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Having the most NBA regular season wins isn’t a guarantee of success in the postseason. Multiple times, we’ve seen teams dominate and wreak havoc in the regular season and then wet the bed when they make the playoffs and it actually matters.
Most NBA regular season wins
Still, the teams with the most single-season NBA wins wrote their name in basketball history forever. Watching them thrive night in and night out made rival scouts and coaches hit the drawing board, get better, and shape the league as we know it today.
Of course, having the best team record in NBA history is an honor and a privilege, as we’re talking about the basketball tournament that has featured the most worldwide talent historically. It’s not an easy achievement and something to brag about.
So, now that we’re heading into a new season let’s hope a team can continue to make history and crack this list. Sit down, buckle up, and enjoy as we walk you through 10 historical campaigns, letting you know about the ten highest win total in an NBA regular season.
10. 2001-02 Mavericks (67-15)
The 1999-00 Lakers, 1991-92 Bulls, and 1985-86 Celtics also managed to get 67 wins, but we’re sticking with the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks because they did it more recently. Notably, the Mavs improved their win total by five games, once again surpassing all expectations and establishing Dirk Nowitzki as one of the league’s finest.
The Mavericks were nine games above the Spurs and ran away with their division, also clinching the first seed in the Western Conference. However, their dream-like season ended up in a nightmare, as they were knocked down by the ‘We Believe’ Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
9. 2014-15 Warriors (67-15)
The Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks in their pursuit of Steve Kerr, and it proved to be one of the best moves in franchise history. Despite being a rookie coach, Kerr orchestrated a major franchise turnaround, building on Mark Jackson‘s team and sliding Draymond Green into the starting lineup for the injured David Lee.
The Dubs’ signature full-motion offense took the league by storm. The Warriors were the best team in the West and finished the season with the most wins in the league. Then, they put the cherry on top of the sundae by knocking down LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
8. 2015-16 Spurs (67-15)
No one seems to talk about the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs for the sole reason that the Golden State Warriors were even better. They were two years removed from their last NBA championship and looked poised to go back to the ultimate stage with a blossoming Kawhi Leonard.
Their Big 3 of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan was joined by Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge to turn them into a powerhouse again. Unfortunately, Gregg Popovich’s squad couldn’t get past Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and the Oklahoma City Thunder and lost in six games in the second round.
7. 2016-17 Warriors (67-15)
The Golden State Warriors were fresh off becoming the first team to blow a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. So, they responded by adding Kevin Durant to a team that had already set the mark for the best record in an NBA season in league history.
Unsurprisingly, the Dubs once again led the NBA in wins, even though they slightly regressed from their historic campaign. It was the first season of the ‘Hamptons Five,’ and they didn’t find much trouble making it back to the NBA Finals. This time, they got the job done and got back at LeBron and the Cavs.
6. 1966-67 Sixers (68-14)
It’s been a while since the Philadelphia 76ers were the best team in the league. Moreover, their record for the most single-season NBA wins has been around since the late 60s, which seems like a surprise considering how many incredible talents they’ve had throughout history.
Unsurprisingly, that Sixers team was led by the one and only Wilt Chamberlain, perhaps the most dominant player in basketball history, at least stat-wise. The Sixers also had Chet Walker, Hal Greer, and Billy Cunningham and had little trouble winning the NBA championship.
5. 1972-73 Celtics (68-14)
Even though the Boston Celtics have had some legendary teams, none of them sit at the same table as the 1972-73 squad, at least when it comes to the regular season. They finished with the best record in an NBA season that year, and they continue to hold the record for the most regular-season wins in franchise history.
While the Celtics weren’t the same juggernaut from the Bill Russell era, they weren’t short on talent with John Havlicek, Tom Sanders, Paul Silas, Don Nelson, Jo Jo White, and Dave Cowens. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get past the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.
4. 1971-72 Lakers (69-13)
The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers combined for 84 total wins, a then-NBA record that stood for more than two decades. They weren’t as popular as they were when Jim Buss acquired the team and turned them into the ‘Showtime’ Lakers, but they were still a name to keep an eye on.
The Lakers had Wilt Chamberlain leading the way alongside the likes of Gail Goodrich, Pat Riley, Jerry West, and the legendary Elgin Baylor, who retired nine games into the season. Under coach Bill Sharman, they beat the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
3. 1996-97 Bulls (69-13)
Although this Chicago Bulls team doesn’t have the highest win total in an NBA regular season, it was still a testament to Michael Jordan‘s dominance and greatness. Despite being the reigning champions, some thought the Bulls weren’t going to be able to repeat.
John Stockton, Karl Malone, and the Utah Jazz looked poised to win their first championship in franchise history, but Phil Jackson had different plans. The Bulls beat the Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, and Miami Heat en route to an epic NBA Finals series against the Jazz, which they won in six games. Jordan’s iconic ‘Flu Game’ happened in Game 5 of that series.
2. 1995-96 Bulls (72-10)
Even though they no longer hold the record for the most NBA regular season wins in history, the 1995-96 Bulls are still considered the greatest team of all time, and for very good reason. For starters, they wound up winning the NBA championship, unlike the team that surpassed them.
Michael Jordan’s epic return marked this legendary Chicago Bulls team. He proved that he wasn’t washed and hadn’t missed a beat despite his first retirement, and that season set the first stone on the way to their second three-peat. No team will ever top them, it doesn’t matter what the numbers say.
1. 2015-16 Warriors (73-9)
Once again, the Steve Kerr Warriors make this list. Notably, the 2015-16 version was their most dominant yet, taking down the legendary Bulls for the most NBA regular season wins ever. Notably, Kerr was also a part of that Bulls squad, so no one can deny his pedigree as a bonafide winner.
But as you may know by now, ‘it don’t mean a thing without the ring.’ The 2015-16 Dubs got the best team record in NBA history, Stephen Curry was the first unanimous MVP ever, and they were poised to win back-to-back rings.
Then, they blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals to LeBron’s Cavaliers in perhaps the greatest comeback in NBA history.
