This list of the best NBA teams of all time is a combination of wins, season dominance, and post-season success. However, limiting the list to 10 teams resulted in some pretty good teams failing to make the cut.
Best NBA Teams of All Time
- 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10) – This squad of Michael Jordan, Ron Harper, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Luc Longley won a then-record 72 games. Next, they went on a 15-3 playoff run which ended with a Finals win over the Sonics.
- 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (69-13) – Led by the Logo, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich (a backcourt that produced nearly 52 ppg) and Wilt Chamberlain, Additionally, these Lakers posted a record 33-game regular season winning streak, an NBA record that still stands.
- 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (69-13) – No surprise to find another of Jordan’s teams on this list. Although not quite as good as the previous season’s version, this squad still ranks among the best of all time.
- 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks (66-16) – In just their third season, this Bucks put together one of the all-time dominant seasons. Featuring a young Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), the “Big O” Oscar Robertson, and Bob Dandridge, the Bucks followed up their 66 win regular season with a 12-2 playoff run culminating in a Finals victory over the Bullets.
- 1985-86 Boston Celtics (67-15) – Led by Larry Bird, and featuring Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish, and Bill Walton. This is the Celtics teams that most fans today associate with the franchise’s glory days. This was the Celtics’ 40th season in the NBA, and they posted an incredible 40-1 home record. They capped off their historic season with a Finals win over the Rockets.
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- 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers (65-17) – Forgotten during the great Lakers-Celtics battles in the 80s, this Sixers team was truly great. Featuring Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, and Mo Cheeks, they were one of the great defenses in recent memory. Cheeks, Jones, and Malone were named to the All-Defensive First Team.
- 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers (67-15) -A great regular season featuring a 21 year old Kobe Bryant and an unstoppable Shaq O’Neal, this team is likely best remembered for Big Diesel’s amazing Finals series against the Pacers. In six games, O’Neal averaged 38 points, 16.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.7 blocks while converting 61% of his field goals.
- 2007-08 Boston Celtics (66-16) – When you think of the 66-win team, you think of perhaps two things. First, their “Big Three” of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce. Second, this team engineered the greatest one-season turnaround in NBA history (+42 wins from previous season).
- 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers (68-13) – A tough rebounding team led by Chamberlain (24.2 rpg), Luke Jackson (8.9), Chet Walker (8.1), and Billy Cunningham (7.3). And yet, these 76ers finished #1 in points scored per game, and had four players average more than 18 points.
- 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (73-9) – The team with the most regular-season wins in NBA history ranking 10th on my list? Actually, they almost didn’t make my list! The main reason for the “disrespect” towards this Dubs team is their disappointing post-season performance. Not only did the Warriors lose to the Cavaliers in the Finals, they blew a 3-1 game lead in doing so.
Wrapping up – The Best NBA Teams of All Time
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this list of the the best NBA teams of all time. Did I miss your favorite team?
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