The argument of 🐐 in the NBA dominates the talk of most sport conversations. Last three years we’ve been discussing is it Michael, what about Kobe or LeBron? While many people have many different answers it’s time to introduce a new argument. Who’s the greatest team of all time?
10. 1995 Houston Rockets
47-35
Stars: Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler
Key Role: Kenny Smith, Robert Horry
A resounding theme that will come from this list is that these teams will all have all time greats. Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were two of the best to ever do it during the mid 80s to mid 90s. While the Rockets won the title in 1994 without Drexler, adding the All-NBA guard did nothing but spruce up the lineup, while giving Drexler the ring a player his caliber deserved.
9. 1983 Philadelphia 76ers
65-17 Record
Stars: Moses Malone (1983 MVP) Julius Erving (1981 MVP)
Key Role: Bobby Jones, Mo Cheeks
Moses Malone was in his most dominant form a year before in Houston, but when Philadelphia signed him to join Dr. J it became too much for the league. This was not the NBA’s first Superteams, but it was one of the best.
8. 2013 Miami Heat
66-16
Stars: LeBron James (MVP) Dwayne Wade
Key Role: Chris Bosh, Ray Allen
After winning the title in 2012, the Heat were on their way to producing a back to back title, until they ran into the buzz-saw that is Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs. This was LeBron's second time facing the Spurs in the finals, being swept in 2007 with the Cavaliers. The series seemed to be ending Spurs in 6, but Kawhi Leonard missed a free throw to keep the game within 3. LeBron James tried to tie the game up, but missed. Bosh in perfect placing tipped the ball to Ray Allen, who hit one of the coldest 3's in NBA history. The shot sent the game into overtime with the Heat prevailing and LeBron having one of the greatest game 7's in history, well the first of his two.
7. 1989 Detroit Pistons
63-19
Stars: Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars
Key Role: Bill Lambier, Dennis Rodman
The first of the back to back titles Isaiah Thomas and Detroit won was probably the best of the two teams. This team dominated the Lakers who were coming off back to back titles, 4-0 sweep in the Finals. Nicknamed the "Bad Boy" Pistons, with characters like Lambier, Rodman, John Salley, and Rick Mahorn, the Pistons punished opponents in the paint, creating a real sense of fear.
6. 2005 San Antonio Spurs
59-23
Stars: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli
Key Role: Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry
Duncan's third title, the Big 3's second title, the 2005 Spurs were the best team of their dynasty. This was the height of Tim Duncan as a player, with him dominating winning the NBA Final's MVP. Ginobli and Parker dazzled, but the 2007 title was more about them than the 05 with Parker winning MVP.
5.1986 Boston Celtics
67-15
Stars: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale
Key Role: Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton
The 1985-86 Finals between the Celtics and the Houston Rockets is the second most disappointing Finals match up, only behind the 2009 Lakers vs. Magic Finals. This was supposed to be Bird vs. Magic volume two, instead it was a 6 game win for the Celtics over the Rockets. The ball movement pops off the tape when watching this old Celtics bunch. Larry Bird keeps the trend going with all time players filling these teams, as he's one of the 5 best players ever to me.
4. 2001 Los Angeles Lakers
56-26
Stars: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant
Key Role: Derek Fisher, Devan George, Rick Fox
16-1. Real dominance. The Lakers mashed every opponent they had, losing just once against Allen Iverson and the 76er in the finals. Shaq repeated his dominance from the 2000 season and Kobe emerged as the high scoring superstar we love to this day.
3. 1987 Los Angeles Lakers
65-17
Stars: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar
Key Role: Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, James Worthy
The Showtime Lakers at their highest height. 1987 Lakers were coming off being embarrassed by Hakeem Olajuwon in the Western Conference Finals the year before. Magic Johnson put up an MVP season in 87, and at age 40 Kareem still put up 17.5 ppg. The Lakers defeated their enemy in the Boston Celtics and jump started their way to back to back titles.
2. 1996 Chicago Bulls
72-10
Stars: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman
Key Role: Steve Kerr, Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoc
The most dominant team from season start to season finish. Jordan coming off of his first retirement, after trying baseball for a couple of years, proved to be even better than he was when he left in '93. Scottie Pippen was better from being the leader of the team in Jordan's absence. Dennis Rodman was new to the team, and the bulkier version was just as fiery as he was in Detroit seven years prior. All of these characters including the best European in the game in Toni Kokoc, were orchestrated by the greatest composer of all time, Phil Jackson.
1. 2017 Golden State Warriors
67-15
Stars: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green
Key Role: Andre Igoudala, Sean Livingston, Patrick McCaw
The 2016 Golden State Warriors were supposed to be the best team ever. 73-9 in the regular season and up 3-1 on the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the impossible happened. LeBron accomplished the greatest feat ever in basketball, and the Warriors were left upside down on their heads. You know the story about the parking lot. 358 or so days later, the Warriors were under the confetti, and the cheapest feeling NBA Championship ever was happening. You take a team that went 73-9 and add the second best player in the game. Unstoppable.
