The best thing for any basketball team is to win a championship. Since the existence of this sport, there have been many amazing teams that dominated the game for a specific time. Every era has had that one dominant team that amazed everyone and never disappointed. In this article, we will tell you about some of the best NBA teams of all time who played in different eras. We will also take a look at the situations they faced and their achievements.
Chicago Bulls 1995–1996
The Chicago Bulls of the 1995–96 era dominated that season. This team was led by the legendary Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, and Scottie Pippen. When Jordan came out of retirement and was ousted by the Orlando Magic last season, the Bulls were more prompted as MJ continued his peak game by putting up MVP numbers, averaging 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Jordan’s performance made him an All-Star and MVP. On the other hand, Pippen also continued his amazing game and contributed 19.4 points, which earned him an All-Star team berth. Dennis was the rebound star for the team. Another player that contributed to making the Bulls dominant was Toni Kukoc; his average per game during the season was 13.1 points.
This team ruled the league and set a season record for most wins (72). Only one team was able to break their record, which was the Golden State Warriors of 2015–2016, who racked up 73 wins. One accomplishment that separates the ’95-96 Bulls from the ’15-16 Warriors is that they not only ruled the season but also won the trophy. In this era, the Bulls and MJ won their fourth championship. The team began the playoffs by beating the Miami Heat, and all games of this series were one-sided. The New York Knicks were also no match for them during the conference finals. The Chicago Bulls also defeated the Orlando Magic and avenged their elimination from the previous season. In the finals, they were full of enthusiasm and defeated the Seattle SuperSonics by totally dominating them in the first three games.
Golden State Warriors 2016-2017
Before 2016, the Warriors had a disappointing season, so they were eagerly waiting to reclaim their NBA title, and they were successful in doing so. After signing star player Kevin Durant, they definitely caused a bustle in the NBA world. The team already had stars like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, so now with Durant, they could score from anywhere. By looking at a team like that, anyone could say that they are going to dominate the season. As a result, the State Warriors turned out to be the most efficient team during that season, and at the end of the regular season, they became the top seed in the West Conference.
Throughout the season, the Warriors went forward with their precise and consistent sniping. The team continued its dominance in the playoffs and reached the finals. They met the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals. Their opponent gave them tough competition, but the Warriors eventually won the game, and Kevin Durant was named the MVP of the finals.
Chicago Bulls 1991-1992
The Chicago Bulls of this era had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, John Paxon, and Bill Cartwright. Looking for a second consecutive title, this Bulls team was hungry, and no other team approached 60 wins for the season. MJ led this team with an average of 30.1 points, his contribution to the team was the greatest, and he eventually was named the All-Star for that season. Along with Jordan, Pippen was also named an All-Star after contributing 21.0 points. On the other hand, Horace Grant was a key cog for the team, as he averaged 14.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
In the NBA finals, the Chicago Bulls faced the formidable Portland Trail Blazers, which featured Clyde Drexler, Kevin Duckworth, and Terry Porter. The match began with both teams trading victories over each other. With the series seemingly tied at 7 games, the Bulls eliminated the Blazers in game 6 and pulled off a 4-point victory (97-93). Finally, the Bulls lifted the NBA trophy for the second time in a row.
1986-1987 Los Angeles Lakers
This Lakers team is considered the best in the history of the league. It was coached by Pat Riley and led by Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It was a formidable team in its era, and they dominated the season, finishing first in the Western Conference. During this season, the team had seven players with double-digit averages. Magic Johnson was the player with the most assists and led the team to its goals. Their ability to run the fast break was unmatched, which earned them the label “Showtime”. In the playoffs, the Lakers first defeated the Denver Nuggets; after this, they faced the Golden State Warriors and won all of their games except the fourth. In the Western Conference finals, the Lakers faced the Seattle Sonics.
The Sonics couldn’t figure out a way to stop the Lakers and suffered their biggest loss in Game 4. The finals were a little tough for the Lakers as they faced the Boston Celtics, who were led by Larry Bird. However, they managed to keep pace with them, and the game ended 107-106 in Laker’s favor. Magic Johnson was the MVP of that NBA season and the finals, too.
Los Angeles Lakers 2000-2001
This Lakers team was coming off winning the previous season’s championship. The team was led by the terrific duo of Shaquille O’Neal and the young Kobe Bryant. They were unstoppable during the playoffs. Although the team was not the best in the Western Conference during that season, they still showed amazing dominance in the playoffs and went undefeated in the finals. During their playoff run, Shaq was the major scorer for the team, and Kobe was an effective partner with him. During the final against the Philadelphia 76ers, which was led by Allen Iverson, the Lakers suffered their first home defeat in the playoffs, losing 101-107 in overtime, but they made a sympathetic comeback and won their next four games, which eventually led the team to the NBA title.
