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.
National Basketball Association awards and honors
Team awards
Individual awards
Honors
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
Boston Celtics
Milwaukee Bucks (1 title)
Most recentOklahoma City Thunder (1st 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 clinched the first edition of the new Podoloff Trophy on April 5, 2023, with their victory vs. the Chicago Bulls. The Boston Celtics became the second winner of the trophy after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 3, 2024. The Oklahoma City Thunder became the third winner of the trophy on April 10, 2025, following a loss by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Winners

  Team won the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy
  Team lost in the NBA Finals
  Team lost in the first round of the playoffs
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

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)

  Team won the BAA Championship
  Team lost in the BAA Finals
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)

  Team won the NBA Championship
  Team lost in the NBA Finals
  Team lost in the first round of the playoffs
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 (PHO)
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 (PHO)
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
1999–2000 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)

Notes

  • 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
Milwaukee Bucks 1 2022–23
Boston Celtics 1 2023–24
Oklahoma City Thunder 1 2024–25

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
Sacramento Kings/Rochester Royals 3 1948–49, 1951–52, 2001–02
Detroit/Fort Wayne Pistons 3 1954–55, 1988–89, 2005–06
Phoenix Suns 3 1992–93, 2004–05, 2021–22
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
Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics 2 1993–94, 2024–25
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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