Best NBA Regular Season Records Through 50 games

Q: Which NBA team has the best record through 50 games?<

The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors and 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers tie for the best all-time record through 50 games. They each went 46-4 in the first 50 games. The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors had a better point differential through 50 games, +629 vs +573.

Q: Which NBA team had the best start through 50 games but still missed the playoffs?

The 1970-71 Detroit Pistons started the season 34-16, but failed to make the playoffs. Since 2000, 4 separate teams started the season with a 30-20 record and didn't make the playoffs. The most recent example was the 2021-22 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Q: How did the best NBA teams through 50 games perform in the playoffs?

Starting in 1949, of the 95 teams that each season had the best record or tied for the best record through 50 games, 100% of them went on to make the playoffs, and 36.8% of them won the NBA Title. The most recent 5 teams that had the best record through 50 games and went on to win the NBA Title are The 2017-18 Golden State Warriors, the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors, the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors, the 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers and the 2007-08 Boston Celtics.

Which NBA team has the best record through 50 games?<

The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors and 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers tie for the best all-time record through 50 games. They each went 46-4 in the first 50 games. The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors had a better point differential through 50 games, +629 vs +573.

All-Time Best NBA Starts Through:

Best NBA Start Through 50 Games

	Team	Year	Record	Point Differential	Final Record	Final Result
1	Golden State Warriors	2016	46-4	+629	73-9	Lost Finals
	Philadelphia 76ers	1967	46-4	+573	68-13	Won Finals
3	Chicago Bulls	1996	45-5	+562	72-10	Won Finals
4	Chicago Bulls	1997	44-6	+568	69-13	Won Finals
5	Golden State Warriors	2017	43-7	+658	67-15	Won Finals
	Los Angeles Lakers	1972	43-7	+636	69-13	Won Finals
	Milwaukee Bucks	2020	43-7	+622	56-17	Lost Conf Semi
	Philadelphia 76ers	1983	43-7	+475	65-17	Won Finals
9	San Antonio Spurs	2016	42-8	+679	67-15	Lost Conf Semi
	Portland Trail Blazers	1978	42-8	+516	58-24	Lost Conf Semi
	Boston Celtics	1965	42-8	+507	62-18	Won Finals
	San Antonio Spurs	2011	42-8	+352	61-21	Lost First Round
13	Milwaukee Bucks	1971	41-9	+649	66-16	Won Finals
	Golden State Warriors	2015	41-9	+555	67-15	Won Finals
	Portland Trail Blazers	1991	41-9	+522	63-19	Lost Conf Finals
	Chicago Bulls	1992	41-9	+521	67-15	Won Finals
	Boston Celtics	2008	41-9	+520	66-16	Won Finals
	Boston Celtics	1973	41-9	+503	68-14	Lost Conf Finals
	Boston Celtics	2009	41-9	+490	62-20	Lost Conf Semi
	Syracuse Nationals	1950	41-9	+472	51-13	Lost Finals
	Philadelphia 76ers	1981	41-9	+461	62-20	Lost Conf Finals
	Los Angeles Lakers	2009	41-9	+431	65-17	Won Finals
	Detroit Pistons	2006	41-9	+416	64-18	Lost Conf Finals
	Los Angeles Lakers	1988	41-9	+405	62-20	Won Finals
	Phoenix Suns	2022	41-9	+397	64-18	Lost Conf Semi
	Boston Celtics	1986	41-9	+395	67-15	Won Finals
	Boston Celtics	1981	41-9	+371	62-20	Won Finals
	Boston Celtics	1985	41-9	+367	63-19	Lost Finals
	Dallas Mavericks	2007	41-9	+365	67-15	Lost First Round
	Atlanta Hawks	2015	41-9	+344	60-22	Lost Conf Finals
31	Chicago Bulls	2012	40-10	+445	50-16	Lost First Round
	Golden State Warriors	2018	40-10	+437	58-24	Won Finals
	San Antonio Spurs	2006	40-10	+338	63-19	Lost Conf Semi
	Philadelphia 76ers	1985	40-10	+273	58-24	Lost Conf Finals
35	Milwaukee Bucks	1972	39-11	+659	63-19	Lost Conf Finals
	Milwaukee Bucks	1974	39-11	+560	59-23	Lost Finals
	San Antonio Spurs	2005	39-11	+540	59-23	Won Finals
	New York Knicks	1970	39-11	+512	60-22	Won Finals
	Los Angeles Lakers	1973	39-11	+492	60-22	Lost Finals
	Cleveland Cavaliers	2009	39-11	+484	66-16	Lost Conf Finals
	New York Knicks	1973	39-11	+440	57-25	Won Finals
	San Antonio Spurs	2017	39-11	+436	61-21	Lost Conf Finals
	Los Angeles Lakers	2000	39-11	+435	67-15	Won Finals
	Orlando Magic	1995	39-11	+429	57-25	Lost Finals
	Phoenix Suns	2005	39-11	+427	62-20	Lost Conf Finals
	San Antonio Spurs	2013	39-11	+424	58-24	Lost Finals
	Phoenix Suns	2007	39-11	+415	61-21	Lost Conf Semi
	Seattle SuperSonics	1998	39-11	+397	61-21	Lost Conf Semi
	Indiana Pacers	2014	39-11	+395	56-26	Lost Conf Finals
	Portland Trail Blazers	2000	39-11	+393	59-23	Lost Conf Finals
	Oklahoma City Thunder	2014	39-11	+380	59-23	Lost Conf Finals
	Phoenix Suns	1993	39-11	+380	62-20	Lost Finals
	Boston Celtics	1960	39-11	+375	59-16	Won Finals
	Boston Celtics	1984	39-11	+370	62-20	Won Finals
	Cleveland Cavaliers	2010	39-11	+361	61-21	Lost Conf Semi
	Dallas Mavericks	2006	39-11	+343	60-22	Lost Finals
	Phoenix Suns	1981	39-11	+322	57-25	Lost Conf Semi
	Phoenix Suns	1995	39-11	+275	59-23	Lost Conf Semi

Which NBA team had the best start through 50 games but still missed the playoffs?