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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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(Original Caption) December 22, 1971 – Baltimore: Jerry West drives up the middle and scores in 1st period of Laker 127-120 win over Bullets. West scored 37 points in game that was 27th consecutive win for the Lakers. The Laker victory set an all time consecutive win record for all of pro sports, the 1916 N.Y. baseball Giants had held the old record of 26 consecutive wins. Wilt Chamberlain (#13) and Phil Chenier (#45) of Bullets.
(Original Caption) December 22, 1971 – Baltimore: Jerry West drives up the middle and scores in 1st period of Laker 127-120 win over Bullets. West scored 37 points in game that was 27th consecutive win for the Lakers. The Laker victory set an all time consecutive win record for all of pro sports, the 1916 N.Y. baseball Giants had held the old record of 26 consecutive wins. Wilt Chamberlain (#13) and Phil Chenier (#45) of Bullets. /

7. 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers were supposed to be done by the 1971-72 season, relegated to one of the great also-rans of NBA history. Los Angeles had lost in the NBA Finals seven times in the previous nine years, including six times to Boston and once to the New York Knicks. Many people believed the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks with second-year center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had surpassed the Lakers. Worse, the combination of Elgin Baylor (37 years old), Wilt Chamberlain (35) and Jerry West (33) were all considered past their prime.

First-year coach Bill Sharman changed the way the Lakers played, turning them into more of a fastbreak team. Baylor couldn’t take the new system and retired after nine games. Losing Baylor actually worked because it allowed guard Gail Goodrich (team-high 25.9 points per game) and forward Jim McMillan (18.8) to emerge. In addition, West responded with another great season (25.8 points and 9.7 assists per game).

Perhaps the greatest beneficiary of the system was Chamberlain, who morphed again in his great career. He focused on rebounding and defense that year, usually starting the fastbreak with his precise outlet passes. Instead of being the focus of the halfcourt offense, Chamberlain was preserved. His scoring average dropped to 14.8 per game, the first time in his career he averaged less than 20 and less than half his career average of 30.1 points. Chamberlain was incredibly efficient with his offense, leading the league with a 64.9 shooting percentage.

The new style and the combination of factors led to a historic season. Not only did the Lakers set a record for regular-season victories by going 69-13 (a mark that stood for 24 years), they also set a record with 33 consecutive victories during the season. That mark stands. After winning a brutal series with Milwaukee in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers cruised past the Knicks in the Finals, winning the series 4-1.

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