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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NEW YORK, NY – 1948: Arnie Risen #14 of the Rochester Royals grabs a rebound against Harry Gallatin #11 and Ray Kuka #12 of the New York Knicks circa 1948 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. 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 1948 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – 1948: Arnie Risen #14 of the Rochester Royals grabs a rebound against Harry Gallatin #11 and Ray Kuka #12 of the New York Knicks circa 1948 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. 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 1948 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images) /

72. 1946-47 Philadelphia Warriors

The Warriors were one of 11 members of the original Basketball Association of America, which eventually merged with the National Basketball League. The key to the BAA is it featured 48-minute games and players could play unless they had six fouls. The Warriors were led by forward Joe Fulks, who averaged 23.2 points a game and fellow forward Howie Dallmar. These were the truly primitive days of the league when games were often played in ice rinks with the wood floor laid over the top of the ice.

71. 1947-48 Baltimore Bullets

In their inaugural season, the Bullets proved to be quite the balanced squad with six players who averaged double figures. The only problem is that those players would come and go. Over the course of 48 games, the Bullets had 18 players churn through the roster. The team was 28-20 in the regular season and then caught fire in the playoffs.

70. 1950-51 Rochester Royals

The Royals were the one team in six years to interrupt the dominance of the Minneapolis Lakers and George Mikan. The Royala finished second in the regular season to the Lakers, but pulled of a 3-1 upset in the Western Division Finals. They did that because center Arnie Risen was surprisingly able to go toe-to-toe with Mikan. After that, the Royals survived a seven-game series with the New York Knicks.

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