Top 5 NBA Teams of All-Time

Posted on by Jim Smarts

For the first time in the past decade, several new teams have the NBA championship, like the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors, and rightfully so. During the regular season, their level of play capped off into the playoffs that lead them to their first-ever NBA championship in franchise history. 

But those are not the teams we’ll be listing down today. The teams with the most number of championships and the level of success they’ve had since the franchise began are some of the parameters we will be basing this list on. You might see some familiar names and a new one.

Note: List is updated till NBA 2020

Boston Celtics:

Number 1 on our list is the Boston Celtics, with 17 championships to their name being the most in NBA history. Now the Lakers may have tied their record for most championships, but the Celtics still have the best finals record in NBA history with 17-4 in the finals.

The franchise has had several halls of Famer who have played and contributed so much more than rings. Some of those players of the franchise are Bill Russell and the squad. Russell won 11 championships with Celtictice out of his 13 year NBA Career. Then we had the ear of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish & Dave Cowens, that won a couple of championships in the ’80s. And then the trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce won their last NBA championship in 2008.

Celtics have always been at the top of their conference and currently have a young core of star-studded rookies in Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown and a veteran all-star in Kemba to bring the most out of their potential. Looks like the Celtics are locked in for the future.

Finals Played -21

Finals Record – 17-4

Championships won – 17

NBA Titles: 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008

Los Angeles Lakers:

It is pretty obvious that the Lakers would come second to the Boston Celtics. The Lakers have had one of the richest history and a more star-studded lineup of players over the time in history.  At first, it was Jerry West & wilt Chamberlain at the helm, then they had Magic Johnson and Kareem running the show, and then we had the Shaq and Kobe era in the early 2000s and then the two final Kobe & Gasol duo that has kept the Laker afloat almost all the time.

And currently, the helm is controlled by LeBron James and Anthony Davis that won the last NBA championship in 2020. The Lakers have been a top tier team for the most times since their existence and appear to remain so with ‘The King’ and ‘The Brow’ keeping the name ‘showtime’ Lakers afloat.

An attraction for celebrities and star players alike, players have always been attracted by the Hollywood touch and want to be a part of the Lakers franchise. 

Finals Appearance – 32

Finals Record – 17-15

Championships Won – 17

NBA Titles – 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020

Chicago Bulls

The team with the perfect 6-0 record, thanks to Michael and his antics, the Bulls were the first team to be recognised worldwide. The six championships the Bulls have to their name are divided into two three-peats over eight years. No other team has a perfect finals record other than the Bulls.

Some notable Bulls players are Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Artis Gilmore and a few recent players were Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose. Currently, the Bulls are led by Zach Lavine who was traded from Minnesota in exchange for Jimmy Butler. Though the Bulls haven’t had much success over the years, they still are one of the top 5 teams in NBA history. Though the recent addition of Nikola Vucevic may turn things around for the Bulls.

Finals Appearance – 6

Finals Record – 6-0

Championships Won – 6

Titles – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998

Golden State Warriors:

One of the more recent team to join the top 5 list are the Warriors. Led by the deadly duo of the splash brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors have recently won 3 championships in the last five years. 

The Warriors front office has done a great job of keeping the core of Curry, Thompson and Green together over the years and adding additional talent around them that compliments their game. 

Some notable players that played for the Warriors are Wilt Chamberlain, Mitch Richmond, Chris Mullin, Penny Hardaway and Stephen Curry. Wilt also scored his 100 point game while playing for the Warriors. Currently, the Warriors are in a tough spot with the departure of Kevin Durant and the injury to Klay Thompson and rookie centre James Wiseman.

Finals Appearance – 11

Finals Record – 6-5

Championships Won – 6

NBA Titles: 1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOPrEnjyBG8

San Antonio Spurs:

If you want to look at a consistency model, look at the San Antonio Spurs. Spurs have made the playoffs every year for the past 15 plus years, making the Spurs fan base accustomed to playoff fever.

The Spurs overall winning percentage and consistency over the years and the fact that they made the playoffs for 19 consecutive seasons, the longest playoff streak in the NBA earns the Spurs a spot in the list of the best teams in history. 

Spurs have had the longest-tenured coach in sports history in Gregg Popovich and Pop excels in pushing his players to their maximum potential. It is the same Popovich who dug deep and saw the talent Kawhi Leonard is today. Spurs have had the longest-tenured big three in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker as well.

Tim, the greatest power forward of all time, Manu a versatile two guard who brought the euro step to the NBA and Tony, the fastest point you could find in the league then were a nightmare to deal with. Some Spurs legends were David Robinson, Bruce Bowen, Sean Elliot and Avery Johnson to name a few.

Finals Appearance – 6

Finals Record – 5-1

Championships Won – 5

Titles – 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014