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The NBA has always been associated with having tall players, but it has seen a fair share of players on the other end of the spectrum. Even though height is crucial to becoming successful in the NBA, players with more diminutive stature proved otherwise. 

Most NBA fans even think more highly of shorter players since they must compensate for their lack of height with skill, hard work, and determination. 

In this review, I’ll delve into the exciting narratives of the top 10 shortest-ever NBA players who left a lasting mark in the NBA. You’ll read the inspiring journeys of players who lack height but don’t lack in heart and passion for the game. 

Stay with me, with more to follow!

#10 – Charlie Criss ( 5’8”)

Our tallest player on the list of the shortest players of all time in the NBA is a 5’8” human dynamo—Charlie Criss. After playing for New Mexico State University, he started his career as a professional player in the Continental Basketball Association. Charlie played for two teams in the CBA—The Washington Generals and the Scranton Appolos. While he played for the Appolos, he won back-to-back MVP titles. 

Even though Criss was successful in the CBA league, his ambition was to transition into the NBA. His plan came to fruition in 1977 when he began to play for the Atlanta Hawks. In his eight seasons in the NBA, he also played for the San Diego Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks.

What’s interesting about Criss is that he was simultaneously the shortest player in the NBA and the oldest rookie at age 28. 

Throughout his career, he averaged 8.5 PPG along with 3.2 APG. His rookie season was his best, scoring 11.4 PPG and 3.8 APG. 

He was mostly known for being a fast point guard with the ability to shoot and pass. After his retirement, Criss worked as a commentator, coach, and golf instructor.

#9 – Monte Towe ( 5’7”)

Among the shortest NBA players in history is Monte Towe, a 5’7” powerhouse.  Before joining the NBA, he had a stellar college career since winning the NCAA Championship with North Carolina State in 1974. Towe was a one-of-a-kind athlete since he played baseball for the North Carolina State and was a part of their ACC Championship team in the same year he won the NCAA Championship. 

Monte was known for being one of the pioneers of the alley-oop, along with his teammate from the Denver Nuggets, the legendary dunker David Thompson. 

Towe was praised by his teammates for having great confidence and perseverance. Like most short players, Towe was lightning-fast and easily passed defenders, thanks to his speed. 

During his short NBA career, which lasted for two seasons, from 1975 to 1977, he averaged 2.8 PPG and 1.9 APG in 115 games. 

Monte only played for the Nuggets, and after finishing his career as a player, he was a head coach and assistant coach at numerous schools.

#8 – Wataru Misaka ( 5’7”)

The first player of Asian descent and non-Caucasian player who played in the NBA (the BBA back then) and one of the shortest players in basketball was the 5’7” Wataru Misaka. Besides having a small stature, Wataru suffered discrimination due to his Japanese descent.

He had an impressive college career playing for Weber Junior College and helped them win two championships. After that college, Misaka went to the University of Utah and helped the team to win the 1944 NCAA Championship. 

After that, he went to serve in World War 2. Afterward, he came back to Utah University and won the 1947 NIT title with them. 

In 1947, Misaka played in the NBA for the New York Knicks, but he only played three games and averaged 2.3 PPG before the Knicks waivered him. 

Back in 1999, Wataru was honored with induction into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. 

#7 – Red Klotz ( 5’7”)

One of the most influential figures in basketball was Louis Herman “Red” Klotz, not because he was a great player but because he made basketball more entertaining. Nevertheless, he did win two championships when he competed in high school. Also, back in 1948, while playing for the Baltimore Bullets, he was the shortest player to win an NBA Championship.

Red Klotz only played for one season in the NBA, averaging 1.4 PPG and 0.6 APG in 11 games total. 

Before and after playing for the Baltimore Bullets, he played for the Philadelphia Sphas. Five years after finishing his NBA career, he bought the Philadelphia Sphas and became the head coach of the team. He renamed this team to the Washington Generals. In 1953, Klotz and the Generals went on a tour and played against the well-known exhibition basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters. 

