With their 123-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum on Saturday night, the Milwaukee Bucks upped their record to 5-0. They are the last undefeated team in the NBA this season. The Bucks 5-0 record is the third in the team’s history and the second in the last five years.
2018-19 and 1971-72 Bucks teams also start with 5-0 Record
The 2018-19 Bucks started that season with a 7-0 record before a loss to the Celtics in Boston. That squad finished the year with a 60-22 record and were the No. 1 seed as the team entered the playoffs. They swept the Pistons in a four-game series, then beat the Celtics 4-1 in the second round. The team lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games to the Toronto Raptors who won the title that season.
The other time the Bucks started with 5-0 record was during the 1971-72 campaign. That team also won seven straight to start the season before losing to the Celtics in their eighth contest. The 1971-72 Bucks, coached by Larry Costello, ended the year with a 63-19 record, second-best in the league behind the Lakers’ 69-13 mark.
The Lakers would defeat the Bucks in the Western Conference Finals 4-2 that season.
The Bucks became the 12th team to start a season 5-0 since the 2012-13 season. Milwaukee, Golden State and Toronto make up six of those 12 teams starting 5-0 in the last 10 years.
The Bucks 5-0 record to begin the season is the first time its been done since the 2019-20 NBA campaign. That year the Philadelphia 76ers started 5-0 and then lost their next game.
NBA teams that started with 5-0 record in last 10 years
Here is a look at the 12 teams that started an NBA season 5-0 in the last 10 years (from the 2013-14 season). Also noted is their season-ending record that year and how far they went in the playoffs.
- 2022-23-Milwaukee Bucks (???)
- 2019-20-Philadelphia 76ers (finished season 43-30, lost in the Eastern Conference First Round)
- 2018-19-Milwaukee Bucks (finished 60-22, lost in Eastern Conference Finals)
- 2018-19-Toronto Raptors (finished 58-24, won NBA Finals)
- 2016-17-Cleveland Cavs (finished 51-31, lost in the NBA Finals)
- 2015-16-Golden State Warriors (finished 73-9, lost in the NBA Finals)
- 2015-16-Toronto Raptors (finished 56-26, lost in the Eastern Conference Finals)
- 2014-15-Golden State Warriors (finished 67-15, won NBA Finals)
- 2014-15-Memphis Grizzlies (finished 55-27, lost in the Western Conference Semifinals)
- 2014-15-Houston Rockets (finished 56-26, lost in the Western Conference Finals)
- 2013-14-Indiana Pacers (finished 56-26. Lost in the Eastern Conference Finals)
- 2012-13-New York Knicks (finished 54-28, lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals)
It’s too early to tell whether the Bucks record being perfect early will carry them to an NBA Championship like it did the Raptors in 2018-2019. However, it’s a great start nonetheless.
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