Over the years, we have seen many fantastic basketball teams battle it out on the court. But this got us thinking. If you could put the best NBA teams of all time against each other, who would come out on top?
Every ten years in the NBA, a new superstar is born. Players like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James have changed what many believed to be possible. However, they could not do it alone. Behind every basketball superstar is a dedicated team, designed to work hard and dominate the opposition. This list is here to celebrate the best NBA teams over the past 60 years.
When creating this list, we cast the net far and wide, looking at teams with a fantastic regular season and postseason record. Plus, we examined the franchises with the longest win streaks and the best single-season win percentage. Once we had a list of over 20 squads, we looked at the players, coaches, and tactics of each team. We feel like we are close to perfect this time around, but if you disagree with our list of the best NBA teams ever, let us know!
10. Golden State Warriors 2016-17
Starting off our list, we have the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors. The franchise was on a high, having three consecutive seasons with a win percentage higher than .800. This was an important season for the Warriors, as they lost to the Cavaliers last year in the NBA Finals. The team was out for revenge, and that is exactly what they achieved.
Golden State strengthened their lineup by adding Kevin Durrant to the roster. He formed a formidable partnership with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. Together, the players became one of the greatest NBA teams we have ever seen. They dominated in the regular season, finishing with 67 wins and 15 losses. The franchise found another gear in the postseason, winning 15 games in a row. They swept Portland, Utah, and San Antonio on their way to the final. In the last series, they got revenge against the Cavaliers by winning 4-1.
This team was unbelievable to watch, and they left their mark on the sport. In this season, they set multiple records, including the best start to a postseason and the longest playoff winning streak. They also became the first team to have four players register four or more three-pointers in a game. This Golden State Warriors dominated at every stage of the NBA season this year. There is no doubt they belong amongst the best NBA teams of all time. If you are unsure, check out their list of records in this season alone.
9. Miami Heat 2012-13
The Miami Heat were a tough team to beat in the NBA in the early 2010s. Perhaps their strongest season was in 2012-13, the third season with the “Big Three”. Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James were fundamental in the Heat’s success. The performances helped the franchise set various records and a spot in history as one of the best NBA teams ever.
The Heat finished the regular season with a record of 66 wins and 16 losses. They ended with a win percentage of .805 and became Division, Conference, and NBA Champions this year. Miami set multiple records, including one of the longest winning streaks in basketball history. They registered 27 games without a loss, starting in early February and lasting until late March.
Besides having one of the most exciting attacking lines in NBA history, the Miami Heat were tough to beat all year round. They recorded the most wins in a month, going 17-1 in March, and they achieved 12 double-digit wins in the postseason. Looking back, the Miami Heat 2012-13 team is one of the best NBA teams of all time. However, they relied heavily on the talents of a young LeBron James. There is nothing wrong with having a star player, but we want to see the best teams, not the best individuals in a team.
8. Philadelphia 76ers 1966-67
Going back to the mid-60s reveals a team with one of the best NBA seasons of all time. The Philadelphia 76ers roster from 1966 to 67 was phenomenal. There was little expectation around the team after sacking head coach Dolph Schayes in the off-season. Alex Hannum became the new coach, and he revitalized one of the best basketball players of all time, Wilt Chamberlain.
Chamberlain set a record for eight assists per game as a center, and Hannum got the rest of the team scoring. Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham, Chet Walker, and Chamberlain all contributed over 19 points a game this season. That led to an average of 125 points per match and outrageous accuracy percentages. The team managed the best 50-game start to a season, picking up 46 wins and four defeats. They finished the year with a record of 68-13, the former best NBA season of all time.
While many of us did not see the 76ers play, they left their mark on the sport in more ways than one. With an outstanding offense and defensive hard work, the franchise showed the league what was possible. Most of their records have fallen, but we are almost 60 years down the line. With the teamwork and dedication on display, there is no doubt in our mind that the 76ers from 1966 to 67 are one of the best NBA teams of all time.
7. Chicago Bulls 1991-92
Next on our list of the best NBA teams ever is the Chicago Bulls from 1991 to 92. The franchise had already won the NBA Finals last season, but this year, the entire team stepped up. They started with two defeats after three games, prompting a trade with Dennis Hopson and Bob Hansen. The Bulls found their groove and went on a 14 and 13-game winning streak this season.
The Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, were unstoppable in the regular season and postseason. Jordan averaged 30 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. Scottie Pippin also stepped up with 21 points, 7.7 rebounds, and seven assists per game. However, the Bulls had great depth besides the two NBA legends. Horace Grant and B.J. Armstrong provided their fair share of points and excellent play. Coach Phil Jackson found a unique balance with Jordan and Pippen dominating the court. They were tough to get past and almost impossible to stop with the ball.
This is not the only Bulls team on our list of the best NBA teams of all time. The franchise had two other crucial stages where they were even tougher to beat. However, this Bulls team deserves credit, as they set the foundation for what would be an incredible decade for basketball.
6. Boston Celtics 1985-86
The Boston Celtics have been an integral franchise in the NBA for almost 80 years. Out of all the iconic Celtics teams we have seen over the years, the greatest squad was from 1985 to 86. The backbone of the team was the “Big Three” comprising basketball legends Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale.
Head Coach K.C. Jones used his frontcourt to perfection and recruited well in the offseason. The franchise gambled on Bill Walton, an injury-prone basketball veteran. The Celtics signed Walton based on his word before the medical team could give him a once-over. Walton was worth his weight in gold this season, and he won the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Boston Celtics’ 1985-86 championship starters, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, Boston Garden on April 13, 1986.
(John Blanding/Boston Globe) @danielrainge @celtics pic.twitter.com/7Y5ssRKyqz— Old School Boston (@OldSchoolBoston) December 17, 2019
Boston was unbelievable, setting a record of 40 victories and one defeat at home all season. They finished the regular season with a record of 67-15, giving them a win percentage of .817. The Celtics continued to excel in the playoffs, defeating the Hawks and sweeping the Bucks to make the Finals. Everyone knows how incredible Boston was in this period. But to come out and win a 16th Championship in 22 years is remarkable. We may never see another NBA team as dominant and consistent as the Celtics, and the 85-86 team is perhaps their best.
5. Chicago Bulls 1996-97
The second Bulls team on this list is from 1996 to 97. Compared to the Bulls team higher up the page, they had strengthened their roster in all the right places. Dennis Rodman played an instrumental role in the team, and 43-year-old Robert Parish had an impact as well. Other noteworthy players include Toni Kukoč and future Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
Michael Jordan led the league in scoring with 29.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Pippen was not far behind with 20.2 points, 5.7 assists, and 6.5 rebounds. Plus, Rodman was a rebound master averaging 16.1 per game. The franchise finished as NBA, Conference, and Division Champions once again. They had a record of 69-13 with a win percentage of .841 across the regular season. The Bulls swept the Bullets, beat the Hawks, and defeated the Heat to get to the final against Utah. They faced up against Karl Malone, regular season MVP for 1997, and Chicago won their fifth NBA Final.
On this day in 1996, the Bulls defeated the Bullets 103-93 to finish the season with a 72-10 record before going on to win their fourth NBA Championship. pic.twitter.com/nV7Re04ChA
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 21, 2020
This was an important year for the team, as it was the second full season since Jordan came out of retirement. He left the NBA to focus on a baseball career that never got going. He returned to great effect in 1995, but this season was just as important. Yes, the Bulls won on Jordan’s full return, but to continue winning is a sign of greatness. The Chicago Bulls 96-97 team is one of the best in NBA history.
4. Los Angeles Lakers 1999-00
After the Bulls dominated the 90s, the Los Angeles Lakers found another level. This season was incredibly important as it was Phil Jackson’s first in LA. There were a few fresh additions to the roster, but Jackson inherited a team stacked with potential. The two pick-outs are none other than NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Jackson got the most out of both players, with O’Neal averaging 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, and three blocks per game. Bryant was only 21, but he added 22.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game. The franchise took a few games to get used to the new coach. After going 8-4, they mounted several winning streaks this season, including 16, 11, and 19 matches without losing a game. The franchise finished with a record of 67-15, the best season in LA history since the iconic 1971-72 Lakers team.
The 1999/2000 L.A Lakers – by the numbers! If they played in today's NBA do you think they'd fare better or worse than in 2000? #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/asziUxPZUy
— NBA UK (@NBAUK) June 17, 2017
This is one of the best NBA teams of all time for several reasons. For starters, with the leadership of Jackson, the power of O’Neal, and the intelligence of Bryant, this could be one of the most balanced teams on our entire list. Plus, given the feud that developed between Shaq and Kobe, this was one of the few seasons where egos were not a present factor. Perhaps we are just feeling sentimental, but there is no chance of seeing another team like this Lakers side soon.
