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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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PORTLAND, OR – 1987: Head Coach Pat Riley leads Magic Johnson #32, Byron Scott #4, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 during a game played circa 1987 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. 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 1987 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

This was an angry team. There are some who may argue this version of the Lakers was better than the 1984-85 team, especially since they won more games (65-17 compared to 62-20 in 1984-85) and went 15-3 in the playoffs. That included a 4-2 run through the Finals against Boston.

The Lakers were still stinging from an upset loss to Houston in the Western Conference Finals the previous season. That series loss caused an incredible amount of tension with coach Pat Riley getting an earful from Magic Johnson. Riley returned fire in an interesting way. He basically put it on Magic to become the team’s main offensive threat. With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar now 39 years old, Riley told Magic the burden to lead the team was on his shoulders.

Magic responded with perhaps the greatest offensive season of his career, averaging 23.9 points and shooting 52.2 percent from the field to go with 12.2 assists a game. Magic was in full control of the offense and no longer deferred to Kareem, who averaged 17.5 per game. Kareem was still important, particularly in the playoffs, The Lakers became deeper with seven players averaging double figures, including newcomer A.C. Green.

Yet while this team played with vengeance and the Lakers won the second of three titles in a four-year span, this team had moments when it struggled to be efficient. It couldn’t toggle back and forth from fastbreak to half-court offense as smoothly as the 1984-85 team. It won by force of will, not necessarily by the beauty of how the game is played at its best.

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