11 Worst NBA Teams That Have Given Up on Winning
Some teams chase rings, but others collect draft picks like expired coupons and call it a rebuild. This article lists the NBA squads that seem more interested in tanking than taking home a title. You’ll spot franchises that traded away stars, ignored defense, or somehow made losing a strategy.
Philadelphia 76ers
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The starting lineup looks like a preseason experiment. Since the All-Star break, the Philadelphia 76ers dropped 16 of 19 games. The worst part is that they began this season as a championship contender. Now, they’re bottom-feeding in the East and fielding lineups featuring Ricky Council IV and Guerschon Yabusele.
Utah Jazz
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Subtlety is overrated. The Jazz got fined $100,000 for resting Lauri Markkanen, then benched him again—just smarter this time. They’ve gone 3–16 since the All-Star break and still made it look like a basketball team. Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski are getting reps, but no one’s fooled.
Dallas Mavericks
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Someone should frame this disaster and hang it in the Hall of Mismanagement. The Mavs flipped Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis, called it “future-proof,” and then watched the injuries pile up. Kyrie Irving tore his ACL. Davis missed time. They’re even trotting out Kai Jones and Spencer Dinwiddie like it’s 2019.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Cleveland didn’t try to tank—but it sure looks like they’re fading fast. The team’s been floating around .500 with very little fire. There’s too much talent here—Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley—for them to be this average. But they’ve slipped defensively and haven’t decided how to close games.
San Antonio Spurs
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The season’s tone instantly changed when Victor Wembanyama went down with blood clots. No one blamed them for slowing down after that, but resting De’Aaron Fox, too? Yeah, that’s strategic. Despite winning five in seven games recently, their defense ranks dead last since the All-Star break.
Brooklyn Nets
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Once they got their pick back from Houston, Brooklyn turned the page. The offense has ranked 28th since the break, and the defense hasn’t made up for it. The goal is to land a top-five pick and give the fans something to believe in post-KD and Kyrie.
Toronto Raptors
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Toronto’s benching Scottie Barnes in key fourth quarters and letting Jamison Battle finish tight contests. Brandon Ingram, acquired at the deadline, hasn’t suited up once. Since the break, they’ve gone 9–9, which honestly might’ve been too successful. Their defense ranks first in that stretch, but the offense was stuck in 26th.
Indiana Pacers
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Indiana’s flirted with winning all year, but there’s no momentum. Tyrese Haliburton’s health has been spotty, and without him running the show, the whole operation feels stuck. They’re too stubborn to tank outright yet too flawed to go anywhere meaningful. Call it passive futility.
Orlando Magic
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Technically, the Magic are still in the playoffs—but honestly, they haven’t shown much hunger for more. They’ve hovered around .500 all season, but there’s a ceiling here that they haven’t cracked. Development is the focus, which is great, but there’s no urgency to rise.
Charlotte Hornets
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The Hornets don’t need to try to tank—it just happens. LaMelo Ball has missed most of the season, and what’s left is a grab bag of inexperience and inconsistency. The franchise hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016, and they seem content keeping that streak alive.
New Orleans Pelicans
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The Pelicans are 7–11 since the break. Coach Willie Green is still coaching hard, but the front office looks like it’s already planning for June. It’s frustrating because this roster had real potential. But at this point, they’re playing for ping-pong balls and pretending it’s about development.
Miami Heat
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Even Erik Spoelstra’s starting to sound exhausted. The Heat hit a 10-game skid—the longest in his 17-year career. Their offensive rating ranks bottom-six since the break, and the once-feared defense is average. Post-Butler, this team lost its edge. They’ve tried new rotations and shuffled roles, but nothing’s clicking.
Sacramento Kings
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This team made a “win-now” trade for Zach LaVine and promptly faceplanted. Lose more, and they keep the pick. Win just enough, and it goes to Atlanta. That’s the weird limbo they’re in—too messy to commit, too proud to tank properly. It’s bad basketball either way.
Chicago Bulls
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Chicago tried to tank. They really did. DeMar DeRozan left in the offseason, Zach LaVine was traded midyear, and Nikola Vučević saw his minutes slashed. They’re on the verge of another play-in, where they’ll likely get bounced again. Same script, different year.
Atlanta Hawks
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The Hawks are experts at underwhelming. A roster that should compete instead drifts through quarters without urgency. Trae Young’s out with injury, and even when healthy, this squad never found chemistry. That confusion trickles down to the product on the floor—and fans are tired of it.