- Two teams have gotten off to an NBA-worst 0-18 start to the season.
- The 2009-10 New Jersey Nets were the first team to lose their first 18 games.
- The 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers finished with a 10-72 record.
Two teams have gotten off to an NBA-worst 0-18 start to the season.
These teams may not have had the shortest championship basketball odds at a sportsbook heading into the season, but they took losing to a whole different level to begin the campaign.
Which teams have gotten off to the worst season starts in NBA history? Let’s take a look.
Worst Records for NBA Teams to Start a Season
| Rank | Start | Team | NBA Season | From - To |
| T-1 | 0-18 | Philadelphia 76ers | 2015-16 | Oct. 28, 2015 - Dec. 1, 2015 |
| T-1 | 0-18 | New Jersey Nets | 2009-10 | Oct. 28, 2015 - Dec. 4, 2009 |
| T-3 | 0-17 | Philadelphia 76ers | 2014-15 | Oct. 29, 2014 - Dec. 3, 2014 |
| T-3 | 0-17 | Los Angeles Clippers | 1998-99 | Feb. 5, 1999 - March 11, 1999 |
| T-3 | 0-17 | Miami Heat | 1988-89 | Nov. 5, 1988 - Dec. 14, 1988 |
| 6 | 0-16 | Los Angeles Clippers | 1994-95 | Nov. 4, 1994 - Dec. 7, 1994 |
| T-7 | 0-15 | Philadelphia 76ers | 1972-73 | Oct. 10, 1972 - Nov. 11, 1972 |
| T-7 | 0-15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1970-71 | Oct. 14, 1970 - Nov. 12, 1970 |
| T-7 | 0-15 | Denver Nuggets | 1949-50 | Oct. 29, 1949 - Nov. 27, 1949 |
| T-10 | 0-13 | Memphis Grizzlies | 2002-03 | Oct. 30, 2002 - Nov. 23, 2002 |
| T-10 | 0-13 | Phoenix Suns | 1996-97 | Nov. 1, 1996 - Nov. 27, 1996 |
| T-12 | 0-12 | Washington Wizards | 2012-13 | Oct. 30, 2012 - Nov. 28, 2012 |
| T-12 | 0-12 | Denver Nuggets | 1997-98 | Oct. 31, 1997 - Nov. 28, 1997 |
| 14 | 0-11 | New Orleans Jazz | 1974-75 | Oct. 17, 1974 - Nov. 10, 1974 |
| 15 | 0-10 | Houston Rockets | 1982-83 | Oct. 29, 1982 - Nov. 19, 1982 |
What’s the Worst Season Start in NBA History?
The 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers and 2009-10 New Jersey Nets both had the worst season starts in NBA history, beginning their seasons 0-18.
The Sixers got their first win on Dec. 1, 2015, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 103-91 in Kobe Bryant’s final game in his hometown of Philly.
Philadelphia finished with a 10-72 record, the third worst in league history.
Joel Embiid was in his second season in the association, but he had yet to play in a game since he missed his first two seasons with a broken bone in his right foot.
Under then-general manager Sam Hinkie, the Sixers were known to purposefully tank games to give themselves better NBA odds of securing a top draft pick. This became known as “The Process,” a nickname Embiid later took on as his own.
The Sixers ended up with the first pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, as they selected Ben Simmons.
New Jersey was the first team to start a season 0-18, falling to the Dallas Mavericks 117-101 on Dec. 2, 2009.
Two days later, the Nets got their first win, defeating the Charlotte Bobcats 97-91.
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