Who are the greatest 10 NBA champions? We have had some excellent NBA champions over the past decade, including some of the greatest teams ever led by superstar players. It is never easy to rank NBA championship teams because they all deserved to be champions depending on their circumstances. Thanks to a mix of talent, experience, coaching, and luck, each NBA team reigned supreme correctly every season since the 2012-13 NBA season.
It is time to rank these NBA champions, however, based on overall team talent and the impact of their players. A team with more superstar talent will be ranked those without an array of stars, but that won’t be the only criterion to rank teams. Seeing which team had the better record, dominance over a campaign, and the totality of their roster in terms of depth will be taken into account. Without further ado, here is the ranking of the last 10 NBA champions.
10. 2018-19 Toronto Raptors
Best Players: Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic 4-1
Second Round: Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers 4-3
Eastern Conference Finals: Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks 4-2
NBA Finals: Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors 4-2
The 2018-19 Toronto Raptors shocked the world when they won the NBA championship. They certainly had some help in the NBA Finals as Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson went down with season-ending injuries in the series, giving Kawhi Leonard and company a chance to win it all at their expense. However, their season was iconic from start to finish.
For one, they traded for disgruntled superstar Kawhi Leonard after he forced his way out of San Antonio. Everyone knew Leonard would be a one-year rental as he wanted to play in Los Angeles, but the Raptors took the risk anyway and included beloved All-Star DeMar DeRozan in the deal. Next, they added former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol to beef up the frontline and made it clear they wanted a deep playoff run.
By building around Leonard with Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol, Norman Powell, and Serge Ibaka, the Raptors had a ton of defensive-minded veterans who play hard on both ends and accommodate a superstar of Leonard’s caliber. Kawhi’s game-winner against the Philadelphia 76ers in the playoffs was iconic, and the Raptors would go on to have a story-like run to the Finals as they won their first-ever championship. No doubt, as good as Toronto was, Kawhi Leonard was the only true star of that team, and it was his championship to show off.
9. 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks
Best Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat 4-0
Second Round: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets 4-3
Eastern Conference Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks 4-2
NBA Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns 4-2
The 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks made a surprising decision to part ways with three first-round picks to acquire two-way guard Jrue Holiday before the season. The price was certainly high, as Holiday had last made the All-Star Team eight years prior, but it proved to be the right one. Holiday formed a “Big Three” with Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, and the rest was history.
Milwaukee finished with a 46-36 record which was good for third in the Eastern Conference and had the two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo as their star. The Greek Freak was by far the best two-way player in the world because he could score with ease, rebound, pass, and play lockdown defense in all positions. The Bucks knew something we didn’t, and that was the fact the team needed help in their guard play.
Milwaukee swept the Miami Heat in the first round, survived Kevin Durant’s heroics in round two against the Brooklyn Nets, and made it to the NBA Finals after disposing of the Atlanta Hawks in six games. In the Finals, despite being down 2-0, the Bucks roared back, thanks to Giannis and company, as everyone played their role in capturing the franchise’s second-ever championship. Giannis’ 50-point Game 6 is the highest output ever by a player in a closeout game in history.
8. 2021-22 Golden State Warriors
Best Players: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets 4-1
Second Round: Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies 4-2
Eastern Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks 4-1
NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics 4-2
The 2021-22 Golden State Warriors were respected for their championship experience and All-Star core, but not many placed them at the top of the list to win it all. The franchise had struggled since Kevin Durant’s departure in the 2020 season and dealt with constant injuries to both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. However, the Warriors knew what they were doing by bringing Andrew Wigins on board.
Wiggins became an All-Star in the 2022 season and actually started for the Western Conference thanks to his terrific perimeter defense and improved offensive role with the team. Jordan Poole also became a terrific scorer for the franchise as he averaged 18.5 PPG in only his third season as he led the NBA in FT percentage and became known as the third “Splash Brother.” The team finished with a solid 53-29 record which was third in the West, and geared up for a playoff run.
The Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets handily in the first round, as Nikola Jokic didn’t have Jamal Murray by his side. The team took care of business against the Memphis Grizzlies as well, with Ja Morant dealing with his own injuries. It took five games for the Warriors to dismantle the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks after the Phoenix Suns shockingly lost their Game 7.
In the Finals, the Warriors’ experience showed as they took advantage of Jayson Tatum’s poor series to win their 4th championship in the Stephen Curry era. Finally, Curry would go on to win his first Finals MVP trophy.
7. 2014-15 Golden State Warriors
Best Players: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans 4-0
Second Round: Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies 4-2
Eastern Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets 4-1
NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2
The 2014-15 Golden State Warriors did not have Kevin Durant yet, but they had a spectacular core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green under exceptional head coach Steve Kerr. The Warriors won 67 games in the regular season as the trio of stars was bolstered by Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala, David Lee, and Shaun Livingston.
The Warriors did not have much trouble in the first three rounds of the playoffs as their chemistry and shooting were at another level against the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets. In the Finals, however, it wasn’t going to be easy taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love in their first season together. The Warriors ended up having luck, however, as both Kyrie and Love would miss the majority of the series, leaving James, along with Matthew Dellavedova, as his best teammate. Undermanned, LeBron James tried his best but could not win on his own.
The Warriors ended up defeating the Cavaliers in six games, with Andre Iguodala completely changing the series. The “Death Lineup” saw Iguodala compete at power forward and also defend LeBron James for the majority of the series, keeping The King from pulling off a miracle. Iguodala was solid all year, but his play in the NBA Finals earned him the Finals MVP trophy, even if Stephen Curry was the best player for the Warriors.
6. 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs
Best Players: Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks 4-3
Second Round: San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers 4-1
Eastern Conference Finals: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2
NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat 4-1
The 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs did not need Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili in their primes to win the NBA title. They needed their experience, along with Kawhi Leonard’s ascension into a superstar under Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich. The Spurs lost the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat in the 2013 Finals, and that stung because they had the series won before Ray Allen’s three-point tying shot changed Game 6.
However, revenge would be sweet as the Spurs won 58 games and began a new era with Leonard taking over both ends of the court. The playoffs were quite simple sailing for the Spurs as they defeated the first three opponents with a record of 12-2, losing two games to the Golden State Warriors. In the Finals, the Spurs were completely dominant against the returning Miami Heat superteam that made its fourth straight Finals appearance.
Kawhi Leonard defended LeBron James for the series, and the veterans Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili did their job on both ends of the floor. Leonard earned Finals MVP honors as the Miami Heat era would officially be over with Dwyane Wade starting to show his age and Chris Bosh not cutting it anymore. The Spurs also managed to win the title through a record-margin victory.
5. 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers
Best Players: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons 4-0
Second Round: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks 4-0
Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors 4-2
NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 4-3
The 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers made their second-straight Finals appearance thanks to LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. The team returned to face the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, and it looked like the same result would occur as the Cavs were down 3-1 and looked to be heading out in disastrous fashion.
However, the Warriors might have poked the bear because LeBron James would not accept defeat for the second-straight season and kickstarted the most historical comeback in NBA history. James led the charge as the Cavaliers won three straight games to win the NBA title and solidify his greatness as a top-five player ever. The fact that the Cavs defeated the 73-win Golden State Warriors team still shocks people to this day because going down 3-1 should have been the end of it.
Credit should go to Kevin Love for playing a solid third-man role while Kyrie Irving put up one clutch performance after another. Kyrie’s game-winner over Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the Finals was the icing on the cake for the Cavs, and they certainly had the best team of the LeBron era in Cleveland. The King captured Finals MVP by having himself a spectacular series posting 29.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, and 8.9 APG.
4. 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers
Best Players: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers 4-1
Second Round: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets 4-1
Eastern Conference Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets 4-1
NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat 4-2
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are a duo that is shockingly dominant. Both players are supremely large in terms of height and size but also talented as all-around players. The King wanted to play for the Los Angeles Lakers franchise, and many felt that his decision to join the Californian franchise was purely business based. However, that wasn’t the case.
