Top 15 Best NBA Teams of All Time

UPDATE: This article was updated on August 15th, 2022

Who are the 15 best NBA teams of all time? If you are a fan of basketball, you would know that every ten years, a truly unstoppable team comes out of nowhere and dominates the league. However, who was the best basketball team to rule the court? We here at Bet Station love answering questions like these, as it gives us the opportunity to dive back through the ages and compare NBA legends.

No matter when you grew up, there would have been an abundance of talent on the court, changing what many believe to be possible. Players like Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan have all left their mark on basketball, elevating the NBA to a global level. But of course, we are not looking for the greatest basketball players of all time. Instead, we only want to highlight the best NBA teams.

Picking the best teams from any sport is a lot of fun, but there was something more enjoyable about selecting the best NBA teams of all time. We asked our team if you could select any team in basketball history to play in a massive tournament, who would you pick? There are many teams that deserve recognition for their achievements. Some won it all multiple times. Others dominated the regular season, only to lose out on the trophy at the end. Below is our list of the greatest NBA teams ever, with some honorable mentions included at the bottom.

15. Cleveland Cavaliers 2008-09

The 2008-09 Cleveland Cavaliers team was arguably the strongest Cavs team ever. They set the franchise regular season record with 16 wins and only 16 losses, the best win-to-lose ratio in the Cavaliers’ history. They finished the season with a win percentage of .805, which is the joint seventh best percentage in NBA history. The team finished one win away from legendary teams, such as the 1985-86 Boston Celtics or the 1991-92 Chicago Bulls.

The team was deadly, thanks to small forward LeBron James. James finished the season with 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. He was the top scorer for his team but narrowly missed out on the NBA Scoring Champion title. The Cavaliers had several excellent forwards who also pitched in with the scoring. Mo Williams averaged 17.8 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskas contributed 12.9 points, and Delonte West managed 11.7 points per game. It may not be as fearsome a lineup as other teams mentioned on our list, but they certainly set the league alight.

When looking for the best NBA teams of all time, it’s hard to choose which teams go where. Some had phenomenal regular seasons but fell short in the playoffs. Unfortunately, that is the case for the Cavs. They swept the Pistons and the Hawks before losing to Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals. That meant they did not get the chance to go for the NBA Final. The team managed an impressive 13-game winning streak and the joint second most home wins in NBA history.

14. Dallas Mavericks 2006-07

Another team that dominated the court during the regular season was the Dallas Mavericks in 2006-07. Coming off the back of a strong season, the Mavericks improved their record from 60-22 to 67 wins and 15 losses. They finished the season with a win percentage of .817, up there with some of the best teams to play the game.

So, if everything is so rosy, why are the Mavericks down in 14th place? Well, once again, the team struggled in the playoffs. They went into the record books for being the third team as the number one seed to lose to the eighth-seeded team. Given the shocking defeat in the playoffs to the Golden State Warriors, the Mavericks would need something special to be on a list with the best NBA teams ever. Well, they are the only team in NBA history to manage three winning streaks of at least 12 games. Especially impressive given they lost the first four games of the season.

The Mavericks went undefeated in February and enjoyed a winning streak of 17, 13, and 12 across the season. The team had five players with point scoring averages above ten, including Dirk Nowitzki, who got 24.6 points per game that season. What holds this team back when talking about the best has to be the manner in which they failed to win the NBA Finals. They are the only team with a win percentage over .8 to be knocked out in the first round. They were the first team ranked number one to lose to the eighth seed in the new seven-game playoff format.

13. San Antonio Spurs 2015-16

Yet another team that set franchise records was the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs. They won 67 games and only lost 15, the best Spurs season ever. Besides setting the franchise record for most home wins in a season, they are the joint record holder for most home wins in a single NBA season. They managed 40 wins and one loss, the same as the 1985-86 Boston Celtics team.

The Spurs’ home defeat came at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. For those of you who don’t know, the Warriors set the best regular season record in NBA history that year, winning 73 games and losing nine. That is probably what makes the achievement of this team even more impressive. They set the record for the best NBA home start to a season by going 39-0. If you include the end of the season before, the Spurs team went 48 games without suffering a single defeat at home.

