Since its inception, the NBA has not only had some exceptional players but some legendary teams that have cemented their status as some of the greatest ever. From the Showtime Lakers and the Bird-led Celtics to the Bulls dynasty of the 90s, the league’s history runs deep. Year after year, a new champion is crowned, and new legacies are created, adding to the rich history of basketball.
But some teams have managed to separate themselves from all the rest and be remembered for just how dominant they are, wreaking havoc upon the league whenever they stepped out onto the floor. While there are certainly teams that deserve to be in that conversation, we look at the three greatest teams ever assembled.
1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers
The team that started it all. After Phil Jackson had left his longtime job as the Chicago Bulls head coach, he took a year off from basketball. Shortly thereafter, the Lakers hired him ahead of the 1999-2000 season, hoping to bring a big name to help stars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal really flourish. And not only did they flourish, but it happened to be the first of three straight championships that Jackson’s Lakers would go on and win. Finishing the season at 67-15, the Lakers earned the No. 1 seed without trouble.
In the playoffs, they beat the Sacramento Kings three games to two before taking down the Suns three to one in the conference semifinals. In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers prevailed in seven games against the Portland Trail Blazers before beating the Indiana Pacers in six games. O’Neal won the league MVP and the finals MVP was named to the All-NBA First Team and was named to the second-team defense. Bryant made the All-NBA First-team defense and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.
2015-16 Golden State Warriors
This Warriors team was the best team that never was. Despite going 73-9, breaking the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls regular season win record, the Warriors fell short of winning the NBA championship after losing to the Lebron James led Cleveland Cavaliers. But make no mistake, this Warriors team was incredible. With Stephen Curry putting up MVP-winning numbers, the Warriors started the season off at 24-0 and broke the record for most road wins in league history with 34.
During the course of the season, the team broke around 25 NBA records and over 10 franchise records– including 88 total wins, playoffs included, on the season. In what ended, Steve Kerr won his only NBA Coach of the Year Award, and Stephen Curry became the first-ever unanimous MVP winner. However, the Warriors had a very low-stress season, losing only two games a month.
In the playoffs, the Warriors cruised to the Western Conference Finals. The team beat the Houston Rockets four games to one in the first round. They tackled the Trail Blazers four to one in the semifinals before the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the Thunder going up 3-1 in the series, the Warriors stormed back to win and become the 10th team to come back in a playoff series down 3-1. In the finals, with the Warriors up 3-1, the Cavaliers became the first team in league history to come back and win a finals after being down three games to one.
1995-96 Chicago Bulls
The creme de la creme. They are the greatest team ever. There is no denying that this Bulls team was the most dominant team to ever step foot on a basketball court. Not only did this team set the win record before the Warriors surpassed it by winning 72 regular season games, but they also were the best team in the Eastern Conference and the league by a wide margin. Earning the No. 1 seed and finishing 20 games ahead of the No. 2 team in the East, the Bulls cruised to the title, losing only three playoff games during the entire run.
By this time, Jordan was a bonafide legend, having already won three championships, three MVPs, and three finals MVPs, among many other accolades. Still, the 1995-96 season could have arguably been the best season of his career. Not only did he win the MVP and other finals MVP awards, but he also led the NBA in every single scoring category. Additionally, while continuing to build on his reputation as one of the league’s top defenders.
Final Thoughts
Many Chicago Bulls players from the 1995-96 team won awards alongside Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, who won the Coach of the Year, and Toni Kukoč grasped the Sixth Man of the Year. Additional honorees included Jerry Krause for Executive of the Year, and Scottie Pippen was named to the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team. Dennis Rodman also led the league in every single rebounding category. These players are easily part of some of the greatest teams in NBA history and have withstood the test of time. Do today’s players fall into the same class?
