Top 5 Greatest NBA Teams of All Time

Ranking NBA teams is a popular pastime for many sports fans, writers, and experts. The words ‘best team in the NBA’ are always a contested concept, and there’s no denying that we have our favorites and biases. These discussions on the best and most popular teams often happen before the season starts or during the breaks, like the NBA All-Star 2021. Debates on the best players also happen during slow news days or when a list of NBA teams are training and building their bench. And like other debates, arriving at a consensus is complicated, with each expert having their list of most valuable NBA teams.

But in the spirit of healthy discussion and debates, we also rank the most valuable NBA teams based on their overall performances in a single season. Of course, the team’s composition and performance vary from season to season, so our ranking look at their best season based on the win-loss record and outstanding achievements.

1995-96 Chicago Bulls

With a record of 72-10 and a box full of surprises, the Chicago Bulls team of the 1995-96 season is our top team on this list. The team arguably reached the peak of its greatness during this season. But before this season, the Bulls have a different storyline. During the 1994-95 season, the team played below expectations, primarily because Michael Jordan enjoyed his side trip with baseball. But something happened, and Jordan returned late in the season. However, this comeback was short-lived as they fell to the Orlando Magic in the second round.

But it was a different and recharged Bulls team that returned for the 1995-96 season of the NBA league. The Bulls team was relentless, and they ended the season with 72 wins. During the NBA playoffs, the team beat Seattle that was headlined by another great player, Gary Payton. Although Jordan was the team star, he got serious help from other players. During this season, Jordan and the Bulls got support from Pippen, Kukoc, and Kerr, with the direction coming from Phil Jackson.

1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

A ranking of the most valuable NBA teams is not complete without adding the LA Lakers. For our list, their best is the 1986-87 season, when they scored a 65-17 record. Like the Chicago Bulls, the Lakers team had a bad previous season. After collecting an impressive 62 wins during the 1985-86 season, the Lakers team crashes out after a loss to the Houston Rockets. What made their exit more painful was the win of the Boston Celtics as the new champions of the NBA. These are the reasons that motivated the team to come up big for the next season.

With the solid performance of Magic Johnson and the support of James Worth, the team showed its dominance early in the season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the rest of the crew contributed to the team and helped push their regular-season wins to more than 60. The Lakers team then entered the NBA Finals and faced the Boston Celtics for the world title. As we know it by now, the Lakers team snatched the crown from the Celtics in six games.

1985-86 Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics is another sure team in any top team’s ranking. The 1985-86 season was the 40^th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association. The team ended with the best record for this season with 67-15, including a 40-1 record at home. The 40 wins at home were a record, and the Spurs only matched this in 2016. It was a winning season for Boston, thanks to the leadership of Larry Bird. Bird averaged 25.8 points per game, and Kevin McHale added 21.3 points per game. These two players were joined by Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge, who helped push the team to the limits.

Thanks to their efforts, the team went on to win 67 games and dominated the Bulls, Hawks, and the Bucks. The Boston Celtics then capped their season to defeat the Rockets to bring back the crown to their city.

1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers team is one of the most famous teams in the league, and for the right reasons. It boasts some of the most exciting players in the NBA. And the Lakers team is not just a one-season team; the team has been successful for many seasons and earned several crowns along the way. One exciting season for the Lakers is its 1971-72 batch, a team known for great players who played together. For this season, the Lakers counted on the help of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Happy Hairston, and Gail Goodrich.

Compared to other NBA teams that rely on one or two players, the 1971-72 Lakers relied on many players. Thanks to the Lakers’ teamwork, they managed to win 33 games in a row, an NBA record up to this day. The team completed the season with 69 wins and defeated the Knicks for the title. In 1996, this Lakers team was named one of the top 10 NBA teams in the league’s history.

1988-89 Detroit Pistons

With a record of 63-19, the 1988-89 Detroit Pistons team is one of the best in the league. Although the team is not as popular compared to other teams in the NBA due to their physical play, there’s no denying its brilliance on the court. Aside from their aggressive stance, the Pistons team was an outstanding defensive team, and they played with intensity. During this season, Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, and John Salley served as the team’s core. They took care of the low post, and it was difficult for the other players to drive and score. Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas join the trio to create a team that can also score.

The team finished the season with 63 wins and defeated the Celtics, Bulls, and the Lakers in the finals with these strong players. The two teams would face each other again in the NBA Finals of 2004. Detroit Pistons won five games to capture their third NBA league crown in this rematch of the two great teams.

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