The Wizards are the 12th team in NBA history to start 0-12, according to STATS, LLC. Per Basketball-reference.com, which tracks teams from 1946-47 through 2012-13, only nine teams have started 0-13. But here are the worst starts in NBA history, a group Washington is desperate to avoid:

5. 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers (0-15) » The Sixers, 1970-71 Cavaliers and 1949-50 Denver Nuggets all started with 15 losses in a row. But Philadelphia went on to what was the worst record in NBA history, 9-73, until Charlotte lowered the mark to 7-59 last season.

4. 1994-95 Los Angeles Clippers (0-16) » Led by Loy Vaught (17.5 ppg, 9.7 rpg), who eventually finished his career with the Wizards, only six of the Clippers' losses during their season opening streak were by less than 10 points. It took a 96-94 overtime effort against Milwaukee to finally get in the win column.

3. 1988-89 Miami Heat (0-17) » A far cry from the Big Three, the Heat's expansion season had a dreadful cast led by Kevin Edwards (13.8 ppg) and Rory Sparrow (12.5 ppg). Miami finished the year 15-67.

2. 1999 Los Angeles Clippers (0-17) » Michael Olowokandi was the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NBA draft, but he didn't get to start playing for the Clippers until the calendar had turned following a lockout. L.A. didn't win its first game until March and ended the season an abysmal 9-41.

1. 2009-10 New Jersey Nets (0-18) » Tanking in hopes of luring LeBron James, the Nets shipped out everyone and left Lawrence Frank with little, and injuries essentially reduced them to nothing. Frank was fired when they dropped to 0-16. Only Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries lasted long enough for the move to Brooklyn.

- Craig Stouffer

cstouffer@washingtonexaminer.com