Maurice Podoloff Trophy

This article is about the current Maurice Podoloff Trophy. For the trophy awarded by that name prior to 2021, see NBA Most Valuable Player.
Maurice Podoloff Trophy
LeagueNational Basketball Association (NBA)
Awarded forTeam with the best regular season overall record of the NBA
History
First award2022–23
Most winsOklahoma City Thunder (2 titles)
Most recentOklahoma City Thunder (2nd title)

The Maurice Podoloff Trophy is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 2022–23 season to the team with the best overall record at the end of the regular season. The award is named after Maurice Podoloff, who served as the first commissioner (then president)[a] of the NBA from 1946 until 1963.

Prior to 2021, the Podoloff Trophy was given to the most valuable player of the NBA regular season. However, this was changed in 2022 when the NBA renamed the MVP trophy after Michael Jordan, and a new Podoloff Trophy was unveiled to reward a team's regular season performance.[2][3][4] Ever since 2022, the team who wins the Maurice Podoloff Trophy clinches home-court advantage throughout the entire NBA playoffs.

The Milwaukee Bucks became the first winners of the trophy on April 5, 2023, with their victory over the Chicago Bulls. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the most recent winners on the trophy, which they clinched on April 12, 2026. The Thunder made history in 2026 by winning the trophy in back-to-back seasons, and became the first team to do so.

Maurice Podoloff Trophy winners

* Team won the NBA championship.
^ Team lost in the NBA Finals.
Eventual champion Indicates the series winner won (or went on to win) the championship.
Winners of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy
Year Winners Wins Losses Win % Playoff result
2022–23 Milwaukee Bucks 58 24 .707 Lost First Round (MIA)
2023–24 Boston Celtics 64 18 .780 Won NBA Finals*
2024–25 Oklahoma City Thunder 68 14 .829 Won NBA Finals*
2025–26 Oklahoma City Thunder 64 18 .780 Lost Conference Finals (SAS)

Earlier best records

For reference, the following are teams that finished with the best records in the NBA for each season between 1946–47 and 2021–22.

BAA (1946–1949)

Year Winners Wins Losses Win % Playoff result
1946–47 Washington Capitols 49 11 .817 Lost Semifinals (CHI)
1947–48 St. Louis Bombers 29 19 .604 Lost Semifinals (PHI)
1948–49 Rochester Royals 45 15 .750 Lost Division Finals (MIN)

NBA (1950–2022)