Even though the Generals lost 17,000 times against the Globetrotters, basketball became more entertaining because of these two teams and Red Klotz. The Generals last win against the Globetrotters was in 1971. The Generals were also called the New York Nationals for a certain period. 

Red was a legendary basketball ambassador who spread joy for basketball fans worldwide thanks to his team, the Washington Generals. 

#6 – Keith Jennings ( 5’7”)

Another short player on this list who didn’t let his height be a disadvantage when it came to playing was the 5’7” Keith Jennings. During his college years at East Tennessee State University, he was among the best three-point shooters. 

Regarding his NBA career, Keith was undrafted and came into the league as a free agent. 

In 1992, Jennings joined the Golden State Warriors and played the point guard position there for three seasons. During his time at the Warriors, he averaged solid numbers with 6.6 PPG and 3.7 APG. 

In one of his last games in the NBA, he scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists, which was his best performance in the league. 

After this three-year stint with the Warriors, Jennings went overseas to play basketball in countries like France, Turkey, Russia, etc. 

After his retirement as a player, he became a coach for multiple schools in Tennessee as well as in North Carolina. 

#5 – Greg Grant ( 5’7”)

The 5’7” Greg Grant compensated for his lack of height with tenacity and high energy. Greg Grant’s talent for basketball was seen at a local playground, and soon after that, he enrolled in the Trenton State College and was the best scorer in 1989 in all Division III Colleges. 

Then came the 1989 NBA Draft when the Phoenix Suns selected him as the 52nd pick. He played up until 1996 in the NBA for multiple teams like the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Washington Bullets, Denver Nuggets, and the Charlotte Hornets. He wasn’t the best point guard in the league since he averaged 2.8 PPG and 2.7 RPG. 

After his retirement, Grant opened a sports academy in Trenton, New Jersey, his hometown. He was also a high school basketball coach in New Jersey.

In 2009, Greg Grant published his autobiography, “94 Feet and Rising: The Journey of Greg Grant to the NBA and Beyond.”

#4 –  Mel Hirsch ( 5’6”)

Mel Hirsch is another player whose height didn’t stop them from being an NBA player. 

His basketball career started at Brooklyn College, where he was the star point guard. After college, he joined the US Army Air Corps.  

Afterward, he joined the NBA, which was then called the Basketball Association of America. Mel went to the Boston Celtics in the 1946/47 season, his first and last in the NBA. In 13 games that he played for the Celtics, he averaged 1.5 PPG and 0.8 APG. 

He was the shortest player in the NBA for 40 years, up until the well-known Mugsy Bogues stepped onto the NBA court. 

#3 – Spud Webb ( 5’6”)

One of the shortest high-flying players was the legendary 5’6” Spud Webb. 

He started to play basketball at Midland College and was one of the key figures that led that team to a national title in 1982. After his college career, Spud Webb joined the NBA and the Atlanta Hawks team in 1985. 

In his sophomore year, he won the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest, beating the defending champion Dominique Wilkins. Spud left the crowd in awe as he did a variety of dunks like the double clutch, 360, off-the-backboard dunk, and many others. He was the living proof that wonders happen when talent meets hard work. Many dunk contests later, there has yet to appear a more fascinating short dunker than the 5’7” marvel that Spud was.

Besides the Hawks, this point guard has also played for numerous NBA teams like the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Orlando Magic. Spud’s best season was 1991/92, when he averaged 16.0 PPG, 7.1 APG, and 1.6 SPG. When it comes to his overall career stats, they were pretty decent since he averaged 9.9 PPG and 5.3 APG in 12 NBA seasons. 

There is no doubt that Spud is one of the best shortest players who played on the NBA hardwood. 

#2 – Earl Boykins (5’5”)

The second shortest-ever player in NBA history was the 5’5” Earl Boykins. Throughout his career, he showcased that more diminutive stature poses no limits to your ability to make a lasting impact on the basketball court. 

