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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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LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal (R) drives past Toronto Raptors’ Voshon Lenard (C) and Nate Huffman in the second quarter in Los Angeles 29 December 2002. AFP PHOTO/Lucy Nicholson (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal (R) drives past Toronto Raptors’ Voshon Lenard (C) and Nate Huffman in the second quarter in Los Angeles 29 December 2002. AFP PHOTO/Lucy Nicholson (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images) /

28. 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers

This is the second of the Lakers’ three Shaq-Kobe titles and while this group posted the worst regular-season win percentage and point differential over the three-year span, they pulled it together in spectacular fashion and had arguably the best postseason run of the era. The Lakers were the No. 2 seed heading into the playoffs and they swept their way through the Western Conference, beating the No. 7-seeded Trail Blazers, the No. 3-seeded Sacramento Kings and then the No. 1-seeded San Antonio Spurs without dropping a single game.

In the NBA Finals, a 48-point performance from MVP Allen Iverson resulted in a loss, the only blemish on their playoff record. Shaq averaged 33.8 points, 15.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game as the Lakers won the next four games by an average of 10 points per game, cruising to the finish line.

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