Year Winners Wins Losses Win % Playoff result
1949–50 Syracuse Nationals 51 13 .797 Lost NBA Finals (MIN)^
1950–51 Minneapolis Lakers 44 24 .647 Lost Division Finals (ROC)
1951–52 Rochester Royals 41 25 .621 Lost Division Finals (MIN)
1952–53 Minneapolis Lakers 48 22 .686 Won NBA Finals*
1953–54 Minneapolis Lakers 46 26 .686 Won NBA Finals*
1954–55 Syracuse Nationals[a] 43 29 .597 Won NBA Finals*
Fort Wayne Pistons[a] Lost NBA Finals (SYR)^
1955–56 Philadelphia Warriors 45 27 .625 Won NBA Finals*
1956–57 Boston Celtics 44 28 .611 Won NBA Finals*
1957–58 Boston Celtics 49 23 .681 Lost NBA Finals (STL)^
1958–59 Boston Celtics 52 20 .722 Won NBA Finals*
1959–60 Boston Celtics 59 16 .787 Won NBA Finals*
1960–61 Boston Celtics 57 22 .722 Won NBA Finals*
1961–62 Boston Celtics 60 20 .732 Won NBA Finals*
1962–63 Boston Celtics 58 22 .725 Won NBA Finals*
1963–64 Boston Celtics 59 21 .738 Won NBA Finals*
1964–65 Boston Celtics 62 18 .775 Won NBA Finals*
1965–66 Philadelphia 76ers 55 25 .688 Lost Division Finals (BOS)
1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers 68 13 .840 Won NBA Finals*
1967–68 Philadelphia 76ers 62 20 .756 Lost Division Finals (BOS)
1968–69 Baltimore Bullets 57 25 .695 Lost Division Semifinals (NYK)
1969–70 New York Knicks 60 22 .732 Won NBA Finals*
1970–71 Milwaukee Bucks 66 16 .805 Won NBA Finals*
1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers 69 13 .841 Won NBA Finals*
1972–73 Boston Celtics 68 14 .829 Lost Conference Finals (NYK)
1973–74 Milwaukee Bucks 59 23 .720 Lost NBA Finals (BOS)^
1974–75 Boston Celtics[b] 60 22 .732 Lost Conference Finals (WAS)
1975–76 Golden State Warriors 59 23 .720 Lost Conference Finals (PHX)
1976–77 Los Angeles Lakers 53 29 .646 Lost Conference Finals (POR)
1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers 58 24 .707 Lost Conference Semifinals (SEA)
1978–79 Washington Bullets 54 28 .659 Lost NBA Finals (SEA)^
1979–80 Boston Celtics 61 21 .744 Lost Conference Finals (PHI)
1980–81 Boston Celtics[c] 62 20 .756 Won NBA Finals*
1981–82 Boston Celtics 63 19 .768 Lost Conference Finals (PHI)
1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers 65 17 .793 Won NBA Finals*
1983–84 Boston Celtics 62 20 .756 Won NBA Finals*
1984–85 Boston Celtics 63 19 .768 Lost NBA Finals (LAL)^
1985–86 Boston Celtics 67 15 .817 Won NBA Finals*
1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers 65 17 .793 Won NBA Finals*
1987–88 Los Angeles Lakers 62 20 .756 Won NBA Finals*
1988–89 Detroit Pistons 63 19 .768 Won NBA Finals*
1989–90 Los Angeles Lakers 63 19 .768 Lost Conference Semifinals (PHX)
1990–91 Portland Trail Blazers 63 19 .768 Lost Conference Finals (LAL)
1991–92 Chicago Bulls 67 15 .817 Won NBA Finals*
1992–93 Phoenix Suns 62 20 .756 Lost NBA Finals (CHI)^
1993–94 Seattle SuperSonics 63 19 .768 Lost First Round (DEN)
1994–95 San Antonio Spurs 62 20 .756 Lost Conference Finals (HOU)
1995–96 Chicago Bulls 72 10 .878 Won NBA Finals*
1996–97 Chicago Bulls 69 13 .841 Won NBA Finals*
1997–98 Utah Jazz[d] 62 20 .756 Lost NBA Finals (CHI)^
1998–99 San Antonio Spurs[e] 37 13 .740 Won NBA Finals*
1999–00 Los Angeles Lakers 67 15 .817 Won NBA Finals*
2000–01 San Antonio Spurs 58 24 .707 Lost Conference Finals (LAL)
2001–02 Sacramento Kings 61 21 .744 Lost Conference Finals (LAL)
2002–03 San Antonio Spurs[f] 60 22 .732 Won NBA Finals*
2003–04 Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744 Lost Conference Finals (DET)
2004–05 Phoenix Suns 62 20 .756 Lost Conference Finals (SAS)
2005–06 Detroit Pistons 64 18 .780 Lost Conference Finals (MIA)
2006–07 Dallas Mavericks 67 15 .817 Lost First Round (GSW)
2007–08 Boston Celtics 66 16 .805 Won NBA Finals*
2008–09 Cleveland Cavaliers 66 16 .805 Lost Conference Finals (ORL)
2009–10 Cleveland Cavaliers 61 21 .744 Lost Conference Semifinals (BOS)
2010–11 Chicago Bulls 62 20 .756 Lost Conference Finals (MIA)
2011–12 Chicago Bulls[g] 50 16 .758 Lost First Round (PHI)
2012–13 Miami Heat 66 16 .805 Won NBA Finals*
2013–14 San Antonio Spurs 62 20 .756 Won NBA Finals*
2014–15 Golden State Warriors 67 15 .817 Won NBA Finals*
2015–16 Golden State Warriors 73 9 .890 Lost NBA Finals (CLE)^
2016–17 Golden State Warriors 67 15 .817 Won NBA Finals*
2017–18 Houston Rockets 65 17 .793 Lost Conference Finals (GSW)
2018–19 Milwaukee Bucks 60 22 .732 Lost Conference Finals (TOR)
2019–20 Milwaukee Bucks 56 17 .767 Lost Conference Semifinals (MIA)
2020–21 Utah Jazz 52 20 .722 Lost Conference Semifinals (LAC)
2021–22 Phoenix Suns 64 18 .780 Lost Conference Semifinals (DAL)
  • a There was no tiebreaker. Two teams with the best record received a first-round bye in the playoffs.[5][6]
  • b Despite having the same record as the Washington Bullets, the Boston Celtics clinched top seed by virtue of having a better conference record (34–12[7] vs. Washington's 32–14[8]). The teams split their regular season series 2–2.[7]
  • c Despite having the same record as the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics clinched top seed by virtue of having a better division record (19–5[9] vs. Philadelphia's 15–9[10]). The teams split their regular season series 3–3.[9]
  • d Despite having the same record as the Chicago Bulls, the Utah Jazz clinched top seed by virtue of winning their regular season series 2–0.[11]
  • e Despite having the same record as the Utah Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs clinched top seed by virtue of winning their regular season series 2–1.[12]
  • f Despite having the same record as the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs clinched top seed by virtue of having a better conference record (36–16[13] vs. Dallas's 34–18[14]). The teams split their regular season series 2–2.[13]
  • g Despite having the same record as the San Antonio Spurs, the Chicago Bulls clinched top seed by virtue of their only regular season meeting between them, a 96–89 victory by the Bulls on February 29, 2012.[15]

