Winning an NBA championship is difficult — so difficult that the winningest team in any NBA season didn’t hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy when all was said and done.
At the same time, the NBA’s playoff format makes it challenging for an average team to simply get hot at the right time and win a title. A team needs to win four 7-game series to call itself a champion, and that gauntlet separates the flash-in-the-pan teams from the truly great ones.
In 2025, the Thunder have a chance to place themselves among those truly great teams and finish a historically successful season with a championship.
Here’s a look at the winningest teams in a single season in NBA history, from the 2015-16 Warriors to the 2024-25 Thunder.
MORE:
1. Golden State Warriors, 88 wins (2015-16)
Regular season record: 73-9
The Warriors set an NBA record with 73 regular season wins in 2015-16, finishing 73-9. They broke the Bulls’ 1995-96 record of 72 wins with a victory in their final game of the season.
Postseason record: 15-9
The Warriors were 15-9 in the playoffs, losing as many games as they did during the regular season and falling one win short of a championship against the Cavaliers. Golden State lost one game in each of the first two rounds as Stephen Curry briefly missed time with an injury, and the Warriors fell behind 3-1 to the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals before storming back to reach the NBA Finals.
Key roster members:
- Stephen Curry (30.1 ppg)
- Klay Thompson (22.1 ppg)
- Draymond Green (14.0 ppg)
- Andre Iguodala (7.0 ppg)
- Harrison Barnes (11.7 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Warriors infamously blew their own 3-1 series lead to the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, so they could not turn their historic regular season success into a championship. Golden State won Games 1, 2 and 4 but saw the series slip away over the final three games, with a Draymond Green suspension playing a key role in the team’s defeat.
MORE: Inside Draymond Green’s history of fouls, cheap-shots and suspensions
2. Chicago Bulls, 87 wins (1995-96)
Regular season record: 72-10
The Bulls went 72-10 in the 1995-96 season, setting an NBA record that stood until the Warriors won 73 games two decades later. The season also marked Michael Jordan’s first full campaign since returning from a sudden retirement.
Postseason record: 15-3
The Bulls went 15-3 in the playoffs, losing just one game in the Eastern Conference and reaching the NBA Finals with a conference finals sweep of the Magic.
Key roster members:
- Michael Jordan (30.4 ppg)
- Scottie Pippen (19.4 ppg)
- Dennis Rodman (5.5 ppg)
- Toni Kukoc (13.1 ppg)
- Steve Kerr (8.4 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Bulls won their fourth championship and first of their second three-peat in 1996, defeating the Sonics in six games. While Chicago only won one fewer game in the regular season than the 2015-16 Warriors and, unlike Golden State, won a championship, the Bulls didn’t match the Warriors’ win record because the first round of the playoffs was only a best-of-five.
MORE: Complete list of every NBA Finals MVP in history
3. Chicago Bulls, 84 wins (1996-97)
Regular season record: 69-13
The Bulls followed up their historic 1995-96 season by only going 69-13 in 1996-67.
Postseason record: 15-4
The Bulls went 15-4 in the playoffs, one more loss than their previous playoff run. When the final buzzer sounded in the 1997 NBA Finals, the Bulls were 30-7 over two seasons of playoff games since Jordan’s return.
Key roster members:
- Michael Jordan (29.6 ppg)
- Scottie Pippen (20.2 ppg)
- Dennis Rodman (5.7 ppg)
- Toni Kukoc (13.2 ppg)
- Steve Kerr (8.1 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Bulls won their fifth championship and second of their second three-peat in 1997, capping off another dominant season with a terrific playoff run. Chicago lost two total games in their three Eastern Conference rounds before defeating the Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals.
MORE: Key stats in the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan ‘GOAT’ debate
T-4. Golden State Warriors, 83 wins (2014-15)
Regular season record: 67-15
The Warriors went 67-15 during the 2014-15 regular season, a 16-win improvement from the previous season as Steve Kerr took over as head coach.
Postseason record: 16-5
The Warriors were 16-5 in the playoffs, dropping two games to the Grizzlies in the West semifinals before defeating the Rockets in five games to reach the NBA Finals.
Key roster members:
- Stephen Curry (23.8 ppg)
- Klay Thompson (21.7 ppg)
- Draymond Green (11.7 ppg)
- Andre Iguodala (7.8 ppg)
- Harrison Barnes (10.1 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Warriors won their first championship in 40 years in 2015, defeating the Cavaliers in six games to complete their journey to the top. Golden State lost Games 2 and 3 of the NBA Finals but rebounded with three consecutive wins against a depleted Cavaliers team to finish the job.
MORE: NBA Finals records, including most points, rebounds, assists and more
T-4. Golden State Warriors, 83 wins (2016-17)
Regular season record: 67-15
The Warriors entered the 2016-17 season as considerable championship favorites after adding Kevin Durant to an already loaded roster, and they validated those expectations with a 67-15 record.
