Within the world of sports, there are always dynasties that rise to the fore and go on to dominate, and the NBA is no different. Back in the 1990s, it was the Chicago Bulls that were the dominant force on the court, claiming six Larry O’Brien Championship Trophies in eight years, including two historic three-peats.
At the turn of the millennium, the balance of power headed to the Staples Center and specifically to the Los Angeles Lakers, who completed a three-peat of their own in the early 2000s. A decade later, the dominant franchise in the league remained in California. However, this time it was Steph Curry and his Golden State Warriors.
Heading into the season, however, none of those three iconic teams are among the front-runners for glory. At present, nail-biting NBA live betting odds and futures currently make the Denver Nuggets the +490 favorites to make it back-to-back championships. Inspired by the brilliance of Serbian giant Nikola Jokić, the Colorado-based outfit lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy for the first time in franchise history back in May, and they may well feature in this discussion in years to come.
Right now, they do not, and it is these three that are vying for the crown. But which of them comes out on top?
1990s Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s revolutionized the sporting world and they took basketball global rather than it being native to North America. Led by the iconic Michael Jordan – who remains perhaps the greatest player to ever step foot on the court, despite LeBron James’ achievements – the United Center side lifted the Larry O’Brien six times within a span of eight unforgettable years. Head coach Phil Jackson – who you’ll be hearing more about shortly – managed to shape his talented roster into an unstoppable force by utilizing their fast-paced offense, and the results spoke for themselves.
Alongside the iconic Air Jordan, the Bulls were stacked with talent across the court in the likes of Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr, and defensive powerhouse Dennis Rodman. In fact, the latter of those was so talented that he was a regular staple for professional wrestling company WCW, aligning himself with Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash in the nWo.
No team in recent memory has dominated in the NBA like the Bulls did. Two historic three-peats in eight years are no easy feat. In fact, MJ even had the time to spend two years playing minor-league baseball, before returning and dominating once more.
2000s Los Angeles Lakers
Following yet another title in the vaunted ‘Last Dance’ season, head coach Phil Jackson took over the Los Angeles Lakers after being fired by the Bulls, and he immediately transformed them into the best basketball team in the land. Led by superstars like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, they won three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002, taking their mastermind head coach’s personal total to nine titles in eleven years including an unprecedented nine on the spin.
2010s Golden State Warriors
Following a game of hot potato with the NBA championship, the Golden State Warriors built a dynasty of their own throughout the 2010s. They won four titles in a seven-year period between 2015 and 2022, managing an incredible 73-win season in 2016 as well as humbling LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers by twice defeating them in the NBA Finals. With a lineup spearheaded by the fearsome foursome of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, the Warriors became unstoppable with their run-and-gun offense, and with their Baby-Faced Assassin’s fearsome three-point shooting.
Their fast-paced, high-scoring offense was a joy to watch, and their trademark “Splash Brothers” – namely Curry and Thompson – backcourt was known for hitting threes from all sorts of positions. Whether the dynasty is still alive and kicking or not remains to be seen, however, they will have their work cut out if they want to catch up with the likes of the Nuggets, the Boston Celtics, and the Milwaukee Bucks.
So, Who’s the Greatest?
Each dynasty had its own brand of basketball and set of dominant players However, when it comes to picking the best out of all of them, it’s hard to see past Michael Jordan and his legendary Chicago Bulls. With six championships in eight years, including two sets of three-peats, their pedigree speaks for itself.
Experts such as the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley regularly advocate for MJ being the greatest player of all time, and as such, it’s only right that we consider his Bulls the greatest dynasty to have ever laced up its boots. Although perhaps, we should heap the praise on Phil Jackson rather than the players, as it was the esteemed head coach that racked up more medals than anyone
