After a historic start to the season, the Cavaliers have remained atop the NBA’s standings through the first two and a half months of play.
As the calendar flips to a new year, Cleveland is out to the best start in franchise history, winning 31 of its first 35 games. Thanks to dominance on both ends of the floor, the Cavs are one of two teams on pace to reach 70 wins during the 2024-25 season, the other being the Thunder.
For perspective, only two teams in the NBA’s 78-year history have eclipsed the 70-win mark. There’s still plenty of basketball to be played, but both Cleveland and OKC have displayed historic levels of dominance up to a significant point in the season.
Where do these teams stand on the path to joining the record books? Take stock of how their hot starts compare to the pace of the teams that put forth the best seasons in league history.
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Best records in NBA history
The Warriors turned in the best regular season in NBA history when they finished with a 73-9 record in the 2015-16 season.
Golden State’s historic 73-9 campaign is one of 13 NBA seasons in which the team won 67 or more games. Nine of the teams went on to win an NBA title.
| Rank | Team | Season | Record (Pct.) | Finish |
| 1. | Warriors | 2015-16 | 73-9 (.890) | Lost Finals |
| 2. | Bulls | 1995-96 | 72-10 (.878) | Won Finals |
| 3. | Lakers | 1971-72 | 69-13 (.841) | Won Finals |
| Bulls | 1996-97 | 69-13 (.841) | Won Finals | |
| 5. | 76ers | 1966-67 | 68-13 (.840) | Won Finals |
| 6. | Celtics | 1972-73 | 68-14 (.829) | Lost East Finals |
| 7. | Celtics | 1985-86 | 67-15 (.817) | Won Finals |
| Bulls | 1991-92 | 67-15 (.817) | Won Finals | |
| Lakers | 1999-2000 | 67-15 (.817) | Won Finals | |
| Mavericks | 2006-07 | 67-15 (.817) | Lost West 1st Round | |
| Warriors | 2014-15 | 67-15 (.817) | Won Finals | |
| Spurs | 2015-16 | 67-15 (.817) | Lost West Semis | |
| Warriors | 2016-17 | 67-15 (.817) | Won Finals |
Note that the win percentage of a 67-win team in an 82-game season is .817. At this point in the season, the Cavaliers (31-4, .886) and Thunder (30-5, .857) are each on pace to win over 70 games.
As for pace, the 1995-96 Bulls (32-3) and the 2015-16 Warriors (33-2) each got out to better starts than the Cavaliers and Thunder this season. With Cleveland and OKC in opposite conferences, there is a clearer path for both to reach the 70-win plateau.
The most combined wins by two teams in the same season is 140, as the Warriors (73) and Spurs (67) both turned in historic 2015-16 campaigns, but neither team captured the NBA title that year.
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Best seasons in Cavaliers history
Since becoming a franchise in 1970, the Cavaliers have posted two seasons of 60-plus wins. LeBron James was the driving force behind three of the best five teams in franchise history, making what Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland are doing this year all the more impressive.
| Rank | Season | Record (Pct.) | Finish |
| 1. | 2008-09 | 66-16 (.805) | Lost East Finals |
| 2. | 2009-10 | 61-21 (.744) | Lost East Semis |
| 3. | 1988-89 | 57-25 (.695) | Lost East 1st Round |
| 1991-92 | 57-25 (.695) | Lost East Finals | |
| 2015-16 | 57-25 (.695) | Won Finals |
The 2024-25 Cavaliers won 31 of their first 35 games while the 66-win team of 2008-09 had a 29-6 record through 35 games.
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Best seasons in Thunder history
The Thunder are also a franchise that has had all-time greats suit up for them despite a short 17-year existence.
The franchise technically still holds onto the history of the Seattle SuperSonics, but take a look at the best records since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma:
| Rank | Season | Record (Pct.) | Finish |
| 1. | 2012-13 | 60-22 (.732) | Lost West Semis |
| 2. | 2013-14 | 59-23 (.720) | Lost West Finals |
| 3. | 2011-12 | 47-19 (.712) | Lost Finals |
| 4. | 2023-24 | 57-25 (.695) | Lost West Semis |
| 5. | 2010-11 | 55-27 (.671) | Lost West Finals |
| 2015-16 | 55-27 (.671) | Lost West Finals |
While the 2024-25 Thunder won 30 of their first 35 games, the lone 60-win team in Oklahoma City won 27 of its first 35 games.
For what it’s worth, Seattle’s best season was in 1995-96, when it posted a 64-18 (.780) record and lost to the 72-win Bulls in the NBA Finals.
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