.webp)
With championships, dominance, talent, and legacy in mind, here are 10 of the greatest NBA teams of all time.
Record: 72–10
Championship: Defeated Seattle SuperSonics
The 1995–96 Bulls are still the standard for dominant championship teams.
Michael Jordan returned for his first full season after his baseball break and immediately led Chicago back to the top of the league alongside Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.
Chicago finished 72–10, then went 15–3 in the playoffs on the way to another championship.
They combined an incredible regular-season record with a championship and had one of the best defensive and offensive cores in NBA history.
Record: 67–15
Championship: Defeated Cleveland Cavaliers
Adding Kevin Durant to a team that already featured Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green almost felt unfair.
Golden State went 16–1 in the playoffs, losing only one game during the entire postseason.
Few teams have ever had this much shooting, scoring, playmaking, and defensive versatility on the floor at the same time.
You could easily argue that this was the most talented roster ever assembled.
Record: 67–15
Championship: Defeated Houston Rockets
Larry Bird was at the peak of his powers during the 1985–86 season.
Alongside Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, and Bill Walton, Boston dominated the regular season and lost only one home game.
This team had almost everything: shooting, passing, size, defense, depth, and one of the greatest players ever playing at his absolute best.
For Celtics fans, this remains one of the most iconic teams in franchise history.
Record: 65–17
Championship: Defeated Boston Celtics
The Showtime Lakers were built to run.
Magic Johnson led an offense featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and Byron Scott, creating one of the most entertaining styles of basketball the league had seen.
This was arguably the peak of Showtime.
Los Angeles combined elite talent with speed, passing, and transition basketball before defeating rival Boston in the Finals.
Record: 69–13
Championship: Defeated New York Knicks
The 1971–72 Lakers put together one of the most impressive regular seasons in NBA history.
Led by Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Gail Goodrich, Los Angeles won 33 consecutive games, a record that still stands.
A 69-win season, a 33-game winning streak, and a championship is a pretty difficult résumé to argue against.
Record: 67–15
Championship: Defeated Portland Trail Blazers
The Bulls followed their first championship in 1991 by coming back even stronger.
Jordan and Pippen were firmly established as one of the league’s dominant duos, and Chicago won 67 games before defeating Portland in the Finals.
This team proved Chicago’s first championship was not a one-time breakthrough.
It was the beginning of a dynasty.
Record: 65–17
Championship: Defeated Los Angeles Lakers
The 1982–83 Sixers entered the postseason with serious expectations.
Moses Malone famously predicted “Fo’, Fo’, Fo’”, suggesting Philadelphia would sweep every playoff series.
They almost did.
The Sixers went 12–1 in the playoffs and swept the Lakers in the Finals.
This was one of the most dominant postseason runs the NBA has ever seen.
Record: 66–16
Championship: Defeated San Antonio Spurs
LeBron James was playing some of the best basketball of his career during Miami’s 2012–13 season.
Alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat won 66 games and put together a 27-game winning streak.
Miami had star power, defensive versatility, shooting, and one of the longest winning streaks in NBA history.
They also survived one of the most memorable Finals series ever against San Antonio.
Record: 68–13
Championship: Defeated San Francisco Warriors
Wilt Chamberlain and the 1966–67 Sixers finally interrupted Boston’s championship dominance.
Philadelphia went 68–13 and defeated the Celtics in the Eastern Division Finals before winning the championship.
Ending Boston’s run of eight consecutive championships was a massive achievement.
This team proved another powerhouse could finally break through during one of the Celtics’ most dominant eras.
Record: 67–15
Championship: Defeated Cleveland Cavaliers
The 2014–15 Warriors helped change the direction of modern basketball.
Stephen Curry won MVP, Klay Thompson emerged as an elite two-way guard, and Draymond Green became one of the most versatile defenders in the league.
Golden State won 67 games and captured its first championship of the Curry era.
This was the beginning of a dynasty and one of the teams most responsible for accelerating the NBA’s shift toward three-point shooting, spacing, and smaller lineups.
There’s no perfect answer.
The 1995–96 Bulls have the combination of 72 wins, a championship, and Michael Jordan.
The 2016–17 Warriors might have had the most talented roster.
The 1985–86 Celtics were incredibly complete.
And teams like the 1971–72 Lakers and 1982–83 Sixers produced dominant seasons that still stand out decades later.
Different eras also make comparisons difficult.
But every team on this list shares one thing: they dominated the league and finished the season holding the trophy.
That’s what separates a great season from an all-time championship season. 🏀