Best Season Starts in NBA History

A team's unbeaten start counts from its first regular-season game until its first loss. This is different from the best record after 20 or 30 games: every team on this page remained completely undefeated for at least its first 10 games.

The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors stand alone with a 24-0 start. The next-best marks are 15-0, accomplished by the Houston Rockets, Washington Capitols and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Three teams on this list turned their undefeated opening into an NBA championship: the 1993-94 Houston Rockets, 1996-97 Chicago Bulls and 1964-65 Boston Celtics.

Before Golden State's historic 2015-16 season, a 15-0 opening was the NBA/BAA record. The 1948-49 Washington Capitols were the first team to accomplish it.

Washington's record stood alone for 45 years until the 1993-94 Houston Rockets also started 15-0. Houston ultimately won the NBA championship, making the Rockets the most successful of the three teams to begin exactly 15-0.

The 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers became the third team to reach 15-0. Cleveland's undefeated run ended against the defending champion Boston Celtics.

2015-16 Golden State Warriors: The Warriors shattered the previous opening-season record by winning 24 consecutive games before losing 108-95 at Milwaukee. Golden State eventually finished 73-9, setting the NBA record for regular-season victories, but lost to Cleveland in the NBA Finals.

2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers: Cleveland began its first season under head coach Kenny Atkinson with 15 consecutive victories. The Cavaliers tied Houston and Washington for the second-longest undefeated start in league history before losing at Boston.

1993-94 Houston Rockets: Houston opened 15-0 behind Hakeem Olajuwon and eventually finished 58-24. The Rockets defeated the New York Knicks in seven games in the NBA Finals to win the first championship in franchise history.

1948-49 Washington Capitols: Coached by Red Auerbach, Washington won its first 15 games during the final season of the Basketball Association of America. The Capitols reached the BAA Finals before losing to the Minneapolis Lakers.

2002-03 Dallas Mavericks: Dallas opened 14-0 behind Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. The Mavericks finished 60-22 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

1957-58 Boston Celtics: Boston matched Dallas' eventual 14-0 mark decades earlier. The Celtics reached the NBA Finals but lost to the St. Louis Hawks.

1996-97 Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan and the defending champion Bulls opened 12-0. Chicago eventually finished 69-13 and defeated Utah in the NBA Finals for the franchise's fifth championship.

1982-83 Seattle SuperSonics: Seattle also opened 12-0 before losing to the New Jersey Nets. The SuperSonics finished the season 48-34.

1997-98 season: Two teams reached 11-0 in the same season. Atlanta won its first 11 games before losing to New York, while the Lakers also opened 11-0 before Miami handed them their first defeat.

1993-94 season: Houston and Seattle both appear on this list from the same season. Houston began 15-0 while Seattle started 10-0.

These records measure consecutive victories from the beginning of an NBA or BAA regular season. A team's streak ends with its first regular-season loss.

Only teams that won their first 10 or more games are included on this page. Preseason and postseason games are not part of the streak.

Historical team names are retained for the season in which the record occurred. The Washington Capitols and Seattle SuperSonics are therefore listed under the names they used at the time.

The championship column identifies teams that went on to win the NBA championship during the same season as the undefeated start.