However, after the team’s dominant performances in the regular season, they ran out of steam for the playoffs. They lost to Oklahoma City Thunder in the Conference Semifinals. Meaning they join the 2007 Mavericks as a team with 67 wins without reaching the Conference Finals. With so many resounding positives of the San Antonio Spurs’ season, it dampened things significantly missing out on the title. It only got worse when one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Tim Duncan retired. While the team missed out on the most important accolades, they still ended up with a record better than previous title-winning campaigns. Especially impressive when given the competition in the league.

12. Milwaukee Bucks 1970-71

The 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks team was the third season in the franchise’s existence. It proved to be one of the most successful, thanks to its incredible team of point scorers. It was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s second season with the team, and he was alongside other excellent players, like Oscar Robertson, Bob Dandridge, and Jon McGlocklin.

The Bucks won 66 games that season, only losing 16; impressive given they founded the franchise in 1968. The team would make history for several reasons, most notably for a 20-game winning streak. That was the best streak in the NBA and it still ranks joint fifth with the Washington Capitols. The Bucks were the first team from the Midwest Division to win the biggest prize in basketball, the NBA Final. They won it all thanks to incredible teamwork and the prowess of one player.

Abdul-Jabbar won the league MVP and NBA Final MVP award. He was the league’s top point scorer and had the most points per game for the season, with 31.7. His teammates were also in on the act, with four other players securing 11 or more points per game. Robertson managed 19.4 points and 8.2 assists per game, and Dandridge had 18.4 points and 8 rebounds per game. The 7ft2 Abdul-Jabbar had an incredible 16 rebounds per game on average across the season, securing the team’s place in NBA history as one of the best.

11. Golden State Warriors 2016-17

If you were watching basketball in the mid-2010s, the Golden State Warriors were certainly up there with the best. If you look at the teams with the highest NBA single-season win percentages, the Warriors have three teams with win percentages higher than .8. Between 2014 and 2017, the Warriors went on incredible winning streaks and set some records that we may never see beaten.

But anyway, this entry is just for the 16-17 team who not only demolished the regular season but the playoffs as well. The season ended with 67 wins and 15 losses. They then achieved the best playoff record in NBA history winning 16 games and only losing one, which includes a 15-game playoff win streak, another record. They had two notable win streaks of 14 and 12 games, which contributed to the NBA record of 146 regular season games without consecutive losses. The Warriors beat the Chicago Bulls record for the most wins over three seasons, trumping the incredible Bulls teams from 1995 to 98.

The Warriors had three almost unstoppable forwards, Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Each player finished the season with a point per game average of 22 or more. Curry had 25.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 8.5 field goals per game. Thompson had 22.5 points, 2.1 assists, and 8.3 field goals a game. Plus, Durant managed 25.1 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.9 field goals. You will struggle to find a team with a more balanced and deadly front three than the Warriors.

10. Miami Heat 2012-13

The 2013-13 season for Miami Heat was arguably their best NBA season ever. It was the third season playing with the “Big Three”, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. These three players helped the Heat become Conference and Division Champions back in 2011, and then two-time Eastern Conference winners and NBA champions in 2012.

Miami Heat would set multiple NBA records this season, earning the reputation as one of the best NBA teams in basketball history. They significantly improved the team’s winning record compared to last season. The Heat lost 20 games the season before, finishing with a win percentage of .697. The 12-13 season would see the Heat lose only 16 times, winning 66 and finishing with a win percentage of .805.

The season was full of NBA records, with LeBron James becoming the youngest player to score 20,000 points. On February 12, he would also become the only player to shoot over 60% and post 30+ points in six consecutive games. The Heat beat the Toronto Raptors on February 3rd, 2013. It wasn’t until March 27, 2013, that they lost an NBA game. This totaled a 27-game winning streak, the third-longest in NBA history. The heat also won games the hard way, overturning double-digit deficits in four consecutive games to keep the streak going.

The Heat would end the season as NBA, Conference, and Division champions again. This time, they made history with the most wins in a calendar month, and a winning record up there with some of the best NBA teams of all time.

9. Boston Celtics 1972-73

The Boston Celtics were one of the original founding teams back in 1946. The Celtics are also one of the most successful teams in NBA history, tying with the LA Lakers for most NBA Championships at 17. However, the 1972-73 season for the Celtics proved to be their best performing season ever, only losing 14 games. They won 68 games throughout the season, finishing with a winning record of .829, one more win than the legendary 85-86 season.

Even though the Boston Celtics had technically their best performing season ever, it will go down in history as a near-miss. The Celtics became Division champions in 73 but lost the East Conference Finals to the New York Knicks, NBA champions that year. They made NBA history by becoming the team with the highest win percentage not to reach the NBA Finals.

