Sustained success is one of the best ways to measure the historical
strength of an NBA franchise. This page compares the number of seasons
in which each current NBA franchise finished the regular season with
a record of .500 or better.
A .500 season is included as a qualifying season. For example, a team
that finishes 41-41 in an 82-game season is counted along with teams
that finish above .500.
Franchise totals follow continuous franchise history through
relocations and name changes. The Lakers total therefore includes
the Minneapolis Lakers, the Kings include the Rochester Royals and
later franchise names, and Oklahoma City's history includes the
Seattle SuperSonics.
Most .500-or-better seasons:
The Boston Celtics lead all current NBA franchises with
60 .500-or-better seasons through 2025-26.
Second-most .500-or-better seasons:
The Lakers are just behind Boston with
59 .500-or-better seasons through 2025-26.
Seasons With a .500 or Better Record by NBA Franchise
| Team |
.500+ Seasons |
Total Seasons |
% of Seasons .500+ |
| Atlanta Hawks |
41 |
77 |
53.2% |
| Boston Celtics |
60 |
80 |
75.0% |
| Brooklyn Nets |
19 |
50 |
38.0% |
| Charlotte Hornets |
16 |
36 |
44.4% |
| Chicago Bulls |
31 |
60 |
51.7% |
| Cleveland Cavaliers |
28 |
56 |
50.0% |
| Dallas Mavericks |
25 |
46 |
54.3% |
| Denver Nuggets |
31 |
50 |
62.0% |
| Detroit Pistons |
33 |
78 |
42.3% |
| Golden State Warriors |
41 |
80 |
51.3% |
| Houston Rockets |
40 |
59 |
67.8% |
| Indiana Pacers |
26 |
50 |
52.0% |
| Los Angeles Clippers |
22 |
56 |
39.3% |
| Los Angeles Lakers |
59 |
80 |
73.8% |
| Memphis Grizzlies |
14 |
31 |
45.2% |
| Miami Heat |
26 |
38 |
68.4% |
| Milwaukee Bucks |
34 |
58 |
58.6% |
| Minnesota Timberwolves |
14 |
37 |
37.8% |
| New Orleans Pelicans |
8 |
24 |
33.3% |
| New York Knicks |
42 |
80 |
52.5% |
| Oklahoma City Thunder |
40 |
59 |
67.8% |
| Orlando Magic |
20 |
37 |
54.1% |
| Philadelphia 76ers |
49 |
77 |
63.6% |
| Phoenix Suns |
36 |
58 |
62.1% |
| Portland Trail Blazers |
38 |
56 |
67.9% |
| Sacramento Kings |
25 |
78 |
32.1% |
| San Antonio Spurs |
39 |
50 |
78.0% |
| Toronto Raptors |
16 |
31 |
51.6% |
| Utah Jazz |
34 |
52 |
65.4% |
| Washington Wizards |
25 |
67 |
37.3% |
Most .500-or-Better Seasons in NBA History
| Rank |
Franchise |
.500+ Seasons |
Total Seasons |
| 1 |
Boston Celtics |
60 |
80 |
| 2 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
59 |
80 |
| 3 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
49 |
77 |
| 4 |
New York Knicks |
42 |
80 |
| T-5 |
Atlanta Hawks |
41 |
77 |
| T-5 |
Golden State Warriors |
41 |
80 |
| T-7 |
Houston Rockets |
40 |
59 |
| T-7 |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
40 |
59 |
| 9 |
San Antonio Spurs |
39 |
50 |
| 10 |
Portland Trail Blazers |
38 |
56 |
Highest Percentage of Winning Seasons
Raw totals naturally favor older franchises, so percentage of
seasons at .500 or better provides another way to compare teams
from different eras.
Through 2025-26, the San Antonio Spurs have finished
at .500 or better in 39 of their 50 NBA seasons, or
78.0%. That is the highest rate among current franchises.
The Boston Celtics have reached .500 in
75.0% of their seasons, while the
Lakers have done so in approximately
73.8%.
Miami has also been remarkably consistent for a younger franchise,
finishing at .500 or better in 26 of 38 seasons
(68.4%).
Historical Notes
Boston Celtics:
Boston has accumulated more .500-or-better seasons than any other
current NBA franchise. The Celtics added winning seasons in both
2024-25 and 2025-26, increasing their total to 60.
Los Angeles Lakers:
The Lakers remain immediately behind Boston. Their total includes
the Minneapolis Lakers era as part of the same franchise history.
Los Angeles finished 50-32 in 2024-25 and 53-29 in 2025-26,
adding two more qualifying seasons.
San Antonio Spurs:
San Antonio has the highest percentage of .500-or-better seasons
among current NBA franchises. The Spurs also hold the NBA record
for the longest streak of 50-win seasons, reaching 50 wins in
18 consecutive seasons from 1999-2000 through 2016-17.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
The Thunder totals include the franchise's years as the Seattle
SuperSonics. Oklahoma City posted winning records in both 2024-25
and 2025-26.
Detroit Pistons:
After finishing 14-68 in 2023-24, Detroit returned to a winning
record at 44-38 in 2024-25 and then improved dramatically to
60-22 in 2025-26. Those seasons increased the franchise total
from 31 to 33.
Orlando Magic:
Orlando's 41-41 record in 2024-25 counts because this page measures
seasons at .500 or better. The Magic followed that with
a 45-37 record in 2025-26.
Charlotte Hornets:
Charlotte's 44-38 record in 2025-26 gave the franchise its first
qualifying season since 2021-22 and increased its total to 16.
Portland Trail Blazers:
Portland returned above .500 with a 42-40 record in 2025-26,
giving the franchise 38 qualifying seasons in 56 years.
Franchise lineage:
Historical totals follow the continuous franchise rather than only
the team's current city or nickname. Earlier names and relocations
remain part of the franchise total.
About the Data
This table covers regular-season records only. Playoff results do
not affect whether a season qualifies.
A season qualifies when a team finishes with a winning percentage
of .500 or higher. This includes shortened seasons
and seasons in which the league schedule contained fewer than the
modern 82 games.
The total-season column counts seasons played by the current
franchise through the end of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Updated through the completion of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
Only regular-season records are used.