An interesting fact about Earl is that he was so small he had to learn to dribble with a tennis ball instead of a basketball. He also hid in his father’s gym bag to sneak into watching games for free.

Earl was a player at Eastern Michigan University and was also the second-leading scorer in the entire nation. He was known for his speed, shooting abilities, and exquisite ball handling.

He played in the NBA from 1998 to 2012 for 10 NBA teams. Earl played for the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, etc. His best playing days were in the Denver Nuggets, where he consistently scored in double-digits. 

During his career in the NBA, he averaged 8.9 PPG and 3.2 APG in 652 games.

When he finished playing professionally, he transitioned into the role of a coach. Besides coaching at universities and in high schools, he was also the assistant coach for the Orlando Magic.  

#1 – Muggsy Bogues (5’3”)

The shortest NBA player ever is the well-known Muggsy Bogues, who stood at 5’3”. Despite his size, Bogues etched his legacy in the NBA as one of the fastest and most fascinating players when it comes to stealing the ball. 

Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues got his nickname from players in his neighborhood when he was playing at his local court since the style of his defense reminded them of “mugging.”

Muggsy played at Wake Forest University before he joined the NBA as the 12th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. He was selected by the Washington Bullets, where he only spent one season. 

After the Bullets, he joined the Charlotte Hornets and played as their notable point guard for ten seasons. He also played for the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors. 

In 14 seasons in the NBA, Muggsy averaged 7.7 PPG, 7.6 APG, and 1.5 SPG.

Besides being a great player, Muggsy played a superb role in the famous “Space Jam” movie. 

After retiring, he was a coach and founded the Muggsy Bogues Family Foundation.

Featured image taken from YouTube.

Read next: Who Is The Tallest NBA Player? – Ranking the 10 Tallest NBA Players Ever

The NBA Draft is among the most thrilling events for die-hard basketball fans worldwide. It’s an excellent opportunity for NBA teams to secure high-level talent that could alter the entire course of their franchise. However, there are draft picks who don’t live up to expectations. 

Actually, some high draft picks even end up being huge busts, and the teams who picked them end up disappointed because of their overall underwhelming performance. 

In this review, I’ll take a look at the list of the top 10 biggest NBA Draft busts in NBA history.

Stay with me, and discover who they are!

#10 – Sam Bowie – 2nd Pick, 1984 NBA Draft

I’m starting the list with the NBA center who was among the top three picks in the 1984 NBA Draft—Sam Bowie. The 1st pick was Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the best NBA defenders of all time. The 3rd pick was Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player to ever touch the basketball.

Chosen by the Portland Trailblazers, they were expecting a center who could improve their franchise significantly. Instead, Sam Bowie was riddled with injuries and inconsistent. 

He was on the sidelines for the entire 1987-88 season and only played 25 games from 1986 to 1989. But, when he was healthy, he could play solid basketball. If we don’t count the 1986/87 season with 16.0 PPG when he only played five games, his best season was 1991/92, when he averaged 15.0 PPG and 8.1 RPG for the New Jersey Nets. He ended his career after a two-season stint with the LA Lakers. 

All in all, Bowie was an average player, but being often injured and with picks who were traded after Sam overshadowed him with their immense success and made Bowie one of the biggest busts in the history of the NBA. 

#9 – Michael Olowokandi – 1st Pick, 1998 NBA Draft

Los Angeles Clippers selected Michael Olowokandi as the 1st pick of the NBA Draft pick in 1998. He was ahead of future superstars of the sport like Paul Pierce, Vince Carter as well as Dirk Nowitzki. Coming off a stellar career in college basketball, Olowokandi had immense potential to be the next big thing in the NBA. Unfortunately, that never happened. 

The biggest issue regarding Olowokandi was that the coaches were complaining about his lack of work ethic and playing like he was there just to collect the paycheck. 