Postseason record: 16-1
The Warriors were 16-1 in the playoffs, setting a new mark for best playoff record. Golden State swept its way through the Western Conference, perhaps with an assist from an injury that knocked Kawhi Leonard out for the Spurs early in the conference finals.
Key roster members:
- Stephen Curry (25.3 ppg)
- Kevin Durant (25.1 ppg)
- Klay Thompson (22,3 ppg)
- Draymond Green (10.2 ppg)
- Andre Iguodala (7.6 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in five games to capture their second championship in three years and avenge their 2016 NBA Finals collapse. Golden State came one win away from an unbeaten playoff run, but Cleveland extended the Finals with a win in Game 4.
MORE: 13 most devastating injuries in NBA playoffs history
T-6. Miami Heat, 82 wins (2012-13)
Regular season record: 66-16
The Heat went 66-16 during the 2012-13 season, playing with a weight lifted off of their shoulders after winning a championship the previous season. The campaign included a 27-game win streak, the second-longest in NBA history.
Postseason record: 16-7
The Heat went 16-7 in the playoffs, coasting through the first two rounds with only one loss along the way but going to seven games in both the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals.
Key roster members:
- LeBron James (26.8 ppg)
- Dwyane Wade (21.2 ppg)
- Chris Bosh (16.6 ppg)
- Ray Allen (10.9 ppg)
- Mario Chalmers (8.6 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Heat finished the 2012-13 season with their second consecutive championship, though it didn’t come easily. After escaping a gritty Pacers team in seven games in the conference finals, the Heat found themselves down 3-2 to the Spurs in the NBA Finals and trailing in the final minute of Game 6. Ray Allen famously forced overtime on a 3-pointer in the closing seconds, and the Heat went back-to-back with a win in Game 7.
MORE: LeBron James career stats and where he ranks all-time in points, assists and more
T-6. Chicago Bulls, 82 wins (1991-92)
Regular season record: 67-15
The Bulls went 67-15 in the second season of their first 1990s three-peat, coasting to the top record in the Eastern Conference.
Postseason record: 15-7
The Bulls finished 15-7 in the playoffs, sweeping the Heat in the best-of-five first round before edging out the Knicks in seven games in the East semifinals. Chicago punched its ticket to the NBA Finals by defeating the Cavaliers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Key roster members:
- Michael Jordan (30.1 ppg)
- Scottie Pippen (21.0 ppg)
- Horace Grant (14.2 ppg)
- Bill Cartwright (8.0 ppg)
- John Paxson (7.0 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Bulls won their second consecutive championship by defeating the Trail Blazers in six games in the NBA Finals.
MORE: Most points in an NBA Finals game, from Michael Jordan to LeBron James
8. Los Angeles Lakers, 81 wins (2008-09)
Regular season record: 65-17
With a 2008 NBA Finals loss as motivation, the Lakers went 65-17 during the 2008-09 season.
Postseason record: 16-7
The Lakers went 16-7 in the 2009 playoffs, with the Rockets giving L.A. a tough test in the West semifinals, even after Yao Ming went down with an injury. After the Lakers got past the Rockets, they defeated Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets in six games before a matchup with the Magic in the NBA Finals.
Key roster members
- Kobe Bryant (26.8 ppg)
- Pau Gasol (18.9 ppg)
- Lamar Odom (11.3 ppg)
- Andrew Bynum (14.3 ppg)
- Derek Fisher (9.9 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Lakers closed out their stellar season with a title in 2009, defeating the Magic in five games to give Kobe Bryant his fourth of five NBA championships. For the Lakers, it was a return to glory after some tumultuous days in the mid-2000s.
MORE: What to know about 2020 helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, 7 others
T-9. Los Angeles Lakers, 80 wins (1986-87)
Regular season record: 65-17
The Lakers went 65-17 under Pat Riley’s tutelage in 1986-87, with Magic Johnson earning the NBA MVP award.
Postseason record: 15-3
The Lakers finished the 1987 playoffs a dominant 15-3, sweeping both the Nuggets and Sonics in the Western Conference and losing only one game before the NBA Finals.
Key roster members:
- Magic Johnson (23.9 ppg)
- James Worthy (19.4 ppg)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17.5 ppg)
- Michael Cooper (10.5 ppg)
- Byron Scott (17.0 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Lakers defeated the rival Celtics in six games in the 1987 NBA Finals, capturing their fourth championship in a span of eight years. L.A. would add a fifth title in 1988 as part of a dominant run led by Magic Johnson and coach Pat Riley.
MORE: Magic Johnson says Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese reminds him of his rivalry with Larry Bird
T-9. Boston Celtics, 80 wins (2023-24)
Regular season record: 64-18
The Celtics went 64-18 in 2023-24, matching sky-high expectations from the start of the season by easily finishing atop the East.
