Which Team Is The Greatest In NBA History?
Today I will be finding the greatest team in NBA history.
Throughout NBA history there have been some great teams. Today, I will be naming the greatest team in NBA history.
Candidates:
1995-96 Chicago Bulls
1986-87 LA Lakers
1985-86 Boston Celtics
2016-17 Golden State Warriors
And my pick for the greatest team in NBA history is… the 1996 Chicago Bulls. Now let’s see why these Bulls are the greatest team in NBA history.
Roster
The 1996 Chicago Bulls were not the most stacked team in NBA history, but they were a very cohesive unit. They featured Michael Jordan, who was still in his prime years even after leaving basketball for 21 months. They had Scottie Pippen who was the ever reliable #2 to Michael. Scottie was a great scorer and passer, and was the glue guy for this team. Toni Kukoc was the European star who was a great scorer and shooter off the bench.
The Bulls also featured lots of guys who did their jobs well. Steve Kerr was the new point guard for the Bulls, and he was an exceptional shooter and passer. Dennis Rodman was the misfit who was hated by the league, but he fit in with the Bulls. He was an outstanding rebounder and did all the dirty work. While his personality and actions were excessive, he was the perfect defensive stopper for the Bulls. Rod Harper was out of his prime years, but he was a great perimeter defender and brought great veteran experience. Luc Longley was the center down low who helped with the interior defense and rebounding.
Of course you had the greatest coach ever in Phil Jackson and his triangle offense. Jackson used Native American and Zen Buddhism philosophies to bring the team together. He believed that nobody was bigger than the team, and they should play as a cohesive unit.
While this Bulls teams don’t have stars at every position, they have guys who understand what their role is and they do it well. From Michael Jordan all the way to Steve Kerr, every role for the Bulls was filled well. Phil Jackson’s strategies and philosophies brought the whole team together into one unit.
Stats
The Bulls were the greatest team ever, winning a then record of 72 games. They had some great stars and great role players throughout their lineup.
Michael was Michael. He averaged 30.4 points with 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals. Michael was not in his absolute prime, but he was still the best player in the league and led the Bulls.
Scottie helped him with 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Scottie was the all-around player that the Bulls needed.
Toni Kukoc averaged 13.1 points and shot 40% from 3, which helped stretch the defense. While Kukoc was not the starter, he was a great bench piece for the Bulls.
Luc Longley was the center down low who averaged 9.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. While his stats were not eye-popping, he was a great presence down low.
Dennis Rodman averaged 5.5 points and 14.9 rebounds. He was the biggest character, but he worked hard. His offense was limited, but he was a great defender and rebounder.
Steve Kerr and Rod Harper were the guards, with Kerr being the sharp shooter off the bench, shooting 51.5% from 3. Harper was the veteran, but he was great defensively and also shot 47% from the field.
Together, the Bulls ranked first in the league in wins with a then record of 72. They won their games by an average of 12.2 points, which was 1st in the league.
They had a 115.2 offensive rating, which was 1st in the league. They also had a 101.8 defensive rating which was also 1st in the league.
The Bulls were a great offensive and defensive team, and you could see that throughout their lineup.
Defensive Rating (Points allowed per 100 possessions)
Michael Jordan: 100
Scottie Pippen: 101
Toni Kukoc: 104
Dennis Rodman: 98
Steve Kerr: 106
Rod Harper: 102
Luc Longley: 102
So, yeah. Everybody on this team could defend. Rodman didn’t allow his opponents to score 100 points in 100 possessions, which is an amazing feat saying he played so much. Everybody who got major minutes was a great defender.
Offensive Rating (points scored per 100 possessions)
Michael Jordan: 124
Scottie Pippen: 116
Toni Kukoc: 125
Dennis Rodman: 109
Steve Kerr: 141
Rod Harper: 117
Luc Longley: 103
Again, everybody who got major minutes for this team was solid on offense. They were an all-around balanced team with no major weaknesses.
1995-96 Season
Coming off of the disappointing 1995 season in which the Bulls were knocked out of the playoffs by the Orlando Magic, the Bulls were on a revenge trail. Michael was more determined than ever, and he was taking his team with him.
By the end of 1995, the Bulls were 25-3. They had an 18 game win streak from the end of December to February. The Bulls finished the season with a 72-10 record which was the greatest record at the time. This record was broken by the 2016 Golden State Warriors who went 73-9.
In the playoffs, the Bulls swept the Miami heat in 3 games and then beat the Knicks 5 games. They got revenge on the Magic and swept them 4-0 as well. They beat the Sonics 4-2 in the Finals, completing the 1996 season with their 4th title of the decade. The Bulls went 15-3 in the playoffs, giving them a total record of 87-13 for that season.
The only reason why they are ahead of the 2016 Golden State Warriors is because they won the title. They did not give away a ring when they were the best team ever. The Bulls dominated throughout the season, and there was no doubt that they would not win the title.
So, all in all, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls are the greatest team ever. They had great players like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, and they had great role players like Steve Kerr and Luc Longley. Everybody on their roster had a job, and they did it well. Phil Jackson made the team of wild characters and egos come together and make them one cohesive unit. They were great on offense and defense, and no team will ever quite remake their greatness and dominance.
But, what do you think? Are the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls the greatest team ever? If not, who is? Leave all of your comments down below.
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