Aside from the “Top 10 Coaches” and “50 Greatest Players” that was selected and announced during the “NBA at 50/NBA’s 50th Anniversary.” The NBA Top 10 Teams were selected also. The selected top 10 teams was compiled based upon unranked selection undertaken exclusively by members of the print and broadcast media who regularly cover the NBA. Teams were chosen from among all single-season individual teams. Each team won the NBA championship, and they combined to average 66 wins per season.
Abbreviation used:
L-Lost
W- Win
I listed the top 10 in chronological order (by season year)
| Description | |||
Led by Bill Russell, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, Tom Sanders and Tom Heinsohn...Broke its own league record for most victories in a season and went on to win the Celtics' seventh consecutive NBA championship...Battled the Philadelphia 76ers in an East Finals for the ages, winning Game Seven 110-109; John Havlicek's deflection at game's end produced the legendary "Havlicek stole the ball!" radio call from Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most...Defeated the L.A. Lakers 4-1 in 1965 NBA Finals.
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| Roster and head coach | |||
Ron Bonham, Mel Counts, John Havlicek, Tom Heinsohn, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, Willie Naulls, Bevo Nordmann, Bill Russell, Tom Sanders, Larry Siegfried, John Thompson, Gerry Ward, coach Red Auerbach
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| K. Jones, S. Jones, Heinsohn, Russell, Havlicek | S. Jones, Russell, Havlicek | ||
| Description | |||
Propelled by Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker and Billy Cunningham, started the season 46-4 and went on to set record for most victories in a season (broken by 1971-72 L.A. Lakers)...Ended Celtics' run of eight consecutive championships by defeating Boston 4-1 in Eastern Division Finals...Defeated the San Francisco Warriors 4-2 in 1967 NBA Finals.
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| Roster and head coach | |||
Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Costello, Billy Cunningham, Dave Gambee, Hal Greer, Matt Guokas, Luke Jackson, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni, Chet Walker, Bob Weiss, coach Alex Hannum
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| Greer, Chamberlain, Cunningham | Greer, Chamberlain, Cunningham | ||
| Description | |||
Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dick Barnett, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley and Cazzie Russell starred for one of the best passing teams in NBA history...Captured New York's first NBA Championship by defeating Los Angeles 4-3 in the memorable 1970 NBA Finals...Captain Willis Reed, who missed Game Six due to a torn leg muscle, hobbled onto the Madison Square Garden floor before Game Seven and scored New York's first two baskets to inspire the Knicks to a 113-99 victory.
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| Roster and head coach | |||
Dick Barnett, Nate Bowman, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Walt Frazier, Bill Hosket, Don May, Willis Reed, Mike Riordan, Cazzie Russell, Dave Stallworth, John Warren, coach Red Holzman
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| Frazier, Bradley, DeBusschere, Reed | Frazier, DeBusschere, Reed | ||
| Description | |||
Gail Goodrich, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim McMillian and Happy Hairston combined to bring Lakers their first championship of the Los Angeles era...Broke Philadelphia's 1966-67 record for wins in a season (broken by Chicago in 1995-96), at one point winning 33 consecutive games, a record that still stands...Won NBA record 16 consecutive road games...Best road winning percentage in NBA history (.816; 31-7)...Defeated New York 4-1 in 1972 NBA Finals.
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| Roster and head coach | |||
Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim Cleamons, LeRoy Ellis, Keith Erickson, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston, Jim McMillian, Pat Riley, Flynn Robinson, John Trapp, Jerry West, coach Bill Sharman
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| Goodrich, West, Chamberlain, Baylor | Goodrich, West, Chamberlain, Baylor | ||
| Description | |||
Moses Malone joined the 76ers as a free agent and teamed with Julius Erving, Andrew Toney, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones to bring the 76ers their first title in 16 seasons...Malone proclaimed the 76ers would sweep through the NBA Playoffs in "Fo', Fo', Fo'" and he wasn't far off as Philadelphia cruised in "Fo', Fi', Fo'" to post the best winning percentage in NBA Playoffs history at .923 (12-1)
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| Roster and head coach | |||
J. J. Anderson, Maurice Cheeks, Earl Cureton, Franklin Edwards, Julius Erving, Marc Iavaroni, Clemon Johnson, Reggie Johnson, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, Mark McNamara, Clint Richardson, Russ Schoene, Andrew Toney, coach Billy Cunningham
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| Erving, Malone | Erving, Malone | ||
| Description | |||
Stung by a 4-2 loss to the L.A. Lakers in the 1985 NBA Finals, Larry Bird led the Celtics featuring Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge and a rejuvenated Bill Walton to the best record in franchise history and a 4-2 defeat of Houston in the 1986 NBA Finals...Posted 40-1 record at Boston Garden, best home winning percentage (.976) in NBA history...Fifth-best overall winning percentage ever (.817).
