Current:Home > NewsWhat is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record -MoneyMatrix
What is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 13-0 record
Charles H. Sloan View
Date:2025-04-09 22:10:42
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! (12)
Related
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Which NFL teams have new head coaches? Meet the 8 coaches making debuts in 2024.
- Chiefs' thrilling win over Ravens is most-watched season opener in NFL history
- Evacuations ordered as wildfire burns in foothills of national forest east of LA
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Ilona Maher posed in a bikini for Sports Illustrated. It matters more than you think.
- Four Downs and Bracket: Northern Illinois is beauty, Texas the beast and Shedeur Sanders should opt out
- 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards: Dates, nominees, where to watch and stream
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Week 2 college football predictions: Expert picks for Michigan-Texas and every Top 25 game
Ranking
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- A rural Georgia town in mourning has little sympathy for dad charged in school shooting
- Never-before-seen JFK assassination footage: Motorcade seen speeding to hospital
- Florida high school football player dies after collapsing during game
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Demi Moore on 'The Substance' and that 'disgusting' Dennis Quaid shrimp scene
- Coal miner killed on the job in West Virginia. The death marks fourth in the state this year
- Mother’s warning to Georgia school about suspect raises questions about moments before shooting
Recommendation
Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
A hurricane-damaged Louisiana skyscraper is set to be demolished Saturday
When is US Open men's final? How to watch Taylor Fritz vs Jannik Sinner
Iowa judge rules against Libertarian candidates, keeping their names off the ballot for Congress
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
East Timor looks to the pope’s visit as a reward after 20 years of fragile stability
Bama Rush, step aside! 3-year-old star of 'Toddler Rush' combines cuteness and couture
'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' spoilers! Let's unpack that wild ending, creative cameo