Once they’ve gotten on a roll, some teams have looked as though they would never lose again.

Yes, however, the opposite is also true. Some teams make us wonder if they’ll ever win again.

We’ve witnessed some of the worst teams in NBA history in recent years – the three longest losing streaks have taken place since the 2010-11 season.

The Los Angeles Lakers may have the league’s longest winning streak at 33 games, but which of the NBA’s worst bottom feeders were truly historically bad? 

Well, here you go. These are some of the worst losing streaks in NBA history:  

Longest Losing Streak: 28 Philadelphia 76ers (2014-15 to 2015-16)/Detroit Pistons (2023-24)

The 2015-16 season turned out to be an NBA record-setting year both in terms of greatness and despair. The Golden State Warriors broke the Chicago Bulls’ all-time win mark by finishing 73-9, while the 76ers opened the season 0-18 – tying the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets for the longest losing streak to start a season. But since they had dropped the final 10 games of the 2014-15 regular season, the Sixers had also set the all-time mark for most consecutive losses.

Who has the single-season mark? The 2023-24 Pistons were 2-1 after defeating the Bulls on Oct. 28. But they didn’t get another win until more than two months later. Detroit suffered a 118-112 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 26, setting the single-season record with a 27th consecutive defeat. The Pistons then blew a 21-point lead in Boston on Dec. 28 before falling in overtime to match the 76ers for the longest skid in league history. The misery finally ended on Dec. 30 when they held on for a 129-127 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

The Next Longest Losing Streaks (Spans Seasons)

  • 26 – Cleveland Cavaliers (12/20/2010 – 2/9/2011)
  • 26 – Philadelphia 76ers (1/31/2014 – 3/27/2014)
  • 24 – Cleveland Cavaliers (3/19/1982 – 11/05/1982)
  • 23 – Vancouver Grizzlies (2/16/1996 – 4/2/1996)
  • 23 – Denver Nuggets (12/9/1997 – 1/23/1998)
  • 23 – Charlotte Bobcats (3/19/2012 – 4/26/2012)
  • 21 – Detroit Pistons (3/7/1980 – 10/22/1980)
  • 20 – Philadelphia 76ers (1/9/1973 – 2/11/1973)
  • 20 – New York Knicks (3/23/1985 – 11/9/1985)
  • 20 – Dallas Mavericks (11/13/1993 – 12/22/1993)
  • 20 – Los Angeles Clippers (4/18/1994 – 12/5/1994)
  • 20 – Houston Rockets (2/6/2021 – 3/21/2021)

Longest Home Losing Streak: 19 Dallas Mavericks (1993-94)

Coming off the worst season in franchise history at 11-71 in 1992-93, the Mavericks didn’t fare much better in 1993-94. They lost 39 of their first 41 games, including a 20-game losing streak, which, at that time, tied for the longest drought in NBA history with the 1972-73 76ers.

During this stretch, Dallas also dropped 19 in a row at home by an average of 10.6 points. But facing the possibility of a second straight 70-loss season, the Mavericks pulled together and beat the playoff-bound Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves in their last two games – both at home.

The Next Longest Losing Streaks at Home (Spans Seasons)

  • 18 – Philadelphia 76ers (1/17/2014 – 3/21/2014)
  • 18 – New York Knicks (12/3/2018 – 2/22/2019)
  • 16 – Orlando Magic (3/1/1990 – 11/6/1990)
  • 16 – Charlotte Bobcats (11/23/2012 – 1/23/2013)
  • 16 – Brooklyn Nets (1/2/2017 – 2/15/2017)
  • 15 – Providence Steamrollers (11/13/1948 – 1/6/1949)
  • 15 – Cleveland Cavaliers (3/20/1982 – 11/26/1982)
  • 14 – Charlotte Hornets (2/28/1989 – 11/3/1989)
  • 14 – Minnesota Timberwolves (4/9/1994 – 12/14/1994)
  • 14 – New Jersey Nets (1/29/2010 – 3/22/2010)
  • 14 – Charlotte Bobcats (3/19/2012 – 4/26/2012)
  • 14 – Philadelphia 76ers (11/1/2014 – 12/19/2014)
  • 14 – Minnesota Timberwolves (3/16/2015 – 11/20/2015)

Longest Road Losing Streak: 43 Sacramento Kings (1990-91 to 1991-92)

Given some of the tough times they’ve had over the years, the Kings were bound to get a mention at some point, right? The franchise bottomed out away from home between 1987-92.

Over a 201-game stretch during that span, the Kings went an abysmal 23-178 – including a record 43-game skid that lasted more than a full calendar year from Nov. 21, 1990 to Nov. 22, 1991.

Sacramento wasn’t even coming close during that slide, losing by an average of 16.3 points. And no NBA team has lost more consecutive home games in a single season than the 37 dropped by the 1990-91 Kings.

The Next Longest Losing Streaks on Road (Spans Seasons)

  • 34 – New Jersey Nets (12/23/1989 – 11/21/1990)
  • 34 – Cleveland Cavaliers (1/13/2003 – 12/15/2003)
  • 32 – Baltimore Bullets (1/2/1953 – 3/14/1954)
  • 30 – Vancouver Grizzlies (2/19/1999 – 12/6/1999)
  • 29 – San Diego Clippers (2/22/1983 – 12/18/1983)
  • 29 – Dallas Mavericks (11/10/1992 – 3/13/1993)
  • 28 – New Orleans Jazz (10/17/1974 – 2/7/1975)
  • 28 – Atlanta Hawks (1/28/1976 – 11/24/1976)
  • 28 – Indiana Pacers (2/18/1983 – 12/21/1983)
  • 27 – Los Angeles Clippers (11/27/1987 – 3/26/1988)
  • 26 – Cleveland Cavaliers (11/13/1970 – 3/6/1971)
  • 26 – New Jersey Nets (3/20/1987 – 1/29/1988)
  • 26 – Dallas Mavericks (12/26/1991 – 4/9/1992)
  • 26 – Washington Wizards (4/12/2010 – 2/1/2011)
  • 26 – Cleveland Cavaliers (11/19/2010 – 2/7/2011)
  • 26 – Denver Nuggets (2/5/1991 – 11/27/1991)
  • 25 – Chicago Bulls (12/21/2000 – 4/10/2001)

Research support provided by Tim Abel. Check out our MLB offseason news and NBA season coverage. Follow us on X and Instagram for more!