Throughout the NBA history, certain teams have stood above the rest, setting records, dominating opponents, and etching their names in basketball lore.
Whether it's their regular-season excellence, playoff dominance, or the sheer talent they boasted, these teams have left an undeniable mark on the game.
Here are the 10 best NBA teams of all time.
Top 10 NBA teams of all time
10. 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs' championship celebration
The Spurs' championship celebration
Credit USA Today – Scanpix
Known for their beautiful ball movement, this Spurs team avenged their 2013 Finals loss by dismantling the widely disliked Miami Heat in a five-game Finals series.
With Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and emerging star Kawhi Leonard, they showcased basketball at its finest.
They also dominated the regular season, finishing first in the Western Conference with a 62-20 record.
What made them truly special was their selfless, pass-heavy offense, which left defenses scrambling, a style that influenced future NBA teams like the Warriors.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
62-20 16-7 4-1 vs Heat
9. 2007-08 Boston Celtics
The Celtics' Big 3
The Celtics' Big 3
Credit AP – Scanpix
After acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to pair with Paul Pierce, the Celtics formed a defensive juggernaut.
This super-team won 66 games in the regular season and secured the franchise's first championship since 1986.
In a legendary series against the great Kobe Bryant, they defeated the Lakers in a hard-fought Finals, proving they belonged among the greatest NBA teams of all time.
Anchored by all-time defender Garnett and guided by defensive mastermind Tom Thibodeau, their defense was incredible, ranking first in defensive rating and shutting down elite scorers throughout the season.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
66-16 16-10 4-2 vs Lakers
8. 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers
Wilt Chamberlain with the 76ers
Wilt Chamberlain with the 76ers
Credit Zumapress – Scanpix
Led by Wilt Chamberlain, this 76ers team snapped the Boston Celtics' dominance in the NBA, finishing with a 68-13 record and dominating the playoffs.
They are considered one of the best pre-modern era teams and a truly historic NBA team.
Chamberlain was at his absolute peak, averaging 24.1 points, 24.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game while also improving his free-throw shooting, making him an even greater force in crucial moments.
The team also featured Hall of Famers Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham, making them a powerhouse on both ends of the floor.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
68-13 11-4 4-2 vs Warriors
7. 2012-13 Miami Heat
The iconic LeBron James and Dwayne Wade moment
The iconic LeBron James and Dwayne Wade moment
Credit AP - Scanpix
With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh at the helm, the Heat achieved 66 regular-season wins, including a historic 27-game winning streak.
They won back-to-back titles with an unforgettable seven-game Finals victory over the Spurs.
LeBron won his fourth MVP award, showcasing one of the most efficient and complete seasons in NBA history, while role players like Ray Allen and Shane Battier provided crucial shooting and defensive contributions that helped them survive intense playoff battles.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
66-16 16-7 4-3 vs Spurs
6. 1990-91 Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
Credit Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Michael Jordan, the basketball GOAT's, first championship team, signaled the start of the Bulls dynasty.
They achieved a 61-21 record and a playoff run that included sweeping the defending champion Pistons and defeating Magic Johnson's Lakers in the Finals.
This cemented their place in history as one of the best NBA championship teams of all time.
Scottie Pippen evolved into an elite two-way force, and Phil Jackson's triangle offense took full form, allowing Jordan to dominate while also elevating his teammates in a way that made them nearly unstoppable.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
61-21 15-2 4-1 vs Lakers
5. 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers
Magic Johnson with the Lakers
Magic Johnson with the Lakers
Credit AP-Scanpix
Led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Showtime Lakers team dominated the league with a 65-17 record and a high-powered offense.
They defeated their bitter rivals, the Boston Celtics, in a highly anticipated Finals matchup.
Magic had one of his best individual seasons, winning MVP and averaging 23.9 points, 12.2 assists, and 6.3 rebounds, while James Worthy's explosive scoring made them even more difficult to contain in transition.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
65-17 15-3 4-2 vs Celtics
4. 1985-86 Boston Celtics
Robert Parish, Larry Bird, and Kevin McHale
Robert Parish, Larry Bird, and Kevin McHale
Credit AP – Scanpix
Larry Bird's Celtics were an all-time force, finishing the regular season 67-15 and going 50-1 at home.
With a stacked roster featuring Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson, they defeated the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals and remain one of the most well-rounded historic NBA teams of all time.
Bird won his third straight MVP, showcasing his all-around brilliance, and Bill Walton provided a massive boost off the bench, adding depth that made this team nearly unbeatable.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
67-15 15-3 4-2 vs Rockets
3. 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
Credit Imago Sport - Scanpix
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant led this Lakers squad to a dominant postseason run, going 15-1 in the playoffs, the best mark until 2017.
Despite a relatively modest 56-26 regular-season record, their playoff dominance – including sweeping the Spurs and Blazers placed them in this list.
Shaq was an unstoppable force in the Finals, averaging 33.0 points and 15.8 rebounds per game, while Kobe had fully blossomed into a superstar, taking over multiple clutch moments throughout the playoffs.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
56-26 15-4 4-1 vs 76ers
2. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan hugging Scottie Pippen
Michael Jordan hugging Scottie Pippen
Credit AP - Scanpix
The gold standard of NBA greatness, the 1995-96 Bulls finished with a then-record 72-10 regular-season mark and stormed through the playoffs, going 15-3 on their way to an NBA title.
Starring Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, this team combined elite defense with offensive firepower under Phil Jackson's triangle offense, which made them the best Bulls team ever assembled.
Jordan reclaimed his dominance after returning from retirement, winning MVP and leading the league in scoring, while Rodman's relentless rebounding and defensive effort made them almost impossible to beat.
Their Finals victory over the Seattle SuperSonics capped off a truly legendary season; however, their perceived lack of elite competition in the playoffs is why they sit at No. 2.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
72-10 15-3 4-2 vs Sonics
1. 2016-17 Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry and Kevin Durant
Steph Curry and Kevin Durant
Credit USA Today Sports – Scanpix
After a shocking Finals loss in 2016 after winning 73 games in the regular season, the Warriors added Kevin Durant, forming one of the most unstoppable teams in NBA history.
With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, they went 67-15 and dominated the playoffs with a 16-1 record, the best postseason run so far.
Despite all the hate, Durant was almost unguardable, winning Finals MVP with an average of 35.2 points per game, while Curry and Thompson's shooting stretched defenses to their breaking point.
Unlike the Bulls, they had to face an elite Cleveland Cavaliers team led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, yet they still dominated.
Their combination of elite three-point shooting, defensive versatility, and star power makes them arguably the best NBA team of all time.
Regular season record Playoff record NBA Finals result
67-15 16-1 4-1 vs Cavaliers
Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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