Despite being older, James was still the best passer in the NBA, as he led the league in APG with Anthony Davis carrying the scoring load in the regular season. The King paced himself in the regular season, and the Lakers won 52 games in the lockout-shortened season. The break in the middle of the season gave James enough rest for a deep playoff run.
The Lakers did not only have two elite superstars but a roster filled with size and defensive players. Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee played massive roles at center, which allowed Davis to occupy the power forward spot, and two-way perimeter players Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could make threes and defend. Rajon Rondo actually ended up being the Lakers’ third star as “Playoff Rondo” was born with the point guard making key passes and clutch shots throughout the postseason.
3. 2012-13 Miami Cheat
Best Players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks 4-0
Second Round: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls 4-1
Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers 4-3
NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs 4-3
The 2012-13 Miami Heat went back-to-back, completing a difficult victory against the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat were the favorites in the Eastern Conference all year long, finishing with 66 wins and losing only one game in two rounds against the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. It did take seven games to take out the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they got the job done.
The trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh were exceptional together because they could score the ball at a high level in transition and in the half-court. James was the best player in the world, winning his fourth MVP award, and averaged 26.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 7.3 APG on 56.5% from the field while playing some hellacious defense. Wade and Bosh also did their thing over the season, posting 21.2 PPG and 16.6 PPG, respectively.
In the NBA Finals, it took a miracle shot by Ray Allen in Game 6 to give Miami a fighting chance to survive and get to Game 7. In that pivotal Game 7, The King had his best closeout performance by dropping 37 points thanks to a myriad of outside jumpers. Wade and Bosh were All-Star-worthy teammates, but LeBron’s exceptional Game 7 was the deciding factor in the series after Allen’s shot.
2. 2017-18 Golden State Warriors
Best Players: Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs 4-1
Second Round: Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans 4-1
Eastern Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets 4-3
NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0
The 2017-18 Golden State Warriors were the favorites during the season, led by superstar forward Kevin Durant and a superstar backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The Warriors finished with 58 wins in the season which was good for second in the West behind the Houston Rockets. In the postseason, the Warriors only lost two games through two rounds at the expense of the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans.
In the Western Conference Finals, it took seven games to get rid of the pesky Houston Rockets led by James Harden and Chris Paul. It took a significant injury to Paul in Game 6 and Game 7, which gave the Warriors a shot to win the last two games despite falling 2-3 in the series. The Warriors were simply too skilled for Harden to win a game on his own.
In the NBA Finals, it was far too easy for Golden State. The Cleveland Cavaliers had LeBron James and Kevin Love, but not having Kyrie Irving meant there was no chance for the team to win it all. The Warriors ended up sweeping the Cavs in an embarrassing fashion, not losing a single game even if LeBron had a 51-point performance in Game 1.
1. 2016-17 Golden State Warriors
Best Players: Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson
Road To The NBA Championship:
First Round: Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers 4-0
Second Round: Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz 4-0
Eastern Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs 4-0
NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1
The 2016-17 Golden State Warriors are the best team over the past ten years and arguably the greatest team ever assembled. This was the first year in which Kevin Durant joined Golden State, and the superstar core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala had a ton of help. To be fair, no other team had a chance to win a title.
The Warriors won 67 games in the regular season, and Kevin Durant showed he can play unselfish basketball despite being the man in Oklahoma City. Alongside Curry and Thompson, there wasn’t a better shooting trio in NBA history. In the playoffs, the Warriors were even better in the playoffs, and it was amazing to watch because there wasn’t a single team that could compete with their talent and experience.
Golden State swept the first three rounds of the playoffs at the expense of the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, and San Antonio Spurs. In the NBA Finals, the Warriors faced the Cleveland Cavaliers led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. The Warriors took Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3 thanks to Kevin Durant, lost Game 4, and closed out the Cavs in Game 5. Kevin Durant made the Warriors completely unstoppable because he added a 4-time scoring talent to a 73-9 team, and the core was the greatest over the past decade.