Records

Maurice Podoloff Trophy winners

Team Winners Year(s) won
Oklahoma City Thunder 2 2024–25, 2025–26
Boston Celtics 1 2023–24
Milwaukee Bucks 1 2022–23

Combined pre-trophy / trophy era best records

Team Best record Year(s) won
Boston Celtics 19 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 2007–08, 2023–24
Los Angeles / Minneapolis Lakers 9 1950–51, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1971–72, 1976–77, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1999–2000
Philadelphia 76ers / Syracuse Nationals 6 1949–50, 1954–55, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1982–83
Chicago Bulls 5 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2010–11, 2011–12
San Antonio Spurs 5 1994–95, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2013–14
Golden State / Philadelphia Warriors 5 1955–56, 1975–76, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
Milwaukee Bucks 5 1970–71, 1973–74, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23
Detroit / Fort Wayne Pistons 3 1954–55, 1988–89, 2005–06
Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonics 3 1993–94, 2024–25, 2025–26
Phoenix Suns 3 1992–93, 2004–05, 2021–22
Sacramento Kings / Rochester Royals 3 1948–49, 1951–52, 2001–02
Washington / Baltimore Bullets 2 1968–69, 1978–79
Portland Trail Blazers 2 1977–78, 1990–91
Cleveland Cavaliers 2 2008–09, 2009–10
Utah Jazz 2 1997–98, 2020–21
Washington Capitols 1 1946–47
St. Louis Bombers 1 1947–48
New York Knicks 1 1969–70
Indiana Pacers 1 2003–04
Dallas Mavericks 1 2006–07
Miami Heat 1 2012–13
Houston Rockets 1 2017–18

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The official title of the position was President until 1967 when it was changed to Commissioner.[1]

References

  1. ^ Monroe, Mike. "The Commissioners". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  2. ^ "NBA unveils The Michael Jordan Trophy to awarded to Kia MVP". NBA.com. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  3. ^ Goldsberry, Kirk (13 December 2022). "NBA renaming MVP after Jordan in awards update". ESPN.com. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  4. ^ "NBA unveils redesigned trophies for end-of-season awards". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "1954–55 NBA Season Summary". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  6. ^ "1955 NBA Playoff Summary". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "1974–75 Boston Celtics Team Splits". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "1974–75 Washington Bullets Team Splits". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "1980–81 Boston Celtics Team Splits". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  10. ^ "1980–81 Philadelphia 76ers Team Splits". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  11. ^ "1997–98 Utah Jazz Team Splits". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  12. ^ "1998–99 San Antonio Spurs Team Splits". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  13. ^ a b "2002–03 San Antonio Spurs Team Splits". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  14. ^ "2002–03 Dallas Mavericks Team Splits". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  15. ^ "Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs Box Score, February 29, 2012". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
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