Best NBA Teams That Failed To Cut The Nets
The 2026 NBA Finals features the San Antonio Spurs against the New York Knicks. That's the No. 2 seed from the Western Conference vs. the No. 3 seed from the East.
A No. 1 seed has won the last three NBA titles, but not this time. The top team from the regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder, went 64-18.
Where does OKC rank among the best teams to not win the championship? Not as high as one might think, actually. Not in our Top 5.
Here are the five best teams in NBA history that didn't cut down the nets at the end.
No. 5: 1972-73 Boston Celtics (68-14)
The Celtics' dynasty of the 1960s with Bill Russell was over, but John Havlicek was just getting started with a new one. After missing the playoffs entirely for two season, Boston won 56 games in 1972, then followed it up with a 68-win campaign here.
Related: Mike Brown Explains Why San Antonio Spurs Are So Dangerous
Dave Cowens won MVP and young Havlicek finished fifth in voting. Three players were named to the All-Defensive Team. But Walt Frazier and the New York Knicks had other plans, dispatching the Celtics in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston went on to win two of the next three NBA titles, but this season's team had the most wins of any team to not win the title – until No. 1 on our list came along.
No. 4: 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs (67-15)
Overshadowed by No. 1 on our list during that season, but the Spurs were nearly as tough in the regular season. Led by Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, interior force LaMarcus Aldridge and veteran legend Tim Duncan, the Spurs went a ridiculous 40-1 at home. They were considered the one team that could surprise the unbeatable Golden State Warriors.
Instead, the Spurs were dumped out of the second round by Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. They lost two home games in that series.
No. 3: 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks (67-15)
The Mavs had the NBA's best record heading into the post season, led by MVP Dirk Nowitzki and a tough defense. They advanced to the NBA Finals the year prior and was strongly favored to win it all this time around.
But the postseason run didn't last long. The Mavericks were shocked in Round 1 by Baron Davis and the 42-40 Golden State Warriors, and to this day remains the biggest 1-vs.-8 upset in NBA Playoffs history.
No. 2: 2001-02 Sacramento Kings (61-21)
This one still stings in California's capital. The Kings posted the league's best record at 61-21, boasting one of the most balanced and exciting offenses ever. Chris Webber (24.5 ppg), Peja Stojaković and Mike Bibby, all of whom finished in the Top 16 in MVP voting.
More From Lindy's Sports:
- History Suggests Cubs Will Be Just Fine
- AI Calls This Sports Video Game The Best Ever
- Nationals A Surprise Offensive Force
The Kings overwhelmed opponents all season and reached the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers in a controversial seven-game series rife with officiating debates (notably Game 6). The team hasn't been to the Western Conference Finals since.
No. 1: 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (73-9)
It's not a very controversial choice. The 2016 Warriors were the most dominant regular‑season team ever, breaking the 1996 Bulls' 72-win record and setting over two dozen NBA records in the process. They entered the playoffs as overwhelming favorites, with betting markets and analysts treating a title as nearly inevitable.
The roster was loaded, led by Steph Curry, the first unanimous MVP, and in-their-prime Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Golden State lost only two games in the first two rounds. After surviving a 3-1 comeback scare from Oklahoma City, they went up 3-1 in the Finals before LeBron James and Kyrie Irving engineered the only 3-1 comeback in Finals history. Their collapse is the most shocking missed title ever.
Related: Knicks, Spurs NBA Finals tickets reach shocking $107,000 at MSG
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 7:04 PM.