In 2011, Kareem wrote to ESPN about how he attempted to point out Olowokandi’s mistakes on the court and tried correcting his bad habits, but Michael took the advice as a personal insult. 

He lasted nine seasons in the NBA, averaging mediocre numbers, 8.3 PPG and 6.3 RPG. His best season was 2002/03 when he averaged 12.3 PPG and 9.1 RPG. Apart from the Clippers, Olowokandi played for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics. 

It’s a real shame that the Clippers could’ve picked a much better player, but no one could know that Michael Olowokandi would end up as one of the biggest NBA Draft busts in history.   

#8 – Chris Washburn – 3rd Pick, 1986 NBA Draft

Chris Washburn was an all-around great college player known for his size and great agility for a center. The Golden State Warriors selected him as the third pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, hoping he could help the franchise reach unimaginable heights. 

The Warriors couldn’t have imagined how tragic Washburn’s NBA career would look, even though he stole a radio and was arrested for it before the draft. 

That 1986 NBA Draft was one of the worst in NBA history since four of the top 10 picks had drug issues. The unluckiest of the four was the 2nd pick, Len Bias, who passed away just two days after the draft due to an overdose. While the 6th pick, William Bedford, and the 7th pick, Roy Tarpley, were banned from the league for using drugs. 

When it comes to Washburn, he developed a nasty habit of using cocaine and even got a kidney infection in his rookie year with the Warriors. He only played for three seasons, 72 games in total, with 3.1. PPG, and 2.4 RPG. 

The NBA banned him for life in 1989 since he managed to fail three drug tests. There is no doubt that Chris Washburn was the worst Warriors draft pick ever. 

#7 – LaRue Martin – 1st Pick, 1972 NBA Draft

Having a stellar college career and being a double-double machine were the main factors why the Portland Trailblazers selected LaRue Martin as the 1st pick of the 1972 NBA Draft. He was drafted ahead of future NBA legends like Julius Erving and Bob McAdoo. Although LaRue put up impressive performances in college as an elite center, those skills never translated into the NBA.

His lack of effort and work ethic were why he didn’t end up being successful, along with showing no genuine interest in playing basketball. Despite being a 7-foot center, he only averaged half a block per game in his 4-year stint in the NBA. He averaged an unremarkable 5.3 PPG and 4.6 RPG. Many NBA fans think LaRue Martin was one of the worst 1st picks of all NBA Drafts. 

After his underwhelming NBA career, which he ended in 1976, LaRue Martin went to try his luck in the corporate world. 

#6 – Adam Morrison – 3rd Pick, 2006 NBA Draft

Adam Morrison was regarded as one of the best college basketball players in 2006. That’s why the Charlotte Bobcats chose him as the 3rd pick of the NBA Draft in 2006. Besides Morrison, the Bobcats could’ve picked up players like LaMarcus Aldridge or Rudy Gay.  Morrison was a prolific scorer in his college days, but that wasn’t the case in his short NBA career. He only averaged 7.5 PPG and 2.1 RPG. 

His rookie year was his best one, and from then on, it all went downhill. He missed out his entire sophomore NBA season with a knee injury. He wasn’t the fastest player out there, and that injury worsened his speed. After the Bobcats, he went to the LA Lakers and won two NBA championships, even though he didn’t contribute much to the teams’ success. 

After playing four seasons in the NBA, Morrison finished his career and went to play basketball overseas. His career was marred by injuries and inconsistency, culminating in his status as one of the NBA’s worst Draft picks. 

#5 – Hasheem Thabeet – 2nd Pick, 2009 NBA Draft

Another center on the list is Hasheem Thabeet, who was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies at the 2009 NBA Draft. The Grizzlies thought that Hasheem could be the player that would bring the long-awaited fame and alter the course of their franchise. 

He looked really promising since he was a dominant and quite talented 7’3” center. Sad to say, they were wrong. Apart from Thabeet, there were many superb players who were ripe for the taking in the draft, like Blake Griffin, James Harden, and Steph Curry.   

