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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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