PROMO: The 25 Greatest NBA Teams Of The Last 25 Years

The best of the best. Brought to you by NBA 2K12.

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Complex Original

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There have been hundreds of teams over the past 25 years of NBA basketball and it certainly takes a lot to be considered one of the greatest. Talent, chemistry and tenacity are all necessary components. Of course, the occasional superstar doesn't hurt matters either. Just ask Michael. Or Magic. Or Bird.

We took our time in deciding the 25 greatest teams of these past 25 years, finding the best version of each candidate, with no overlap. Because where's the fun in picking the '91,'92 and '93 Bulls, right? 

Fortunately for us-and for you-many of these teams are playable in NBA 2K12, in stores October 4th. Have a beef with our picks? An argument amongst friends? Pick up a controller and settle it yourselves. But don't be surprised if things turn out how we told you. 

25. Miami Heat

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In the most unprecedented move in the history of free agency, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade as members of the Miami Heat. There was plenty of controversy surrounding who said what, when and to whom, but once the season started, the disbelief shifted towards the new Big Three’s on court accomplishments. Even with a roster filled out with bargain basement players, James, Wade and Bosh’s alternating brilliance lifted Miami to the league’s elite. Passing lanes were patrolled with a sentinel’s intensity, fast breaks started in the blink of an eye and no rim was safe. The Heat finished the season with 58 wins, and stormed through the Eastern Conference, making quick work of the Celtics and Bulls before falling short in a disappointing Finals performance. All in all, still an impressive performance by a team that may have literally been put together overnight. And it’s just the beginning. 

24. 2011 Dallas Mavericks

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Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks suffered their share of hardship over the years, but they’ll probably admit that last year made it all worthwhile. Flying under the radar for much of the regular season, Dallas quietly notched 57 wins and slid into the playoffs as the third seed. From there, they wreaked havoc upon the Western Conference, dismantling Portland in six games, humiliating the defending champion Lakers in five and dismissing the upstart Thunder in five more. Resolved that their latest Finals appearance wouldn’t be for naught, the Mavs shocked the Miami Heat with a 4-2 series victory, highlighted by Nowitzki’s laser accuracy, Jason Terry’s penchant for clutch play and a team wide dedication to defense. Revenge was surely sweet for Dallas, but a repeat would be even sweeter.

23. 2004 Minnesota Timberwolves

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After drafting Kevin Garnett, the Wolves were a playoff mainstay for years. Unfortunately, they weren’t very familiar with the second round. Acutally, they weren’t familiar at all. Things would change quite quickly however, upon trading for dynamic backcourt mates Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. With Cassell’s steady floor game and Spree’s effortless slashing, the trio vaulted Minnesota to the league’s best record. Garnett, in continuing his all around brilliance, was named MVP. Their first round struggles became a distant memory, but their path towards a championship was obstructed by injuries that led to their demise in the Western Conference Finals. The team would break up just a year later, leaving many to wonder what could have been.  

22. 2005 Phoenix Suns

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Defense wins championships. It’s an adage as old as the game itself and the Phoenix Suns ignored it to everyone’s delight. With free agent acquisition Steve Nash at the helm, joined by Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire on the break, the Suns almost literally ran circles around the competition through their ‘Seven Seconds or Less’ philosophy. Even made baskets became an opportunity to push the tempo. Phoenix led the league in scoring, racing to a league best 62 wins, Marion and Stoudemire became All Stars and Nash was awarded the MVP for his efforts. The good times stopped rolling once they ran into San Antonio and a five game thrashing in the Conference Finals, but this remains as one of, if not the, most efficient and entertaining offenses we’ve ever seen.

