List_of_all-time_NBA_win-loss_records
The National Basketball Association (NBA) was founded in 1946 and began operations as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). Following the BAA's merger with the National Basketball League (NBL), the BAA rebranded as the NBA. The 1949–50 NBA season marked the first season following the merger.
The NBA has kept a record of its win–loss statistics since its inception. These records include wins and losses recorded during a team's playing time in the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[lower-alpha 1] Defunct BAA/NBA franchises are also accounted for, provided that they played at least one season in the BAA or NBA.[lower-alpha 1] The records do not count wins and losses recorded by a team's playing time in the American Basketball Association (ABA), despite the 1976 ABA–NBA merger.[2]
The San Antonio Spurs have the highest win–loss record percentage, with 2,283–1,502 (.603).[3] Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves maintain the lowest win–loss record percentage, with 1,091–1,621 (.402).[3]
The Boston Celtics lead the association with the most played games, with 6,032.[3] Conversely, the Pelicans have played the fewest overall games, with 1,686.[3] The Celtics have also recorded the most wins, with 3,570; the Sacramento Kings have recorded the most losses with 3,221.[3] The Pelicans have also recorded both the fewest wins (782) and losses (904).[3] Of teams established after the ABA–NBA merger, only the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat have a winning regular season record; the Heat are also the lone team founded post-merger to maintain a winning playoff record.
At the end of the regular season, 12 teams (the top 6 seeds per conference) will have clinched a playoff berth. Meanwhile, the 7th through 10th seeds in both conferences enter in a Play-in Tournament to determine both conferences' final two playoff seeds. Through the end of the 2023 Play-In Tournament, the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New Orleans Pelicans are tied for most Play-in games played (3). The Hawks have the most Play-in wins (3), and are tied with the Celtics, Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Portland Trail Blazers for the highest winning percentage, having won all their Play-in games. Five different teams have recorded the most Play-in losses (2), and all five have the lowest Play-in win–loss percentage with an 0–2 record (.000). Play-in game played.
As of the end of the 2023 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers have the most post-season games played (777), wins (464), and losses (313), as well as the highest post-season winning percentage with 464–313 (.597) of any NBA team.[4] The Minnesota Timberwolves have the fewest post-season wins (21) and the lowest post-season winning percentage with 21–42 (.333).[5] The New Orleans Pelicans have the fewest post-season games played (55).[6]