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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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 24: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls blocks the shot of Chris Gatling #15 of the New Jersey Nets during Game One of Round One of the 1998 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 1998 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 1998 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images).
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 24: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls blocks the shot of Chris Gatling #15 of the New Jersey Nets during Game One of Round One of the 1998 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 1998 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 1998 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images). /

13. 1997-98 Chicago Bulls

There were plenty of echoes between the 1992-93 Bulls, the last title of the first three-peat, and the 1997-98 team, the last title-winners of the second. The core of Jordan, Pippen, Rodman and Kukoc was the same, but you could see how much energy it took to stay on top and the team’s willingness to ease off the gas a bit in the regular season. They won a still-remarkable 62 games, but down from 69 the previous season and their record-setting 72 wins the year before that. Jordan still led the team and league in scoring, but with just 28.7 points per game, his lowest total since the 1985-86 season.

The Bulls rolled in the first two rounds of the playoffs, dropping just a single game as they dispatched the Nets and Hornets. However, they faced one of their toughest series during any of their championship runs, needing seven games to get past the Pacers and make the Finals. There, for the second year in a row, they found Karl Malone, John Stockton and the Utah Jazz waiting for them. The Jazz gave it everything they had but in the end, the Bulls were too deep, too polished and too good. Jordan’s iconic elbow jumper over Bryon Russell finished it and the Bulls had their second three-peat.

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