The Best NBA teams of all time: Top 11 teams ·

25 Jun 2024, 00:00

NBA is one of the world's most popular and influential professional sports leagues. Over the course of its long history, there have been many great teams that have graced the NBA hardwood, each leaving its indelible mark on the sport.

From dominant dynasties that won multiple championships in a row to single-season juggernauts that captured the imaginations of fans worldwide, the list of teams that can be considered the greatest in NBA history is long and impressive. In this regard, it is worth exploring some of these teams and their legacies as we reflect on the rich history of the NBA and the game's evolution.

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How we ranked the greatest NBA teams of all time

We can consider various factors to determine the list of the greatest NBA teams:

The combined winning percentage during the regular season and playoffs are essential for determining the greatest NBA teams.
Winning the NBA championship is the ultimate goal of every team, and teams that accomplish this feat are often considered among the greatest in history.
Setting records, winning awards, and dominating the competition during the regular season are all notable accomplishments that indicate a team's exceptional performance.

It’s important to consider that the NBA and basketball have changed throughout history. Given improvements in sports science, strategy, and marketability, direct team comparisons are difficult between decades. Accomplishment is crucial in determining the best squads.

1. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls

Season Record: 72-10
Playoff Record: 15-3
Total win percentage: 87.0%

The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls broke the record for most regular season wins with 72. Michael Jordan, who won his fourth MVP award that season, led the team in points, rebounds, and assists per game. Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were key players, and Phil Jackson's coaching with the triangle offense was crucial to their success. The 1995-96 Bulls will be remembered as one of the greatest teams in NBA history, with Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Jackson playing pivotal roles in their success.

2. 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers

Season Record: 69-13
Playoff Record: 12-3
Total win percentage: 83.5%

The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers set a new record with 69 regular season wins. Led by Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, and Wilt Chamberlain, they won the NBA championship after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks in the playoffs. Goodrich led the team in points per game. Goodrich also contributed with an average of 25.9 points per game, while Chamberlain dominated the rebounds with 14.8 per game. Bill Sharman was the mastermind behind the league’s best-scoring team.

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3. 2016-17 Golden State Warriors

Season Record: 67-15
Playoff Record: 16-1
Total win percentage: 83.8%

The 2016-17 Golden State Warriors finished the regular season with a record of 67-15 and a win percentage of 81.7%. Led by Kevin Durant (NBA Finals MVP), Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green (NBA Defensive Player of the Year), they won their second NBA championship by winning 16 playoff games and losing only one. In the NBA Finals, they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, solidifying themselves as one of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA.

4. 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers

Season Record: 57-25
Playoff Record: 16-5
Total win percentage: 70.8%

The 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers finished the regular season with a record of 57-25, first in the Eastern Conference. Led by LeBron James (NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team), Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, they won their first NBA championship after winning 16 playoff games and losing only 5. In one of the most significant accomplishments in NBA history, the Cavaliers rallied from a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit to win three straight games, with Irving hitting the game-winning shot in Game 7.

5. 1996-97 Chicago Bulls

Season Record: 69-13
Playoff Record: 15-4
Total win percentage: 84.4%

Led by Michael Jordan (NBA MVP (5), All-NBA First Team, Regular Season Scoring Leader), Scottie Pippen (All-NBA Defensive First Team, All-NBA Second Team), and Dennis Rodman, the Chicago Bulls won their fifth NBA championship. The Bulls' stifling defense, anchored by Jordan and Pippen, allowed an average of 92.3 points per game (6th in the NBA) while scoring 103.1 points per game (1st in the NBA). The 1997 Bulls earned the fifth title in the Bulls’ history and the second of their second championship three-peat.

6. 1985-86 Boston Celtics

Season Record: 67-15
Playoff Record: 15-3
Total win percentage: 81.7%

The 1985-86 Boston Celtics were a legendary team that finished with 67 wins and 15 losses. Led by Larry Bird (1987 MVP, 1987 NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team), Kevin McHale (All-NBA Defensive First Team), Robert Parish, Bill Walton (Sixth Man of the Year), and Dennis Johnson (All-NBA Defensive Second Team), the Celtics dominated the playoffs, winning 15 games and losing only three en route to winning the NBA championship. It was the last NBA Championship in Boston for more than 20 years.

7. 1988-89 Detroit Pistons

Season Record: 63-19
Playoff Record: 15-2
Total win percentage: 76.8%

The 1988-89 Detroit Pistons had a great season, finishing with a record of 63-19 and winning the NBA championship after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in four games. Thomas was named Finals MVP, averaging 27.3 points and 6.3 assists per game. The Pistons were known for their rugged and gritty playing style, earning the nickname "Bad Boys." Their strong regular season and playoff performances solidified them as one of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA.

8. 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

Season Record: 65-17
Playoff Record: 15-3
Total win percentage: 79.3%

The 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers had a dominant season, finishing with a record of 65-17 and winning the NBA championship by defeating the Boston Celtics in six games. They were led by Magic Johnson, who won the 1987 Most Valuable Player Award, Michael Cooper, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, and legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After the NBA Finals, Johnson was named Finals MVP, averaging 26.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 13.0 assists per game against the Celtics.