Hasheem was really struggling while being in the NBA since he didn’t have impressive offensive skills, especially when it came to his post moves. After being with the Grizzlies for a season and a half, they got rid of Thabeet, and he went to the Houston Rockets, where he was horrendous as well. He also played for the Portland Trailblazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder before finishing his NBA career after only five years in the league. 

Throughout his time in the NBA, he always had a hard time getting minutes, and he was a starter in only 20 out of 224 games that he played in. Thabeet averaged an abysmal 2.2 PPG and 2.7 RPG during his nightmare of a career. 

He was out of the NBA in 2014, and many fans think that he’s one of the worst 2nd draft picks in recent history. 

#4 – Greg Oden – 1st Pick, 2007 NBA Draft

The NBA Draft in 2007 revolved around two major prospects—Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. The Portland Trailblazers selected Oden as the 1st pick of the NBA Draft. At the time, no one would‘ve said that the Trailblazers made the wrong choice since Oden was massively talented and performed tremendously both in high school and in college too. With his sheer size and agility, Oden was unstoppable. 

Regrettably, his career in the NBA was derailed by multiple knee injuries, and he only played in 105 games across three seasons. He missed his rookie year, and he didn’t play between 2010 and 2013 because of knee injuries. So,  the main reason why he’s a massive bust was injuries, but inconsistency also played a big role. 

If we ignore the injuries, when he played, he was quite solid, both offensively and defensively. For the duration of his short NBA career, Oden averaged 8.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 1.2 BPG. 

No one knows how good Oden could’ve been, but from what he’s shown, he’s up there among the biggest NBA busts. 

#3 – Kwame Brown – 1st Pick, 2001 NBA Draft

Kwame Brown was chosen by the Washington Wizards as the 1st pick of the 2001 NBA Draft. Washington picked him up straight from high school, where he was a force to be reckoned with since he was 7ft tall and super athletic. He was picked ahead of high-level players like Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, and Jason Richardson. 

An interesting fact is that the then President of Basketball Operations of the Washington Wizards, the GOAT Michael Jordan, was the one who chose Kwame Brown. 

He definitely didn’t live up to the hype, since he only averaged 6.6 PPG and 5.5 RPG. These are solid numbers for an average player, but rather disappointing for a 1st NBA Draft Pick. He was immature, and really not ready for the NBA, along with lacking fundamental skills. 

Despite his lackluster performances, he was plagued by injuries during his career. Kwame also had off-court controversial moments, when he was arrested in 2007, and was accused of rape too. Besides the Wizards, he played for numerous teams like the LA Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, etc.

Even though he had the potential to be a generational big man, Kwame’s career was overall disappointing. No doubt, he’s one of the biggest NBA busts of all time. 

#2 – Anthony Bennet – 1st Pick, 2013 NBA Draft

What a disappointment turned out to be the 1st NBA Draft Pick in 2013—Anthony Bennet. He was picked ahead of players like Victor Oladipo, CJ McCollum, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the Cavaliers went for either of those three, they couldn’t have gone wrong. 

However, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Benett as their next star in the power forward position since he proved himself as a high-level scorer and rebounder in college. 

But, in the NBA, Bennet was disastrous. He wasn’t tall enough to play in the paint and was slow to play on the perimeter. He just didn’t have the tools to be a great NBA player. Apart from unimpressive skill set, he was also often injured. 

In his rookie season, he scored his first shot after five games. He spent only four seasons in the NBA, averaging 4.4 PPG and 3.1 RPG. Bennet only started in 4 out of 151 games he played. He played for the Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, and the Brooklyn Nets before finishing his career in the NBA. He went to play overseas after the NBA. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers had high hopes for Bennet, but instead, he turned out to be one of the quickest draft picks to become a bust and a massive one as well. 

