The NBA has seen some truly legendary teams claim the title of champions throughout its rich history. From the outstanding Showtime Lakers of the 1980s to the dominant Chicago Bulls of the 1990s, numerous teams have etched their names in the annals of basketball history. Written in the chronicles of NBA glory, you can find a list of ultimate champions who showcase the skill, determination, and teamwork required to reach the pinnacle of success in this highly competitive sport.
Winning an NBA championship requires not only talent and skill but also perseverance and a deep understanding of teamwork. Teams that win championships do so by consistently training together to achieve the best coordination possible on the court.
Find out more about how NBA teams over the years have worked to achieve excellence.
What Does It Take to Win the NBA Championship?
Winning the NBA Championship is the ultimate goal for every team in the league. It takes a combination of hard work, talent, and strategy to come out on top. In order to even have a chance at winning the championship, a team must first have a successful regular season. This means consistently performing well and winning games against their opponents. The regular season is a gruelling test of endurance, as teams play 82 games over a span of roughly 6 months. It requires discipline and focus to maintain a high level of play throughout the entire season. Enlisting guidance from an experienced basketball coach can further enhance a team's strategy.
To get to the Playoffs, teams have to perform well in the Regular Season, which consists of 82 games played per team!
Once a team has proven themselves in the regular season, they must then navigate through the playoffs. The playoffs are an entirely different beast, with teams from each division and conference competing for a chance to advance to the NBA Finals. Winning the conference championship is no easy task, as teams must face off against the best in their conference in a series of intense, high-stakes games. Each team plays their matchup 4-7 times to eliminate the loser. It takes mental fortitude and a strong team dynamic to overcome the challenges of the playoffs, the sheer volume of games against the same people again and again, and come out on top.
Ultimately, winning the NBA Championship requires a combination of factors. It takes skill, teamwork, determination, and a bit of luck. The road to the championship is long and challenging, but for those teams that put in the hard work and make the right decisions, the reward is worth it.
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.
Michael Jordan
The Most Outstanding NBA Teams Through the Years
There have been many eras in NBA history. Of course, one team can’t dominate forever! There have been many ebbs and flows in each team’s history, but only a handful stand out as being the clear dominating force in their heydays.
Since management is always changing, players come and go and get injuries and hit their strides, rules change, and other factors are always in the mix, it’s truly a guessing game of which teams will peak and which will fall at any given time.
In the early days of the NBA, post-1949 BAA/NBL merger, the Minneapolis Lakers dominated the championships for a handful of years. This is lesser-known information since these Lakers relocated and became known as the Los Angeles Lakers in 1960.
Speaking of the LA Lakers, this franchise has showcased some of the greatest talents to have ever graced the basketball court. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kobe Bryant are just a few of the iconic players who have donned the purple and gold jersey. The Lakers' success has spanned across multiple decades, cementing their status as one of the most successful teams in NBA history.
The Lakers’ bitter rivals, the Boston Celtics, is another team with a memorable legacy. Led by legends such as Bill Russell and Larry Bird, the Celtics dominated the league during the 1960s and 1980s, establishing themselves as one of the most successful franchises in all of sports.
Deciding the best team is more complicated than simply measuring how many Championships they've won. When discussing the best NBA teams of all time, the contenders are usually the Boston Celtics, the LA Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Chicago Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls, led by the incomparable Michael Jordan, also made their mark in NBA history as one of the foremost teams. They won six championships in the 1990s and created a dynasty that is still revered to this day. The San Antonio Spurs, under the guidance of coach Gregg Popovich, have claimed five championships since 1999, showcasing their sustained excellence over the years.
Other teams have also had their moments in the sun, and some teams have yet to hit their stride. Many teams depend on their star player for the morale boost as well as their on-court skills to bring the squad to victory. One thing is for sure: the future of the NBA is sure to be exciting as teams continue to compete for championship titles! Aspiring players often search for basketball classes near me to improve their game.
NBA Champions List
So, what teams won the NBA championship titles over the past 75 years? Here is a list of all the NBA championship winners since 1949.
