Worst Five-Season Stretches
The expansion-era Vancouver Grizzlies own the worst
five-season stretch on this list. From 1995-96 through 1999-00,
Vancouver won only 78 of 378 games, a winning percentage of
approximately .206.
The Grizzlies did not reach the playoffs until 2004, after the
franchise had relocated from Vancouver to Memphis.
| Rank |
Five-Season Stretch |
Team |
Win Percentage |
Wins Per Season |
Next Playoff |
Next NBA Title |
| 1 |
1996-2000 |
Vancouver Grizzlies |
.206 |
16.9 |
2004 |
— |
| 2 |
2020-2024 |
Detroit Pistons |
.245 |
18.8 |
2025 |
— |
| 3 |
1992-1996 |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
.246 |
20.2 |
1997 |
— |
| 4 |
1999-2003 |
Chicago Bulls |
.254 |
20.8 |
2005 |
— |
| 5 |
1998-2002 |
Golden State Warriors |
.257 |
21.0 |
2007 |
2015 |
| 6 |
1992-1996 |
Dallas Mavericks |
.263 |
21.6 |
2001 |
2011 |
| 7 |
2008-2012 |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
.264 |
21.6 |
2018 |
— |
| 8 |
2013-2017 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
.266 |
21.8 |
2018 |
— |
| 9 |
1987-1991 |
Los Angeles Clippers |
.271 |
22.2 |
1992 |
— |
| 10 |
1987-1991 |
New Jersey Nets |
.273 |
22.4 |
1992 |
— |
| 11 |
1996-2000 |
Los Angeles Clippers |
.280 |
23.0 |
1997 |
— |
| 12 |
1993-1997 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
.280 |
23.0 |
1999 |
— |
| 13 |
2014-2018 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
.283 |
23.2 |
2020 |
2020 |
| 14 |
2009-2013 |
Sacramento Kings |
.294 |
24.1 |
2023 |
— |
| 15 |
2009-2013 |
Washington Wizards |
.297 |
24.4 |
2014 |
— |
| 16 |
1991-1995 |
Washington Bullets |
.298 |
24.4 |
1997 |
— |
Notable Five-Year Rebuilding Stretches
Vancouver Grizzlies, 1996-2000:
The expansion Grizzlies struggled immediately after entering the NBA
in 1995. Their first five seasons included records of 15-67, 14-68,
19-63, 8-42 and 22-60. The franchise moved to Memphis following the
2000-01 season.
Detroit Pistons, 2020-2024:
Detroit went 94-290 over the five seasons ending with 2023-24.
The stretch bottomed out with a 14-68 record in 2023-24, the worst
season in Pistons franchise history. Detroit's rebuilding period
finally produced a playoff return in 2025.
Minnesota Timberwolves, 1992-1996:
The young expansion franchise struggled through its early seasons
before the arrival of Kevin Garnett helped change its direction.
Minnesota reached the playoffs for the first time in 1997.
Chicago Bulls, 1999-2003:
Chicago's collapse after its 1998 championship produced one of the
worst five-year runs in league history. The Bulls did not return to
the postseason until 2005.
Golden State Warriors, 1998-2002:
Golden State endured five consecutive losing seasons during this
stretch. The Warriors finally returned to the playoffs with the
"We Believe" team in 2007 and eventually won the NBA championship
in 2015.
Dallas Mavericks, 1992-1996:
Dallas won only 11 games in 1992-93 and 13 in 1993-94 during one of
the darkest stretches in franchise history. The Mavericks returned
to the playoffs in 2001 and won their first NBA championship in 2011.
Philadelphia 76ers, 2013-2017:
This stretch encompasses the rebuilding era commonly known as
"The Process." Philadelphia went 10-72 in 2015-16 before eventually
returning to the playoffs in 2018.
Los Angeles Lakers, 2014-2018:
The Lakers missed the playoffs throughout this five-year stretch,
including a franchise-worst 17-65 season in 2015-16. Los Angeles
returned to the playoffs in 2020 and won the NBA championship that
same year.
Sacramento Kings, 2009-2013:
Sacramento's five-year stretch was part of a much longer postseason
drought. The Kings did not return to the playoffs until 2023.
About the Records
Five-Season Stretch identifies the five consecutive
NBA seasons included in each entry. The year shown represents the
calendar year in which each season ended.
Win Percentage is calculated from the team's combined
regular-season wins and losses across the five-season period.
Shortened seasons are calculated using the games actually played.
Wins Per Season shows the average number of
regular-season victories over the five seasons. Because some NBA
seasons were shortened, this figure should not be treated as an
82-game adjusted average.
Next Playoff shows the next calendar year in which
the franchise reached the NBA Playoffs. Next NBA Title
shows the next championship won after the listed five-season stretch.
A dash indicates that the franchise has not won a later NBA
championship through the 2025-26 season.