21. 1998 Indiana Pacers

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The Pacers gained notoriety after the seismic shift that was Michael Jordan’s first retirement, replacing Chicago as the Knicks newfound rivals. Five years later, Indiana sought to send Jordan back into the night without a sixth championship. Reggie Miller had long been one of the NBA’s greatest marksmen, however it wasn’t until he was joined by another dead eye in Chris Mullin that Indiana’s championship aspirations began to take shape. Actually, those plans started with a new coach, French Lick’s own Larry Bird, who propelled the Pacers towards a 19 game improvement over the previous season, finishing with a franchise record 58 victories. Miller and Mullin found themselves in good company, supported by the likes of Jalen Rose, Derrick McKey, Dale Davis, Antonio Davis and Rik Smits. A rag tag bunch for sure, but one that took Jordan’s Bulls as close to elimination as they’d ever been.

20. 2002 Sacramento Kings

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Who knew there was so much fun in Sacramento? All Star forward Chris Webber considered it banishment upon his arrival in 1998, but in four years, the Kings were playing an uptempo, carefree brand of basketball that amazed fans and left opponents frozen. Mike Bibby, Doug Christie, Peja Stojakovic and Vlade Divac spread the floor, ran the floor, dished the rock and filled the basket in innumerable ways, racking up a league best 61 wins. Their relentless play would carry on through the playoffs where they encountered the division rival Lakers in a heated Conference Final that ended with a controversial seventh game. Injuries would render the team a shell of itself in latter years, leaving fans and teammates alike only with the memories of better days.

 

19. 1993 New York Knicks

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Having pushed Chicago to the brink of elimination in ’92, Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks were already deemed a force to be reckoned with. After adding Doc Rivers, Rolando Blackman and Charles Smith to this menacing roster, they were favored to win the 1993 championship. Ewing continued to dominate, John Starks provided a scoring spark and Charles Oakley brought the muscle en route to 60 wins and their first Division title. Their collision course with the Bulls led them to the Conference Finals, where New York jumped out to a 2-0 lead before they lost control of the series and their last chance at besting Michael Jordan.

18. 1996 Seattle Supersonics

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The first thing that comes to mind upon thinking of these Sonics is highlights. So is the second and probably the third. Gary Payton’s seemingly unreachable lobs and Shawn Kemp’s ridiculous feats of athleticism littered top ten lists for years, but they were also two way talents capable of suffocating even the swiftest offense. Complemented by defensive and three point specialists in Nate McMillan, Hersey Hawkins, Detlef Schrempf and Sam Perkins, Seattle rose to the top of the West in ’96 with 64 wins and an All NBA team mention for their dynamic duo. Had fate not placed them in the same league as Chicago, they almost undoubtedly would have won a championship.

17. 1993 Phoenix Suns

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Charles Barkley was the league’s most boisterous and captivating personality, but he had yet to be heard from in June. That all changed when he relocated to Phoenix from Philadelphia, joining fellow newcomers Danny Ainge, Oliver Miller and Richard Dumas. Flanked by fan favorites, Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle, the Suns were an instant juggernaut, scoring in bunches as Barkley secured every rebound in sight. Charles was named MVP for leading his teammates to a league best record and their wild ride continued through the playoffs. Battling back from an 0-2 first round deficit, they would also survive a harrowing seven game series in the Conference Finals, before their championship dreams were cut short.

16. 2000 Portland Trailblazers

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By 2000, Scottie Pippen was a seven time All Star, a six time champion and one of the 50 greatest players in league history. Yet he still felt the need to prove himself. With the glory years of Chicago long behind him, Pippen sought to lead a champion of his own in Portland. Though nowhere near as successful, this was arguably the most talented team he’d ever play for. Surrounded by bevy of All Stars and award winners such as Damon Stoudemire, Steve Smith, Rasheed Wallace and Arvydas Sabonis, the Blazers flaunted depth at every position. Their skill overwhelmed much of the competition and propelled them to 59 wins, but an ill timed fourth quarter collapse would be their undoing as they lost the Conference Final to Los Angeles in an epic seven game series.

