Some NBA teams have endured stretches where losses accumulated game after game, turning competitive seasons into record-setting slides. These streaks often unfolded amid roster instability and rebuilding efforts that failed to gain traction.
The longest losing streaks reveal more than poor results. They highlight moments when teams struggled to adjust, coaching changes came too late and morale declined as defeats became routine across weeks of regular-season play.
From expansion-era franchises to modern rebuilds, some prolonged downturns remain part of the league’s statistical record, serving as stark reminders of how quickly seasons can unravel when losses refuse to stop.
Which NBA teams have the longest losing streaks?
In NBA history, two franchises sit atop the list for the most consecutive regular-season losses: the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons, each with 28 straight defeats.
Philadelphia’s skid stretched across two seasons, beginning in March 2015 and ending in December 2015, while Detroit’s occurred in the 2023–24 season, tying the all-time mark within one campaign.
Philadelphia’s infamous run came during the height of the club’s “Process” era, a period defined by rebuilding and roster overhaul. After finishing the 2014–15 regular season with a woeful record, the Sixers carried their slide into the next season, ultimately snapping the streak with a 103–91 victory over the Lakers on December 1, 2015.
That prolonged downturn has since become a cautionary tale about extended adversity and franchise strategy. Detroit’s descent in 2023–24 was historic in its own right: the Pistons lost 28 consecutive games in a single season, setting the longest losing streak within one campaign in league history.
Their skid began with a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 30, 2023, and didn’t finally end until December 30, 2023 with a dramatic overtime win over the Toronto Raptors.
Behind these franchise lows, several other teams have also endured notable stretches of defeat. The Cleveland Cavaliers and a 2013–14 iteration of the Sixers each lost 26 straight games, while teams like the Vancouver Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and Charlotte Bobcats have 23-game losing streaks on their records.
| Team | Season(s) | Losing streak |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 2014-15, 2015-16 | 28 games |
| Detroit Pistons | 2023-24 | 28 games |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 2013-14 | 26 games |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2010-11 | 26 games |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1981-82, 1982-83 | 24 games |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 2011-12 | 23 games |
| Denver Nuggets | 1997-98 | 23 games |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 1995-96 | 23 games |
| Detroit Pistons | 1979-80, 1980-81 | 21 games |
| Houston Rockets | 2020-21 | 20 games |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1993-94, 1994-95 | 20 games |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1993-94 | 20 games |
| New York Knicks | 1984-85, 1985-86 | 20 games |
| San Diego Clippers | 1981–82 | 19 games |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1988–89 | 19 games |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1992–93 | 19 games |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 1995–96 | 19 games |
| Orlando Magic | 2003–04 | 19 games |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2017–18 | 19 games |
| New Jersey Nets | 2008–09, 2009–10 | 19 games |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1971–72, 1972–73 | 19 games |
| Utah Jazz | 1981–82 | 18 games |
| Boston Celtics | 2006–07 | 18 games |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 2012–13 | 18 games |
| New York Knicks | 2018–19 | 18 games |
| San Antonio Spurs | 2023–24 | 18 games |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 2010–11, 2011–12 | 18 games |