The 5 Best NBA Teams of All-Time
The 5 Greatest Teams to play in the NBA
There is no better moment for any NBA team than winning a championship!
As of 2022, 20 franchises can claim to have achieved that honour.
Some NBA teams, more than others, have a rich history when it comes to championship moments but which team is the greatest?
In this article, we rank the top 5 best NBA teams of all time.
It’s difficult to rank these teams, considering that some of them played in different eras. However, we will look at their achievements and the circumstances they faced during their time.
We will also look at the key moments and players of each team, understanding how they became part of the biggest teams in the championship history books.
5. 2000-2001 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular season: 56-26
Playoffs: 15-1
Accomplishments: First seed in the Western Conference, 1 of only 2 teams to nearly go undefeated in the playoffs (second-best playoff record). Defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-1 in the NBA Finals, giving the franchise its 13th championship.
The 2000-01 Lakers were coming off of the previous season's championship. However, that didn't stop them from going to the second one, too.
In the middle of their bracket, the Lakers, led by the unstoppable duo of Shaquille O'Neal and the young Kobe Bryant, were unstoppable in the playoffs.
Although they weren't the best team in the Western Conference during the season, the Phil Jackson-coached Lakers showed ultimate dominance in the playoff, as they went undefeated on their way to the Finals.
During their playoff run, Shaquille O'Neal was a major contributor as he easily posted a double-double with 30.4 points and 15.4 rebounds per game, where he would be named Finals MVP.
On the other hand, Kobe Bryant proved to be a threat and effective partner for Shaq with an average of 29.4 points and 6.1 assists.
In the first round, Shaq and Kobe led the Lakers in 3 games against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The purple and gold won by an average margin of 11.3 points against a team that featured Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace, Arvidas Sabonis and Shawn Kemp.
The Lakers continued their dominance in the second round against Chris Weber and the Sacramento Kings, which included Vlade Divac, Hedo Turkoglu and Peja Stojakovic.
Shaquille O'Neal came out of the gate on fire, as he registered two consecutive 40-20 games and played Games 1 and 2.
Shaq had 44 points and 21 rebounds in Game 1 and 43 points and 20 rebounds in Game 2. Kobe Bryant led the way in shutting down the Kings in Game 4, as he had 48 points and 16 rebounds.
The dynamic duo didn’t stop there! They didn’t even flinch against the Western Conference's number 1 seed, the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs were led by David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Avery Johnson and Steve Kerr. They were also coached by Gregg Popovich.
Despite being a big contender, the Lakers still defeated them handily in 4 games, showing the team's sheer dominance in the postseason.
After finishing with the Spurs, the Lakers faced the Allen Iverson-led Philadelphia 76ers.
During Game 1, the Lakers suffered their first home loss of the playoffs, falling in overtime 101-107.
However, the purple and gold would bounce back in empathetic fashion as they won their next 4 straight games to end Iverson and the Sixers in 5 games for the coveted NBA title.
This edition of the Lakers should make the Top 5, given their sheer dominance in the playoffs. This has been matched by only 1 team to date.
This team is one of the few that defeated the legitimate competitors of its era in a commanding manner.
There's no question why this Lakers team was feared during the early 2000s, especially with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant at Phil Jackson's disposal.
4. 1986-1987 Los Angeles Lakers
Season record: 65-17
Playoff record: 15-3
Achievements: The number 1 team in the Western Conference defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the NBA Finals, giving the franchise its 17th championship and 2nd in a row.
If there’s another Lakers team that should be in the Top 5, it would have to be the 1986-87 edition.
This Lakers team is probably the best in league history. The coach was Pat Riley, and the team was led by Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy.
His supporting cast included A.C. Green, Wes Matthews and Michal Thompson.
That being said, there is no doubt that this was a stacked team and a legitimate contender in their era, as they dominated the season to take first place in the Western Conference.
During the season, the team had 7 players who averaged double figures. The player who led them in goals and assists was Magic Johnson.
At 6'9, Johnson had the size of a big man and the ability to play as a playmaker. He averaged 23.9 points, 12.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, despite his age at the time, was still effective in the paint. He managed to average 17.5 points and 6.7 rebounds.
James Worthy also took on scoring responsibilities, posting 19.4 points per game.
On the other hand, Byron Scott, A.C. Green, Michael Cooper and Mikal Thompson averaged double figures at 17.0, 10.8, 10.5 and 10.1 respectively.
Given their unmatched ability to run the fast break, which gave them the label “Showtime”, they could make a statement in the playoffs.
First, they defeated the Denver Nuggets in 3 games in dominant fashion, as all games resulted in losses, with the Lakers winning by an average margin of 27.3 points.
After that, the Lakers faced the Golden State Warriors, having won all but their fourth game.
