CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the 10 years that the Charlotte Bobcats played before switching to the Hornets, the team did not do much to become a high-profile team. But they set one record in the 2011-2012 season that seemed unbreakable until the 2023-24 Detroit Pistons took the court.
The Pistons hold a dreadful 4-37 record at the halfway point of their season. Detroit sits in last place in the Eastern Conference with an unthinkable (.098) winning percentage.
Remarkably, the Pistons' record is tied for just the sixth-worst in NBA history. The all-time worst first-half start in NBA history belongs to the 1993-1994 Dallas Mavericks, who started 2-39.
If Detroit buts up an equal or worse second half of the season, the Pistons will break the 2011-2012 Charlotte Bobcats' record for the worst season in NBA history.
The Bobcats went 7-59 that year in a lockout-shortened season. Charlotte's (.106) winning percentage that year narrowly sank below the 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers (.110) winning percentage to earn the record.
After 41 games in 2012, the Bobcats were an abysmal 6-35. It was nothing to be proud of, but certainly, the Bobcats did not appear to be on their way to setting such an atrocious record. Charlotte won once more before dropping their final 23 games to close the season. At the time, it was tied for the fourth-longest losing streak in NBA history.
The Pistons have already bettered -- or worsened --- that mark this season. Detroit lost 28 straight games from October to December to set the NBA's all-time losing streak.
Despite their dreadful record, the Pistons do not rank last in most statistical categories this season. Detroit is 24th in points per game and 27th in points allowed per game. The Pistons even rank near the middle of the league in shooting percentage and rebounds.
Detroit has been exceptionally poor at 3-point shooting and many look at the team's youth for their lack of success on the court. The Pistons have been stuck in rebuild mode for the past few years and none of their draft picks or signings have seemed to stick.
The 2012 Bobcats, meanwhile, had the league's worst offense and fourth-worst defense in terms of points per game. Charlotte was plagued with an inept roster and a long list of injuries that led to their record-setting season.
Even after holding the NBA's worst all-time record, the Bobcats were drawn the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft lottery and missed out on generational talent Anthony Davis. In a cruel twist of fate, Davis went to the New Orleans Hornets -- the original Charlotte Hornets (now New Orleans Pelicans) who moved in 2002.
Charlotte would bounce back just two seasons later and make the postseason in the final year under the Bobcats name. The team regained the Hornets name ahead of the 2015-2016 season.
Things aren't going much better for the Hornets in 2024, though. Charlotte holds an 8-30 record and could even manage to beat the Bobcats' record as well if they lose all 44 of their remaining games.
Coincidentally, one of the Pistons' only wins this season came against the Hornets in the second game of the year. Charlotte gets two more chances this year to help Detroit reach the record.
The 2011-2012 Bobcats' entire tumultuous season is wonderfully documented in an SB Nation documentary.