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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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HOUSTON – JUNE 14: Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets receives a hand from his teammates against the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the 1995 NBA Finals played June 14, 1995 at the Summit in Houston, Texas. The Rockets won 113-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1995 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON – JUNE 14: Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets receives a hand from his teammates against the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the 1995 NBA Finals played June 14, 1995 at the Summit in Houston, Texas. The Rockets won 113-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1995 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

40. 1994-95 Houston Rockets

There have been five teams that have won NBA title after winning less than 50 games in a full season of at least 80 games. Four of those happened in a 10-year span from the late 1960s through the late 1970s. Over the past four decades, the Rockets are the only team to match that feat. The only one of those five sub-50-win teams arguably better than this Rockets team is the 1976-77 Trail Blazers.

The Rockets experience from winning a championship the previous season (and the continued absence of Michael Jordan) led them through the playoffs again despite a mediocre regular season. The Rockets went 47-35, but clearly had the talent to be better after picking up guard Clyde Drexler in the offseason. In addition, Robert “Big Shot Bob” Horry started to emerge as a three-point shooter, giving center Hakeem Olajuwon even more options to pass to when opponents dared to double him.

39. 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers

There’s no question a team that wins 65 games in the regular season deserves great respect. Add on the fact it’s the first of back-to-back champions and this is certainly no fluke team. Put all-time great Kobe Bryant as the leader of the squad and you have the ingredients for one of the all-time great teams.

The problem with the Lakers of 2008-09 is that they don’t really hold up over the test of time. Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom as a supporting cast looked like something really great at the time. Years later, they almost appear to be underachievers, which is totally unfair to say. The Lakers beat a lot of good teams and good players on the way to those titles, but the basketball they played was really boring and tedious.

Watching Gasol go through his series of post-up moves was like watching a metronome. Likewise, Bynum was a confounding player, a example of sadly wasted talent because of the injuries he suffered. As for Odom, he became a soap opera, literally. As for the playoffs, they beat a generally clueless Orlando team that made it almost too easy for the Lakers.

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