Current:Home > FinanceWhat is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record -ApexWealth
What is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record
View
Date:2025-04-18 09:21:02
No pressure, it's just perfection.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have raced out to a perfect 13-0 mark this season under new coach Kenny Atkinson, becoming the sixth team in NBA history to win their first 13 games of the season. The Cavaliers are the NBA's second-rated offense (120.9) and most accurate 3-point shooting team (41.2%). Cleveland ranks second in point differential (11.7), behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder (12.7).
Yet, the Cavaliers are nowhere near the NBA's most prolific start, with five teams still ahead. The good news for Cleveland is that of the five previous teams that won their first 13 games to start a regular season, four made it to the NBA Finals.
Here's everything you need to know about the best starts in NBA history.
What is the record for best start in NBA history?
The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, the team that went on to set the record for most regular season victories in a single season (73), also set the mark for best start to a season in NBA history.
All things Cavaliers: Latest Cleveland Cavaliers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
The Warriors opened their season 24-0 before picking up their first loss of that season on Dec. 12 against the Bucks. It obliterated the previous NBA record for best start to a season, when the 1993-94 Houston Rockets went 15-0.
Interestingly, it wasn't coach Steve Kerr who led the team to that remarkable start. Kerr underwent back surgery and was sidelined for the first 43 games of the season. Assistant coach Luke Walton served as the interim coach and led Golden State to that 24-0 start and eventually led the team to a 39-4 mark before Kerr returned.
The 2015-16 Warriors lost in the NBA Finals in seven games to the Cavaliers.
Where do the Cavaliers rank in best starts in NBA history?
- 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (lost NBA Finals): 24-0
- 1993-94 Houston Rockets (won NBA Finals): 15-0
- 1948-49 Washington Capitols (lost NBA Finals): 15-0
- 2002-03 Dallas Mavericks (lost Western Conference Finals): 14-0
- 1957-58 Boston Celtics (lost NBA Finals): 14-0
- 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers: 13-0
- 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (won NBA Finals): 12-0
- 1982-83 Seattle SuperSonics (lost first-round series): 12-0
Cleveland Cavaliers upcoming schedule
- Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Chicago Bulls
- Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. vs. Charlotte Hornets
- Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at Boston Celtics
- Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Toronto Raptors
- Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. vs. Atlanta Hawks
- Nov. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Atlanta Hawks
- Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. vs. Boston Celtics
- Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. vs. Washington Wizards
- Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. vs. Denver Nuggets
- Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at Charlotte Hornets
- Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at Miami Heat
*All times Eastern
veryGood! (735)
Related
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Infectious bird flu survived milk pasteurization in lab tests, study finds. Here's what to know.
- Fight breaks out in Italian Parliament after lawmaker makes move on government official
- A ‘Rights of Nature’ Tribunal Puts the Mountain Valley Pipeline on Trial
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- More bottles of cherries found at George Washington's Mount Vernon home in spectacular discovery
- Nick Mavar, longtime deckhand on 'Deadliest Catch', dies at 59 after 'medical emergency'
- Why Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag Say 6-Year-Old Son Gunner Is Ready for His YouTube Career
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Micro communities offer homeless Americans safe shelter in growing number of cities
Ranking
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- My autistic brother fought an unaccepting world. My graduating students give me hope.
- What Washington Post planned to write about LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey, but didn't
- 'Inside Out 2' spoilers! How the movie ending will tug on your heartstrings
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- 28 people left dangling, stuck upside down on ride at Oaks Amusement Park: Video
- Much of U.S. braces for extreme weather, from southern heat wave to possible snow in the Rockies
- On Father’s Day, this LGBTQ+ couple celebrates the friend who helped make their family dream reality
Recommendation
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
Victim identified in Southern California homicide case, 41 years after her remains were found
Judge could soon set trial date for man charged in killings of 4 University of Idaho students
England vs. Serbia: Why Three Lions will (or won't) win Euro 2024 to end trophy drought
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
4 Florida officers indicted for 2019 shootout with robbers that killed a UPS driver and passerby
Biggest NBA Finals blowouts: Where Mavericks' Game 4 demolition of Celtics ranks
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Letter Openers