You know what happens every time hoops fans get together? Somebody always brings up that impossible debate: which squad truly deserves the title of all time greatest NBA teams. It's like trying to compare your grandma's apple pie to that fancy dessert at a Michelin restaurant – totally different eras, totally different rules. But we're diving in anyway because, let's be real, it's too fun not to.
I remember arguing this at a bar last year while watching the Warriors. My buddy Mike swore the '17 Dubs could crush MJ's Bulls. Almost spilled my beer laughing. But it got me thinking – how do you actually compare teams across generations? You can't just look at win totals. The game evolves faster than TikTok trends.
How We Judge Basketball Greatness
Picking the all time greatest NBA teams isn't like math. There's no perfect formula. If you base it purely on championships, Bill Russell's Celtics steamroll everyone with 11 titles. But watch those old grainy films – the competition wasn't exactly stacked league-wide back then.
How much did they outclass opponents? Think about those '96 Bulls winning 72 games and losing just twice at home. Ridiculous.
The '80s Lakers battled Bird's Celtics and Dr. J's Sixers – murderers' row every postseason.
The '17 Warriors had a +12 point differential. That's video game stuff.
Showtime changed how basketball was played. The '99 Spurs made defense boringly effective.
See what I mean? It's messy. But we can still find patterns when hunting for the all time greatest NBA teams.
The Mount Rushmore Contenders
These squads always elbow their way into the conversation. Forget ranking them 1-10 – that's pointless. Instead, here's how they stack up in key areas:
Regular Season Titans
| Team | Record | Point Differential | Notable Streak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls (1995-96) | 72-10 | +12.3 | 41-3 home record |
| Golden State Warriors (2015-16) | 73-9 | +10.8 | 24-0 season start |
| Los Angeles Lakers (1971-72) | 69-13 | +12.3 | 33-game win streak |
| Philadelphia 76ers (1966-67) | 68-13 | +9.4 | 46-4 start |
Okay truth bomb: that 73-win Warriors team? Amazing achievement, but losing the Finals stings. Can they really be considered among the all time greatest NBA teams without closing the deal? Feels incomplete to me.
Playoff Assassins
| Team | Playoff Record | Margin of Victory | Notable Conquests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls (1990-91) | 15-2 | +11.3 | Swept Pistons, beat Showtime Lakers in Finals |
| Golden State Warriors (2016-17) | 16-1 | +13.5 | Avenged 2016 loss with Durant addition |
| San Antonio Spurs (1998-99) | 15-2 | +10.1 | Lockdown defense (84.8 ppg allowed) |
| Boston Celtics (1985-86) | 15-3 | +10.2 | 40-1 home record including playoffs |
That '17 Warriors run was scary efficient. Only loss was when LeBron and Kyrie combined for 77 points in Game 4. Still gives me chills. But here's what people forget about the '91 Bulls: they beat three 50-win teams before dismantling the Lakers. That's tougher than the Warriors' path in '17.
Why Era Comparisons Are Messy
Let's address the elephant in the room: rule changes. Today's offenses feast on spacing and no hand-checking. In the '80s? You'd get clobbered driving the lane. Makes comparing stats across generations tricky.
Watch tape of the '89 Pistons defending. They'd foul you on every play if refs called it by today's standards. Meanwhile, the '17 Warriors exploited rule changes better than anyone. Different games, really.
- 1980s Physicality: Bad Boy Pistons would've had half their roster ejected today
- 1990s Isolation: Illegal defense rules forced 1-on-1 matchups – Jordan's paradise
- 2010s Pace-and-Space: Hand-check bans + three-point revolution changed geometry
Honestly? Unless someone builds a time machine, we'll never know if Shaq could dunk on Rudy Gobert or if Steph would survive against the Bad Boys. And that's okay.
Overrated and Underrated Squads
Time for some hot takes. That '86 Celtics team? Absolute juggernaut. Larry Bird at peak powers, McHale and Parish dominating inside, Walton off the bench. They'd give any modern team nightmares.
But everyone glorifies the '01 Lakers. Yeah, Shaq was unstoppable and Kobe was ascending, but look at their competition: Blazers (aging), Kings (not yet contenders), Spurs (Robinson injured). Their 15-1 playoff record flatters them. Felt more like a weak conference than true dominance.
Underrated pick? The '77 Trail Blazers. Walton was healthy, they played revolutionary team ball, and beat stacked Sixers in Finals. Nobody talks about them anymore.
