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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CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 26: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat look on during the game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Bobcats at the Time Warner Cable Arena on December 26, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Greg Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 26: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat look on during the game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Bobcats at the Time Warner Cable Arena on December 26, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Greg Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images) /

18. 2011-12 Miami Heat

As the first title of the Heat’s era, the 2012 Finals run was about redemption for their Finals collapse against the Mavericks the season before and validation for LeBron and his decision to leave Cleveland. Miami happily played the role of villain for most of the regular season. They were a top-10 team on both sides of the ball and, throughout the season, made strides towards the spaced out small ball team they would ultimately become.

The Heat lost at least one game in every playoff series, working through injuries to Chris Bosh and adversity of all sorts. But LeBron was superb in Miami’s seven-game Eastern Conference Finals victory over the Celtics, finally and fully exorcising the demons of Boston’s Big 3. In the Finals, LeBron and company dominated the not-quite-ready-for-primetime Oklahoma City Thunder, who featured Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kevin Durant. As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Game 5 and the title was assured, the coronation of LeBron officially began.

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