The purple and gold finished their counterparts in 5 games behind their balanced attack.
In the finals of the Western Conference, the Lakers also proved to be too dominant, as they won in 4 games against the Seattle Sonics.
Although the games were tighter, the Sonics just couldn't figure out how to stop the Showtime Lakers, and they suffered their biggest loss in Game 4, losing by 31 points.
The Finals was a tougher trip for the Lakers, as they battled Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics.
However, the Lakers managed to keep pace with the experienced Celtics.
The Lakers played the first 2 games at home before having an affair with the Celtics on the road.
Game 4 was the tightest and most exciting game of the series, as the Lakers managed to escape the Celtics on their home court by just 1 point, thanks to a timely shot by Magic Johnson in the final moments of the game.
The game ended at 107-106 in favour of the Lakers.
The Lakers also took home the trophy when they outlasted Boston in Game 6, as Magic Johnson took home the NBA Season MVP and Finals MVP that season.
As a result, given this team's accomplishments and roster composition, this is arguably the best team in Laker's history and one of the greatest NBA teams we've ever seen in the league.
This team was responsible for making the Lakers a fun team to watch and also a feared contender during their time. That's why they deserve to be in fourth place on this list!
3. 1991-1992 Chicago Bulls
Season record: 67-15
Playoff record: 15-7
Accomplishments: First in the league in offensive rating (115.5), No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, 37-5 to start the season. Defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 4-2 in the NBA Finals for the championship, giving the franchise its 2nd straight championship.
If there's a team that preaches efficiency, the 91-92 Bulls should be at the top of the list.
Coached by Phil Jackson, this Bulls team was lethal, especially with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, John Paxson and Bill Cartwright.
In pursuit of a second straight title, this was a hungry Bulls team in a class of its own in the Eastern Conference, as no other team came close to 60 wins for the season.
Michael Jordan led the Bulls with an average of 30.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. His contribution was good enough to win the scoring title and he was named an All-Star for that season.
In addition to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen also played a key role with 21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists, and Pippen was also named an All-Star.
Horace Grant was a vital cog for this Bulls team, as he averaged a double-double of 14.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
With Jordan and the Bulls on the rise, playoff teams were put on notice when Jordan scored against the Miami Heat. He averaged 45.0 points in that series, including a heat-defying 56-point performance.
The Bulls had their hands full when they faced a tough New York Knicks team that featured the likes of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Tim McCormick.
It was an affair between these two elite teams. The Knicks managed to steal one in Chicago and proved to be a tough opponent at home.
However, the Bulls' desire for a championship proved to be too much for the Knicks, as the latter blew out the Bulls in Game 7, 100-81.
Michael Jordan scored 42 points in that game, while Scottie Pippen had a triple-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
After a gruelling 7-game series against the Knicks, the Bulls faced a Cavaliers team led by Spitfire guard Mark Price.
As the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers proved to be a problem for the Bulls in Games 2 and 4.
However, the Bulls' core trio was too much for the Cavaliers, as the series ended in 6 games in favour of the Bulls.
In the finals, the Bulls battled the dangerous Portland Trail Blazers featuring Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter and Kevin Duckworth.
The streak began with Chicago and Portland trading wins for one more.
With what looked like a streak that would reach 7 games, Michael Jordan and the Bulls finished off the Blazers in Game 6, where the Bulls were able to pull out a 4-point victory, 97-93.
Jordan had a game-high at 33 points, which was enough to close out the series and lift the coveted NBA trophy for the second year in a row.
Considering how this Bulls team was able to stand above the competition, this team deserves to be number 3 on this list.
The trio of Jordan, Pippen and Grant proved to be too much for their opposing teams during this era!
2. 2016-2017 Golden State Warriors
Season record: 67-15
Playoff record: 16-1
Accomplishments: Best playoff record in NBA history, No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. 1 of 2 teams to win 30 games in consecutive seasons. The fastest team to clinch a playoff spot, the League leader in team points per game (115.9). Ranked first in offensive rating (115.6). Defeated Cavaliers 4-1 in NBA Finals, giving the franchise a 5th championship.
After a disappointing run in the previous season, the Warriors were as eager as ever to bounce back and reclaim their NBA title, and this team did just that.
The Warriors made a bit of a splash by signing All-Star forward Kevin Durant in free agency, causing a lot of flack while shaking up the NBA world.
With their current All-Stars in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, Kevin Durant gave this team another scoring option, meaning they could score from almost anywhere.
With a super team like this, there was no doubt that the rest of the league was struggling to keep up. The Warriors led the league in scoring as a team, while also becoming the most efficient team during that season.
At the end of the regular season, the Warriors were the top seed in the Western Conference.