Even though the Celtics fell short of claiming the bragging rights that year, it is not all doom and gloom. Basketball Hall of Famer Dave Cowens had this to say when speaking to the Boston Herald:

“1973 was the epitome of my whole career, even more so than winning a championship. That was the greatest time I ever had, playing basketball that year. It was a great team. We got along and we kicked a lot of ass.”

Dave Cowens

Although the Celtics did not win big this year, they were still an incredible team that would be tough to beat. Winning 26 of their first 29 games, and only lost one of their last 17. Even without the grand prize, this Celtics team was one of the best NBA teams of all time.

8. Philadelphia 76ers 1966-67

The Philadelphia 76ers had a monster of a season back in 1966. In the off-season, the 76ers sacked head coach Dolph Schayes and appointed Alex Hannum. Hannum somehow got even more out of legendary basketball player Wilt Chamberlain. His eight assists per game was a record for centers and he led the NBA in rebounds and blocked shots. The new coach also encouraged Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Billy Cunningham to score more points, all averaging around the 20-point-per-game mark.

Now that the new coach reinvigorated the 76ers as a lean, mean, scoring machine, they dominated the league. The team averaged 125 points per game, leading the league in shot accuracy. From the first 50 games, the 76ers lost four, which remains the joint-best start to an NBA season. Their win ratio after 50 games was .902 and finished at .840. The season ended with 68 wins and 13 losses, the former best league record in NBA history.

The 76ers won the NBA championship and finished the year as Division champions. The only small blot on an otherwise incredible season was the missing of the Conference championship. However, this does not detract from the incredible success the 76ers achieved. On the league leaderboards, the 76ers had multiple players for almost every category, including points, points per game, games, minutes, and many, many more. They may have missed out on a trophy, but they are certainly one of the best NBA teams ever.

7. Chicago Bulls 1991-92

The Chicago Bulls began the 1991 season as defending champions, having won the NBA, Conference, and Division Championships. The Bulls got their title defense season off to a rocky start, losing two of the first three games. However, they quickly turned this around, winning 14 games in a row. Later on, in the season, they would go on a similar run in January, winning 13 consecutive games.

The Bulls were a powerful team to face, with Michael Jordan leading the way. This season, he won a second MVP award by averaging 30.1 points, 6.1 assists, and 6.4 rebounds a game. Scottie Pippen provided just as impressive numbers, 21 points, 7 assists, and 7.7 rebounds a game. Teammates Horace Grant and B.J Armstrong were also vital players in the Bulls’ title-winning season.

The Bulls had several iconic moments this season, including one provided by Jordan in the Eastern Conference playoffs. In the first round against Miami Heat, the Bulls won three straight games. In Game three, Jordan scored 56 points to secure a 119-114 win. The Bulls would win the 1992 NBA Finals, beating the Portland Trail Blazers.

In the 1992-93 season, Jordan’s Bulls would win the NBA, Conference, and Division titles again, but with a worse team record. In 1991-92, they won 67 games, lost 15, and finished the season with a win percentage of .817. Next season the Bulls only won 57 games, losing 25, and finishing with a .695 win percentage.

6. Los Angeles Lakers 1999-00

The 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers season was the first spent at their new stadium, the Staples Center. More notably, it was the first season Phil Jackson was head coach at the Lakers, having won it all with the Bulls. The Lakers also re-signed A. C. Green, who won two championships with the Lakers in the 80s. Plus, they signed John Salley, who won three championships with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls.

The new recruits might have been a show of intent, but the start of the season did not go off with a bang. Instead, the Lakers won 15 of their first 20 games before the new team sparked into life. This season proved to be one of the incredible winning streaks, including a 16-game streak from December 11 to January 12. They then embarked on a 19-game winning streak between February and March. Before they went on an 11-game streak, the game after the streak of 19 ended.

This Lakers team from 1999 is one of the best NBA teams ever. The two most instrumental Lakers players were shooting guard Kobe Bryant, and center, Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal averaged 29.7 points, 3 blocks, and 13.6 rebounds a game. Bryant, who was only 21 averaged 22.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game. The two basketball legends would later fall out after a lengthy feud, with O’Neal ending up at Miami Heat.