#1 – Darko Milicic – 2nd Pick, 2003 NBA Draft

The No. 1 spot goes to the Serbian center—Darko Milicic. The Detroit Pistons chose him as the 2nd pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. The Pistons wanted to secure a top-notch center that could help the franchise win titles. The Pistons did win the title in 2004, but Darko didn’t play a significant role in winning the championship. 

Milicic had everything to become an NBA superstar: shooting, passing, rebounding, size, and athleticism. For a 7-foot center, he was relatively fast as well. He was selected ahead of future Hall of Fame players like Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony, while the 1st pick was Lebron James. Before joining the NBA, Darko had an outstanding career in Serbia and was among the top European prospects. 

However, in the NBA, Milicic performed disappointingly. He lacked the proper work ethic, tenacity, and aggression for a center in the NBA. He played for ten seasons in the league but never showed his true potential, unfortunately. Darko averaged 6.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 1.3 BPG. 

Besides the Pistons, who regretted selecting him, Milicic played for numerous NBA teams like Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, etc. 

His lack of development, discipline, and his inability to adapt to the NBA’s playstyle made him the biggest NBA bust in this league’s history. 

Read next: Ranking The Worst NBA Teams Of All Time – 10 Squads With Historically Poor Records

Throughout the NBA’s rich history, there have been many awe-inspiring players and formidable teams that won multiple championships and broke numerous NBA records. Nevertheless, the topic of this article won’t be the best NBA teams who revolutionized the game of basketball with their jaw-dropping performances. 

Quite the opposite, I’ll cover the teams whose performances were jaw-dropping, but not in a good way. You’ll see who are the worst NBA teams ever, looking at their winning percentage, record, and how bad of an impression they left, in general, to their fans.

Read on and discover the top 10 worst NBA teams of all time!

#10 – 2002/03 Cleveland Cavaliers

Record and winning percentage: 17-65 (.207)

Basketball fans are familiar that the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise isn’t among the best in the NBA, and the 2002/03 squad was probably the worst in the club’s history. Although, they had two seasons that ended with 15 wins (1970/71 and 1981/82). 

In terms of scoring, these Cavaliers were 25th out of 29 teams with 91.4 PPG and the second-worst NBA team in conceded PPG with 101.0. 

This Cleveland Cavaliers team only won 17 games, and their on-court performance was horrible, to say at least, and hard to watch for the fans. They did surprise many of their beloved fans when they beat the, at the time, NBA champions, the LA Lakers, in the fourth game of the season. After that, they had a 15-loss streak.  

The Cavaliers’ 02/03 season was disastrous, but they still managed to get the first pick of the 2003 NBA draft, their future superstar, Lebron James. 

Also, players like Ricky Davis and Zydrunas Ilgauskas were the bright stars who carried the team and didn’t let the Cavaliers end the season with a worse winning percentage. Davis averaged 20.6 points per game, while Ilgauskas managed to get 17.2 points per game.

#9 – 2000/01 Chicago Bulls

Record and winning percentage: 15-67 (.183)

The Bulls’ post-Jordan era was unimpressive, and the team was rebuilding. This season, Chicago had eight rookies on its roster and only a few veterans of the game. The majority of the rookies left the Bulls after a couple of years, but the one who stood out from the rest was Jamal Crawford. 

The 20-year-old Jamal averaged 9.3 points and 2.4 assists per game. The star of this subpar team was Elton Brand, who had impressive numbers, averaging 20.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. 

At the 2001 NBA Draft, the Bulls made a strange decision when they traded their best player, Elton Brand, for the 2nd pick of the draft, Tyson Chandler. Even though Chandler was a solid contributor to the team in his five-year stint at the Bulls, he wasn’t nearly as good as Brand. 

They also got Eddy Curry, who was the 4th pick at the draft. 

This season was horrendous because they had too many rookies who weren’t great. Also, they were the worst NBA team in PPG with 87.6 and 17th in conceded PPG with 96.7.

