List of National Basketball Association seasons
# List of National Basketball Association seasons

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the major professional basketball league in North America. The league was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The league adopted its current name at the start of 1949–50 season when it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL). The league currently consists of thirty teams, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada. Each team plays 82 games in the regular season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs. The winners of the Conference finals advance to the finals to determine the NBA champions.

The Boston Celtics have had or tied for the best regular season record a record 18 times. They won the Eastern Conference 10 times, while the Los Angeles Lakers won the Western Conference 19 times. The Celtics and Lakers have each won 17 NBA championships, the most in NBA history. The Lakers also have a record 32 Finals appearances. The Celtics and the Lakers had played each other in the Finals for a record 12 times. The Celtics won 9 of their matchups while the Lakers have only won 3.

The best single regular season record was recorded by the Golden State Warriors in the 2015–16 season. In that season, the Warriors recorded 73 wins and 9 losses with a winning percentage of .890, surpassing the 72-win 1995–96 Chicago Bulls, though the Bulls went on to win the Eastern Conference and the NBA championship. The 1996 Bulls and the 2016 Warriors are the only teams to win at least 70 games in a single season.

The Eastern champions have won 38 championships while the Western champions have won 34 championships. The defunct Central Division won one championship in 1950. Of the 76 championships, 34 of them were won by the teams who had or tied for the best regular season record. In 10 other occurrences, the teams who had or tied for the best regular season record, lost the Finals. Six teams that had the best regular season record and won the championships in the same season, were named to the list of Top 10 Teams in NBA History announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996. The Celtics, the Bulls, the Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers each had two teams selected, while the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks each had one team selected.