15. 1992 Portland Trailblazers

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Always close, but never close enough. That was the story of these Portland Trail Blazers. In 1990, they were almost champions, succumbing to Detroit in The Finals. In ’91, after posting the a league high 63 wins, they almost returned to The Finals, but lost to Los Angeles in the Conference Finals, In ’92, they were back again and Clyde Drexler almost proved he was the league’s best guard. However even with the support of a deeply talented roster, again they fell short in six games. Drexler, Terry Porter, Buck Williams, Jerome Kersey and Cliff Robinson were a versatile, resourceful and resilient unit. A great team, just never the best.

14. 1986 Houston Rockets

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Entering the 1984 draft, Hakeem Olajuwon was already as capable a center as there’d ever been, but putting him next to another nimble seven footer in Ralph Sampson was simply cruel. That’s just what Houston was to the West in ’86, as the Twin Towers teased opponents with easy buckets, rebound after rebound and demoralizing defense. Sampson and Olajuwon rallied a relatively modest roster to 51 wins for the Midwest Division title and continued their romp through the playoffs, where they’d unseat the defending champion Lakers in just five games. But while their sheer size proved to be too much for L.A., the Rockets reign of terror would end in the Finals against Boston in six. Though there is no ring to show for it, the Twin Towers remain the most intimidating post tandem in league history.

13. 1996 Orlando Magic

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The Orlando Magic were nothing if not lucky. Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway joined the team with consecutive #1 picks in the ’92 and ’93 Draft. Three years later, they were defending Eastern Conference Champions. This, of course, was not by luck, just the unfathomable collection of talent luck provided. O’Neal was immediately recognized as the most unstoppable force the league had seen since Wilt Chamberlain and Hardaway’s size and versatility was reminiscent of Magic Johnson. The roster ran even deeper with an All Star workhorse in Horace Grant and dead eye shooters, Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson. It was the kind of team you could only find in, well, a video game. Unfortunately, after 60 wins and seemingly thousands of dunks, the fun came to an end when the Orlando was swept in the Conference Finals. Shaq would bolt for Los Angeles that summer and just as soon as it came, the magic was gone.

12. 2010 Los Angeles Lakers

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After ending a six year championship drought in 2009, the Lakers were back on top and the only thing they wanted more was…. another one. Kobe Bryant was still considered by many to be the game’s best player, Pau Gasol- scarily enough-  hadn’t reached his prime and L.A. maintained the luxury of choosing between Lamar Odom or Andrew Bynum to round out a devastating frontcourt. But the road to defending their title would be tougher and the Lakers became just that with the addition of Ron Artest. Los Angeles went on to win 57 games and conquer the Western Conference yet again and as fate would have it, Artest proved to be the key to escaping a daunting seven game Finals for the ages against their hated Bostonian rivals. With several timely baskets down the stretch of Game 7 to cement a valiant 3-2 series comeback, Ron and his teammates etched themselves in Laker lore.

11. 2004 Detroit Pistons

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A defensive minded, blue collar, group of veterans, led by a Finals MVP point guard, topple the fan favorites in Purple & Gold. Sound familiar? It should for Pistons fans, since Bad Boys 2.0 took the league by storm in 2004. Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace were already a solid nucleus, but Detroit didn’t truly become a title contender until Rasheed Wallace’s arrival at the trade deadline. The offensive became more versatile and defense was even more vicious.

 Yet even after storming through the Eastern Conference playoffs, Detroit was still a heavy underdog in their Finals matchup with the Lakers. Five short games later, the world realized that a team is needed to win a championship, not a superstar.

10. 1997 Utah Jazz

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For years, John Stockton and Karl Malone toiled as the NBA’s ‘other’ best duo, with no rings to prove it. They’d finally get their chance in 1997. Teamed with another wily veteran in Jeff Hornacek and supported by a scrappy bench, Utah proceeded to tear off 64 wins. Malone won that year’s MVP and the Jazz seemed primed for their first championship. Unfortunately, their road to glory ended in the Finals at the hands of You Know Who.