#8 – 1982/83 Houston Rockets

Record and winning percentage: 14-68 (.171)

One of the toughest seasons for the Houston Rockets was the 1982/83 season, with only 14 wins. This team was in the middle of a rebuild, with zero stars and a few experienced players. When we look at their roster, even die-hard basketball enthusiasts will have a hard time remembering the best players of this Rockets team. 

The star player on the roster was Allen Leavell, who led the team in scoring with 14.8 PPG, 6.7 APG, and 2.1 steals per game. The team’s power forward, James Bailey, was also helpful on the offense, averaging 14.1 PPG, and on defense, with 6.8 RPG (4.3 defensive RPG).

Apart from this duo, the whole team was struggling offensively, given the fact that they were 21st out of 23 teams (99.3 PPG) in the league in terms of scoring. On the other hand, they were 14th in conceded PPG (110.9). 

This Rockets team was reasonably good defensively, but their offense was severely lacking, which was the ultimate reason for their poorest season in history. 

However, the Houston Rockets did recover a couple of years later when the NBA superstar Hakeem Olajuwon joined the team. 

#7 – 2004/05 Atlanta Hawks

Record and winning percentage: 13-69 (.159)

A sad season for the Atlanta Hawks fans was 2004/05. This team was among the worst NBA teams defensively and offensively as well. They averaged only 92.7 PPG, one of the worst offense seasons in NBA history. Also, the Hawks were 29th in the league with 102.5 conceded PPG. They went on to lose 13 and 14 games in a row. 

Constant changes in the roster were no help to the Hawks since the rookie Josh Childress was the most consistent player, playing 75 games in the season with 10.1 PPG. Besides Josh Childress, another rookie who provided a glimmer of hope for the Hawks’ future was Josh Smith, who averaged 9.7 PPG and was one of their best players in the upcoming seasons. 

Atlanta also traded their star player, Jason Terry, for seasoned veterans Gary Payton and Tom Gugliotta, who were 36 and 35 years old, respectively. What’s even more bizarre is that the Hawks waived Payton, who went back to Boston, where Jason Terry was traded. 

But still, players like Al Harrington and Antoine Walker managed to steer the Hawks away from an even worse season. Harrington averaged 17.5 PPG, while Walker averaged 20.4 PPG.

The Hawks were terrible because they had many players with little experience and veterans who were past their prime. 

#6 – 1986/87 Los Angeles Clippers 

Record and winning percentage: 12-70 (.146)

The 1986/87 wasn’t just one season in the franchise when they were. This LA Clippers team was poor throughout the entire 80s. In the 86/87 season, they were doomed from the beginning since they failed to get a first-draft pick from the 1986 NBA Draft, and the owner didn’t want to spend money to bring in top-quality basketball players. 

Also, the team’s lead player, Marques Johnson, was injured for most of the season, playing only ten games with 16.6 PPG.

In Johnson’s absence, the squad’s most prolific point-scorer was Michael Cage, who put in some impressive numbers, averaging 15.7 PPG and 11.5 RPG. 

The Clippers were below average on both ends, even though seven players on the roster averaged more than 10 PPGs. Offensively, they were 21st out of 23 teams with 104.5 PPG, and defensively, they were 22nd with 115.9 PPG conceded, which is a testament to an overall embarrassing season. Also, they had losing streaks of 12, 14 as well as 16 games. 

#5 – 2009/10 New Jersey Nets

Record and winning percentage: 12-70 (.146)

The very start of the 2009/10 season was one of the worst for the Nets since they lost 18 games in a row. Before the season began, this team got a new owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, who sold numerous players, including the star player Vince Carter. 

The New Jersey team struggled on both sides of the court since they were the last in the league with only 92.4 PPG and 17th in the league with 101.5 PPG conceded. This wasn’t really a surprise since they had so few consistent point-scorers and a lack of star power. 

Undoubtedly, the best player on the Nets roster was Brook Lopez, who scored 18.8 PPG with 8.6 PPG. Apart from him, point guard Devin Harris was a solid contributor to the team, averaging 16.6 PPG with 6.6 APG. 

