Whether they produced incredible unbeaten runs, clutch performances, or sheer dominance of their opponents, a handful of teams have left an indelible mark on the NBA over the decades since the league first began back in 1946. This guide gives you the lowdown on the 10 most influential NBA teams ever.
- Honourable Mentions in NBA History
- The Top 10 Greatest NBA Teams
- Significant Achievements of Top Teams
- Impact and Legacy on NBA History
- FAQs
Honourable Mentions in NBA History
With the league closing in on its 80th birthday, narrowing this list down to just 10 top NBA teams is no mean feat, and there are plenty who just missed the cut. Case in point, the 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers had a phenomenal team in that era thanks to stars such as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, and while they didn’t manage to top the Western Conference that season, they swept all before them in the Playoffs with a remarkable 15-1 record.
Miami Heat’s 2012-13 team will also live long in the memory after they successfully defended their championship win the previous season, adding 3-point specialist Ray Allen to a team that already included a trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
The 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers will forever be remembered for delivering the legendary Julius Erving’s first and only NBA championship title. After losing the NBA Finals in 1977, 1980, and 1982, Erving – along with Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and new arrival Moses Malone – finally got over the line.
The Top 10 Greatest NBA Teams
1991-92 Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls were incredibly dominant in the 1990s, winning 6 titles in 8 seasons between 1991 and 1998, so it will come as no surprise to NBA fans that they’ll feature multiple times on this list. The second of those titles came in 1992, with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and co. leading the charge. Some in the world of sport consider defending a title to be more difficult than winning it the first time, but the Bulls paid little heed to that notion as they put in an even stronger regular-season performance than the previous campaign (67-15 up from 61-21) before battling through the Playoffs, which included an incredible 4-3 series win over the New York Knicks.
1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers
While it may have predated the Lakers’ entertaining “Showtime” era of 1979-1991, their 1971-72 team was a force to be reckoned with. Although he was approaching the end of his career, Wilt Chamberlain remained a game-changing threat, while the likes of Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Gail Goodrich added further offensive power that helped carry the Lakers to a 33-game winning streak and a comfortable post-season sweep.
1995-96 Chicago Bulls
The 1995-96 season was Michael Jordan’s first full campaign back in a Bulls jersey after his stint playing baseball, and he had a point to prove. Averaging 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game and supported by Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, Jordan led Chicago to a then-record 72-10 winning record in the regular season before cruising past Miami Heat, the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, and the Seattle SuperSonics in the Playoffs to win their 4th championship.
2016-17 Golden State Warriors
Although it was the 2015-16 Golden State Warriorsteam that finally broke the Bulls’ regular season record with 73 wins, it is the following season that earns them a place here. The Warriors have been one of the NBA’s most dominant teams in modern times; they reached 5 consecutive NBA Finals between 2015 and 2019, and again in 2022, collecting 4 titles. While the 2016-17 team weren’t quite as perfect in the regular season as they had been the year before – although still impressive at 67-15 – they won when it counted, in the Playoffs. While the 2015-16 team ultimately fell short against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2016-17 team romped to post-season victory with a 16-1 record, the best in NBA history, thanks to clutch performances from Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson.
1985-86 Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have won a joint-record 17 NBA championships in their history, and the 1985-86 win is arguably their best. The Celtics had lost to their bitter rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, triumph in 1984-85, but Larry Bird and Kevin McHale would not let that happen a second season running. Bird averaged 25.8 points per game as he won his 3rd MVP, while McHale was a valiant support act with 21.3 as they outclassed defenders every week, before the eased past the Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Houston Rockets in the Playoffs.
1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers
After witnessing their archrivals, the Boston Celtics, lift the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy the season before, the Los Angeles Lakers were determined to claw their way back to the top in 1986-87. Although Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was not quite the force he used to be in his youth, the veteran remained a crucial fixture in the team in support of MVP Magic Johnson, who averaged 23.9 points and 12.2 assists per game during the regular season as the Lakers won 63 games. They went on to meet the Celtics in the NBA Finals, triumphing in 6 games over the defending champions.
2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers may have only won 1 NBA championship in their history, but it has gone down in the annals of history as a remarkable effort. The Cavs met the Golden State Warriors in 4 consecutive NBA Finals between 2015 and 2019, and such was the Warriors’ dominance, they won 3 of them. However, thanks to stars such as LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers pulled off a sensational upset in 2016, coming from 3-1 down to triumph 4-3 in the NBA Finals series against a Warriors side who had won a record 73 games during the regular season.
1988-89 Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons did not win many admirers during the 1988-89 season, but they were undoubtedly effective. Unlike many of the other teams on this list, it was in their defensive prowess and tenacity rather than their offensive firepower and style that lay the key to their success. Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, and John Salley provided a defensive wall that few teams could break through, and their physical style of play – unpopular though it may have been with their opponents and many neutral fans – helped them fight their way to the championship, defeating Larry Bird’s Celtics, Michael Jordan’s Bulls, and Magic Johnson’s Lakers in the Playoffs.
1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks
In 1970-71, the Milwaukee Bucks were only in their 3rd season, but they had an ace up their sleeve, a young rookie by the name of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Setting the stage for his record-breaking career to come, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 31.7 points and 16.0 rebounds per game, helping the Bucks finish the regular season with a 66-16 record – at the time one of the best ever in the NBA. Although he was the star name, team-mates including Oscar Robertson and Bob Dandridge played their part in a fantastic campaign.
1996-97 Chicago Bulls
Although Michael Jordan understandably grabbed the most headlines, the Chicago Bulls were so dominant in the 1990s because of the incredible talent stacked throughout their team. Led by coach Phil Jackson, the Bulls – who also featured Rodman, Pippen, Toni Kukoc, and more – worked together in a phenomenal display of teamwork that helped them simply dominate all who opposed them. Their Finals against Utah Jazz have gone down in history, from a Jordan buzzer-beater winner in Game 1 to the most unlikely of heroes, Steve Kerr, sealing the championship with the game-winning jumper in Game 6.
Significant Achievements of Top Teams
Although we’ve pinpointed specific seasons to help us identify some of the best NBA teams of all-time, some of the most remarkable achievements from various teams over the years have been the consistency to sustain their success over multiple campaigns. The Bulls, with their 6 titles in 8 seasons during the 1990s, are a prime example of this, as are the Golden State Warriors in the modern era. While they don’t feature on this list, the team with the highest winning percentage of all-time are the San Antonio Spurs.
Impact and Legacy on NBA History
As in any sport, cementing yourself as one of the greatest of all time can have a huge impact on the legacy of both your team and the sport itself. Thanks to their incredible efforts between 1991 and 1998, the Chicago Bulls are still world-famous today even amongst casual fans and people who don’t follow basketball, and Michael Jordan remains one of the most famous athletes in history. Feeling inspired to watch the class of 2023-24? You can find the best selection of NBA tickets at Koobit.
FAQs
How are the greatest NBA teams determined in this list?
When there are so many legendary teams to choose from, there will always be an element of subjectivity at play. In this list, we limited it to NBA championship-winning sides, so the Golden State Warriors 2015-16 team – despite their record-breaking number of wins – just missed out.
Which team holds the record for the most wins in an NBA season?
The Golden State Warriors’ 2015-16 team holds the best ever regular season record of 73-9 in their 82 games. When combined with their 15 postseason wins they also hold the record for the most combined number of wins with 88, although incredibly they did not win the championship that season.
Which NBA team had the most dominant playoff performance?
The Golden State Warriors hold the record for the best postseason performance after racking up a 16-1 record in 2016-17.