Fansided

Ranking every NBA Champion from No. 72 to No. 1 — The Definitive List

By Staff

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors defend their positions during Game One of the NBA Finals on May 30, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 30: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors defend their positions during Game One of the NBA Finals on May 30, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON – 1976: Sidney Wicks #12 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Phoenix Suns during a game in the 1976 NBA Finals played at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns 4-2 and won the the 1976 NBA Championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1976 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1976: Sidney Wicks #12 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Phoenix Suns during a game in the 1976 NBA Finals played at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns 4-2 and won the the 1976 NBA Championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1976 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

52. 1975-76 Boston Celtics

The Celtics were a solid team this season with four players who averaged between 17 and 19 points a game. Center Dave Cowens was the star of the team and 35-year-old John Havlicek milked as much as he could out of his body. The interesting part of this season was the subplot that played out between the Celtics and the Phoenix Suns, faced off in the Finals.

Before the season, the Celtics traded guard Paul Westphal to the Suns for Charlie Scott, a great scorer who the Suns felt was undisciplined. Scott had averaged 24 points or more in each of the past three season. After arriving in Boston, Scott played the exact role the Celtics were looking for as a complementary scorer. When the Celtics and the Suns matched up for the title, they split the first four games.

In Game 5, the teams put on one of the great games ever. The Suns were down five points with less than a minute to play before Westphal rallied them to force the first of three overtimes. The game is considered one of the great thrillers in sports history. The Celtics took that game and then finished off the Suns in Game 6.

51. 1960-61 Boston Celtics

This was the third of eight consecutive titles for the Celtics, who blew out the St. Louis Hawks in the Finals. That put a final dagger in the heart of a Hawks team that should have been an NBA power. But the deeper story about the Celtics is how they were able to identify and control talent for years and years.

This was the rookie season for a bench player named Thomas “Satch” Sanders. Sanders was the No. 8 (and last pick) in the first round of the 1960 NBA Draft out of New York University. He was drafted after the likes of Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Lenny Wilkens. While Sanders eventually made the Hall of Fame with the rest of those players, the reality is that he never became more than a part-time starter and bench scorer with the Celtics.

Many people believe if Sanders had been allowed the chance to go elsewhere, he would have become a huge star. As it was, he began a run with the Celtics that resulted in him winning eight championship rings and eventually becoming the head coach at Harvard after he retired. Sanders was the first black man to become a head coach in the Ivy League.

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