The Pistons No Longer Have the NBA's Worst Record
After nearly four months, the Detroit Pistons have moved up from having the worst record in the NBA.
The Pistons' Long Road to Improvement
On November 11, 2023, the Detroit Pistons woke up without the worst record in the NBA. They were 2-8 and could point to the Memphis Grizzlies as being worse at 1-8. However, the Pistons soon lost their ninth game, and from then on, they either held or were tied for the worst record.
But on Tuesday, the Pistons won their ninth game of the year, bringing their overall record to 9-49. This put them tied with the Washington Wizards, the fellow Eastern Conference doormat, for the title of 'NBA's worst team.'
The Wizards Take the Lead
The Washington Wizards had the opportunity to break their tie with the Pistons and claim the sole possession of the 'NBA's worst team' title. However, in an overtime thriller against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Wizards fell short and lost their 50th game of the season, pushing their record to 9-50.
With this defeat, they knocked the Pistons out of the bottom spot, marking a small victory for Detroit. In terms of the NBA's revamped lottery odds, this change makes little difference as the three worst teams now have equal chances at the No. 1 overall pick.
The Significance of Not Being the Worst
While the Pistons' improvement to a 9-49 record may not hold much practical value, it does represent a faint sign of progress. Previously, they lost a single-season record of 28 consecutive games and had only won twice by Christmas.
Even though there is still a long way to go, no team wants to be remembered as the worst in NBA history. The Pistons and Wizards are currently on pace to finish with a record of 13-69, which would tie for the eighth-worst record in NBA history.
A Potentially Lackluster Rivalry
Interestingly, the Wizards have now lost 13 games in a row and could potentially tie the Pistons for the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history if they lose 14 more games in a row. Remarkably, the game that could mark this record-tying feat would be against the Pistons on March 29.
Both teams are heading towards an unusual rivalry as they compete for the 29th spot with historically poor records. This race for 29th place is something you've never seen before in the NBA.