Championship Pedigree Comparison
| Franchise | Dynasty Era(s) | Titles Won | Core Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 1957-69, 1981-86, 2008 | 17 | Russell, Bird, Pierce |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1949-54, 1980-88, 2000-02, 2009-10 | 17 | Magic, Kareem, Shaq, Kobe |
| Chicago Bulls | 1991-93, 1996-98 | 6 | Jordan, Pippen, Rodman |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 | 5 | Duncan, Parker, Ginobili |
| Golden State Warriors | 2015-18, 2022 | 4 | Curry, Thompson, Green |
(Note: Only includes modern NBA era after 1976 merger)
Notice something weird? The Spurs never had back-to-back titles. Their consistency over 15 years is insane, but does that make them better than the Bulls' two three-peats? Personally, I'd take peak over longevity for true "greatest" status.
Team Construction Matters
Think about how these all time greatest NBA teams were built. The '96 Bulls had Jordan (GOAT scorer), Pippen (elite defender/playmaker), Rodman (rebounding demon), and shooters like Kerr. Perfect balance.
- Bulls '96 Defense: Rodman as eraser, Jordan/Pippen perimeter lockdown
- Warriors '17 Offense: Historic spacing with four shooters, Durant iso option
- Celtics '86 Depth: Walton, Wedman, Ainge off bench – unheard of then
Coaching too. Phil Jackson's triangle offense vs. Popovich's motion system vs. Steve Kerr's ball movement. Different blueprints, same results.
Fan Arguments We Need to Settle
Could the '96 Bulls guard Curry? Let's be realistic – prime Pippen would switch onto him with Rodman helping. Would Steph get his 30? Probably. But Jordan would drop 50 on Klay Thompson. No way Warriors stop that mid-range game.
What gets forgotten about the '01 Lakers? Their defense ranked 21st! They coasted until playoffs. Put them against the '14 Spurs' ball movement and they'd struggle.
Statistically Dominant Teams
| Team | Offensive Rating | Defensive Rating | Net Rating | Historical Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warriors 2016-17 | 115.6 (1st) | 104.0 (2nd) | +11.6 | #1 all-time |
| Bulls 1995-96 | 115.2 (1st) | 105.9 (3rd) | +9.3 | #3 all-time |
| Spurs 2015-16 | 112.1 (1st) | 100.9 (1st) | +11.2 | #2 all-time |
| Celtics 2007-08 | 114.1 (1st) | 106.2 (1st) | +7.9 | #8 all-time |
(Source: Basketball-Reference.com adjusted stats)
Numbers don't lie. That '17 Warriors squad was historically efficient on both ends. But stats don't capture everything. The '96 Bulls had this killer instinct – you knew the game was over when they led by 10 in the fourth.
Your Burning Questions Answered
Who actually has the strongest claim for the all time greatest NBA teams title?
If forced to choose? The '96 Bulls. 72 wins, championship, Jordan's revenge tour after baseball, and they beat four 50-win playoff teams. The '17 Warriors came close but needed Durant to bail them out after blowing 3-1 lead.
Which teams outside the usual suspects deserve more love?
The '83 Sixers with Moses Malone. They went 12-1 in playoffs and Malone famously predicted "Fo', Fo', Fo'" (four sweeps). Almost did it too. Also the '89 Pistons – they dethroned the Celtics and Lakers back-to-back. No superstars, just nasty defense.
Would modern rules help or hurt older teams?
Help: Showtime Lakers. Magic pushing pace with no hand-checking? Unstoppable. Hurt: '90s Knicks. Ewing would foul out by halftime trying to guard pick-and-rolls.
What single season was the most impressive?
The '72 Lakers winning 33 straight still blows my mind. Imagine not losing for over two months in today's parity-driven league. They played back-to-backs constantly too.
At the end of the day, picking the all time greatest NBA teams is basketball's version of a barstool philosophy debate. My list changes weekly. Right now it's:
- 1996 Chicago Bulls (72-10 + title)
- 2017 Golden State Warriors (16-1 playoffs + Durant)
- 1986 Boston Celtics (67-15 + stacked roster)
- 1987 Los Angeles Lakers (showtime at peak)
- 1971 Milwaukee Bucks (Kareem + Oscar Robertson)
But ask me after three beers and I'll probably swap in the '99 Spurs. What can I say? Greatness comes in different flavors. The only consensus? We're lucky we got to watch any of them.
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