Longest Losing Streaks in NBA History

Ben Mendelowitz Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

The NBA has seen its fair share of brutal slumps, but few things sting quite like a historic losing streak. Imagine your favorite team dropping 15, 20, or even 28 consecutive losses in a row—how would you cope?

These losing streaks are far more than just a number on a scoreboard. They are a testament to human resilience, front-office gambles, and, some might even think - bad luck! Most importantly, this is a pride thing - where hope goes to die, and franchises become punchlines… until they (maybe) rise again.

But the question remains, who has the longest losing streak? Keep reading to find out!

The 28-Game Nightmare Club

Only two teams share the dubious honor of the longest NBA losing streak: the 2023–24 Detroit Pistons and the Philadelphia 76ers (2014–2016). The most recent losing streak belongs to the Detroit Pistons, who faced a 28-game losing streak in the 2023–24 season. Note that there are 82 games per season in the NBA. This means that these two teams lost 34% of their games throughout the season… in a row!

Longest Losing Streaks in NBA History

Detroit’s Agony in a Single Season

The Pistons’ 28-game freefall during the 2023–24 season stands as the worst single-season streak in league history, all within one season. It started innocently enough, with a 112–124 loss to the Thunder on October 30, 2023, and snowballed into two months of misery.

Players like Cade Cunningham fought valiantly, but close losses—including seven games decided by five points or fewer—kept adding up. The streak finally ended on December 30 when they stunned the Raptors 129–127 in overtime.

This season, Detroit seems to be doing much better and currently find themselves in playoff contention since 2019.

Philly’s Two-Year Train Wreck

The 76ers’ 28-game streak, on the other hand, was a masterclass in prolonged suffering, spanning two seasons. It all began in March 2015 during a dismal 18–64 season and stretched into the following year, where they started 0–18. By the time they beat the Lakers 103–91 on December 1, 2015, Philly had cemented itself as a cautionary tale for tanking strategies.

The Almost-Greatest Losers

Plenty of teams flirted with historic ineptitude but fell just short of 28.

The 2010–11 Cavaliers lost 26 straight after LeBron’s departure, hitting rock bottom with a 55-point humiliation by the Los Angeles Lakers. The 2013–14 Sixers matched that 26-loss streak in a single season, fielding a roster so thin they started undrafted rookie Tony Wroten at point guard. Then there’s the 2011–12 Charlotte Hornets (then, ‘Bobcats’), who went 7–59 (.106 win percentage) and capped it with a 23-game skid—still the worst season in NBA history.

The “We Can’t Stop Losing” Hall of Shame

Some franchises appear on the list multiple times, proving misery loves company. These losing streaks are some of the worst in franchise history for these teams:

Philadelphia 76ers

• 28 games (2014–2016)
• 26 games (2013–14)
• 20 games (1972–73)
• 19 games (1971–72)
• 17 games (2014–15)

Los Angeles/San Diego Clippers

• 20 games (1993–95)
• 19 games (1988–89)
• 17 games (1998–99)
• 15+ other shorter streaks

Detroit Pistons

• 28 games (2023–24)
• 19 games (1979–81)
• 14-game playoff skid (2008–present)

Longest Home Losing Streak: 19 Games

Home sweet home? Not always. The Dallas Mavericks hold the record for the longest home losing streak in NBA history, with a staggering 19-game skid during the 1993-94 season. You’d think playing in front of your own fans would be an advantage, but sometimes, the pressure can be too much to handle.

Imagine the scene: the home crowd buzzing with anticipation, only to watch their team falter game after game. The Mavericks’ streak was a cocktail of poor performance, injuries, and a brutal schedule. Despite having a roster with potential, they just couldn’t find their groove, and the home court turned into a house of horrors.
Playing at home can be a double-edged sword for NBA teams. Sure, there’s the comfort of familiar surroundings and the energy boost from the crowd. But there’s also the weight of expectations, which can lead to mistakes and a lack of focus. The Mavericks’ 19-game home losing streak is a prime example of how the pressure of playing at home can derail a team.

And they’re not alone in this struggle. The Philadelphia 76ers endured an 18-game home losing streak in the 2013-14 season, and the Detroit Pistons had a 17-game home skid in 2012-13. These streaks highlight the unique challenges of playing at home and the importance of managing the pressure and expectations that come with it.

If you're interested in placing a bet on NBA games this week, you should check out these Fanatics Sportsbook Promo and DraftKings Promo Code pages.

Longest Road Losing Streak: 43 Games

Losing streaks often come with asterisks. For example, the 1995–96 Vancouver Grizzlies (now Memphis) lost 23 straight as an expansion team, then took 15 years (and a move to Memphis) to win a playoff series.

The 2018–19 New York Knicks openly tanked for Zion Williamson during an 18-game skid—only to draft RJ Barrett third overall. Even today, Williamson faces plenty of backlash for his off-court behavior, which indirectly impacts the New Orleans Pelicans.

And who could forget the 2023–24 Spurs, who paired rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama (19.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG) with an 18-game losing streak that had fans side-eyeing the front office? However, the Spurs are building a team around a rookie, so we could cut them some slack, right?

The Playoff Purgatory

Regular-season slumps can hurt pretty bad but playoff droughts cut even deeper. Once more, we are talking about the Pistons. They haven’t won a postseason game since 2008, a 14-loss skid that’s seen them cycle through 11 coaches.

Their struggles continued into the following season, further extending their playoff drought.

On the other hand, the Knicks lost 13 straight playoff games between 2001–2012, including four consecutive first-round sweeps.

Even the Grizzlies struggled early, dropping 12 straight postseason contests from 2004–2011 before their “Grit and Grind” era flipped the script.

Why Do Teams Keep Falling Into These Black Holes?

Three words: tanking, injuries, and rotten luck can plague any NBA team.

Philly’s “Process” teams intentionally fielded subpar rosters to stockpile draft picks.

The 2010–11 Cavs lost Anderson Varejão and Mo Williams to early injuries. This left them with a starting lineup that included Ryan Hollins and Manny Harris.

And sometimes, the basketball gods just frown upon you—like when the 2023–24 Pistons posted a -2.8 net rating during their streak (better than the 10–30 Hornets’ -10.2) but kept finding ways to lose.

In plenty of cases, teams gamble with their rosters. Sometimes they work immediately. Other times, they take time to adjust and find their rhythm. And sometimes, they simply do not work.

The growing disparity between head coaches’ mentality and opinions and what the front office wants only makes this worse. Even if the players themselves are not bad, some decisions might lead to a loss of morale, which later translates into bad games and losing streaks.

One of the most significant examples right now is the infamous Luka Dončić - Anthony Davis trade. The Mavs morale between the fans and players is at an all-time low. We will see how it will affect them in the long run.

Ben Mendelowitz

Ben Mendelowitz is a digital marketing expert who excels in digital PR across industries like finance, crypto, and iGaming. With a background in international political economy, he understands market dynamics and has a knack for creating high quality that garners attention. Ben is also committed to mentoring his team and collaborating closely with content creators and SEO specialists. More from Ben Mendelowitz