The NBA has seen some memorable dynasties throughout its history. From the 1950s through to the present, a number of great teams have emerged and dominated the league for several years while winning multiple championships along the way. But which one was the best?
It wasn’t easy, but SBOBET has narrowed the list down to just a handful of dynasties which have gone down in history as the greatest the league has ever seen.
5. 1980-88 Celtics/1980-91 Lakers
The entire 1980s belonged to just two teams: the Celtic and the Lakers. After meeting several times in the Finals in the ’60s, the most storied rivals in the sport contested the title three more times in the ’80s and helped make the league what it is today.
The two teams combined for 13 NBA Finals appearances during the decade and won eight of the 10 NBA championships (five to the Lakers, three to the Celtics). The “Showtime” Lakers came out on top twice in their three Finals matchups.
While the Celtics’ Larry Bird and the Lakers’ Magic Johnson were by far the biggest stars and all-time legends, both were surrounding by amazing supporting casts filled with Hall of Fame players which allowed the two franchises to simply dominate the league for the entire decade.
4. 2000-2004 Lakers
The Lakers were the undisputed top team in the NBA at the start of the 21st century. With the dynamic duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant leading the way, the Lakers rolled to three consecutive championships, becoming just the fourth team to achieve the feat in NBA history.
The Lakers lost just one game during the first of those three title-winning seasons in 2000-01, which came against the Philadelphia 76ers and unlikely league MVP Allen Iverson.
Shaq and Kobe were so dominant that if they were still around today, the NBA 2020 betting odds would certainly have them as one of the top title favourites.
But due to the clash in Shaq and Kobe’s personalities, the Lakers dynasty came to an untimely end in 2004. In those three years, though, they were simply an unstoppable force and deserve their place among the NBA’s great dynasties.
3. 2014-19 Warriors
The mid-to-late 2010s Warriors were one of the most remarkable teams in NBA history. After taking the league by storm in 2014-15 and winning and improbably winning the NBA title, the Warriors — led by the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — set a new NBA record by winning 73 regular-season games the following season.
Unfortunately, they fell short of winning back-to-back titles. However, that loss did play a part in them acquiring former league MVP Kevin Durant to form arguably the most talented team in NBA history.
Durant helped the team win two more titles in the next two years. They went a remarkable 16-1 in the 2017 postseason, breaking the Lakers’ record for the best playoff record in history.
If not for catastrophic injuries to both Durant and Thompson during the 2019 Finals, they might have clinched a three-peat and made an even stronger case to be the greatest dynasty in NBA history.
With Durant gone and both Curry and Thompson injured, the Warriors’ NBA 2020 results took a major nosedive. But when the Splash Brothers return, they will be out to prove that the Warriors’ dynasty is not dead yet.
2. 1991-98 Bulls
The Bulls were the undisputed team of the ’90s. Led by the legendary the Bulls went to six NBA Finals in eight years — Jordan missed two seasons due to retirement — and won six NBA titles as they completed not one, but two three-peats.
Prior to the Warriors, the Bulls held the NBA record for most regular-season wins by going 72-10 upon Jordan’s return to the league in the 1995-96 season. And unlike the Warriors, they went on to win the NBA title that year as well.
Jordan simply refused to lose. He came up with several memorable performances during those two three-peat runs, including the famous “Flu Game” in the 1997 Finals.
Jordan’s uncanny ability to consistently will himself and his team to victory is why he is considered the greatest player of all-time, and why his Bulls are the second greatest dynasty of all-time.
1. 1957-69 Celtics
It’s safe to say that the achievements of the 1960s Celtics will never be repeated again. The NBA was a completely different league back in those days, with much fewer teams to contend with.
Nevertheless, Boston still had to overcome some major challenges like the legendary Wilt Chamberlain as well as the Lakers, and they came out on top almost every time.
For Bill Russell and his Celtics to win 11 championships over the span of 13 years is simply unbelievable and a testament to their sheer brilliance.
Not only are the ‘60s Celtics the greatest dynasty in NBA history, but they are right up there among the best in all of sports.
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