3. Los Angeles Lakers 1971-72
Now that we are in the top three best NBA teams of all time, we can focus on icons of the sport. Only one Lakers team trumps the 1999-00 roster, the 1971-72 season. It was a monumental achievement for the franchise as it became the first NBA Finals victory following the move to LA. This became a famous year for basketball, as the Lakers set multiple records.
In the regular season, the team managed 69 victories and only 13 defeats. That was the best NBA season of all time until the Chicago Bulls 95-96 campaign. The team also managed 81 victories across the regular season and playoffs, a record matched by the Boston Celtics in 1986. Perhaps the most important achievement of this team is the 33-game winning streak, which remains the longest winning streak of any NBA team. The only teams that come close to this achievement are the Golden State Warriors across two seasons and the 27 wins recorded by the Miami Heat in 2013.
50 years ago today, the 1971-72 Lakers did the impossible and won their 33rd straight game. That number still stands as the longest win streak in NBA history 👏 pic.twitter.com/abt5zcV2C0
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 7, 2022
The Lakers had some talent in their books, including Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor. Each player was over 30 years old and missed significant parts of the previous season with injuries. New coach Bill Sharman revitalized Chamberlain into a defensive powerhouse. He would launch attacks and supply players like Goodrich and Jim McMillian. There might be teams with a more intimidating front three in this list, but few worked as hard as the 71-72 Lakers.
2. Golden State Warriors 2015-16
Next on our list is one of the best NBA teams of all time, the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. They entered the season as defending champions, but nobody would have expected such a strong regular season. This team will forever be in the history books with the best regular season record ever, with 73 wins and nine losses. They finished the season with a win percentage of .890, possibly the highest we will ever see in basketball.
The Warriors carried on where they left off, winning the first 24 games of the 2015-16 season. This remains the record for the best start to an NBA season ever and is the best start to a professional sports campaign in North America. Including the four matches from the previous season, the Warriors have the second-longest win streak in NBA history with 28 regular season victories. Golden State became the only franchise to go an entire season without consecutive defeats and without losing to the same team more than once.
📸 2015-16 Dubs 📸#WarriorsArchive pic.twitter.com/OiFXPZWMcY
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 21, 2020
There is no doubt in our mind that the Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green combination was one of the most impressive front lines in basketball history. Plus, the range of records the team smashed during the regular season may never get bested. However, as amazing as this NBA team was, they fell short right at the end. They lost 3-4 to the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, robbing them of first place on our list. We will forever remember them as the best regular-season NBA team of all time. But there is one team that is the uncontested greatest basketball team, including the postseason: the Chicago Bulls.
1. Chicago Bulls 1995-96
The best NBA team of all time is the Chicago Bulls from 1995 to 96. This was a critical time for basketball, as the league lost its superstar, Michael Jordan. Jordan returned for the last 17 games of the 94-95 season, immediately improving the team. However, his impact on the next campaign was legendary, and many did not think he still had it in him.
Besides Jordan, the biggest addition to the side was Dennis Rodman, a rebound specialist with a talent for suspensions. The Bulls set the record for the most wins in an NBA regular season with 72. The Warriors went one better, but Chicago remains the only franchise with 70 wins and the NBA Championship. One of the most impressive stats from their season was a 44-home game winning streak and 33 road wins. Chicago went undefeated in January, thanks to Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman. Jordan averaged 30.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 6.6 rebounds, while Pippen contributed 6.4 rebounds, 19.4 points, and 5.9 assists per game.
While the Warriors eclipsed many of their records in 2016, the Bulls won it all this year. They dominated the league and became Division, Conference, and NBA Champions. This was a monumental achievement given Jordan retired from basketball a few seasons ago, and this was his first full campaign. Jordan, alongside Pippen and legendary coach Phil Jackson, did what many considered impossible. The team set a new level that nobody could match, and Jordan silenced all the critics about his baseball endeavors. Say what you like about the Warriors, but if you had to select one group of players to represent humanity against time-traveling aliens, we know who we would choose.
