The nerds rank the Top 10 teams in NBA history, breaking down whether Wilt’s 76ers or Russell’s Celtics belong on the list, if Magic’s Lakers or Bird’s Celtics peaked higher, and whether the Kobe/Shaq Lakers, Curry/Durant Warriors, or Jordan Bulls belong at No. 1.
Timeline:
0:00 Did Wilt or Russell lead best team of 1960s?
6:55 1983 76ers
11:53 1971 Bucks
17:50 1991 Bulls
23:50 1972 Lakers
30:30 1987 Lakers
35:15 1985 Lakers
39:41 1997 Bulls
43:51 1986 Celtics
50:46 2001 Lakers
1:03:30 2018 Warriors
1:06:34 1996 Bulls
1:11:10 2017 Warriors
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38 Comments
4 Lakers teams, yet just barely 2 Celtics team on this entire list. These guys are losing credibility by the hour at this rate…
Carson here – just wanted to say I can’t believe I forgot to mention the ‘89 Pistons as an honorable mention
Leaving the 87 Lakers off is wild
You have to understand something about The 96 Chicago Bulls have the most wins by a team in a year (season + playoffs), probably the most honors in a season by a team between players, and this is the thing: they're in the conversation for the best offensive and defensive team of all time. That's nuts; the 17 Warriors are not in the conversation for the defensive end; they were a great defense team but don't make the top 5 all-time defensive teams.
Sorry guys:
1) how do we follow you 2 specifically?
2) I didn’t watch the whole thing but can you do one of those breakdowns in the caption on the different sections?
3) does this solidify, in pure basketball terms, that Lebron is not number 1 ever? 😅
No ‘83 Sixers? I’m a Lakers fan and I can’t fathom giving an hour and a half to this.
To me, the greatest passing team ever IS the greatest team period. And since you both conceded that 86 Celtics are the best assist-making team, they're #1. P.S. I'm a Lakers fan, but I concede to that 86 Celtics the top spot
MJ and Curry on the thumbnail for clicks
My list:
Tier1:
2017 warriors
1996 bulls
2001 lakers
Tier 2:
1987 lakers
1986 Celtics
2014 spurs
Tier 3:
2013 Heat
1989 pistons
I guarantee you 2023 nuggets wash atleast 8 of these teams
01 lakers is the best team ever
I think some of the best teams never won titles. Because they played some of the best teams on this list
I'm surprised they didn't mention the 2013 Heat
the title absolutely shouldn’t say steph curry’s warriors… they were always known as the kd warriors until everyone jumped on steph’s dick after the warriors last chip. quiet literally NOBODY even questioned that kd was the best player on the team when they played together but i love how everyone has flipped the narrative because everyone hates kd n loves steph… any real hooper knows kd is better offensively slightly n well the defensive difference is astronomical
I remember watching that 01 Lakers run. It was pretty nuts. Shaq was unstoppable. Kobe jumped into super stardom. Fisher was lights out from 3.
Couple of quick points. The 80's in my mind the greatest decade when you look at the 83 Sixers, a couple of Lakers and Celtics teams and a Piston team all in the conversation. And they were playing each other in the playoffs every year! Nothing like it before or since. Fact about 87 Lakers–who belong on this list: often that year the Lakers were starting Kareem, Magic, Worthy and Michael Thompson (Klay's dad), all of them overall #1 picks in the draft the year they were drafted. Byron Scott was a lowly #4 overall pick. Incredible. Also never seen before or since.
2004 Pistons. Derailed a 4-peat without high level star power.
How were u guys able to watch these old games?
Thanks for metioning robert horry logan.
1) 96 Bulls in a class of their own
2) 72 Lakers
3) 86 Celtics
4) 93 Bulls
5) 01 Lakers
6) 08 Celtics
7) 03 Spurs
8) 14 Spurs
9) 18 Warriors
10) 83 76ers
2014 Spurs?? wow
Golden State is the greatest team of all time. Any of them that won the chip since 2015. I watched the NBA since 1987
2001 lakers best team ever. That playoff run was something else to see.
Greatest Teams to never win the chip. Chop it up. Good stuff NS.
Bulls are bigger, faster, stronger. Their small ball line up can switch any player on the warriors, while Jordan pippen kukoc can blow past any of the warriors. Warriors are incredible at the 3, but the bulls averaged 115ppg when there was no defensive 3 seconds. Shoot 10 and make 4 3’s while the bulls could get to the rim and score more if not draw fouls. 8 of 10 dunks wins the game. Take into account currys and klays 3 percentage when guarded physically, im taking rhe 96 bulls all day. The beautiful basketball we saw with the warriors we also saw from the bulls from both ends, not to mention the all time goat. Warriors playoff run was considerably easier and had a losing record against the spurs. (Check the blowout loss in the first game, and the 20point deficit in the playoffs). Curry and kd didn’t have the mental fortitude to win 3, and then another 3. Harden and cp3 could have beat them. Bulls in 6-7.
more video like this please!! great breakdowns dudes
The Warriors with KD are the best team of all time (Specifically 2017). Their defense was good and the offense was unstoppable. They played in a tougher conference than the 90s Bulls (any iteration) did and had to play against Lebron to win the title both years. I can understand picking the Bulls if you grew up with them, but I don't think there's a reasonable argument that they were the better team from an objective standpoint. MJ by himself isn't an argument. If the 90s Bulls played the Kd Warriors it wouldn't even be close. 3s are worth more than 2s and the Bulls defense isn't stopping that offense. No matter which era they played in.
71’ Warriors didn’t have Barry yet
71’ Lakers had no Jerry West
71’ Bullets had a worse record than the 71’ Celtics that didn’t make the playoffs
6-10 is too subjective but these five teams are objectively the best of all time:
1. 96 Bulls
2. 01 Lakers
2. 17 Warriors
3. 86 Celtics
4. 72 Lakers
The 2017 Warriors would have destroyed almost all the other top 10's. I think they would have beat the 96 Bulls in 4 – 5. I think the 86 Celtics and 01 Lakers could have stretched them. The Celtics depth was similar and the 17 Warriors wouldn't have had much of an answer to apex Shaq. Still, the Warriors win. Everyone else is going to get killed.
As for teams that didn't win a title, the team I think of after the 16 Warriors is the 02 Kings. In reality, (without obvious fixing) they beat the Lakers and sweep in the Finals. Sad time in the NBA.
You guys are always so quiet! I can never listen in the shower or while I'm cooking or during any moderately noisy activity lol. Please increase your volume!
Curry's Warriors aren't even beating the 15-1 Kobe Saq Lakers….
Judging from all these comments, the 2017 Warriors are the only top 5 team without a consensus top 10 NBA great while the 2001 and Magic Lakers are the only ones with two top 10 players.
72’ Bucks played with injured Oscar
Rockets beat KD warriors but lost cause of injuries but were better
we gotta stop carson from bullying logan
Although being a die-hard Bulls fan, I agree on the 2017 at No.1. to be the best team ever to step on a basketball floor. Still, i can`t give them the No.1 spot on any `"best-of"list. KD moving there, was a cheat code for winning everything everytime. It`s like the Bulls adding Shaq to their roster in 96`..
I saw both teams with the 96 Bulls and 17 Warriors and I would give the edge to the Bulls team. However, not mad at it.