Every time I pore over the list of NBA champions by year, I can’t help but marvel at the dynasties that have woven themselves into the fabric of basketball history. Take the 90s, for instance, when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls utterly dominated. Winning six titles within a decade is no small feat. The Windy City saw parades quite frequently during those years, and you just can’t overlook the sheer power of Jordan paired with Scottie Pippen. Imagine the 1995-1996 season where the Bulls achieved a league record 72-10, a win rate of 87.8%. Don’t even get me started on their impact on the defensive and offensive statistics.
Of course, the Lakers’ showtime era, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was another golden period. The team clinched five championships during the 1980s, forever etching their names into the NBA lore. Remembering the 1984-1985 season, where Magic’s orchestration of the “Showtime” offense was legendary, makes you appreciate the beauty of basketball. Who can forget the “junior, junior skyhook” in Game 4 of the Finals against the Celtics? Pure magic—and I mean that literally.
Fast forward to the 2000s, and we witness the rise of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Their three-peat from 2000 to 2002 was mesmerizing. They were basically unstoppable. In the 2000-2001 season, the Lakers lost only one playoff game, going 15-1. That .938 winning percentage has yet to be matched. The sheer dominance those two displayed—Shaq’s power and Kobe’s finesse—left so many fans in awe. Some games almost felt unfair, like watching giants battle mere mortals.
Then, there’s the Spurs. Under the leadership of Gregg Popovich and the foundational pillar that is Tim Duncan, they amassed five championships from 1999 to 2014. Think about how they masterfully blended international talent with American grit. A standout season would be 2013-2014, when they got their revenge against the Miami Heat with a Finals series win. Shooting 52.8% from the field against Miami’s 47.5% in the Finals highlighted their precision and ball movement.
Speaking of the Miami Heat, let’s not ignore the era of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Their back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 solidified their place in the modern era. Who can erase the memory of Ray Allen’s clutch three-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals? That moment alone changed the entire dynamic of the series. The Heat managed a miraculous win with remarkable efficiency.
Now, sprinkle in some Golden State Warriors dominance in recent years. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant made an almost invincible trio. Look at their 2016-2017 season where they went 16-1 in the postseason. That’s a .941 winning percentage, making history books for future basketball enthusiasts. Remember how effortlessly Curry shot threes? His MVP season had him sinking 402 three-pointers, a single-season record at the time.
The league has seen its fair share of shifting of power, too. LeBron’s journey from Cleveland to Miami, back to Cleveland, and then to the Lakers reads like a drama series. His ability to win championships in different team contexts—2012 and 2013 with Miami, 2016 with Cleveland, and 2020 with the Lakers—shows his adaptability. The 2016 title, with the Cavaliers coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Warriors, still feels surreal. The finals witnessed an average TV rating of 11.3, peaking at 30.8 million viewers in Game 7, exemplifying how captivating the series was.
Each decade, each team, carries its own flavor and legend. As the game evolves, so do the teams and strategies. Some years witness defensive chaos while others showcase offensive splendor. Consistency and adaptability mark champions. Glancing at nba champions by year, one can chart the evolution of strategy, talent, and sheer persistence.