Has a NBA Team Ever Gone Undefeated in the Playoffs?

It’s an interesting question to consider- has a NBA team ever gone undefeated in the playoffs? The answer may surprise you.

The 1972 Miami Dolphins

The 1972 Miami Dolphins were the first and only team in NFL history to go undefeated in the regular season and playoffs. The Dolphins finished the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record and went on to win Super Bowl VII, giving them a perfect 17-0 record for the season.

The only team to go undefeated in an NFL season

The 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the perfect season. The team went 14–0 in the regular season and then won all three of their playoff games, including Super Bowl VII, to finish 17–0. They are the only team in NFL history to have a perfect season and they are still the only team to have gone undefeated in the playoffs.

The Dolphins were coached by Don Shula and they had one of the best defenses in NFL history. Their starting lineup included future Hall of Famers Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, and Manny Fernandez. The 1972 Dolphins were so dominant that they outscored their opponents by a total of 332 to 127 during the regular season and by a total of 85 to 10 in the playoffs.

The 1972 Dolphins are considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history and their perfect season is one of the most impressive accomplishments in all of sports.

Lost in the Super Bowl

The 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the perfect season. The team became the first and only team in NFL history to finish a season undefeated and untied, going 14–0 in the regular season and 3–0 in the playoffs. They are still the only NFL team to finish a season undefeated and untied from start to finish. They are also the first and only team to win all of their games by 7 points or less.

The team was coached by Don Shula and featured Quarterback Bob Griese, Running Back Larry Csonka, and Wide Receiver Paul Warfield on offense, and a defense led by Middle Linebacker Nick Buoniconti. The 1972 Dolphins set an NFL record for fewest points allowed in a season, yielding only 171 points (or just 11.9 points per game). Following their Super Bowl victory, they were hailed as “The Perfect Team” by Sport magazine.

The 2001 Los Angeles Lakers

The 2001 Los Angeles Lakers are the only team in NBA history to go undefeated in the playoffs. They went 15-1 in the playoffs en route to winning the NBA Championship. The Lakers were led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, who were both in the midst of their Hall of Fame careers.

Won the NBA Finals

The 2001 Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Finals, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 4–1. The Lakers were coached by Phil Jackson, en route to their second consecutive championship, and third in four seasons. Jackson became only the second coach in NBA history to win three consecutive championships.

Lost in the Western Conference Finals

The 2001 Los Angeles Lakers were a special team. They won an NBA-record 71 games in the regular season, and then cruised through the playoffs with a 15-1 record. They seemed poised to become the first team in NBA history to go undefeated in the playoffs.

But it was not to be. In the Western Conference Finals, they ran into a red-hot Portland Trail Blazers team that had upset the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the previous round. The Blazers won the first two games of the series, and though the Lakers managed to win Game 3, they ultimately lost the series in six games.

It was a crushing disappointment for a team that had seemed destined for greatness, but it remains one of the most memorable postseason runs in NBA history.

The 2015 Golden State Warriors

The 2015 NBA season was one for the ages. The Golden State Warriors were the best team in the regular season, and they carried that momentum into the playoffs. They won their first 16 playoff games, and they looked like they were going to run the table. But then they ran into the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals, and they lost in six games. So, the answer to the question is no, no team has ever gone undefeated in the playoffs.

Won the NBA Finals

The Warriors won the 2015 NBA Finals, which was their first championship in 40 years. They defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games, becoming the first team in NBA history to finish the playoffs with a 16–1 record.

Lost in the Western Conference Finals

The 2015 Golden State Warriors were a basketball team that originated in Oakland, California. The Warriors competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league’s Western Conference Pacific Division. They won an NBA-record 73 games during the regular season and eventually lost in the Western Conference Finals to the eventual champion, the Cleveland Cavaliers.