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Every season, an NBA team climbs to the top after a long and difficult war only to be crowned the champions of the season. But in the midst of every year's champions are often teams that dominate the league to such an extent that they deserve to be considered amongst the best of the best.
5 Greatest NBA teams of the 21st century
To credit teams of such exceptional caliber, we will attempt to present our list of 5 greatest NBA teams of the 21st century.
#5 San Antonio Spurs (2013-14)
The San Antonio Spurs had an impact on the NBA through most of the 21st century. However, their overwhelming presence was from 2000 to 2015. During this time they won five championships and appeared in six finals, losing only one finals series. Of all their championship conquests, perhaps the best was in 2013-14.
After all, the 2013-14 Spurs were a different breed, separate from the rest of the league for toppling the Miami Heat's Big 3's from the crown. Their lineup consisted of players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
In Timmy, the team had arguably the best NBA center ever and a future Hall of Famer. In Manu and Tony, they had two match winners and clutch players who could not only facilitate scoring for the team but also overwhelm their opponents with their unyielding will. They are the fifth best team of the 21st century.
#4 Miami Heat (2012-13)
The Miami Heat were the first super team of the 2010s. The trio of LeBron James, Dywand Wade and Chris Bosh were unimaginably close to a three-peat. During their tenure, the Florida team won two championships and appeared in four finals in back-to-back seasons.
Despite their undeniable strength over those four years, the team was at its best during the 2012-13 season. The San Antonio Spurs suffered their only finals series loss of the 21st century at the hands of this NBA team. In the regular season, this LeBron led-Miami Heat had a winning percentage of over 80. They won 66 games and lost only 16.
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#3 LA Lakers (2001-02)
The 2001-02 LA Lakers had arguably the most fearsome duo ever in the NBA. The combination of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant could overwhelm opponents' paint and mid-range.
While Shaw was the strongest center in the league back then, Kobe Bryant had begun to show signs of turning into one of the best scorers in the league.
With a 58-24 win loss ratio, the 2001-02 LA Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs without losing a single game. The San Antonio Spurs met a similar fate but fared a little better and won a single game in their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Los Angeles' Goliaths.
The Conference Finals proved a little harder for the Lakers team to defeat, but they did it anyway in the seventh and final game of the series.
As for the NBA Finals, the 2001-02 LA Lakers absolutely destroyed the Eastern Conference champions by sending them packing home within just four games of the series. Only two other teams have humiliated their opponents in the finals with a 4-0 victory - 2006-07 Spurs and 2017-18 Warriors.
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers (2015-16)
The 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers are one of only two NBA teams in the 21st century to battle the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals and come out winning. This team included stars like Kyrie Irving, King James and Kevin Love. The Cavs won 57 games and lost only 25 in their regular seasons.
Their incredible run continued in the finals, where Kyrie averaged 25.2 points per game and LeBron averaged 25.2 points, Love's rebounding and JR Smith's downtown shooting helped them slay all the teams that met them on their way to the ultimate victory.
#1 Golden State Warriors (2017-18)
The Golden State Warriors, under the coaching of Steve Kerr, became a team capable of wrecking any and all rivals. They reached five consecutive NBA Finals and won three championships. However, even by their standards, the brilliance and overwhelming excellence of the 2017-18 Warriors squad is unrivaled.
They had Kevin Durant, perhaps the greatest scorer of the 2010's. Then there was Stephen Curry, arguably the greatest shooter of all-time. Klay Thompson was in the mix as well, a player capable of landing lethal blows both from downtown and in the paint. And lest we forget, Draymon Green, one of the most dominant rebounders and pick-and-roll playmakers of the modern era.
This team is without a question the best team of the 21st century.
