Can you go 82-0 in the 82-0 game?

Yes, but it's rare. Your lineup needs to average about 95 OVR or better with every player in his natural position. At 96 OVR you'll go 82-0 on roughly 1 run in 6, and at 99 it's about a coin flip. Below 93 it almost never happens. Our 82-0 guide walks through the math.

How does the 82-0 game simulate the season?

Each of the 82 games is simulated on its own. Your team rating is compared with a random opponent rating, and the gap sets your win probability for that game. That means a great team can still drop a game on a bad night, just like in real life.

98-0 adds a full playoff run: 82 regular-season wins plus 16 playoff wins (four best-of-seven series). Playoff opponents are tougher, and one playoff loss ends the perfect run.

Can You Go 82-0? How to Win the 82-0 Game (Best Teams)

The math behind a perfect season

In the 82-0 game every game is simulated independently. If your team wins any single game with probability p, the chance of going 82-0 is p⁸². That exponent makes small edges matter a lot:

Per-game win %	Avg. record	Chance of 82-0
95%	78–4	1.5%
97%	80–2	8.2%
98%	80–2	19.1%
99%	81–1	43.9%

In our simulator, a lineup averaging 90 OVR never goes perfect, and one at 93 does it only about 1–2% of the time. At 96 it's roughly 1 in 6, and at 99 it's about a coin flip. Everything below is about finding those extra points.

The best 82-0 team, by position

These are the highest-rated options at each slot in the current pool. You won't see them all in one draft, but knowing the ceiling tells you when to take a player and when to re-spin.

PG

Stephen Curry (2016 Golden State Warriors, 99) · Magic Johnson (1987 Los Angeles Lakers, 98) · Stephen Curry (2017 Golden State Warriors, 97) · Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2025 Oklahoma City Thunder, 97)

SG

Michael Jordan (1996 Chicago Bulls, 99) · James Harden (2018 Houston Rockets, 97) · Kobe Bryant (2009 Los Angeles Lakers, 96) · Dwyane Wade (2006 Miami Heat, 95)

SF

LeBron James (2013 Miami Heat, 99) · Larry Bird (1986 Boston Celtics, 98) · LeBron James (2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, 98) · Kevin Durant (2017 Golden State Warriors, 97)

PF

LeBron James (2013 Miami Heat, 99) · Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021 Milwaukee Bucks, 97) · Charles Barkley (1993 Phoenix Suns, 96) · Dirk Nowitzki (2011 Dallas Mavericks, 95)

C

Shaquille O'Neal (2001 Los Angeles Lakers, 99) · Hakeem Olajuwon (1994 Houston Rockets, 98) · Nikola Jokic (2023 Denver Nuggets, 98) · Wilt Chamberlain (1967 Philadelphia 76ers, 98)

Five mistakes that cost perfect seasons

Filling the 6th man too early. It's your only wildcard slot, so keep it open as long as you can.
Playing a star out of position. A 94 at the wrong spot plays like an 86. Usually a natural 88 is better.
Hoarding re-spins. They're worth most in the first three picks, while every slot is still open.
Ignoring center scarcity. Elite centers show up in fewer draws than elite wings.
Judging by one run. "Run it back" replays the same roster with fresh luck. A 93 team needs several tries.

Ready? Play the 82-0 game → Then try the same challenge in football with the 17-0 game.