## List

| Year | Top seed | Record | Year | Eastern champion | Western champion | Year | Champion | No. of teams | No. of games | Notes | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Finals | Finals | | No. of teams | No. of games | Notes | Ref. |
| 1946–47 | Washington Capitols | 49–11 (.817) | 1947 | — | — | 1947 | Philadelphia Warriors | 11 | 60–61 | Inaugural season (as BAA); started with 11 teams | |
| 1947–48 | St. Louis Bombers | 29–19 (.604) | 1948 | — | — | 1948 | Baltimore Bullets | 8 | 48 | 4 teams folded prior to the season; 1 ABL team joined | |
| 1948–49 | Rochester Royals | 45–15 (.750) | 1949 | — | — | 1949 | Minneapolis Lakers | 12 | 60 | 4 NBL teams joined | |
| 1949–50 | Syracuse Nationals | 51–13 (.797) | 1950 | — | — | 1950 | Minneapolis Lakers | 17 | 62–68 | BAA merged with NBL and was renamed NBA; 2 teams folded prior to the season; 6 NBL teams joined; 1 expansion team joined | |
| 1950–51 | Minneapolis Lakers | 44–24 (.647) | 1951 | — | — | 1951 | Rochester Royals | 11 | 66–69 | 3 teams left the NBA for the NPBL; 3 teams folded prior to the season; 1 team folded during the season; the first All-Star Game was held | |
| 1951–52 | Rochester Royals | 41–25 (.621) | 1952 | — | — | 1952 | Minneapolis Lakers | 10 | 66 | | |
| 1952–53 | Minneapolis Lakers | 48–22 (.686) | 1953 | — | — | 1953 | Minneapolis Lakers | 10 | 69–71 | | |
| 1953–54 | Minneapolis Lakers | 46–26 (.639) | 1954 | — | — | 1954 | Minneapolis Lakers | 9 | 72 | 1 team folded prior to the season | |
| 1954–55 | Syracuse Nationals Fort Wayne Pistons | 43–29 (.597) | 1955 | — | — | 1955 | Syracuse Nationals | 9 | 72 | 1 team folded during the season | |
| 1955–56 | Philadelphia Warriors | 45–27 (.625) | 1956 | — | — | 1956 | Philadelphia Warriors | 8 | 72 | | |
| 1956–57 | Boston Celtics | 44–28 (.611) | 1957 | — | — | 1957 | Boston Celtics | 8 | 72 | | |
| 1957–58 | Boston Celtics | 49–23 (.681) | 1958 | — | — | 1958 | St. Louis Hawks | 8 | 72 | | |
| 1958–59 | Boston Celtics | 52–20 (.722) | 1959 | — | — | 1959 | Boston Celtics | 8 | 72 | | |
| 1959–60 | Boston Celtics | 59–16 (.787) | 1960 | — | — | 1960 | Boston Celtics | 8 | 75 | | |
| 1960–61 | Boston Celtics | 57–22 (.722) | 1961 | — | — | 1961 | Boston Celtics | 8 | 79 | | |
| 1961–62 | Boston Celtics | 60–20 (.750) | 1962 | — | — | 1962 | Boston Celtics | 9 | 80 | 1 expansion team joined | |
| 1962–63 | Boston Celtics | 58–22 (.725) | 1963 | — | — | 1963 | Boston Celtics | 9 | 80 | | |
| 1963–64 | Boston Celtics | 59–21 (.738) | 1964 | — | — | 1964 | Boston Celtics | 9 | 80 | | |
| 1964–65 | Boston Celtics | 62–18 (.775) | 1965 | — | — | 1965 | Boston Celtics | 9 | 80 | Named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1965–66 | Philadelphia 76ers | 55–25 (.688) | 1966 | — | — | 1966 | Boston Celtics | 9 | 80 | | |
| 1966–67 | Philadelphia 76ers | 68–13 (.840) | 1967 | — | — | 1967 | Philadelphia 76ers | 10 | 81 | 1 expansion team joined; named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1967–68 | Philadelphia 76ers | 62–20 (.756) | 1968 | — | — | 1968 | Boston Celtics | 12 | 82 | 2 expansion teams joined | |
| 1968–69 | Baltimore Bullets | 57–25 (.695) | 1969 | — | — | 1969 | Boston Celtics | 14 | 82 | 2 expansion teams joined | |
| 1969–70 | New York Knicks | 60–22 (.732) | 1970 | — | — | 1970 | New York Knicks | 14 | 82 | Named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1970–71 | Milwaukee Bucks | 66–16 (.805) | 1971 | Baltimore Bullets | Milwaukee Bucks | 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | 17 | 82 | 3 expansion teams joined; 25th anniversary season | |
| 1971–72 | Los Angeles Lakers | 69–13 (.841) | 1972 | New York Knicks | Los Angeles Lakers | 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | 82 | Named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1972–73 | Boston Celtics | 68–14 (.829) | 1973 | New York Knicks | Los Angeles Lakers | 1973 | New York Knicks | 17 | 82 | | |
| 1973–74 | Milwaukee Bucks | 59–23 (.720) | 1974 | Boston Celtics | Milwaukee Bucks | 1974 | Boston Celtics | 17 | 82 | | |
| 1974–75 | Boston Celtics | 60–22 (.732) | 1975 | Washington Bullets | Golden State Warriors | 1975 | Golden State Warriors | 18 | 82 | 1 expansion team joined | |
| 1975–76 | Golden State Warriors | 59–23 (.720) | 1976 | Boston Celtics | Phoenix Suns | 1976 | Boston Celtics | 18 | 82 | | |
| 1976–77 | Los Angeles Lakers | 53–29 (.646) | 1977 | Philadelphia 76ers | Portland Trail Blazers | 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | 22 | 82 | ABA merged with NBA; 4 ABA teams joined | |
| 1977–78 | Portland Trail Blazers | 58–24 (.707) | 1978 | Washington Bullets | Seattle SuperSonics | 1978 | Washington Bullets | 22 | 82 | | |
| 1978–79 | Washington Bullets | 54–28 (.659) | 1979 | Washington Bullets | Seattle SuperSonics | 1979 | Seattle SuperSonics | 22 | 82 | | |
| 1979–80 | Boston Celtics | 61–21 (.744) | 1980 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers | 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | 22 | 82 | | |
| 1980–81 | Boston Celtics | 62–20 (.756) | 1981 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 1981 | Boston Celtics | 23 | 82 | 1 expansion team joined; 35th Anniversary season | |
| 1981–82 | Boston Celtics | 63–19 (.768) | 1982 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers | 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | 23 | 82 | | |
| 1982–83 | Philadelphia 76ers | 65–17 (.793) | 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers | 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | 23 | 82 | Named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1983–84 | Boston Celtics | 62–20 (.756) | 1984 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 1984 | Boston Celtics | 23 | 82 | | |
| 1984–85 | Boston Celtics | 63–19 (.768) | 1985 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 1985 | Los Angeles Lakers | 23 | 82 | | |
