Ranking the 5 most successful NBA teams of the last 25 years

The NBA is made of dreams, efforts, and passion. All equally mixed together in one big pot of basketball. 30 teams competing in two conferences. Year-after-year, barring a few shutdowns and pandemics, the league continues.

New talents come onboard, with new dreams and new hopes. Old veterans play-on alongside the younglings, teaching them the ways of the league, teaching them what goes into becoming a better player with each passing season. And players older-still bid the sport and its fans a goodbye, leaving space for the cycle to continue.

Who are the five most successful NBA teams in the last 25 years

One thing that unites every player, every team in this big shiny pot of basketball, is their hunger to be successful. And in the NBA, the epitome of success is winning a championship. Let's take a look at the five most successful NBA teams in the last 25 years.

#5 Chicago Bulls - 2 championships

Chicago Bulls celebrate thei 1997 championship win

The Chicago Bulls were perhaps the most notable team of the 90s. Even as the decade was getting closer to its end, the Bulls were still winning championships and dominating the league. In the 1996-97 season, exactly 25 years ago, the Michael Jordan led-Bulls were the defending champions having won the 1996 ring.

“This, to me, is like Michael Jordan returning to the Bulls.” - Michael Wilbon on Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United pic.twitter.com/73vlLzynNF

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) August 28, 2021

The team was without a doubt built around the widely considered greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan. The Bulls roster also included the star power of players Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr and Toni Kukoc.

This team would win the 1996-97 and 1997-98 NBA championship as well. Even without us being able to count the three-peat, the Chicago Bulls are one of the most successful NBA teams in the last 25 years.

#4 Miami Heat - 3 championships

LeBron James dunks in a Miami Heat v Sacramento Kings game

The Miami Heat have won three championships in the last 25 years. They won their first ring in 2006 against the Dallas Mavericks. Both Miami and Dallas appeared in their first NBA Finals, but the duo of Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal proved too much for the Dirk Nowitzki-led Mavs.

Despite being arguably the greatest player in Heat history, Dwyane Wade was never the highest paid player on any of Miami’s rosters.He was making just 3 million when he led them to a ring in 2006. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/y4o2ygHScS

— Statline - Basketball & NBA News (@statline_) August 24, 2021

The City of Miami would go on to win two more championships in 2012 and 2013. This time around they had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, an unstoppable trio that would dominate the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012 and the San Antonio Spurs in 2013.

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#3 Golden State Warriors - 3 championships

2016 NBA Finals - Game Seven - LeBron after winning the chip

The Golden State Warriors became an NBA championship contender team under the leadership of Stephen Curry and the coaching of Steve Kerr. The team quite literally changed the modern game of basketball and how the teams approach their offensive set pieces.

However, their ability and torch-bearer style of play isn't what makes them so successful, successful enough to be ranked above the Jordan-led Bulls and LeBron-led Heat. The real reason for their unquestionable success lies in their three championship wins off their five consecutive finals appearances.

They were first crowned kings in 2015 by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers. They beat the LeBron James-led Cavs twice again in 2016 and 2017.

#2 San Antonio Spurs - 5 championships

The San Antonio Spurs in the last 25 years have served as the custodians of the league. They would come awake during a vacuum of power to be the underdogs everyone roots for. In later years they became balance keepers, bringing a young champion team stuck in hubris to their knees.

From 1999 to 2014, the Spurs would go on to win five NBA championships. They thwarted the New York Knicks in 1999, New Jersey Nets in 2003, Detroit Pistons in 2005, Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007, and Miami Heat in 2014.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili became the spine around which the San Antonio Spurs would build their legacy. Young Kawhi joined them in the legendary big threes one last NBA Championship campaign.

#1 LA Lakers - 6 championships

Tim Duncan contesting a lay-up during Spurs v Lakers in 2001

The LA Lakers are undoubtedly one of the two best teams in the history of the league. The Boston Celtics are the only ones in that can rival the Laker's 17 NBA Championships. The Lakers have won at least one championship every decade since the league's inception.

In the last 25 years, their success has been unrivaled. They have won six championships since the 1996-97 NBA season. Their 2000, 2001, 2003 championship stands as the only three-peat in the last 25 years.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal are perhaps the most dominant duo in the league's history. Shaq's attack from the center, and Kobe Bryant's runs and assaults from the wings, were anything but stoppable.

Shaq: “I said Kobe there’s no “I” in team.”Kobe: “I know, but there’s a “ME” in that motherfu**er”😂🙏 pic.twitter.com/xTnjplDFYe

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 23, 2021

Black Mamba took the purple-and-golds to two more championships in 2009 and 2010. If not for Bryant's ankle injury, perhaps they could have repeated another three-peat. LeBron James and Anthony Davis helped the Lakers win their most recent NBA Championship in 2020.