The undefeated: Ranking the best starts to a season in NBA history

Incredible start
The best starts
24-0 Golden State Warriors, 2015-16
‘Splash Bros’
15-0 Houston Rockets, 1993-94
Riding the momentum
15-0 Washington Capitals, 1948-49
Auerbach-led team
15-0 Cleveland Cavaliers, 2024-25
Can they shock the world?
14-0 Boston Celtics, 1957-58
Lost in the Finals
14-0 Dallas Mavericks, 2002-03
Nowitzki injury
12-0 Chicago Bulls, 1996-97
The perfect blend
Incredible start

The Cleveland Cavaliers' incredible start to the season is one of the best starts to any NBA campaign. Their consecutive 15 wins to open the season have set them up perfectly, but they still have a long way to go until the playoffs.

The best starts

According to the NBA website, of the seven teams that won the first 12, five went on to reach the NBA Finals, with two winning the whole thing. Here are the best starts in NBA history!

24-0 Golden State Warriors, 2015-16

The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors will always be remembered for one of the most historic seasons in NBA history. The Warriors finished the campaign 73-9, breaking the Chicago Bulls 72-10 record and becoming the first team to lose the NBA Finals after being up 3-1.

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‘Splash Bros’

In the first 24 games, Golden State was led by MVP Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, who were lights out from the three-point line. The Warriors played at an unstoppable fast pace and played lockdown defense that strangled every team's offense.

15-0 Houston Rockets, 1993-94

Led by the mighty Hakeem Olajuwon, a lethal force on both ends of the floor, the Houston Rockets started on a 15-0 run and made their presence known in a Michael Jordan-less NBA after his shock move to baseball.

Riding the momentum

Riding the momentum from their impressive start, the Rockets finished the regular season with a 58-24 record. They overcame a 2-0 deficit against the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs and beat the New York Knicks in seven games in the NBA Finals.

15-0 Washington Capitals, 1948-49

The 1948-49 Washington Capitals, led by legendary coach Red Auerbach, became the first team to record 15 consecutive wins to start a season and the first team to win 20 on the bounce after winning the final five games of the 1947-48 season.

Auerbach-led team

According to Sportskeeda, the Auerbach-led team finished the season with 38 wins and 22 losses in the Basketball Association of America. They lost the BAA Finals to the Minneapolis Lakers in 1949.

15-0 Cleveland Cavaliers, 2024-25

The Cleveland Cavaliers started remarkably, winning the first 15 games. New coach Kenny Atkinson has created a blend that makes the Cavs unstoppable on offense and incredible on defense.

Can they shock the world?

Backcourt Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are lighting up the scoreboard, while Evan Mobley is making his presence felt in the offensive and defensive paint. The Cavs lost their winning streak to the reigning champion Boston Celtics. Can they shock the world and win the NBA Championship?

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14-0 Boston Celtics, 1957-58

When the 1957-58 season started, the Boston Celtics were defending champions. As they had finished the previous one, they began the campaign invincible. With Bill Russell as their star player, the Celtics won the first 14 games.

Lost in the Finals

Boston was steaming towards a second NBA title and finished the regular season with a 49-23 record, with Russell winning the MVP. However, they lost in the NBA Finals to the St Louis Hawks.

14-0 Dallas Mavericks, 2002-03

The dynamic trio of Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley propelled Don Nelson's Dallas Mavericks to a 14-0 start to the 2002-03 season. Their explosive offense and high-octane playing style were too formidable for nearly every opponent.

Nowitzki injury

Building on their red-hot form, the Mavericks finished the regular season with 60 wins and 22 losses, the joint-best record in the league. Unfortunately, Nowitzki injured his knee, and Dallas lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.

12-0 Chicago Bulls, 1996-97

The 1996-97 Chicago Bulls picked up right where they had left the 1996 NBA season after winning the NBA Championship and having a 72-10 record. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman led the Bulls to a 12-0 start.

The perfect blend

With Jordan's scoring ability, Pippen's playmaking ability, and Rodman's defensive capabilities, the Bulls were unstoppable. They finished the 1996-97 season with 69 wins and 13 losses. After beating the Utah Jazz, they won their fifth championship in seven years.

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