It’s time for the latest edition of Mazz’s Tiers! With the Boston Celtics getting closing in on their 18th NBA Championship, Mazz decided it was a good time to rank the NBA Championship teams since 1980!
But before the Tiers, here’s a look at some of the teams who’ll appear on the list…
Prior to the 2010-11 NBA season LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat to create one of the league’s first “Super Teams”. The Heat would go on to make the next four NBA Finals and ultimately win the 2012 and 2013 NBA Finals.
From 2000-2002 the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, won three consecutive NBA Finals. O’Neal won the MVP of the Finals in all three of those championships.
Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won six of eight NBA Finals from 1991-1998. The two Finals that the Bulls didn’t win during that time frame, 1994 and 1995, occurred while Jordan was “retired”. The Houston Rockets won both of those championships in 1994 and 1995.
The 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers were down 3-1 in the NBA Finals to the defending champions Golden State Warriors. The Cavaliers would go on to win the final three games and upset the Warriors, who had won 73 games during the regular season.
From 1999 to 2015 the San Antonio Spurs were champions of the NBA five times. Tim Duncan was a member of all five of those teams and Tony Parker was on the team for the last four of them. Gregg Popovich coached all five Spurs championship teams.
From 2015-2019 the Golden State Warriors went to five consecutive NBA Finals. They would win the 2015, 2017, and 2018 titles. The Warriors then added a fourth NBA time in the 21st Century with a championship victory over the Celtics in 2022.
Tier 1
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-85 to win the 2018 NBA Finals. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980’s (5)
Larry Bird Boston Celtics of the 1980’s – especially the 1986 team (3)
Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls of the 1990’s (6 out of 8)
Shaquille O’Neal Los Angeles Lakers of the early 2000’s (3)
Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs (5 from 1999-2014)
Golden State Warriors of this millennium (4)
Tier 2
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 20: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat reacts in the third quarter while taking on the San Antonio Spurs during Game Seven of the 2013 NBA Finals at AmericanAirlines Arena on June 20, 2013 in Miami, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
1983 Philadelphia 76ers – 67-15 record and 12-1 in the playoffs
1994 and 1995 Houston Rockets – Years between the Jordan Bulls
1989-1990 Detroit Pistons
LeBron James Miami Heat – (2012 and 2013)
Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers (2009 and 2010)
Tier 3
DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 12: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with his daughter Ognjena after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at Ball Arena on June 12, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
2023-24 Boston Celtics (If (WHEN) they win)
2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks
2019-2020 Los Angeles Lakers (bubble)
2022-23 Denver Nuggets
2018-19 Toronto Raptors
2005-06 Miami Heat
2010-11 Dallas Mavericks
2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers
2007-08 Boston Celtics
