had difficulty finding consistent scoring options, and their struggles were evident in their low points-per-game average.
Brook Lopez was by far New Jersey’s best player, posting 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, but he had no help outside of Devin Harris who chipped in 16.9 points and 6.6 assists per game. Even if the guard-center duo was effective at times, the lack of star talent on the roster effectively killed their chances to win as Vince Carter departed following the 2008-09 season and led them to 34 wins.
1993-94 Dallas Mavericks
Regular Season Record: 13-69
27th PPG (95.1)
17th OPPG (103.8)
The 1993-94 Dallas Mavericks faced a challenging season, finishing with a record of 13-69. The team underwent a transition phase during this period, with a roster that lacked the experience and talent needed to compete at a high level in the NBA. The 23-year-old Jim Jackson was the best player, averaging 19.2 points per game while 21-year-old Jamal Mashburn added 19.2 points per game as well.
While individual player statistics from this season would provide more detailed insights, the overall record and team rankings underscore the difficulties encountered by the 1993-94 Dallas Mavericks because they were unable to create scoring opportunities as they finished last in PPG and offensive rating.
2004-05 Atlanta Hawks
Regular Season Record: 13-69
28th PPG (92.7)
29th OPPG (102.5)
The era of Joe Johnson did not start yet, and before he arrived, it was a very difficult time in Atlanta. Antoine Walker was in his prime at 28 years old but was starting to slightly decline as he posted 20.4 points per game on 41.5% shooting from the field and 31.7% from three. He was the best player on the team although Al Harrington added 17.5 points per game.
In fact, the 2004-05 season would be the final year in which Walker looked like the player who made three All-Star Team selections as a member of the Boston Celtics in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Without star power and their best player out of his prime, there was no way the Atlanta Hawks were going to win enough games in the Eastern Conference.
1998-99 Vancouver Grizzlies
Regular Season Record: 8-42
24th PPG (88.9)
26th OPPG (97.5)
The 1998-99 Vancouver Grizzlies faced a challenging season, marked by the NBA lockout, resulting in a shortened 50-game schedule. The team finished with a record of 8-42 during this condensed season. The Grizzlies encountered struggles on both ends of the court, ranking near the bottom in points per game (24th) and opponent points per game (26th).
The team, which was still in its early years, lacked the experience and depth needed to compete effectively in the NBA. Shareef Abdur-Rahim had one of the best seasons of his career, posting 23.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, but there was not much help. Point guard Mike Bibby was only 20 years old and posted 13.2 points per game but he was not the player we would soon come to know with the Sacramento Kings.
1982-83 Houston Rockets
Regular Season Record: 14-68
21st PPG (99.3)
14th OPPG (110.9)
The 1982-83 Houston Rockets experienced a challenging season, finishing with a record of 14-68. The team, in a rebuilding phase, lacked the star power and experience needed to compete at a high level in the NBA. Quite possibly, the best players on the 1982-83 Rockets team might not ring a bell for any fan out there. Allen Leavell averaged 14.8 points per game and he was literally their best contributor on offense although James Bailey also helped (14.1 PPG).
The Rockets ranked 21st out of 23 teams in scoring and while they defended well considering their talent, their inability to maintain any sort of offense killed their chances to win. It would not last long for the Rockets, as they would win 29 games the following season before Hakeem Olajuwon would change fortunes for the team in 1985-85 with 48 games won.
Tier 3: Historically Poor Squads
1947-48 Providence Steamrollers
Regular Season Record: 6-42
7th PPG (69.1)
8th OPPG (80.7)
The Providence Steamrollers, who played in the inaugural season of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946-47, continued into the 1947-48 season. The team faced significant struggles, finishing with a record of 6-42. That was a massive decline from the prior year when the team won 28 games.
The Providence Steamrollers, unfortunately, were unable to establish themselves as a competitive force during their brief existence in the early years of professional basketball. The franchise folded after the 1948-49 BAA season, and their struggles during the 1947-48 season were indicative of the challenges faced by several teams in the early days of the league.
