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The 15 Greatest NBA Finals Teams of All Time

By YPB Team

Dynasty squads and underdog champions, record-setting regular seasons and clutch playoff runs — the greatest NBA Finals teams ever assembled. Where do you stand?

  1. 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs — ranked #11
    2013-14 San Antonio Spurs
    Gregg Popovich's Spurs dismantled the Heat with beautiful unselfish basketball, averaging over 28 assists per game in one of the most aesthetically pleasing Finals runs.
    1000pts
  2. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls — ranked #22
    1995-96 Chicago Bulls
    Michael Jordan's return season produced an NBA-record 72-win regular season before the Bulls steamrolled through the playoffs to win the championship.
    943pts
  3. 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks — ranked #33
    2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks
    Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a performance for the ages in the Finals with 50 points in the decisive Game 6, delivering Milwaukee its first title in 50 years.
    877pts
  4. 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers — ranked #44
    2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers
    LeBron James led the Cavaliers from 3-1 down to beat the 73-win Warriors, delivering Cleveland's first major sports championship in 52 years.
    771pts
  5. 2025-26 New York Knicks — ranked #55
    2025-26 New York Knicks
    The Knicks' 2026 NBA championship capped the most watched NBA Finals since 1998, ending New York's 56-year title drought with an emotional run.
    692pts
  6. 2012-13 Miami Heat — ranked #66
    2012-13 Miami Heat
    LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh's Heat repeated as champions after Ray Allen's iconic corner three in Game 6 forced overtime against the Spurs.
    600pts
  7. 2016-17 Golden State Warriors — ranked #77
    2016-17 Golden State Warriors
    Kevin Durant joined Stephen Curry on a team that went 73-9 the previous season; the Warriors dominated the Finals with historic offensive basketball.
    600pts
  8. 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers — ranked #88
    2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers
    Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's Lakers went 15-1 in the playoffs, the greatest postseason record in NBA history at the time.
    600pts
  9. 1987 Los Angeles Lakers — ranked #99
    1987 Los Angeles Lakers
    Magic Johnson's Showtime Lakers defeated the Celtics in the Finals, capping a run of five championships in nine years with dazzling fast-break basketball.
    491pts
  10. 1969-70 New York Knicks — ranked #1010
    1969-70 New York Knicks
    Willis Reed limping onto the court inspired the Knicks to their first championship in franchise history, one of the most iconic moments in NBA Finals lore.
    491pts
  11. 2022-23 Denver Nuggets — ranked #1111
    2022-23 Denver Nuggets
    Nikola Jokic led Denver to its first-ever NBA championship with an MVP performance, ushering in a new era of big-man basketball dominance.
    360pts
  12. 1988-89 Detroit Pistons — ranked #1212
    1988-89 Detroit Pistons
    The Bad Boys Pistons won back-to-back titles with a physical defensive style under Chuck Daly, led by Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman.
    360pts
  13. 1986 Boston Celtics — ranked #1313
    1986 Boston Celtics
    Larry Bird's dominant team went 67-15 and swept through the playoffs, widely regarded as one of the greatest collections of basketball talent ever assembled.
    0pts
  14. 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers — ranked #1414
    1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers
    Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor's Lakers won an NBA-record 33 consecutive games en route to the franchise's first title in LA.
    0pts
  15. 2007-08 Boston Celtics — ranked #1515
    2007-08 Boston Celtics
    The Big Three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett came together for an emotionally charged championship run that ended the Lakers' dynasty hopes.
    0pts

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Comments

Sixty-seven wins and one home defeat all season for the 1986 Celtics, and the 1996 Bulls turn up at 72-10: https://youpick.best/articles/magic-johnson-vs-larry-bird-ranked https://youpick.best/articles/chicago-ranked-many-ways

YP
ypb-team·Aug 21·
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