Postseason record: 16-3
The Celtics finished the playoffs a dominant 16-3, never losing more than one game in any series. Boston dispatched the Heat and Cavaliers in five games before sweeping the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Key roster members
- Jayson Tatum (26.9 ppg)
- Jaylen Brown (23.0 ppg)
- Derrick White (15.2 ppg)
- Jrue Holiday (12.5 ppg)
- Kristaps Porzingis (20.1 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Celtics rolled to their first championship in 16 years, defeating the Mavericks in five games in the NBA Finals. Dallas dropped the first three games of the series before extending the series with a Game 4 win, but the Celtics’ balanced attack overpowered Luka Doncic and co. on the NBA’s biggest stage.
MORE: Lakers vs. Celtics: The key stats you need to know in history of NBA rivalry
T-9. Oklahoma City Thunder, 80 wins (2024-25)
NBA Entertainment
Regular season record: 68-14
The Thunder finished 68-14 in the 2024-25 regular season, the best record by any NBA team since the 2015-16 Warriors.
Postseason record: 12-4
The Thunder are 12-4 through the first three rounds of the 2025 playoffs. Oklahoma City had no problem with the Grizzlies in the first round, but the Nuggets presented a major challenge in the West semifinals and were one quarter away from sending the Thunder to a 3-1 series deficit. Instead, Oklahoma City won Game 4 and won the series in seven games before cruising past the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Key roster members:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.9 ppg)
- Jalen Williams (21.6 ppg)
- Chet Holmgren (15.0 ppg)
- Luguentz Dort (10.1 ppg)
- Isaiah Hartenstein (11.2 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Thunder will face the Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals and would tie the 1996-97 Bulls for the third-most wins in a single season with 84 if they can win a championship.
MORE: Ranking the 9 greatest Thunder players of all time
T-12. Detroit Pistons, 78 wins (1988-89)
Regular season record: 63-19
The Pistons finished the regular season 63-19 in 1988-89, bouncing back well after a painful NBA Finals loss to the Lakers the previous season.
Postseason record: 15-2
The Pistons were a dominant 15-2 in the 1989 playoffs, sweeping three series and only losing games against the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. Detroit swept both the Celtics and Bucks, going on to secure a rematch with the Lakers in the Finals.
Key roster members:
- Isiah Thomas (18.2 ppg)
- Adrian Dantley (18.4 ppg)
- Joe Dumars (17.2 ppg)
- Bill Laimbeer (13.7 ppg)
- Mark Aguirre (15.5 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Pistons coasted to a championship in 1989, sweeping the Lakers a year after Isiah Thomas’ ankle injury arguably prevented Detroit from taking down L.A. in the NBA Finals. In 1989, the Lakers saw Magic Johnson go down with a hamstring injury early in the Finals and couldn’t keep pace with the Pistons. Detroit would go on to win another championship in 1990.
MORE: 7 gutsiest NBA playoffs performances of all time
T-12. Milwaukee Bucks, 78 wins (1970-71)
Regular season record: 66-16
The Bucks went 66-16 during the 1970-71 season, losing only three of their first 24 games.
Postseason record: 12-2
Milwaukee finished the playoffs 12-2, with only the shorter playoff format perhaps holding the Bucks back from ranking even higher on the single-season wins list.
Key roster members:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31.7 ppg)
- Oscar Robertson (19.4 ppg)
- Bob Dandridge (18.4 ppg)
- Jon McGlocklin (15.8 ppg)
- Greg Smith (11.7 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson at the helm, the Bucks won their first NBA championship in 1971, sweeping the Baltimore Bullets in the Finals after winning each of their first two series in five games. It would be the Bucks’ last title until 2021.
MORE: Who votes on the NBA Finals MVP?
T-12. San Antonio Spurs, 78 wins (2013-14)
Regular season record: 62-20
The Spurs finished 62-20 in 2013-14, finishing atop the Western Conference despite Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all approaching the latter stage of their careers by that point.
Postseason record: 16-7
The Spurs went 16-7 in the 2014 playoffs, surviving a scare from the Mavericks in the first round and winning the series in seven games. After series wins over the Trail Blazers and Thunder, the Spurs secured the NBA Finals rematch they wanted with the Heat.
Key roster members:
- Tim Duncan (15.1 ppg)
- Tony Parker (16.7 ppg)
- Kawhi Leonard (12.8 ppg)
- Manu Ginobili (12.3 ppg)
- Danny Green (9.1 ppg)
Did they win an NBA championship?
The Spurs defeated the Heat in five games to win their fifth and final championship under coach Gregg Popovich. With LeBron James’ future in Miami uncertain, the Heat lacked the same spark they had in 2013 and fell flat against a well-connected, well-coached San Antonio team.
MORE: Where Gregg Popovich’s coaching tenure with the Spurs ranks all-time