| 1985–86 | Boston Celtics | 67–15 (.817) | 1986 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 1986 | Boston Celtics | 23 | 82 | Named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1986–87 | Los Angeles Lakers | 65–17 (.793) | 1987 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 1987 | Los Angeles Lakers | 23 | 82 | Named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1987–88 | Los Angeles Lakers | 62–20 (.756) | 1988 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 1988 | Los Angeles Lakers | 23 | 82 | | |
| 1988–89 | Detroit Pistons | 63–19 (.768) | 1989 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 1989 | Detroit Pistons | 25 | 82 | 2 expansion teams joined; named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1989–90 | Los Angeles Lakers | 63–19 (.768) | 1990 | Detroit Pistons | Portland Trail Blazers | 1990 | Detroit Pistons | 27 | 82 | 2 expansion teams joined | |
| 1990–91 | Portland Trail Blazers | 63–19 (.768) | 1991 | Chicago Bulls | Los Angeles Lakers | 1991 | Chicago Bulls | 27 | 82 | | |
| 1991–92 | Chicago Bulls | 67–15 (.817) | 1992 | Chicago Bulls | Portland Trail Blazers | 1992 | Chicago Bulls | 27 | 82 | Named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1992–93 | Phoenix Suns | 62–20 (.756) | 1993 | Chicago Bulls | Phoenix Suns | 1993 | Chicago Bulls | 27 | 82 | | |
| 1993–94 | Seattle SuperSonics | 63–19 (.768) | 1994 | New York Knicks | Houston Rockets | 1994 | Houston Rockets | 27 | 82 | | |
| 1994–95 | San Antonio Spurs | 62–20 (.756) | 1995 | Orlando Magic | Houston Rockets | 1995 | Houston Rockets | 27 | 82 | | |
| 1995–96 | Chicago Bulls | 72–10 (.878) | 1996 | Chicago Bulls | Seattle SuperSonics | 1996 | Chicago Bulls | 29 | 82 | 2 expansion teams joined; 50th anniversary season; Named as one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History | |
| 1996–97 | Chicago Bulls | 69–13 (.841) | 1997 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz | 1997 | Chicago Bulls | 29 | 82 | | |
| 1997–98 | Utah Jazz | 62–20 (.756) | 1998 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz | 1998 | Chicago Bulls | 29 | 82 | | |
| 1998–99 | San Antonio Spurs | 37–13 (.740) | 1999 | New York Knicks | San Antonio Spurs | 1999 | San Antonio Spurs | 29 | 50 | Season delayed and shortened due to a lockout | |
| 1999–2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | 67–15 (.817) | 2000 | Indiana Pacers | Los Angeles Lakers | 2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | 29 | 82 | | |
| 2000–01 | San Antonio Spurs | 58–24 (.707) | 2001 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers | 2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | 29 | 82 | | |
| 2001–02 | Sacramento Kings | 61–21 (.744) | 2002 | New Jersey Nets | Los Angeles Lakers | 2002 | Los Angeles Lakers | 29 | 82 | | |
| 2002–03 | San Antonio Spurs | 60–22 (.732) | 2003 | New Jersey Nets | San Antonio Spurs | 2003 | San Antonio Spurs | 29 | 82 | | |
| 2003–04 | Indiana Pacers | 61–21 (.744) | 2004 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 2004 | Detroit Pistons | 29 | 82 | | |
| 2004–05 | Phoenix Suns | 62–20 (.756) | 2005 | Detroit Pistons | San Antonio Spurs | 2005 | San Antonio Spurs | 30 | 82 | 1 expansion team joined | |
| 2005–06 | Detroit Pistons | 64–18 (.780) | 2006 | Miami Heat | Dallas Mavericks | 2006 | Miami Heat | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2006–07 | Dallas Mavericks | 67–15 (.817) | 2007 | Cleveland Cavaliers | San Antonio Spurs | 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2007–08 | Boston Celtics | 66–16 (.805) | 2008 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 2008 | Boston Celtics | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2008–09 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 66–16 (.805) | 2009 | Orlando Magic | Los Angeles Lakers | 2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2009–10 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 61–21 (.744) | 2010 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2010–11 | Chicago Bulls | 62–20 (.756) | 2011 | Miami Heat | Dallas Mavericks | 2011 | Dallas Mavericks | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2011–12 | Chicago Bulls | 50–16 (.758) | 2012 | Miami Heat | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2012 | Miami Heat | 30 | 66 | Season delayed and shortened due to a lockout | |
| 2012–13 | Miami Heat | 66–16 (.805) | 2013 | Miami Heat | San Antonio Spurs | 2013 | Miami Heat | 30 | 81–82 | Celtics and Pacers played 81 games due to the cancellation of a scheduled April 16, 2013 game (following the Boston Marathon bombing) | |
| 2013–14 | San Antonio Spurs | 62–20 (.756) | 2014 | Miami Heat | San Antonio Spurs | 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2014–15 | Golden State Warriors | 67–15 (.817) | 2015 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 2015 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2015–16 | Golden State Warriors | 73–9 (.890) | 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2016–17 | Golden State Warriors | 67–15 (.817) | 2017 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 2017 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2017–18 | Houston Rockets | 65–17 (.793) | 2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 2018 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 82 | | |
| 2018–19 | Milwaukee Bucks | 60–22 (.732) | 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors | 2019 | Toronto Raptors | 30 | 82 | Last 82-game season until 2021–22 | |
| 2019–20 | Milwaukee Bucks | 56–17 (.767) | 2020 | Miami Heat | Los Angeles Lakers | 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | 30 | 63–75 | Season suspended and shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2020–21 | Utah Jazz | 52–20 (.722) | 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns | 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | 30 | 72 | Season delayed and shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2021–22 | Phoenix Suns | 64–18 (.780) | 2022 | Boston Celtics | Golden State Warriors | 2022 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 82 | 75th anniversary season Season returned to a normal 82-game slate from October to April | |
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee Bucks | 58–24 (.707) | 2023 | Miami Heat | Denver Nuggets | 2023 | Denver Nuggets | 30 | 82 | | |
