NBA Teams with Most Playoff Appearances
The NBA teams with the most playoff appearances in history. From the Lakers to the Spurs, find out who made the cut!
Making it to the playoffs is the ultimate goal for every NBA team each season. The playoffs are where legends are made, and the best teams rise to the occasion. Over the years, there have been a handful of teams that have consistently made it to the playoffs, earning them a reputation as some of the most successful franchises in NBA history.
Let’s take a closer look at the NBA teams with the most playoff appearances.
Record for NBA Playoff Appearances
The Los Angeles Lakers are the team with the most playoff appearances in NBA history as they made the playoffs 62 times since their inception in 1948.
This is a testament to the Lakers’ consistency and their ability to remain competitive throughout the years. The Lakers have won 17 NBA championships, which is tied with the Boston Celtics for the most in NBA history.
The Celtics are only three points behind the defending champions Los Angeles Lakers in this particular ranking. Let’s take a look at the situation for all the other franchises currently in the NBA.
NBA Most Playoff Appearances
# | Team | Playoff Appearances | Last Appearance |
1 | Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 2021 |
2 | Boston Celtics | 59 | 2022 |
3 | Philadelphia 76ers | 52 | 2022 |
4 | Atlanta Hawks | 48 | 2022 |
5 | Detroit Pistons | 42 | 2019 |
New York Knicks | 42 | 2021 | |
7 | San Antonio Spurs | 39 | 2019 |
8 | Portland Trail Blazers | 37 | 2021 |
9 | Chicago Bulls | 36 | 2022 |
Golden State Warriors | 36 | 2022 | |
11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 35 | 2022 |
12 | Houston Rockets | 34 | 2020 |
13 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 32 | 2020 |
14 | Phoenix Suns | 31 | 2022 |
Utah Jazz | 31 | 2022 | |
16 | Washington Wizards | 30 | 2021 |
17 | Sacramento Kings | 29 | 2006 |
18 | Denver Nuggets | 28 | 2022 |
18 | Indiana Pacers | 27 | 2020 |
20 | Dallas Mavericks | 24 | 2022 |
21 | Miami Heat | 23 | 2022 |
Brooklyn Nets | 23 | 2022 | |
23 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 22 | 2018 |
24 | Los Angeles Clippers | 16 | 2021 |
Orlando Magic | 16 | 2020 | |
26 | Toronto Raptors | 13 | 2022 |
27 | Memphis Grizzlies | 12 | 2022 |
28 | Charlotte Hornets | 10 | 2016 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | 10 | 2022 | |
30 | New Orleans Pelicans | 8 | 2022 |
Most Consecutive Playoff Appearances in NBA History
The San Antonio Spurs hold the record for the longest streak of consecutive playoff appearances in NBA history with 22. From 1998 to 2019, the Spurs made the playoffs every single year, winning five championships during that span. The team was anchored by future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, who led the Spurs to consistent success over two decades.
List of Longest Streaks of consecutive playoff appearances
# | Team | Consecutive Appearances | Streak |
1 | San Antonio Spurs | 22 | 1998-2019 |
2 | Portland Trail Blazers | 21 | 1983-2003 |
3 | Utah Jazz | 20 | 1984-2003 |
4 | Boston Celtics | 19 | 1951-69 |
5 | Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | 1977-93 |
6 | Boston Celtics | 14 | 1980-93 |
Chicago Bulls | 14 | 1985-98 | |
New York Knicks | 14 | 1988-2001 | |
9 | Phoenix Suns | 13 | 1989-2001 |
10 | Philadelphia 76ers | 12 | 1976-87 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 12 | 1980-91 | |
Dallas Mavericks | 12 | 2001-12 |