Exploring the most dominant dynasties throughout NBA history

Throughout NBA history, therehave been plenty of supremely talented teams. However,only a select few managed to stringtogether multiple championships, revolutionize how the game isplayed and dominate to the point that they defined theirera.

It’s extremely difficult tocreate a dynasty, but these six teams earned thatdistinction.

Boston Celtics (1957-1969)

While it’s difficult for today’sNBA fans to fathom, the Boston Celtics managed to win 11championships in just 13 seasons. Celtics head coach and generalmanager Red Auerbach pulled off a draft-day trade in 1956 thatchanged the franchise forever, with Boston acquiring No. 2 overallpick Bill Russell in exchange for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley.Russell would become one of the most dominant defenders andrebounders of all-time, and when paired with Bob Cousy, JohnHavlicek and Sam Jones among others, the Celtics became anunstoppable force.

Today, winning three-straightchampionships is considered an astonishing feat, yet these Celticsmanaged to win eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966 – arecord that is virtually impossible to break. While it wascertainly a very different era of basketball, Boston deserves a tonof credit for revolutionizing the game and sustaining that level ofdominance for more than a decade.

Los Angeles Lakers (1980s)

The 1980s belonged to the"Showtime" Lakers, a dynamic and star-studded team led by MagicJohnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Under head coach Pat Riley'sleadership, the Lakers thrilled fans with their fast-paced style ofplay. From 1980 through 1991, the Lakers won five championships andmade nine NBA Finals appearances.

Magic’s unparalleled playmakingabilities and Kareem’s automatic skyhook made these Lakers nearlyunstoppable on the court. The Lakers’ rivalry with the Celtics (andMagic Johnson’s personal rivalry with Larry Bird) added anotherlayer of excitement to the NBA, culminating in memorable NBA Finalsmatchups and moving NBA playoff games to live broadcasts ratherthan being on tape delay.HBO’s show “Winning Time: The Rise of theLakers Dynasty” has introduced the Showtime era to a new generationof fans.

Chicago Bulls (1991-1998)

On June 19, 1984, the ChicagoBulls selected Michael Jordan with the No. 3 overall pick in the1984 NBA Draft. It didn’t take long for Jordan to make his mark onthe league, as he won Rookie of the Year and became a householdname. Jordan was the lynchpin of the Bulls’ dynasty and became thebiggest sports star that the world had ever seen. Coached by PhilJackson, MJ and Scottie Pippen led the Bulls to six championshipsin eight years, thanks to two different three-peats. In the1995-1996 season, the Bulls amassed a record-setting 72 wins,solidifying their status as one of the greatest teams in NBAhistory (although the record would later be broken by another teamfeatured on this list).

These Bulls teams captured theimagination of fans worldwide. The Bulls’ dynasty and Team USA's"Dream Team" (which featured Jordan and Pippen alongside other NBAsuperstars like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, David Robinson, PatrickEwing, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley) deserve a lot of credit formaking basketball popular across the globe. Just as “Winning Time”is bringing the Showtime Lakers back into the spotlight, ESPN’sdocuseries “The Last Dance” became a huge hit and showcasedJordan’s dominance and popularity to younger fans who never got achance to watch him play live.

San Antonio Spurs (1999-2014)

The San Antonio Spurs, guided bythe steady hand of coach Gregg Popovich, enjoyed an extended periodof excellence. By now, you’re probably realizing that dynastiestend to start when a team drafts a special player. For the Spurs,that player was Tim Duncan, who is often regarded as the greatestpower forward in NBA history. While Duncan wasn’t a flashy player,he was incredibly consistent and capable of taking over gamesoffensively and defensively.

Duncan and Popovich capturedfive NBA championships between 1999 and 2014. They managed to winacross different eras, first with David Robinson, Avery Johnson andSean Elliot, then with Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen,and later with Kawhi Leonard, Parker and Ginobili among others. TheSpurs' success was built on fundamentals, exceptional teamchemistry and a selfless approach to the game. Their sustainedsuccess over more than a decade solidified them as a modern NBAdynasty.

Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002)

The Lakers of the early 2000swere an unstoppable force, combining the dominant inside presenceof Shaquille O'Neal and the scoring prowess of Kobe Bryant. Coachedby the legendary Phil Jackson, this superstar tandem led LosAngeles to three consecutive NBA championships in 2000, 2001 and2002.

Teams had to pick their poisonagainst these Lakers, as Shaq and Kobe were nearly impossible todefend one-on-one. Shaq dominated with his imposing size andphysicality in the paint, while Kobe made teams pay with hisunmatched scoring ability and constantly evolving skill-set.Together, they formed one of the most formidable duos in NBAhistory, complementing each other's strengths on the court (whileoften butting heads off the court). Who knows how many morechampionships the Lakers would have won if Shaq and Kobe managed toget along and make things work in L.A.

Golden State Warriors (2014-2022)

The Golden State Warriors'dynasty has been a breathtaking display of offensive brilliance andfinesse. Led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green,the Warriors revolutionized the game with their three-pointshooting, fast-paced style of play and small-ball lineups. Headcoach Steve Kerr, who won five championships as a player with theChicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs dynasties, helped the Warriorscapture four NBA championships in eight years (2015, 2017, 2018 and2022).

The Warriors won 73 games in2016, breaking the previous record set by the Bulls. And as if thisteam wasn’t already scary enough, Golden State signed Kevin Durantand became even more unstoppable. Even after Durant left in 2019,the Warriors managed to win another championship, beating theBoston Celtics in the NBA Finals last year. The Warriorsrevolutionized the modern NBA, and their dynastic run may not evenbe over. After all, Curry, Thompson, Green and Kerr are stillaround and the team recently added veterans Chris Paul, Cory Josephand Dario Saric in hopes of chasing a fifth ring.