Most of the best players in NBA history were on at least one of these teams and many of the great players won MVP awards and scoring titles in leading their teams to the best records the NBA has ever seen. Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird and Shaquille O'Neal were all league MVP's while leading their teams onto this list.
Most of these most wins in a season teams also went on to win NBA Championships in the years they won record numbers of games. Again usually with the superstar player leading the way and winning the MVP award in the Finals. However two of these teams had monumental flops in the playoffs and despite having an incredible number of regular season wins went out in the playoffs in very disappointing fashion for their fans including one team which lost in the first round.
1) Chicago Bulls in 1995-1996 - 72 Wins
The most wins ever in a season in NBA history is 72 by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls team featuring the great Michael Jordan as well as Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. The team went on to go 15-3 in the playoffs and win the NBA Championship. Michael Jordan won his 4th MVP Award and 8th scoring title that year and also won the 4th of his record six MVP Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
2) Los Angeles Lakers 1971-1972 - 69 Wins
The second most wins in a season in NBA history is 69 which the Los Angeles Lakers achieved during the 1971-1972 season. The Lakers were led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West and went on to defeat the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship. Kareem was the league MVP that year and Wilt Chamberlain was named the MVP in the finals.
3) Chicago Bulls 1996-1997 - 69 Wins
One year after shattering the record for most wins in a season in NBA history the Chicago Bulls won another 69 games in the 1996-1997 season. They went on to defeat the Lakers in the finals and win another NBA Championship behind Michael Jordan who won the 5th of his six NBA Finals MVP Awards that year.
4) Philadelphia 76ers 1966-1967 - 68 Wins
The 1966-1967 Philadelphia 76ers were the first team in NBA history to win 68 games. Led by the great Wilt Chamberlain they went on to win the NBA Championship. Chamberlain was the league MVP for the 1966-1967 season.
5) Boston Celtics 1972-1973 - 68 Wins
The 1972-1973 Boston Celtics won 68 games in the regular season but were upset by the New York Knicks, who would go on to win the Championship that year, in the playoffs.
6) Boston Celtics 1985-1986 - 67 Wins
The 1985-1986 Boston Celtics won 67 wins behind superstar Larry Bird who won the regular season MVP Award and also the NBA Finals MVP Award as the Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets to win the NBA championship.
7) Chicago Bulls 1991-1992 - 67 Wins
The 1991-1992 Chicago Bulls stormed through the regular season winning 67 games and then went on to win their second consecutive NBA Title. Michael Jordan was the top scorer in the league that season and the MVP during the regular season and in the NBA Finals.
8) Los Angeles Lakers 1999-2000 - 67 Wins
The 1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers won 67 games with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant leading the way. The Lakers went on to win the NBA Championship and Shaq was the league MVP, leading regular season scorer and the MVP in the Finals.
9) Dallas Mavericks 2006-2007 - 67 Wins
The 2006-2007 Dallas Mavericks were a great regular season team winning 67 games. But they faltered badly in the playoffs losing in the first round to the lowly Golden State Warriors who were just 2 games over .500 in the regular season - the first time in NBA history an 8th seeded team beat a number #1 seed in a best of seven series.
Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki was the league MVP that season though which marked the first time a European born player earned the MVP honor.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_teams_by_single_season_win_percentage
Published by Joe Dorish
Joe Dorish is a writer who lives in the NYC area. He writes primarily about the things he is passionate about - sports, business, economics, weather and travel. He loves to drive and used to own a Limo compa... View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentActually for the third team on the list, the 96-97 Chicago Bulls, they beat the Utah Jazz, not the L.A. Lakers. I'm just saying.