What’s pretty strange is that New Jersey also changed the head coach 3 times in one season. 

The 2009/10 season was a true nightmare for their fans. 

#4 – 1992/93 Dallas Mavericks

Record and winning percentage: 11-71 (.134)

The 1992/93 Dallas Mavericks were the worst NBA team in that season, with only 11 wins. They were offensively the second-worst team in the NBA in terms of PPG, with only 99.3, and the last team in conceded points per game (114.5). 

This Dallas team was unlucky since the All-Star player Fat Lever was out for the whole season because of an injury. Another key player, Roy Tarpley, was suspended since he had issues with substance and alcohol abuse, too. 

The Mavericks had a few good players, like Derek Harper, who had 18.2 PPG and 5.4 APG, and the rookie Jim Jackson, who averaged 16.3 and 4.7 but only played for 28 games. 

The Dallas Mavericks really struggled throughout the whole season and even had a 4-57 record. Nevertheless, they still somehow got 7 more wins, finishing this horrible season with a .134 winning percentage. 

#3 – 1997/98 Denver Nuggets

Record and winning percentage: 11-71 (.134)

The number three spot on the list of the worst NBA teams of all time goes to the 1997/98 Denver Nuggets. They had a tough season, scoring only 89 points per game and ranked 26th out of 29 teams in conceded points per game (100.8). 

The Nuggets started the season with 0-12, and later in the season, they had losing streaks of 16 and 23 games too. 

They failed to re-sign the legendary Dikembe Mutombo, leaving them with no superstars in the team. The Denver Nuggets also got the 3rd pick in the draft lottery and chose Raef LaFrentz, even though they could’ve chosen players like Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, or Vince Carter. 

Eric Williams was impressive, averaging 19.8 PPG, but he only played four times during the season. LaPhonso Ellis and Johnny Newman were more consistent and averaged 14.3 and 14.7 PPG, respectively. 

No one can deny that the performance of the 97/98 Denver Nuggets was an all-time low for the franchise. 

#2 – 1972/73 Philadelphia 76ers

Record and winning percentage: 9-73 (.110)

The second NBA team on this list is the 1972/73 Philadelphia 76ers, who finished the season with one of the worst NBA records ever, with only 9 wins. Just six seasons before, Philadelphia won the NBA title. 

A once-proud NBA franchise made a couple of bad management decisions by trading Wilt Chamberlain for far less efficient players, which ultimately led to the team’s demise. 

On both sides of the court, the Sixers were abysmal, with only 104.1 PPG, and they were the worst NBA team when we look at the conceded PPG (116.2). On different occasions, this team had four consecutive losing streaks: 13, 14, 15, as well as 20 games. 

Putting aside the dreadful season, the Sixers had a couple of solid contributors. Fred Carter was the leader, scoring 20.0 PPG. Then there was John Block with 17.9 PPG, and also Tom Van Arsdale, who averaged 17.7 PPG. 

#1 – 2011/12 Charlotte Bobcats

Record and winning percentage: 7-59 (.106)

The worst NBA team ever to grace the basketball court was the 2011/12 Charlotte Bobcats. They were last in the league regarding PPG with only 87.0 and 27th in conceded PPG (100.9). Throughout the 2011/12 campaign, the Charlotte Bobcats were just atrocious, ending the season with a terrible streak of 23 losses. A sad fact was that the second worst team after the Bobcats was the Wizards, who had 13 more wins. 

Gerald Henderson and Corey Maggette were the best players in terms of scoring, with 15.1 and 15.0 PPG, respectively. The rookie Kemba Walker was also solid, with 12.1 PPG and 4.4 APG. 

In this shortened season because of the lockout, the Bobcats weren’t so lucky even in the 2012 NBA Draft since they got Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as the 2nd pick instead of the better prospect, Anthony Davis.