The 2024-25 Detroit Pistons have made history, as they are officially the team to have the worst record in the season prior to reach the playoffs the following year. Detroit has gone from winning 14 games in 2023-24 to qualifying for the postseason in this campaign, something no other team has ever done. And the Pistons are doing it in style, boasting a plus-.500 record thus far this season, something that a lot of the teams in our ranking below cannot likewise claim, even despite reaching the playoffs.
In 2023-24, the Pistons resided pretty much in the NBA’s gutter, boasting a 14-68 record for the campaign, good for a 17.1 win percentage. And they were rewarded after the season with the fifth pick in the draft despite being tied with the Washington Wizards for the highest odds to earn the No. 1 pick in the lottery.
Even so, first-year Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff has done a magnificent job of turning things around in Detroit in a huge way, as the Pistons are headed to the playoffs in their first campaign with him at the helm. Detroit took the distinction of being the team with the worst record the season prior to make the playoffs the following year from the 2014-15 Milwaukee Bucks, who went from 15-67 in 2013-14 to 41-41 (and earning a playoff spot) in 2014-15.
That doesn’t mean Detroit is the team to make the biggest leap in play from one season to the next, however, as the 2007-08 Boston Celtics went from going 24-58 the year prior to boasting a 62-20 record (and winning an NBA championship) the following season. The 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs also made a bigger single-season leap than the Pistons, going from 20-62 in ’97 to 56-26 in ’98.
Regardless, the 2024-25 Pistons still own history in their own right. Below, check out the teams with the worst records in NBA history to make the playoffs the following year, a list now led by Detroit.
1. 2024-25 Detroit Pistons
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 14-68 (17.1 percent)
2024-25 record: 43-34 (55.8 percent, 5th in Eastern Conference)
2. 2014-15 Milwaukee Bucks
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Previous year’s record: 15-67 (18.3 percent)
2014-15 record: 41-41 (50 percent, 6th in Eastern Conference)
2. 2008-09 Miami Heat
Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 15-67 (18.3 percent)
2008-09 record: 43-39 (52.4 percent, 5th in Eastern Conference)
2. 1968-69 San Diego Rockets
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports Network
Previous year’s record: 15-67 (18.3 percent)
1968-69 record: 37-45 (45.1 percent, 4th in Western Division)
5. 1969-70 Phoenix Suns
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Previous year’s record: 16-66 (19.5 percent)
1969-70 record: 39-43 (47.6 percent, 4th in Western Division)
6. 2003-04 Denver Nuggets
Photo by: Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 17-65 (20.5 percent)
2003-04 record: 43-39 (52.4 percent, 8th in Western Conference)
7. 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs
DOUG COLLIER/AFP via Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 20-62 (24.4 percent)
1997-98 record: 56-26 (68.3 percent, 5th in Western Conference)
7. 1988-89 Golden State Warriors
Tim de Frisco /Allsport
Previous year’s record: 20-62 (24.4 percent)
1988-89 record: 43-49 (52.4 percent, 7th in Western Conference)
9. 2013-14 Charlotte Bobcats
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Previous year’s record: 21-61 (25.6 percent)
2013-14 record: 43-39 (52.4 percent, 7th in Eastern Conference)
9. 1989-90 San Antonio Spurs
Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 21-61 (25.6 percent)
1989-90 record: 56-26 (68.3 percent, 2nd in Western Conference)
9. 1973-74 Buffalo Braves
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Previous year’s record: 21-61 (25.6 percent)
1973-74 record: 42-40 (51.2 percent, 4th in Atlantic Division)
12. 1958-59 Minneapolis Lakers
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Previous year’s record: 19-53 (26.4 percent)
1958-59 record: 33-39 (45.8 percent, 2nd in Western Division)
13. 2009-10 Oklahoma City Thunder
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Previous year’s record: 23-59 (28 percent)
2009-10 record: 50-32 (61 percent, 8th in Western Conference)
13. 2004-05 Chicago Bulls
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 23-59 (28 percent)
2004-05 record: 47-35 (57.3 percent, 4th in Eastern Conference)
15. 2007-08 Boston Celtics
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 24-58 (29.3 percent)
2008-09 record: 62-20 (75.6 percent, 2nd in Eastern Conference)
15. 1991-92 Miami Heat
Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 24-58 (29.3 percent)
1991-92 record: 38-44 (46.3 percent, 8th in Eastern Conference)
15. 1987-88 New York Knicks
Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images
Previous year’s record: 24-58 (29.3 percent)
1987-88 record: 38-44 (46.3 percent, 8th in Eastern Conference)
15. 1981-82 New Jersey Nets
Previous year’s record: 24-58 (29.3 percent)
1981-82 record: 44-38 (53.7 percent, 4th in Eastern Conference)
15. 1978-79 New Jersey Nets
Previous year’s record: 24-58 (29.3 percent)
1978-79 record: 37-45 (45.1 percent, 6th in Eastern Conference)
15. 1976-77 Chicago Bulls
Previous year’s record: 24-58 (29.3 percent)
1976-77 record: 44-38 (53.7 percent, 6th in Western Conference)
