The Five Worst Franchises in the NBA – According to ChatGPT

The NBA isn’t all about who wins the NBA Finals, who wins the MVP, which player shines bright on the big stage, but more of who actually thrives for a long time. In that latter case, however, not all teams get the chance to make the most of their campaign on the big stage, and some even endure losing seasons over the years.

 

The Five Worst Franchises in the NBA – According to ChatGPT image

Paul Daniel Flores
Paul Daniel Flores

⏳ 10 mins read

📖 Published: February 11th, 2025

✍️ Updated: March 17th, 2025

General

In the NBA, success isn't solely about winning titles but also about consistent performance. This article highlights the five worst franchises in league history: the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, and Washington Wizards. Each team has suffered from mismanagement, poor trades, and long playoff droughts. As of February 2025, while some show signs of improvement, others remain at the bottom of the standings, reflecting ongoing struggles in their quest for relevance.

0:00 / 0:00
Listen to article:

1.0

0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0

Default

What Defines a “Bad Team” in the NBA?

Well, there are statistically a lot of bad teams in the NBA, and not every team has a winning year. Considering the fact that there’s only one champion at the end of the day, that doesn’t mean that eliminated teams are totally bad at this point. But let’s define what makes a bad team in the NBA with all the possible factors to consider.

First of all, winning consistency is a huge talking point. There are a total of eight teams per conference that get a shot to play in the postseason, and the remaining teams that are eliminated are either a fluke, or just really tanking to the point of no return. It means making the playoffs is a massive consideration since it is one of the best bases for a team defining its purpose in the league.

There have been historically bad teams over the years image

Next is the sustainability of competitive records over the years. Historically good teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and the San Antonio Spurs are all impressive teams that have managed to write its name in championships thanks to their competitive level of play over the years. On the other hand, losing teams are usually way beyond the competition, and it seems that it does play a huge role in measuring their success.

Another thing is the player management side – the ability to keep stars together and lead to winning records, as well as coming up with massive trades that can change the dynamic of the NBA as a whole is a promising note to consider for successful teams. It is worth noting that a wrong management decision can be detrimental to an overall team’s success in the long run.

Which NBA Teams Are the Worst Franchises in History?

From sustained lack of success, a number of failed rebuilds, long playoff droughts that have never been broken, all the way to disappointing managements, there have indeed been plenty of teams that could not even catch a break at this point. Here are the five disappointing teams in the history of the NBA so far.

1. Sacramento Kings

Let’s be honest, the Kings right now aren’t actually faring better than everyone would mostly expect in a lineup that has De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis along with a highly competitive roster. Over the years, Sacramento has played host to some of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, with the likes of Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Peja Stojakovic just to name a few.

So what makes them the worst franchise? Well, the sustained failure over the years have been quite a story to look out for. They just ended their playoff drought dating back to 2006 by making it to the 2023 NBA Playoffs, however, they would go on to miss out on 2024 and they aren’t really faring well this season as well. They have had multiple chances to rebuild, but the poor draft choices and bad coaching can’t seem to shake off at this point.

Sacramento Kings image

2. Minnesota Timberwolves

Trading away Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle to the New York Knicks in the offseason is solid proof that the Minnesota Timberwolves do really have bad management. They had Kevin Garnett for most of his career and yet it bore to nothing at all. The team made the playoffs once since 2004 before finally emerging with the trio of Towns, Anthony Edwards, and Rudy Gobert, with last season peaking well before they fell in the WCF to the Dallas Mavericks.

The lack of direction and poor trades have been evident over the years – which has both contributed to the lackluster set of results for the Timberwolves so far, and this says a lot about how they are second on this list, and certainly doesn’t get any better for the team as they continue to plummet in the standings after finishing third last season in the Western Conference.

Minnesota Timberwolves image

3. Charlotte Hornets

Despite being in the league since 1988, the Charlotte Hornets’ (formerly Bobcats) history is littered with missed opportunities, high-profile failures, and underwhelming results. To better understand why the Hornets are often considered one of the NBA’s worst franchises, it’s important to break down their history, struggles, and moments of fleeting hope, especially in their time as the Bobcats when they set the worst NBA record of 7-59.

Ownership under Michael Jordan, who bought the team in 2010, brought a renewed sense of hope, but it quickly became clear that his presence didn't immediately translate into success on the court.

Jordan's tenure as owner has been highly criticized for poor management decisions, especially when it comes to drafting and player development. However, there seems to be a new hope with the ownership starting anew, and LaMelo Ball making strides as the new face of the franchise.

Charlotte Hornets image

4. Orlando Magic

Shaquille O’Neal. Tracy McGrady. Dwight Howard. Grant Hill. These are just a few set of names who have played for the Orlando Magic and yet ended up with no championships. The team did make it to the NBA Finals twice back then, but to no avail. This one is just pure bad luck – they aren’t finding the best strides despite being able to assemble elite players for quite some time now. This says a lot about how hard it has been for Magic fans over the years.

The Magic have seen some better days in the Paolo Banchero era so far, even making it to the Playoffs last season before being eliminated in seven games. They’ve had difficulty finding a steady direction after their brief periods of success, with missteps in roster building often sending them back into a cycle of rebuilding. Their inconsistent playoff appearances have kept them from establishing any lasting relevance, and what once appeared to be a promising future has frequently fallen short.

Orlando Magic image

5. Washington Wizards

At this point, it’s okay to sigh and take a moment. The Washington Wizards just can’t seem to catch a break in almost any conversation of being the worst in the NBA at this point. Having the talented stars in the past few years such as Gilbert Arenas, Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, John Wall – all of those winning hopes went down the drain for the Wizards. Even the current era of Jordan Poole and Khris Middleton can’t salvage them so far.

One should emphasize the team’s lack of a competitive team. They haven’t been able to come up with a promising look on a playoff push, with their most recent run dating back to the 2020-21 season, where they got bounced in the first round. Nothing has been good for the team so far, with their last deep run dating back to the 2016-17 season. If you are not impressed, they are also on pace for the second-worst season in the NBA ever.

Washington Wizards image

How Are The Worst Teams Faring Today?

Considering that they may have made some impressive strides in the season, it is time that we consider taking a look at the current standings for the teams mentioned above. It is worth noting that these standings are not final as the NBA is just winding up into the All-Star break, which is a turning point to see if teams have done well in their games so far.

Five Worst Franchises 2024-25 Season Record (Updated as of February 10, 2025)

Team Wins Loss Current Spot
Minnesota Timberwolves 30 24 8th in Western Conference
Sacramento Kings 27 26 9th in Western Conference
Orlando Magic 26 29 7th in Eastern Conference
Charlotte Hornets 13 38 13th in Eastern Conference
Washington Wizards 9 44 15th in Eastern Conference

Based on the standings, three teams would be competing in the Play-In Tournament right now for a shot at the playoffs, and it cannot be denied that it is still a massive disappointment to look out for, considering how the Wolves, Kings, and Magic are all top teams in the previous season. As for the Hornets and the Wizards, however, well. Tough luck.

Make sure to consult our Gamble AI if you have some concerns in your betting plans or in need of a new betting strategy. The more well-thought your wagers are, the bigger your chances of winning in each of your wagers!

Don’t miss out on the latest in the NBA and the rest of the sports and esports world! GambleSpot has you covered when it comes to the hottest news, blogs, gambling guides, tournament previews, and even some discussion on betting strategies. Make use of all our content to spice up your chances of winning and enjoy your betting experience like no other!

Similar articles

Are you sure?

This will delete all chat history, and I will not remember what we were talking about.

Todays Hot Deals