10. 1995 Houston Rockets
47-35
Stars: Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler
Key Role: Kenny Smith, Robert Horry
A resounding theme that will come from this list is that these teams will all have all time greats. Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were two of the best to ever do it during the mid 80s to mid 90s. While the Rockets won the title in 1994 without Drexler, adding the All-NBA guard did nothing but spruce up the lineup, while giving Drexler the ring a player his caliber deserved.
9. 1983 Philadelphia 76ers
65-17 Record
Stars: Moses Malone (1983 MVP) Julius Erving (1981 MVP)
Key Role: Bobby Jones, Mo Cheeks
Moses Malone was in his most dominant form a year before in Houston, but when Philadelphia signed him to join Dr. J it became too much for the league. This was not the NBA’s first Superteams, but it was one of the best.
8. 2013 Miami Heat
66-16
Stars: LeBron James (MVP) Dwayne Wade
Key Role: Chris Bosh, Ray Allen
After winning the title in 2012, the Heat were on their way to producing a back to back title, until they ran into the buzz-saw that is Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs. This was LeBron's second time facing the Spurs in the finals, being swept in 2007 with the Cavaliers. The series seemed to be ending Spurs in 6, but Kawhi Leonard missed a free throw to keep the game within 3. LeBron James tried to tie the game up, but missed. Bosh in perfect placing tipped the ball to Ray Allen, who hit one of the coldest 3's in NBA history. The shot sent the game into overtime with the Heat prevailing and LeBron having one of the greatest game 7's in history, well the first of his two.
7. 1989 Detroit Pistons
63-19
Stars: Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars
Key Role: Bill Lambier, Dennis Rodman
The first of the back to back titles Isaiah Thomas and Detroit won was probably the best of the two teams. This team dominated the Lakers who were coming off back to back titles, 4-0 sweep in the Finals. Nicknamed the "Bad Boy" Pistons, with characters like Lambier, Rodman, John Salley, and Rick Mahorn, the Pistons punished opponents in the paint, creating a real sense of fear.
6. 2005 San Antonio Spurs
59-23
Stars: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli
Key Role: Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry
Duncan's third title, the Big 3's second title, the 2005 Spurs were the best team of their dynasty. This was the height of Tim Duncan as a player, with him dominating winning the NBA Final's MVP. Ginobli and Parker dazzled, but the 2007 title was more about them than the 05 with Parker winning MVP.
5.1986 Boston Celtics
67-15
Stars: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale
Key Role: Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton
The 1985-86 Finals between the Celtics and the Houston Rockets is the second most disappointing Finals match up, only behind the 2009 Lakers vs. Magic Finals. This was supposed to be Bird vs. Magic volume two, instead it was a 6 game win for the Celtics over the Rockets. The ball movement pops off the tape when watching this old Celtics bunch. Larry Bird keeps the trend going with all time players filling these teams, as he's one of the 5 best players ever to me.
4. 2001 Los Angeles Lakers
56-26
Stars: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant
Key Role: Derek Fisher, Devan George, Rick Fox
16-1. Real dominance. The Lakers mashed every opponent they had, losing just once against Allen Iverson and the 76er in the finals. Shaq repeated his dominance from the 2000 season and Kobe emerged as the high scoring superstar we love to this day.
3. 1987 Los Angeles Lakers
65-17
Stars: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar
Key Role: Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, James Worthy
The Showtime Lakers at their highest height. 1987 Lakers were coming off being embarrassed by Hakeem Olajuwon in the Western Conference Finals the year before. Magic Johnson put up an MVP season in 87, and at age 40 Kareem still put up 17.5 ppg. The Lakers defeated their enemy in the Boston Celtics and jump started their way to back to back titles.
2. 1996 Chicago Bulls
72-10
Stars: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman
Key Role: Steve Kerr, Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoc
The most dominant team from season start to season finish. Jordan coming off of his first retirement, after trying baseball for a couple of years, proved to be even better than he was when he left in '93. Scottie Pippen was better from being the leader of the team in Jordan's absence. Dennis Rodman was new to the team, and the bulkier version was just as fiery as he was in Detroit seven years prior. All of these characters including the best European in the game in Toni Kokoc, were orchestrated by the greatest composer of all time, Phil Jackson.
1. 2017 Golden State Warriors
67-15
Stars: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green
Key Role: Andre Igoudala, Sean Livingston, Patrick McCaw
The 2016 Golden State Warriors were supposed to be the best team ever. 73-9 in the regular season and up 3-1 on the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the impossible happened. LeBron accomplished the greatest feat ever in basketball, and the Warriors were left upside down on their heads. You know the story about the parking lot. 358 or so days later, the Warriors were under the confetti, and the cheapest feeling NBA Championship ever was happening. You take a team that went 73-9 and add the second best player in the game. Unstoppable.
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