Still, this was as sharp, disciplined and determined a unit as the league had in their day. Well, except for Those Other Guys.  No shame in that, right?

9. 2005 San Antonio Spurs

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For a team with so many special players, there aren’t many special things said about the Spurs. Tim Duncan made a career of confounding opponents with quiet efficiency, Tony Parker darted through the lane with his usual nonchalance and Manu Ginobili remained the world’s most unassuming acrobat. Supported by Brent Barry, Bruce Bowen and Glenn Robinson, San Antonio coasted through the regular season to 59 wins with little fanfare.

So it was only fitting that their championship run finished with an explosive seven game bout against the defending champion Detroit Pistons, highlighted by Robert Horry and more clutch buckets than a Ford factory. Of course to them, it’s all the same. Another year, another ring.

8. 1995 Houston Rockets

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How the mighty had fallen….and rose again. The Rockets were defending champions, but struggled to win 47 games even after a midseason trade for Clyde Drexler. But even as a 6th seed in that year’s playoffs, Houston remained a force to be reckoned with.

After some early difficulties, Houston dismantled both the Rockets and Jazz, becoming the first team to overcome 2-0 and 3-1 series deficits en route to the Conference Finals. Waiting for them were MVP David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs, who Hakeem Olajuwon took an almost sinister pleasure in picking apart with one classic performance after another. Finally, The Finals, a sweep of an up and coming Orlando Magic squad that never knew what hit them. In the end, there was a lesson for us all, courtesy of Rudy Tomjanovich. “Never understimate the heart of a champion.”

7. 2008 Boston Celtics

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Boston missed the playoffs for the second straight year in 2006. Even worse, they were stuck with the 5th overall pick in the 2007 Draft, missing a chance at a potential franchise savior. That’s just the way the ball bounces. Sometimes that’s a good thing. The Celtics responded by trading for Ray Allen on draft night and a month later would add former MVP and perennial All Star, Kevin Garnett. Paired with Celtic mainstay, Paul Pierce, Boston had another Big Three resolved to return the city to championship glory. And that they did.

Their 66 wins in 2008 became the biggest single season turnaround in NBA history, besting their previous total by 42 games. Kevin Garnett would be named Defensive Player of the Year, spearheading on of the stingier units in recent memory. Pierce & Allen remained their All Star selves and Rajon Rondo emerged as one of the league’s most promising young guards. After a grueling playoff run, capped off with a revival of the Laker vs. Celtic rivalry, Boston had gone from worst to first and proven that anything was indeed possible.

6. 1989 Detroit Pistons

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Aside from their fans, no one liked them. But you had to respect them. Led by Isiah Thomas, Detroit’s Bad Boys saw their fair share of controversy, however they’d yet to see a ring. They came close in ’88, losing to the Lakers in a contentious seven game series, a memory that would motivate them for years to come.

Detroit retooled-adding Mark Aguirre to an already potent lineup-and won 63 games in ’89, a team record. With Isiah’s dazzling offensive arsenal, Joe Dumars’ steadying calm, Bill Laimbeer’s sharp elbows-and sharp shooting-complemented by Dennis Rodman swallowing every rebound in sight, the Pistons became a well rounded, brutally intimidating force that literally brought the competition to their knees. They eventually got that Finals rematch with the Lakers…and swept them. No one cheered, but it didn’t matter. More than twenty years later, they’re still champs and they still demand respect.

5. 2001 Los Angeles Lakers

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They were their own worst enemy. After winning their first title together in 2000, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant spent much of the following season arguing over another title: The Man. Reigning MVP O’Neal remained his dominant self, bounding over and barreling through everything in his path, but Bryant wasn’t to be overlooked. Many were unsure who the better player actually was and more were uncertain who the victor would be, but two things were quite clear; these were the league’s two best players and only they could end this feud.