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9. 1991-92 Chicago Bulls

Season Record: 67-15
Playoff Record: 15-7
Total win percentage: 81.7%

The 1991-92 Chicago Bulls had a remarkable season, finishing with a 67-15 record and winning the NBA championship by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in six games. Led by Michael Jordan, who won his third NBA MVP award, and Scottie Pippen, they continued their dominance in the playoffs. Jordan earned Finals MVP honors with his impressive average of 35.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game against the Trail Blazers.

10. 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers

Season Record: 67-15
Playoff Record: 15-8
Total win percentage: 81.7%

The 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers set up the franchise for their most successful run in the modern era. Led by the dynamic duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers had a win percentage of 81.7%. O'Neal won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, while Bryant showcased his all-around skills and earned his place on the All-NBA Second Team and the All-Defensive First Team. Los Angeles maintained their dominance in the playoffs, making O'Neal the Finals MVP award with his impressive 38 points and 16.7 rebounds per game against the Pacers

11 1983-84 Boston Celtics

Season Record: 62-20
Playoff Record: 15-5
Total win percentage: 75.6%

These Celtics began one of Boston’s best runs, making them the NBA Finals in four consecutive seasons. Led by NBA legend Larry Bird, who won his second straight MVP award, the team also featured Kevin McHale (Sixth Man of the Year), Robert Parish, Danny Ainge, and Dennis Johnson. In the NBA Finals, they faced the Lakers, winning the series in seven games, with Bird being named the Finals MVP.

How have the best NBA teams of all time influenced betting trends and patterns?

The best NBA teams of all time have significantly impacted betting trends and patterns, as they attract much attention from bettors. Analyzing historical betting trends and practices associated with each team can provide insights into how to bet on future NBA games.

One team that has influenced betting trends is the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls, widely considered one of the greatest NBA teams of all time. The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls opened the season as a +350 favorite to win the NBA Championship and entered the NBA Playoffs as the -400 favorite. Their dominance saw them become the eventual champions and command the next two years as +100, then +140 favorites to win the title to open each season. Despite this, the Bulls were still profitable for bettors, winning many games by large margins through their three-year Championship run.

Another team that influenced betting trends was the 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors, who broke the Bulls' regular season record with a 73-9 record. They are one of NBA history’s most prolific teams, topping the league in points, assists, threes, overall efficiency, and three-point efficiency. Despite being the clear favorite to win the title from December on (+165), the Warriors eventually fell short and lost the title to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a lesson in betting theory and the impact of star players.

While past performance does not always indicate future results, analyzing historical betting trends and patterns can provide insights into how to bet on future NBA games. And when it comes down to deciding on games, analyzing the immediate trends can be more valuable than their overall performance.

How has star player performance influenced betting odds and outcomes?

Star players play a crucial role in the outcomes of basketball games, as they can significantly impact betting odds.

A great example is the 2017 Golden State Warriors, led by four All-Star players and two former MVP winners: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson. Their depth of talent was unmatched and saw the Warriors remain favorites to win the NBA title from the offseason (+215) to the NBA Finals (-300). Led by a combined 62.0 points per game from Curry and Durant in the Finals, the Warriors failed to be the underdog in any playoff matchup.

Of course, injuries or poor performance can decrease their team's betting odds and increase the chances of losing the game. Injuries to star players can be especially devastating to a team's events, as seen in the 2019 NBA Finals, where the Golden State Warriors lost Kevin Durant to a ruptured Achilles tendon, leading to their eventual defeat.

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Who were the best NBA coaches of all time?

Behind legendary NBA teams, there has been legendary coaches. Throughout times, a number of outstanding coaches has created historical teams with multiple trophies on record.

Phil Jackson

Teams coached: Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers
Win-loss record: 1155-485 (.704)
NBA championships won: 11

Red Auerbach

Teams coached: Boston Celtics
Win-loss record: 938-479 (.662)
NBA championships won: 9

Gregg Popovich

Teams coached: San Antonio Spurs
Win-loss record: 1392-792 (.637)
NBA championships won: 5

Pat Riley

Teams coached: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat
Win-loss record: 1210-694 (.636)
NBA championships won: 5

Steve Kerr

Teams coached: Golden State Warriors
Win-loss record: 394-163 (.707)
NBA championships won: 4

How have rule changes impacted NBA betting markets during the history of the sport

Over the years, rule changes in the NBA have affected the style of play and the associated betting markets. The introduction of the three-point line in 1979 led to an emphasis on outside shooting and the emergence of three-point betting markets. Shooting is integral to today's NBA, to the point that the scoring output and pace of even the best teams pre-2010 would be outdone by some of the worst teams in this era.

Playing styles have also evolved through "small ball" and "positionless lineups," which have greatly affected totals and prop bets, shifting the positional value in player props between generations. Analytics can identify undervalued/overvalued teams/players and assess the impact of injuries/load management on performance. These factors have shaped the NBA betting markets and will continue to do so as the NBA grows.

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