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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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BOSTON, MA – MAY 18: Students swarm Bill Russell after he gave a speech at the Patrick T. Campbell Junior High School “Freedom Graduation” in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, June 22, 1966. (Photo by Frank O’Brien/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 18: Students swarm Bill Russell after he gave a speech at the Patrick T. Campbell Junior High School “Freedom Graduation” in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, June 22, 1966. (Photo by Frank O’Brien/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

60. 1967-68 Boston Celtics

The complete greatness of Bill Russell was thoroughly tested in this season. In the prior year, Russell took over as the player-coach of the team after Red Auerbach failed to convince former players Frank Ramsay, Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn to take the job. Russell was the first black coach in NBA history. Boston’s streak of eight-consecutive titles came to an end against the powerful Philadelphia 76ers with Wilt Chamberlain. Some in Boston thought the dual job of coach and player was too much for Russell, much of that criticism cloaking racist beliefs.

The 1967-68 season proved all of the criticism wrong. Russell led the Celtics to another title in dramatic fashion. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston was down 3-1 to Philadelphia. The series was overshadowed by the assassination of Martin Luther King. Many of the players didn’t want to play. However, with Russell making several clever adjustments and then playing brilliantly in Game 7, the Celtics became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the playoffs. In the Finals, the Celtics took down the Lakers yet again, winning the series 4-2.

59. 1965-66 Boston Celtics

This was the final year of Red Auerbach as a head coach before he became a full-time executive. Auerbach, as he was wont to do, went out in style. While Sam Jones had emerged as a great scorer the previous season by averaging 25.9 points a game, this was the first year Jones was the true offensive leader. Two years before, Bob Cousy had retired. After the 1964-65 season, Tommy Heinsohn retired, clearing the decks of the old-guard offensive scheme. Between Jones and John Havlicek, the Celtics were on to the next iteration of their offense.

The principles of the attack were the same. The Celtics wanted to play open-court basketball and wear out opponents. The difference with Jones and Havlicek is they were the best individual scorers the team had ever had and their presence allowed for more diversity when the Celtics got into half-court situations. That became critically important in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers, when the run-and-gun series slowed down to a crawl for one game.

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