5. Boston Celtics 1985-86

One of the best NBA teams of all time is the Boston Celtics from 1985. The Celtics finished the season with an incredible record, winning 67 games and only losing 15. This included a home record of 40 wins and one defeat across the entire season, a joint NBA record. The Celtics finished the season one less than the 1972-73 record-setting season mentioned above.

The success of the Celtics was down to head coach K. C. Jones and his use of the Big Three. Their frontcourt included NBA legend Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. At the beginning of the season, the team took a gamble trading Cedric Maxwell for the injury-prone Bill Walton. The Celtics took Walton’s word for his fitness, signing him before the doctors could give him the all-clear. The gamble worked, with Walton winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.

The Big Three from the Celtics this season ended up in the Hall of Fame. Bird averaged 25.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 9.8 rebounds a game, plus a free throw percentage of .896 for the season. McHale also had a productive season, scoring 21.3 points, 2 blocks, and 8.1 rebounds per game. Parish had 16.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 11.9 field goal attempts per game. Most teams in this list have a big three to be proud of, but few compare to the Boston Celtics 85/86 team.

4. Chicago Bulls 1996-97

The 1996-97 Chicago Bulls team was one of the best NBA teams in basketball history. They entered the season as defending NBA champions and they kept the same players that helped facilitate their success earlier in the decade. They have the same head coach, Michael Jordan is still the main man, and there are outstanding players around him. Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and they even added 43-year-old free agent Robert Parish to the roster.

Everything on paper for the Bulls spelled success, and that is exactly what followed. The team started the title defense season strong, winning 12 games in a row before their first defeat. That was the longest winning streak they went on all season, but that did not stop records from being set in other ways. They finished the season with the second-most home victories in NBA history. The Bulls went on five streaks where they won eight games, and they were the first NBA team to win 30 road games in consecutive seasons. They finished the season with 69 wins, 13 losses, and a huge win percentage of .841.

The Bulls were at full swing this season, now that Jordan had long given up on his Minor League Baseball career. He averaged 29.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Pippen was also bringing the heat, averaging 20.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. But they were both helped by the king of rebounds himself, Dennis Rodman, who averaged 16.1 rebounds a game. The fact that Jordan could come out of retirement and still be the best player in the league should be all the evidence you need that this Bulls team was special.

3. Los Angeles Lakers 1971-72

The 1971-72 season for the Los Angeles Lakers was probably the best in the franchise’s history. It was certainly one of the best team performances in NBA history, registering a win percentage of .841. The Lakers would win 69 games this season, only losing 13. It was a 24-year wait before the Bulls beat this win-to-loss record in 1996.

The Lakers, coached by NBA legend Bill Sharman, made history that year. They set multiple NBA records, most of which still stand to this day. The season started on the front foot, with a four-game winning streak. However, with three losses inside the first nine games, expectations around the Lakers diminished. They won the next game against the Baltimore Bullets on November 5th and they didn’t lose a game until January 9th. This 33-game winning streak included a 16-game winning streak on the road; both of which are the longest streaks in NBA history.

The Lakers finished the season with the highest point differential in NBA history, +12.3. Incredible point scorers, Gal Goodrich, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Happy Hairston helped achieve this. All these players finished the season with a point per game average of ten or more. Nothing terrifies a team more than multiple high-scoring players. Add that to the incredible rebounds Chamberlain achieved throughout his career, and you have one of the best NBA teams of all time.

2. Golden State Warriors 2015-16

The Golden State Warriors team of 2015-16 was the second-best NBA team of all time. They set a record for the best regular season stats, winning 73 games and only losing nine. The Warriors also hold the record for most regular and postseason wins combined, with 88. They broke over 25 records in this season, taking many records off the iconic 1995 Chicago Bulls team.

The Warriors began the season as NBA champions, finishing the season strong with four consecutive wins. They carried this over into 2015-16 by winning their first 24 games. This streak broke the record set in 1884 when the St Louis Maroons went 20-0 in baseball. The Golden State Warriors now hold the best start to a season of any major professional sports team in American history. The 28 games they won across two NBA seasons place them second in the all-time list of NBA winning streaks. They also claimed the record for most road wins in a season, 14. Plus, the best road start to a season, winning 14 games in a row without losing.

There were several integral players to the Warriors’ success, but none more so than Stephen Curry. Curry averaged 30.1 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals a game. Klay Thompson averaged 22.1 points and Harrison Barnes contributed 11.7 points per game. Draymond Green was a driving force in the team, starting 81 games, averaging 34.7 minutes, 14.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. 

