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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UNITED STATES – APRIL 20: The New York Knicks’ starting five — Dick Barnett, Walt Frasier, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, and Willis Reed (l. to r.) — rejoice in the dressing room after winning their fifth playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks, by a lopsided score of 132-96, and with it their first National Basketball Association Eastern Conference title since 1953. The Knicks went on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals for their first-ever NBA championship. (Photo by Dan Farrell/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – APRIL 20: The New York Knicks’ starting five — Dick Barnett, Walt Frasier, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, and Willis Reed (l. to r.) — rejoice in the dressing room after winning their fifth playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks, by a lopsided score of 132-96, and with it their first National Basketball Association Eastern Conference title since 1953. The Knicks went on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals for their first-ever NBA championship. (Photo by Dan Farrell/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /

22. 1969-70 New York Knicks

This was not only a great Knicks team, but a great story as they upset the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Led by four eventual Hall of Famers, the Knicks went 60-22 during the regular season. In the Finals, center Willis Reed suffered a torn thigh muscle and missed Game 6, which the Lakers won to force Game 7. Playing at Madison Square Garden, fans never expected Reed to play. Instead, he loped onto the court for warmups, started the game and scored New York’s first two buckets.

Those were the only points he scored, but Reed’s athletic courage to get on the court at all ignited the crowd and the Knicks, who won the game easily for their first title. This was a truly great team. Guard Walt “Clyde” Frazier became synonymous with NBA style both on and off the court. He was the engine of the Knicks and Reed was the closer in the half-court game because of his unusual range for a big man. Throw in Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley and Dick Barnett averaging at least 14 points each and sixth-man scoring machine Cazzie Russell and you had one of the most balanced offensive attacks in NBA history.

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