1992-93 Dallas Mavericks
Regular Season Record: 11-71
26th PPG (99.3)
27st OPPG (114.5)
The 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks experienced a challenging season, finishing with a record of 11-71. The team struggled on both ends of the court, ranking near the bottom in points per game (26th) and opponent points per game (27th) during a season-long rebuilding phase that was just hard to watch.
There were some recognizable names on the roster, including Derek Harper (18.2 PPG) and Jim Jackson (16.3 PPG), but the former was 31 years old and the latter was only 22 years old. That meant there was a mix that was not sustainable and meant to win, and the Mavericks struggled to score and defend the ball well enough.
1997-98 Denver Nuggets
Regular Season Record: 11-71
28th PPG (89.0)
26th OPPG (100.8)
The 1997-98 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) out of a total of 29 teams.
Erick Williams was solid with a 19.8 PPG average…but he only appeared in four games. That meant the season depended on Johnny Newman and LaPhonso Ellis, two players who could not crack 15 PPG in the season. Ellis was their best player as a two-way power forward, but he could not make up for the team’s lack of presence on both ends and the 1997-98 Nuggets were forgettable, to say the least.
1986-87 Los Angeles Clippers
Regular Season Record: 12-70
221st PPG (104.5)
22nd OPPG (115.9)
It is never a surprise to see the Clippers appear on a list with unfortunate records because the franchise has been labeled one without much success. Never making a Finals appearance, the Clippers also had one of the worst teams ever in the 1987-87 season. The team, led by head coach Don Chaney and shooting guard Mike Woodson, only won 12 games out of 82.
The Clippers were poor on both ends despite the fact eight players averaged in double-digit scoring. Woodson was the leading scorer and Marques Johnson added in 16.6 points per game but it was to no use. Michael Cage, the former No. 14 overall pick, had the best season of his career with 15.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game but it unfortunately came with a poor team record.
Tier 2: All-Time Worst
1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers
Regular Season Record: 9-73
13th PPG (104.1)
17th OPPG (116.2)
The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers endured a historically challenging season, finishing with a record of 9-73, which at the time, marked the worst record in NBA history for an 82-game season. The team faced struggles on both ends of the court, ranking near the bottom in points per game and last in opponent points per game with a total of 17 teams in the league.
Unfortunately, the wait for superstar and future Hall of Famer, Julius Erving, who joined the 76ers in 1976-77, was too far long to remember any part of the late 1970s Sixers. It was quite shocking, though, how the team dropped 21 wins from a season ago despite the presence of players such as Fred Carter (20.0 PPG), John Block (17.9 PPG), and Tom Ban Arsdale (17.7 PPG).
2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers
Regular Season Record: 10-72
29th PPG (97.4)
29th OPPG (107.6)
Did Philadelphia 76ers fans really “trust the process” during this season? One of the notable storylines of the season was the selection of Joel Embiid in the 2014 NBA Draft. However, Embiid did not play during the 2015-16 season due to injury, and the team continued to face challenges on the court. They were second-to-last in scoring and defense and were utterly useless in being competitive.
A 20-year-old Jahlil Okafor was the best player as he averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, but no other player outside of Ish Smith (14.7 PPG) was capable of creating any offense. Looking back, the 2015-16 season was part of the Sixers’ broader rebuilding strategy, aiming to develop young talent and acquire assets for future success in the league. While the season itself was challenging, it played a role in the team’s subsequent transformation and improvement in the years to come.
Tier 1: The Worst Ever
2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats
Regular Season Record: 7-59
30th PPG (87.0)
27th OPPG (100.9)
The 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats had an exceptionally challenging season, finishing with the lowest winning percentage in NBA history for an 82-game season at 7-59. The team faced struggles on both ends of the court, ranking last in points per game and near the bottom in opponent points per game.
The 2011-12 season was marked by a prolonged lockout, resulting in a condensed schedule. The Bobcats, unfortunately, were unable to find their footing and faced considerable challenges throughout the campaign. Gerald Henderson contributed 15.1 PPG and Corey Maggette added 15.0 PPG, but that was about it. Unfortunately, rookie Kemba Walker was subjected to the team’s inability to compete, and while he added 12.1 PPG, he had no chance to help the worst NBA team we have ever seen to date.