Why Not the Best NBA Team of all Time?

Everything about the Golden State Warriors screams the best. The number of records they broke, the manner in which they smashed some records, it was truly a team to fear on the court. However, the Warriors entered the season as NBA champions but failed to defend their title. In the NBA Finals in 2016, the Warriors faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game series. The Warriors won the first two games of the series and swiftly took a 3-1 lead. They then lost the next two games by a significant margin, and the last game of the series at home, 93-89.

The team was sensational. They are the only team in NBA history to not lose consecutive games, not lose to the same opponent twice, and the first to make over 1000 three-pointers in one season. When you look at what this team achieved, there are hardly any negative things you can say about their entire season.

While nobody can take away the records and various achievements the Warriors managed in this incredible season; it fizzled out at the end. We here at Bet station believe the best NBA team of all time is one that was tough to beat in both regular and postseason. The Golden State Warriors may have the best regular season record of all time, but failing to win the NBA dampens their unbelievable achievements. After all, imagine the odds if you bet on the underdog in that final. Even the very best betting sites would have paid out handsomely at this upset.

1. Chicago Bulls 1995-96

The best NBA team of all time is the Chicago Bulls team of the 1995-96 season. We have spoken about two other Bulls teams so far, but this year they were by far the most dominant in the league. In the off-season, the Bulls recruited wisely by bringing in rebound expert Dennis Rodman and signing free agents Randy Brown and James Edwards. The Bulls signed John Salley mid-season, reforming a partnership with former Detroit Pistons teammates Rodman and Edwards.

The result was an incredible offense led by Michael Jordan backed up by Scottie Pippen. But also, an outstanding backline who played together at the Pistons during the “Bad Boy” era. The team set the record for most wins in an NBA season, 73, which was beaten by the Warriors in 2016. The Bulls had a sensational home record, starting the season 37-0 at home. By the time the team lost its fourth game of the season, they had won 41. This included an 18-game win streak, plus remaining undefeated all of January. The Bulls are the only team in NBA history to win 70 or more games and the NBA title.

This Bulls team was not only deadly but had a reputation for its dogged defending. It is one of five teams in NBA history to have three players called up to the Defensive First Team. The frontline, led by the best NBA player of all time, Michael Jordan, had some sensational stats. He averaged 30.4 points, 2.2 steals, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Pippen averaged 19.4 points, 5.9 assists, and 6.9 rebounds. Rodman did what he does best, 15.6 rebounds a game, more than double anyone else on the team.

Were the Bulls the Best NBA Team?

Yes. The Golden State Warriors were a force to be reckoned with. However, finishing the season without the NBA title is a hard pill to swallow. This puts their incredible season up for debate, which it surely would have avoided had everything gone their way. One question we need to know is; if the 1995 Bulls met the 2015 Warriors in the NBA Finals, who would win?

One aspect that will always keep the Chicago Bulls at the top is Michael Jordan. Given the fact he retired from the NBA in 1993 to pursue Minor League Baseball, should have meant his impact on a basketball court was limited. However, his return in 1995 was with such a vengeance that he claimed 96.5 percent of the MVP award. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Jordan explained how this MVP award was the best in his career. He said:

“I think this is more meaningful, because I was away from the game for a couple of years, came back, and learned a lesson that no matter how long you’re away from the game or how great you were before you left the game, you can’t just come back and think you can turn it right back on and take up where you left off. From an individual standpoint, this caps it off.”

Michael Jordan

This list is here to discuss the best NBA teams, and any team with Michael Jordan in it has a particular fear factor above all others. The fact that Jordan had it all, retired, came back, and still won the NBA Finals, tells us everything we need to know. You would have an easier time playing any other team on our list than the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

Honorable Mentions

While we would love to celebrate every single NBA team, there is just not enough time in the day. Instead, we have included a small list of teams that deserve recognition but narrowly missed out on our list of the best NBA teams of all time. Keep an eye out as we may well update or expand this list in the future!

• 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers (65-17) .793
• 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers (65-17) .793
• 1988-89 Detroit Pistons (63-19) .768
• 1969-70 New York Knicks (60-22) .732
• 1964-65 Boston Celtics (62-18) .755
• 2007-08 Boston Celtics (66-16) .805
• 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks (66-15) .805
• 2014-15 Golden State Warriors (67-15) .817