All of the NBA teams are very important to the history of the league, but there’s no denying that some of the teams stand out much more than others.
The best NBA teams of all time, therefore, are not only those with the most titles, but also those who have had the best players and offered fans and spectators the best experiences on the court.
These teams have also become known and renowned for breaking some records, as well as standing out for their players being great in matters such as defense, attack and much more.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the 12 NBA teams of all time, telling you a little about their fame, titles, records and best players.
The ranking includes teams such as Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons and many others.
Check out our complete list of the 10 best NBA teams of all time!
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The 12 best NBA teams of all time: complete list
Check out our list of the 12 best NBA teams of all time.
- Boston Celtics;
- Los Angeles Lakers;
- Golden State Warriors;
- Chicago Bulls;
- San Antonio Spurs;
- Detroit Pistons;
- Philadelphia 76ers;
- Miami Heat;
- Milwaukee Bucks;
- New York Knicks;
- Houston Rockets;
- Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 12 best NBA teams of all time: meet the teams!
1. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a team with 17 NBA titles, eight of them in a row between 1959 and 1966. When they were led by Bill Russell, they were the most feared team of the time.
- Key players: Bill Russell, Bob Cousy
- Chief technical officer: Red Auerbach
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Also with 17 NBA titles, the Los Angeles Lakers won three consecutive titles between 1970 and 1972. The team was also known for having extremely talented players such as Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain.
- Key players: Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain
- Chief Technical Officer: Bill Sharman
3. Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have won seven NBA titles and are considered one of the best teams to have lost only one game during a season before going on to win it. The team is also known for its successful career players, such as point guard Stephen Curry.
- Key players: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson
- Main technician: Steve Kerr
4. Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have won six NBA titles and gained a lot of notoriety in the 1990s when they had these victories. The team was even responsible for popularizing the NBA worldwide. This is mainly due to the presence of Michael Jordan, one of the best players in the world.
- Key players: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen
- Main technician: Phil Jackson
5. San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs, born in Texas, have won five NBA titles thanks to the leadership of greats like Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovic. The team is known for having a defense to envy and for being very consistent in its game strategies.
- Key players: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili
- Principal technical: Gregg Popovich
6. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have won three NBA titles in total, and the team became known as the “Bad Boys”. Their most successful era so far took place in the transition from the 80s to the 90s, and the titles were won thanks to the aggressive play that was part of their strategy;
- Main players: Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman
- Head coach: Chuck Daly
7. Philadelphia 76ers
The team also has three NBA titles, becoming known for losing only one game during the entire season in 1982, standing out with this very impressive record.
- Main players:Julius Erving, Moses Malone
- Head coach:Billy Cunningham
8. Miami Heat
The NBA team Miami Heat is considered one of the best, although it’s not at the top of the list. This is because they have had some incredible players during their existence, especially LeBron James. The team won two consecutive NBA titles in 2012 and 2013.
- Key players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
- Head coach: Erik Spoelstra
9. Milwaukee Bucks
The team has two NBA titles and has been led by renowned athletes such as Kareen Abdul Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. The team enters the list of one of the NBA’s best for having left their mark during the titles.
- Key players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson
- Main technician: Larry Costello
10. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks also stand out as one of the best NBA teams of all time for having been led by players like Willis Reed, Walt Frasier and Dave DeBusschere. The team also has two NBA titles, won in 1970 and 1973.
- Key players: Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere
- Main technician: Red Holzman
11. Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets also stand out as one of the best NBA teams of all time for having won two consecutive titles between 1994 and 1995. Their greatest highlight was being led by the iconic Hakeem Olajuwon.
- Key players:Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere
- Principal Technician: Red Holzman
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
Last but not least, the Cleveland Cavaliers enter the list of the best NBA teams of all time for having two titles, won thanks to incredible players, remembered to this day for their achievements. One of them is LeBron James, a great basketball legend.
- Key players: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith e Tristan Thompson
- Principal coach: Tyronn Lue
The 12 best NBA teams of all time: complete list
- Boston Celtics;
- Los Angeles Lakers;
- Golden State Warriors;
- Chicago Bulls;
- San Antonio Spurs;
- Detroit Pistons;
- Philadelphia 76ers;
- Miami Heat;
- Milwaukee Bucks;
- New York Knicks;
- Houston Rockets;
- Cleveland Cavaliers.
This is the list of the best NBA teams of all time! If you like the NBA and basketball in general, keep following the site to find out more about the sport and many others.
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