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| Roster and head coach | |||
Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle, Dennis Johnson, Greg Kite, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Jerry Sichting, David Thirdkill, Sam Vincent, Bill Walton, Scott Wedman, Sly Williams, coach K. C. Jones
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| McHale, Bird, Parish, Walton, Johnson | McHale, Bird, Parish, Walton, Johnson | ||
| Description | |||
The Lakers recaptured their place atop the NBA thanks to the "Showtime" fast-break style spearheaded by Earvin "Magic" Johnson and teammates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, A.C. Green and Michael Cooper...Johnson averaged a career-best 23.9 points per game and led the league in assists with a 12.2 average...Lakers defeated Boston 4-2 in the 1987 NBA Finals after winning 11 of their first 12 games in the playoffs.
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| Roster and head coach | |||
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Adrian Branch, Frank Brickowski, Michael Cooper, A. C. Green, Magic Johnson, Wes Matthews, Kurt Rambis, Mike Smrek, Byron Scott, Billy Thompson, Mychal Thompson, James Worthy, coach Pat Riley
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| Johnson, Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar | Johnson, Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar | ||
| Description | |||
Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Joe Dumars, Mark Aguirre, Vinnie Johnson and Dennis Rodman combined to form the heart of one of the strongest defensive teams in the modern era...Lacking a dominant center, Pistons featured a potent three-guard rotation and a deep bench that rebounded and defended relentlessly...Pistons were 15-2 in 1989 playoffs, including 4-0 sweep of L.A. Lakers in 1989 NBA Finals.
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| Roster and head coach | |||
Mark Aguirre, Adrian Dantley, Darryl Dawkins, Fennis Dembo, Joe Dumars, James Edwards, Steve Harris, Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer, John Long, Rick Mahorn, Pace Mannion, Dennis Rodman, Jim Rowinski, John Salley, Isiah Thomas, Micheal Williams, coach Chuck Daly
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| Thomas, Dumars, Dantley | Thomas | ||
| Description | |||
Michael Jordan dominated the NBA and received strong support from teammates Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, B.J. Armstrong, Bill Cartwright and John Paxson...Topped previous championship season by winning six more games than in 1990-91, the fifth-winningest season in league history...Defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 4-2 in 1992 NBA Finals.
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| Roster and head coach | |||
B.J. Armstrong, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant, Bob Hansen, Craig Hodges, Dennis Hopson, Michael Jordan, Stacey King, Cliff Levingston, Chuck Nevitt, John Paxson, Will Perdue, Scottie Pippen, Mark Randall, Rory Sparrow, Scott Williams, coach Phil Jackson
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| Jordan, Pippen | Jordan, Pippen | ||
| Description | |||
Featuring Superman (Michael Jordan), Batman (Scottie Pippen) and Rodman (Dennis Rodman), Bulls shattered record for most wins in a regular season...Won 87 of 100 games, including the playoffs...Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoc and Steve Kerr rounded out core of driven team that featured triangle offense...Started season an amazing 41-3...Jordan's first full season since returning from retirement.
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| Roster and head coach | |||
Randy Brown, Jud Buechler, Jason Caffey, James Edwards, Jack Haley, Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoc, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Dickey Simpkins, Bill Wennington, coach Phil Jackson
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| Players in the Hall of Fame | Players on the 50 Greatest Players list | ||
| Jordan, Pippen | Jordan, Pippen | ||
NBA Related Topics
NBA News And Updates NBA at 50 / NBA’s 50th Anniversary NBA 50 Greatest Basketball Players NBA Top 10 Coaches Updates And Trivia Why Lebron James Wants To Change His Number |
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Greatest_Players_in_NBA_History
http://www.nba.com/history/toptenteams_index.html