The two would trade barbs all season and barely hang on to their Pacific Division title with 56 wins before finding common ground where it mattered: The playoffs. In the greatest post season run of all time, Shaq & Kobe took turns embarrassing the Western Conference as they swept through the playoffs with a perfect 11-0 record before winning their second championship in a 4-1 series win over the Philadelphia 76ers. As for that other title, they finally found one they could agree on: Best frenemies forever.

4. 1992 Chicago Bulls

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It took Michael Jordan 7 years to win his first championship, but once he did, he got greedy. There was no question whether the Bulls were up to the task of defending their title, as they steamrolled through the regular season, posing a serious threat to the all time win record.  They’d fall short with ‘only’ 67 wins.

Scottie Pippen emerged as a bonafide star, securing spots on the All Star, All NBA and All Defensive teams. Horace Grant remained a reliable third option. The bench? They just led the biggest fourth quarter comeback in Finals history, erasing a 15 point Blazer lead before Michael sealed the victory. Turns out he liked sharing after all.

3. 1987 Los Angeles Lakers

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Magic Johnson could do it all, but Pat Riley wanted him to do more. Scoring in particular. Kareem Abdul Jabbar was soon to be 40 years old, so Johnson was expected to take on more of the offensive load. Magic responded by averaging a career high in points without relinquishing his role as the league leader in assists.

Flanked by James Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper and A.C. Green, Johnson led Showtime, blinding the opposition with more defense and even faster breaks.  65 wins and another Western Conference title later, they found themselves in yet another Finals matchup with their Celtic nemeses.

Unbeknownst to them, it would be the last of the classic Lakers v. Celtics duels and Johnson fittingly put the series out of reach in Game 4 with an ode to Jabbar; an arching 16 foot sky hook for a 3-1 series lead.

“You expect the sky hook,” Bird said. “You just don’t expect it to be Magic.”

Pat Riley did.

2. 1986 Boston Celtics

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In 1986, Bird was the word. Again. In what is widely considered his finest season, Bird won his third consecutive MVP. Alongside Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, the three comprised the greatest frontcourt ever, which became even deeper with the addition of 6th Man of the Year, Bill Walton. Complemented by a backcourt of Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge, they couldn’t have wanted anything more. Except revenge.

Hell bent on redressing their loss to Magic’s Lakers in the ’85 Finals, the Celtics marched to 67 wins and a record 40-1 home stand at Boston Garden. Unfortunately, they would have to settle for their third consecutive Finals appearance-a six game dismantling of the Houston Rockets in which Bird averaged a triple double.

It probably wasn’t enough for Bird or his teammates. Which is what made them so great. Well, that and the rings.

1. 1996 Chicago Bulls

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Who is the greatest team of all time? Michael Jordan’s answer is fairly simple. “Anyone else win 72 games?” He’s right, of course, but the answer is actually in the ‘how?’ not ‘how many?’

After an unsuccessful un-retirement wearing the 45, Jordan returned with a vengeance in ’96 and as both fans and opponents know, the only thing more terrifying than Michael Jordan is a determined Michael Jordan. Slightly more earthbound, but much savvier, MJ’s signature dunks were replaced with a fade away jumper that will join Kareem’s skyhook as the most unstoppable shots the league has seen. His old sidekick, Scottie Pippen, was strong as ever and his new teammate, onetime rival Dennis Rodman, helped solidify a trio that became the first to make the All Defensive First Team together.

All would be competitors were lost in the smoke of a record book set ablaze. Fastest to 41 wins, 33 road wins. The second Triple Crown MVP in league history and the second set of teammates to win a scoring and rebounding titles together. Ah, and let’s not forget the Coach of the Year, Phil Jackson or the 6th Man of the Year, Toni Kukoc.

Granted, that is a lot to remember. Maybe it is easier to stick with Michael’s answer.

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