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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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SACRAMENTO, CA – DECEMBER 14: Head Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors coaches Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 against the Sacramento Kings on December 14, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. 2016-17 Golden State Warriors

Technically, the 2015-16 Warriors had the greater achievement and probably should be in this spot. But when you squander an NBA-record 73-win season, you get relegated to footnote status. The Warriors were stunned by their lost to Cleveland in the Finals and came back with two important attributes.

First, they had a sense that the regular season was far less important. They turned the season into a long dress rehearsal for the playoffs. Second, they got Kevin Durant. The combination of Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson gave the Warriors three of the greatest shooters in the history of the game.

Durant had his own reasons for signing with Golden State. He wanted to win a title and get away from teammates Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. Their relationship had become toxic from jealousy. Now, Durant was going to exact his revenge. With Durant playing in an egalitarian offensive system that rewarded his effort and shared the ball equally, the Warriors were armed to the team to win another title. The Warriors chose not to chase their own regular-season record of 73 wins from the previous season but still finished with 67 wins and a better point differential.

In the playoffs, they were simply untouchable. They went 16-1, dropping just a single game in the Finals to the Cavaliers, and outscored opponents by an average of 13.5 points per 100 possessions. Kevin Durant won Finals MVP, averaging 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 47.4 percent on 3-pointers and 92.7 percent from the line. This was one of the most talented teams in NBA history and they performed about as close to their ceiling as ever team ever has.

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