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Wins out of 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Denver Nuggets | Miami Heat | 4-1 |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | 4-2 |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-1 |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 4-3 |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-2 |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat | 4-1 |
| 2013 | Miami Heat | San Antonio Spurs | 4-3 |
| 2012 | Miami Heat | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4-1 |
| 2011 | Dallas Mavericks | Miami Heat | 4-2 |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4-3 |
| 2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | Orlando Magic | 4-1 |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 |
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 |
| 2006 | Miami Heat | Dallas Mavericks | 4-2 |
| 2005 | San Antonio Spurs | Detroit Pistons | 4-3 |
| 2004 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 |
| 2003 | San Antonio Spurs | New Jersey Nets | 4-2 |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Lakers | New Jersey Nets | 4-0 |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-1 |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | Indiana Pacers | 4-2 |
| 1999 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knicks | 4-1 |
| 1998 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz | 4-2 |
| 1997 | Chicago Bulls | Utah Jazz | 4-2 |
| 1996 | Chicago Bulls | Seattle Supersonics | 4-2 |
| 1995 | Houston Rockets | Orlando Magic | 4-0 |
| 1994 | Houston Rockets | New York Knicks | 4-3 |
| 1993 | Chicago Bulls | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 |
| 1992 | Chicago Bulls | Portland Trail Blazers | 4-2 |
| 1991 | Chicago Bulls | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1990 | Detroit Pistons | Portland Trail Blazers | 4-1 |
| 1989 | Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1988 | Los Angeles Lakers | Detroit Pistons | 4-3 |
| 1987 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4-2 |
| 1986 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 4-2 |
| 1985 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics | 4-2 |
| 1984 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 |
| 1981 | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 4-2 |
| 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 |
| 1979 | Seattle SuperSonics | Washington Bullets | 4-1 |
| 1978 | Washington Bullets | Seattle SuperSonics | 4-3 |
| 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 |
| 1976 | Boston Celtics | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 |
| 1975 | Golden State Warriors | Washington Bullets | 4-0 |
| 1974 | Boston Celtics | Milwaukee Bucks | 4-3 |
| 1973 | New York Knicks | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers | New York Knicks | 4-1 |
| 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | Baltimore Bullets | 4-0 |
| 1970 | New York Knicks | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1969 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1968 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 |
| 1967 | Philadelphia 76ers | San Francisco Warriors | 4-2 |
| 1966 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1965 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1964 | Boston Celtics | San Francisco Warriors | 4-1 |
| 1963 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-2 |
| 1962 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers | 4-3 |
| 1961 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4-1 |
| 1960 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4-3 |
| 1959 | Boston Celtics | Minneapolis Lakers | 4-0 |
| 1958 | St. Louis Hawks | Boston Celtics | 4-2 |
| 1957 | Boston Celtics | St. Louis Hawks | 4-3 |
| 1956 | Philadelphia Warriors | Fort Wayne Pistons | 4-1 |
| 1955 | Syracuse Nationals | Fort Wayne Pistons | 4-3 |
| 1954 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals | 4-3 |
| 1953 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knicks | 4-1 |
| 1952 | Minneapolis Lakers | New York Knicks | 4-3 |
| 1951 | Rochester Royals | New York Knicks | 4-3 |
| 1950 | Minneapolis Lakers | Syracuse Nationals | 4-2 |
| 1949 | Minneapolis Lakers | Washington Capitols | 4-2 |
It’s also interesting to compare these stats with the timeline of teams in the NBA, since not all teams from 1949 survived and new ones joined the league in various years. The NBA started with only 11 teams, some folded, others were added, and now there are 30 teams in the association, only 3 of which are from 1949 (The Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks, and the Philadelphia Warriors which are now known as the Golden State Warriors after relocation in 1962).
The Number 1 NBA Championship Team of All Time
Overall, when it comes to the greatest NBA championship team of all time, there are so many factors to consider.
In terms of pure number of championships won, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers come out on top with 17 wins each since 1949.
In terms of Finals MVP, the Chicago Bulls come out on top with Michael Jordan having won six Finals MVP awards in his career.
In fact, the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls are widely regarded as the greatest team in NBA history. Led by the iconic Michael Jordan and coached by the legendary Phil Jackson, this team showcased an unmatched level of skill, determination, and teamwork. With a regular-season record of 72 wins and only 10 losses, they set a new standard for excellence in the league. The Bulls' dominance continued into the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in six games to claim their fourth championship. They would go on to win again in ‘97 and ‘98. Their remarkable achievement inspires many, with enthusiasts seeking expert basketball coaching melbourne.
What sets this team apart is not just their record-breaking season, but also the way they played the game. Jordan's unparalleled scoring ability, combined with Scottie Pippen's defensive talent and Dennis Rodman's rebounding skills, created a formidable trio that was almost impossible to stop. The team's chemistry and unselfish play were evident in every game they played that season, making them a joy to watch for basketball fans around the world.
To top it all off, Michael Jordan was awarded his fourth NBA Finals MVP, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players of all time. His performance throughout the playoffs was nothing short of spectacular, averaging 27.3 points per game and delivering clutch performances when it mattered most.
Depending on how you want to rank teams, there is a little bit of wiggle room for opinions on who is number one. But no matter your favourite team or how you rank them, it’s exciting to reflect on the incredible NBA rosters in the past and speculate on the exciting championship seasons we’ll see in the future.
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