What Is The Best Season Record In Nba History?

The best season record in NBA history is held by the Golden State Warriors, who went 73-9 in the 2015-16 season.

The 72-10 Chicago Bulls

The 72-10 Chicago Bulls remain the standard by which all NBA teams are measured. That 1995-96 squad is the only team in NBA history to win more than 70 games in a season, and their .878 winning percentage is still the best mark of all time. Led by Jordan, Pippen and head coach Phil Jackson, the Bulls were an elite offensive and defensive team. They averaged 105.2 points per game (second in the NBA) and allowed just 97.8 points per game (second fewest).

The 67-15 Los Angeles Lakers

In the 1995–96 season, the 72-10 Chicago Bulls set the then-NBA record for single season wins. Led by head coach Phil Jackson and All-Star power forward Dennis Rodman, the Bulls set a new standard for NBA excellence, finishing the season with a staggering 72-10 record. The 1996NBA Finals would ultimately prove to be one of the most anticlimactic championship series in history, as the Bulls swept the overmatched Seattle SuperSonics in four games. The dynasty continued throughout the 1990s, winning an additional five championships.

The Golden State Warriors have had several dominant seasons during their run of success over the last five years. In 2015–16, they broke the Bulls’ record with a 73-9 mark, en route to their first championship in 40 years. One year later, they bettered their own achievement by winning an NBA-record 74 games. They fell short of repeating as champions, though, losing to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in one of the greatest Finals ever played.

The 67-15 Los Angeles Lakers currently own the third-best regular season record in NBA history. Led by head coach Pat Riley and featuring future Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the 1985-86 Lakers were one of the most dominant teams ever assembled. They won an incredible 65% of their games en route to a Finals victory over Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics.

The 66-16 San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs had the best season in NBA history in terms of winning percentage, going 67-15 for a .817 clip. They also posted the second-best offense and third-best defense in the league. All five starters made the All-Star team, and Tim Duncan was named the MVP.

The 65-17 Golden State Warriors

The Warriors broke the Chicago Bulls’ single-season record with 72 wins in 2015-16, and then they did it again the following season with 73. But those Warriors teams, which featured Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, were built to win championships — which they did, in 2015 and ’17. The Warriors of 1996-97, on the other hand, were not. That team was good — very good — but it didn’t have the same star power or championship pedigree as the teams that would come later.

The Warriors went 65-17 in 1996-97, a mark that would stand as the best in franchise history until 2015-16. That team was led by All-Star guard Latrell Sprewell and young center Chris Webber, who finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. The Warriors also had solid contributions from players like rookie guard Todd Fuller and journeyman forward Jerome Kersey.

The 63-19 Milwaukee Bucks

During the 1971-1972 season, the Milwaukee Bucks managed to win an impressive 63 games while only losing 19. This is still the best win-loss record in NBA history. The Bucks were led by star players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. They made it all the way to the NBA Finals that year, but ultimately lost to the New York Knicks in seven games.