Another NBA season is behind and for the third time in four years, the Golden State Warriors are the champions. They completed the sweep of the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers. A third NBA Finals title in four years makes Golden State a dynasty and one of the all-time teams. It's only fitting after the fallout of the 2018 NBA Finals to countdown some of the best teams to take the court. Basketball has seen some dominant teams over the years and dominating players. From Joran's Bulls to Duncan's Spurs, these are the 10 best NBA dynasties in history.
10. Houston Rockets 1994-95
https://www.slamonline.com/nba/nbatv-to-air-clutch-city-documentary-houston-rockets/
After Michael Jordan left the Bulls to pursue baseball, Hakeem Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to two straight NBA title in 1994-95. In 1994 Olajuwon became the first and only player in history to win league MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season. The Rockets defeated the New York Knicks in seven games to win the Finals. The following year the Rockets repeated as champions and swept the Orlando Magic for the title. Hakeem Olajuwon won Finals MVP again and the Rockets became the 5th team in NBA history to win back-to-back championships.
9. Detroit Pistons 1989-90
http://www.skyhook.es/2015/09/veinticinco-anos-de-los-mas-malos-de-la-pelicula/bad-boys-pistons-2/
The "Bad Boys" of Detroit dominated the NBA for two straight years. In 1988 they lost in the Finals to the LA Lakers in 7 games. In a rematch, in 1989 the Pistons swept Los Angeles for the NBA title. Detroit repeated as champions in 1990 in a 5-game series against the Portland Trailblazers. They were led by Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman, and Joe Dumars.
8. LeBron James 2011-Present
https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/ranking-lebron-james-nba-finals-appearances.html/?a=viewall
Lebron James has dominated the Eastern Conference like no other player in history. Since the 2011 postseason, he has led his teams to 8 straight NBA Finals appearances. He led the Miami Heat from 2011-2014, and the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2015-1018. 2 different franchises were elevated to championship levels simply because he was on the team. LeBron along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh led the Heat to 2 titles in 2012 and 2013. In 2016 LeBron led Cleveland to their first title ever. In this span, King James earned 3 Finals MVP awards.
7. Boston Celtics 1981-86
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/138063544804188104/
The Boston Celtics won 3 championships in the 1980s in '81, '84, and '86. They were led by 3 Hall of Famers, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. The championships were highlighted by their rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers. The two teams met 3 times in the Finals in the 80s. The Celtics won one matchup against LA in 1984 in seven games.
6. Los Angeles Lakers 2000-2010
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/david_aldridge/12/21/morning.tip/
From 2000-2002 the Lakers won three straight NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were the superstars. O'Neal was named Finals MVP all 3 times. The Lakers didn't win a title again until 2009 when they beat the Orlando Magic in five games. The Lakers won back-to-back in 2010 when they renewed their rivalry with the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series. Head coach Phil Jackson won his 11th title as a head coach in 2010.
5. Golden State Warriors 2015-Present
https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/13/how-the-warriors-built-a-dynasty-brick-by-golden-brick/
The Golden State Warriors have been the dominant team in the NBA since the 2014-15 season. Led by two-time MVP Steph Curry, the Warriors have broken records and won 3 championships. Kevin Durant signed in 2016 and has won 2 Finals MVPs. Head coach Steve Kerr has run a very dominant organization in the Bay Area. This dynasty could still have some gas left in the tank.
4. Los Angeles Lakers of the 80s
http://basketballsocietyonline.com/showtime-lakers-golden-state-warriors
The "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers of the 80s were one of the most dominant and most popular teams ever assembled. From 1980-88 the Lakers won 5 NBA championships. Magic Johnson won 3 Finals MVPs. They also had 3 Hall of Famers, Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy. In that span, the Lakers beat their biggest rival, the Boston Celtics, twice in the Finals.
3. Boston Celtics 1960s
https://clutchpoints.com/four-boston-celtics-legends-of-the-1960s/
The Boston Celtics won 11 NBA titles from 1957-1969. This period included a run of 8 straight seasons in which the Celtics were champions. Imagine if LeBron had won 8 straight finals. That's how good the Celtics were. The 6'10'' center Bill Russell led the Celtics to glory in the 60s. These Celtic teams were not only one of the best in basketball history but in all of sports.
2. San Antonio Spurs 1999-2014
http://analyticsgame.com/nba/just-how-great-is-the-spurs-dynasty.html
From 1999-2014 the San Antonio Spurs have won 5 NBA titles. Head coach Greg Popovich kept his team in contention year after year. Tim Duncan won 3 Finals MVPs in the span and was a part of the franchise first and most recent titles. The longevity of this dynasty earned them a spot in history, but not the top spot.
1. Chicago Bulls 1990s
https://www.si.com/nba/2015/03/04/michael-jordan-sportsman-1991-vault-chicago-bulls
The Chicago Bulls of the 90s were the most dominant team in NBA history. The obvious reason for their spot is Michael Jordan, the best player in history. How can the best player not be on the best team? Along with Scottie Pippen and others, the Bulls won 6 championships in 8 years. Head coach Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan led Chicago to a three-peat from 91-93, and the second three-peat from 96-98. The Bulls dominance has stood the test of time. Others have tried to replicate their success, but the Bulls stand alone at the top as the best dynasty in NBA history.
The NBA has seen some great teams and these 10 are the best of the best. They have stood the test of time and history has been kind to these dynasties. True NBA fans should celebrate these teams and players. They have entertained us through the generations and they made winning look easy.
