The 2024-25 Detroit Pistons have made historical past, as they’re formally the workforce to have the worst file within the season prior to achieve the playoffs the next 12 months. Detroit has gone from profitable 14 video games in 2023-24 to qualifying for the postseason on this marketing campaign, one thing no different workforce has ever carried out. And the Pistons are doing it in model, boasting a plus-.500 file so far this season, one thing that a variety of the groups in our rating under can not likewise declare, even regardless of reaching the playoffs.
In 2023-24, the Pistons resided just about within the NBA’s gutter, boasting a 14-68 file for the marketing campaign, good for a 17.1 win proportion. They usually have been rewarded after the season with the fifth decide within the draft regardless of being tied with the Washington Wizards for the best odds to earn the No. 1 decide within the lottery.
Even so, first-year Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff has carried out a powerful job of turning issues round in Detroit in an enormous means, because the Pistons are headed to the playoffs of their first marketing campaign with him on the helm. Detroit took the excellence of being the workforce with the worst file the season previous to make the playoffs the next 12 months from the 2014-15 Milwaukee Bucks, who went from 15-67 in 2013-14 to 41-41 (and incomes a playoff spot) in 2014-15.
That doesn’t imply Detroit is the workforce to make the most important leap in play from one season to the subsequent, nonetheless, because the 2007-08 Boston Celtics went from going 24-58 the 12 months previous to boasting a 62-20 file (and profitable an NBA championship) the next season. The 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs additionally made an even bigger single-season leap than the Pistons, going from 20-62 in ’97 to 56-26 in ’98.
Regardless, the 2024-25 Pistons nonetheless personal historical past in their very own proper. Under, try the groups with the worst information in NBA historical past to make the playoffs the next 12 months, an inventory now led by Detroit.
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Earlier 12 months’s file: 14-68 (17.1 p.c)
2024-25 file: 43-34 (55.8 p.c, fifth in Jap Convention)
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Earlier 12 months’s file: 15-67 (18.3 p.c)
2014-15 file: 41-41 (50 p.c, sixth in Jap Convention)
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Earlier 12 months’s file: 15-67 (18.3 p.c)
2008-09 file: 43-39 (52.4 p.c, fifth in Jap Convention)
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Earlier 12 months’s file: 15-67 (18.3 p.c)
1968-69 file: 37-45 (45.1 p.c, 4th in Western Division)
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports activities
Earlier 12 months’s file: 16-66 (19.5 p.c)
1969-70 file: 39-43 (47.6 p.c, 4th in Western Division)
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Earlier 12 months’s file: 17-65 (20.5 p.c)
2003-04 file: 43-39 (52.4 p.c, eighth in Western Convention)
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Earlier 12 months’s file: 20-62 (24.4 p.c)
1997-98 file: 56-26 (68.3 p.c, fifth in Western Convention)
Tim de Frisco /Allsport
Earlier 12 months’s file: 20-62 (24.4 p.c)
1988-89 file: 43-49 (52.4 p.c, seventh in Western Convention)
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports activities
Earlier 12 months’s file: 21-61 (25.6 p.c)
2013-14 file: 43-39 (52.4 p.c, seventh in Jap Convention)
Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Pictures
Earlier 12 months’s file: 21-61 (25.6 p.c)
1989-90 file: 56-26 (68.3 p.c, 2nd in Western Convention)
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports activities
Earlier 12 months’s file: 21-61 (25.6 p.c)
1973-74 file: 42-40 (51.2 p.c, 4th in Atlantic Division)
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports activities
Earlier 12 months’s file: 19-53 (26.4 p.c)
1958-59 file: 33-39 (45.8 p.c, 2nd in Western Division)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities
Earlier 12 months’s file: 23-59 (28 p.c)
2009-10 file: 50-32 (61 p.c, eighth in Western Convention)
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Earlier 12 months’s file: 23-59 (28 p.c)
2004-05 file: 47-35 (57.3 p.c, 4th in Jap Convention)
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Earlier 12 months’s file: 24-58 (29.3 p.c)
2008-09 file: 62-20 (75.6 p.c, 2nd in Jap Convention)
Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Pictures
Earlier 12 months’s file: 24-58 (29.3 p.c)
1991-92 file: 38-44 (46.3 p.c, eighth in Jap Convention)
Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Pictures
Earlier 12 months’s file: 24-58 (29.3 p.c)
1987-88 file: 38-44 (46.3 p.c, eighth in Jap Convention)
Earlier 12 months’s file: 24-58 (29.3 p.c)
1981-82 file: 44-38 (53.7 p.c, 4th in Jap Convention)
Earlier 12 months’s file: 24-58 (29.3 p.c)
1978-79 file: 37-45 (45.1 p.c, sixth in Jap Convention)
Earlier 12 months’s file: 24-58 (29.3 p.c)
1976-77 file: 44-38 (53.7 p.c, sixth in Western Convention)