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What is best start in NBA history? Five teams ahead of Cavaliers' 12-0 record

lorenzo reyes, usa today
·3 min read

No pressure, it's just perfection.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have raced out to a perfect 12-0 mark this season under new coach Kenny Atkinson, becoming the eighth team in NBA history to win their first 12 games of the season. The Cavaliers are the NBA's top rated offense (121.3) and most accurate 3-point shooting team (41.3%). Cleveland ranks second in point differential (12), behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder (12.2).

Yet, the Cavaliers are nowhere near the NBA's most prolific start, with five teams still ahead. The good news for Cleveland is that of the seven previous teams that won their first 12 games to start a regular season, five made it to the NBA Finals.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and teammate Tristan Thompson (13) have the team off to a 12-0 start this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and teammate Tristan Thompson (13) have the team off to a 12-0 start this season.

Here's everything you need to know about the best starts in NBA history.

What is the record for best start in NBA history?

The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, the team that went on to set the record for most regular season victories in a single season (73), also set the mark for best start to a season in NBA history.

The Warriors opened their season 24-0 before picking up their first loss of that season on Dec. 12 against the Bucks. It obliterated the previous NBA record for best start to a season, when the 1993-94 Houston Rockets went 15-0.

Interestingly, it wasn't coach Steve Kerr who led the team to that remarkable start. Kerr underwent back surgery and was sidelined for the first 43 games of the season. Assistant coach Luke Walton served as the interim coach and led Golden State to that 24-0 start and eventually led the team to a 39-4 mark before Kerr returned.

The 2015-16 Warriors lost in the NBA Finals in seven games to the Cavaliers.

Where do the Cavaliers rank in best starts in NBA history?

  • 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (lost NBA Finals): 24-0

  • 1993-94 Houston Rockets (won NBA Finals): 15-0

  • 1948-49 Washington Capitols (lost NBA Finals): 15-0

  • 2002-03 Dallas Mavericks (lost Western Conference Finals): 14-0

  • 1957-58 Boston Celtics (lost NBA Finals): 14-0

  • 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers: 12-0

  • 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (won NBA Finals): 12-0

  • 1982-83 Seattle SuperSonics (lost first-round series): 12-0

Cleveland Cavaliers upcoming schedule

  • Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia 76ers

  • Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Chicago Bulls

  • Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. vs. Charlotte Hornets

  • Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at Boston Celtics

  • Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. vs. New Orleans Pelicans

  • Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Toronto Raptors

  • Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. vs. Atlanta Hawks

  • Nov. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Atlanta Hawks

  • Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. vs. Boston Celtics

  • Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. vs. Washington Wizards

  • Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. vs. Denver Nuggets

  • Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at Charlotte Hornets

*All times Eastern

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where Cavaliers' perfect start ranks among NBA's best