The Charlotte Bobcats (7-57) are just two losses away from finishing with the worst winning percentage in NBA history. But are they the worst team ever?
5. 1986-87 L.A. Clippers (12-70) ?» A list of NBA futility wouldn’t be complete without an inclusion of the Clippers. The franchise’s worst winning percentage was in 1986-87. After winning three of its first six games, L.A. lost 28 of its next 29.
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4. 1997-98 Denver Nuggets (11-71) » Only the Cleveland Cavaliers have had a longer losing streak than the 23 straight defeats the Nuggets had in 1997-98. At the end of the skid, Denver sported a 2-38 record but ended the season on a 9-33 tear.
3. 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks (11-71) » This squad averaged the second-fewest points per game (99.3) while allowing the most (114.5). The Mavericks’ longest losing streak hit 19 games and a two-game winning streak to end the season allowed the Mavericks to avoid matching the worst winning percentage in league history.
2. 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers (9-73) » Their .110 winning percentage has been the standard of futility for nearly 40 years. The 76ers opened the season with a 15-game losing streak and ended the year losing 13 straight. In between, they had a 20-game losing streak. Five of their nine wins came within a seven-game span in February.
1. 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats (7-57) » If their current 21-game losing streak wasn’t enough, the Wizards — who have the second-worst record in the league — have defeated the Bobcats by a combined 56 points in their last two meetings. Charlotte’s minus-13.9 point differential is 7.1 points worse than the second-worst team.
– Jeffrey Tomik
