The 1990s were a transformative decade for the NBA, to say the least. While some teams enjoyed success and built dynasties, others were stuck in the doldrums. Here’s a look at the 10 worst NBA franchises of the ’90s.
Milwaukee Bucks
While the Bucks drafted Ray Allen in 1996, they spent most of the decade completely mediocre. In fact, poor draft choices and coaching instability kept the team far from contention, and their playoff drought from 1992 to 1998 solidified their place among the decade’s worst.
Minnesota Timberwolves
As a relatively new franchise, the Timberwolves faced growing pains in the ’90s. And, despite the arrival of Kevin Garnett in 1995, their early years were definitely forgettable.
Philadelphia 76ers
The ’90s were a forgettable period for the Sixers, especially after Charles Barkley was traded in 1992. While they did draft Allen Iverson in 1996, they spent most of the ’90s at the bottom of the standings, failing to make the playoffs from 1992 to 1998.
Washington Bullets/Wizards
The Bullets, rebranded as the Wizards in 1997, struggled to remain relevant throughout the ’90s. In fact, their lone playoff appearance came in 1997.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors started the ’90s with promise, thanks to the high-scoring “Run TMC” trio of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin. However, the team fell apart after trading Richmond in 1991.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets experienced one of the most memorable playoff upsets in NBA history in 1994 when they defeated the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics. Unfortunately, that was their only bright spot.
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Boston Celtics
Sadly for the city of Boston, the Celtics fell on hard times during the ’90s. In fact, they missed the playoffs five times in the decade.
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Vancouver Grizzlies
The Vancouver Grizzlies entered the NBA as an expansion team in 1995 and promptly became one of the league’s worst franchises. Despite drafting promising players like Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the Grizzlies couldn’t escape the bottom of the standings for years.
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Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks were an unmitigated disaster for much of the ’90s. In fact, the low point came in the 1992–93 season when they posted an 11–71 record, one of the worst in NBA history.
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Los Angeles Clippers
No team encapsulated failure in the ’90s like the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite two playoff appearances, their consistent mismanagement, bad luck with injuries, and inability to develop talent kept them as the league’s punching bag.
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