3 players from the team managed to average over 22 points. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant averaged 25.3, 22.3 and 25.1 respectively.
Moreover, Draymond Green's all-round efforts perfectly complemented these 3 stars as he posted 10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
All season long, this Warriors team ran through teams with their accurate and consistent sniping, while Draymond Green, Matt Barnes, JaVale Mc Gee and former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala worked the defensive end.
Kevin Durant and the Warriors carried their dominance into the playoffs. They played the Portland Trail Blazers and easily beat them in 4 games.
The Warriors shot a lethal 40% from deep throughout the series while shooting 48% overall. Golden State remained just as deadly in the next round when they took on the Utah Jazz.
This Warriors team took out their brooms and once again sent their opponent home in 4 games, all by double-digit margins.
The top-seeded Warriors eventually clashed with the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
In the first game, when it looked like the Spurs would win it, their opposition came alive and managed to come back from a 25-point deficit behind Stephen Curry's 40 points.
After that, the Spurs had to sit out the rest of the series without Kawhi Leonard due to injury, as the Warriors went on to sweep the experienced San Antonio Spurs in commanding fashion.
The Warriors made it to the finals undefeated in the postseason, but again faced their Eastern rivals, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the Warriors armed with Kevin Durant this time around, the Cavaliers struggled and managed just 1 win in the series, the only loss the Warriors suffered during the playoffs.
However, despite this loss, the Warriors avoided a repeat of the previous season (losing a 3-1 lead) by finishing off the Cavaliers in Game 5.
Kevin Durant was named Finals MVP, but it was obvious that there were 3 other candidates worthy of the MVP trophy. This just goes to show the dominance of this Warriors team.
This team may be the best NBA team of all time, given their star power, roster composition and overall accomplishments. However, for this list, we'll rank them second, but two of the guys on the roster surely make the list of the Top 20 greatest NBA players.
1. 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls
Season record: 72-10
Playoff record: 15-3
Accomplishments: Second in regular season wins, first NBA team to win 70 regular season games, started 37-0 at home, posted 44-game winning streak, second in road wins (33). They were the only team to win 70 games in the season, and win the championship. Champions of the Eastern Conference. They won against the Seattle Supersonics 4-2 in the NBA finals, giving the franchise its 4th NBA championship.
If there is a team that deserves the top spot in the NBA's greatest teams of all time, it would be the '95-96 Chicago Bulls.
This team dominated the season and emerged as overall league champions.
The team was famously led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.
With Michael Jordan coming out of retirement and eliminated by the Orlando Magic during the previous season, the Bulls were more motivated than ever to facilitate their 3-day glory days.
Michael Jordan continued to put up MVP numbers as he averaged 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists. This was good enough to crown him an All-Star and league MVP.
On the other hand, Scottie Pippen continued to be a terror on the wings as he contributed 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists, which was enough to make him an All-Star team.
Dennis Rodman was a rebounding machine as he grabbed 14.9 per outing.
Another player who helped the Bulls was Toni Kukoc, the chosen scorer from Croatia. Kukoc shot 40% from beyond the arc, as he also averaged 13.1 points per game for the season.
This team dominated the league and set a season record for the number of wins.
So far, only 1 team has broken it. This was the 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors, who achieved 73 wins.
However, there is one important achievement that separates the '95-96 Bulls from the '15-16 Warriors, and that is a championship. The Bulls didn’t just dominate the season- they also took home the trophy!
This is where Michael Jordan and the Bulls won their fourth championship.
Chicago opened the playoffs by defeating the Miami Heat in 3 games. All games in the series turned out to be lopsided, with the Heat falling to the Bulls by an average margin of 25.7 points.
In the conference finals, the New York Knicks were also no match for the Bulls as they conceded in 5 games.
Later, the Bulls would avenge their elimination in the previous season by sweeping the Orlando Magic, who had a young and dominant Shaquille O'Neal in the conference finals.
The final also saw the Bulls come out of the gates fired up.
They dominated the Seattle Supersonics in the first 3 games. Falling into a 0-3 hole, the Supersonics did not give up as they took Games 4 and 5, which were held on their home court.
However, with the title just 1 win away from the Bulls, they quickly snuffed out the SuperSonics' comeback attempt as they outlasted Seattle at the United Center, 87-75 in Game 6.
With their accomplishments, there aren't many teams that come close to the '95-96 Chicago Bulls when it comes to showing their sheer dominance.
This is also why they were named one of the 5 best teams, during the 50th anniversary of the NBA.
Their achievements as a team are definitely enough to declare them the best team we have ever seen in the NBA.
You’ve read about the best… and maybe you don’t agree, but what about the worst teams in NBA history? Surely you can’t argue with these ones?
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