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From dominant dynasties like the Lakers and Warriors to miraculous underdog tales, we’ll delve into the defining moments and superstar players that propelled each title-winning team of the 21st century. Join us as we rank and unravel the stories behind each championship squad since 2000.
25. 2006 Miami Heat
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Year 2 of the Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade combination produced Miami’s first championship. In Year 1, the Heat won 59 games and stormed through the first two rounds of the playoffs — sweeping both the Nets and Wizards — before falling in seven games to the Detroit Pistons. In December of Year 2, Pat Riley replaced Stan Van Gundy as the head coach in December and led the Heat to glory. Miami avenged its loss to Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the powerhouse Pistons in six games.
In the NBA Finals — a series marred by questionable officiating that favored Miami — the Heat overcame an 0-2 hole and knocked off Dallas in six games. Wade became a true superstar this season and Shaq remained a high-end player, though he was no longer at his best. Aside from those two, however, the rest of the roster doesn’t stack up to the rest of the champions since 2000. Jason ‘White Chocolate’ Williams (12.3 PPG) and Antoine Walker (12.2) were the team’s third and fourth leading scorers. Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton contributed off the bench but both players were shells of their former selves.
24. 2022 Golden State Warriors
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The NBA’s most recent dynasty, the Golden State Warriors won four titles between 2015 and 2022. The most recent championship, however, was very unexpected. After appearing in five-straight NBA Finals, the Warriors bottomed out in 2020 and ’21. A 15-50 record was followed by a 39-33 mark. In ’22, the Dubs captured some of the magic they had before Kevin Durant joined the franchise. 53 wins were good enough for the 3-seed in the West. In the playoffs, Golden State took down MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round, and the Dallas Mavericks in the West Finals. In the NBA Finals, the Warriors fell behind 2-1 — but won the final three games by 10+ points. Steph Curry won Finals MVP after averaging 31/6/5.
23. 2021 Milwaukee Bucks
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For two years ahead of the 2021 season, the Milwaukee Bucks were viewed as favorites to win the championship. Led by back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee finished 1st in the East two years in a row — but came up short in the playoffs both times, losing to Toronto in the ’19 ECF and Miami in the second round in ’20. In ’21, Milwaukee entered the playoffs as the 3-seed. The Bucks survived a seven-game classic with the Kevin Durant-led Brooklyn Nets in round two and took down Atlanta in the ECF to win the East.
Matched up against Phoenix in the Finals, the Bucks fell into a 0-2 hole. However, Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton had massive performances to carry the team to glory. Antetokounmpo scored 40+ points three times including a 50-point outburst in Game 6. Middleton poured in 40 points in Game 4 to even the series. This was a very good team.
22. 2019 Toronto Raptors
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Kawhi Leonard at the peak of his powers was an absolute monster on the court. Before acquiring Leonard from San Antonio for the 2019 season, Toronto was miserable. Three-straight seasons with 51-59 wins came to an end at the hands of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers — with the Cavs going 12-2 against the Raptors in the playoffs. The franchise took a massive risk by trading away DeMar DeRozan for one year of Leonard who was set to be a free agent following the ’19 season. 58 wins in the regular season netted Toronto the 2-seed. Following a 4-1 win over Orlando in the first round, Toronto eliminated Philadelphia in seven games when Leonard hit one of the most iconic buzzer-beaters in NBA history.
In the East Finals, Toronto dispatched Milwaukee is six games despite dropping the first two contests. Then, the Raptors faced the Warriors in the Finals. Chasing a three-peat, Golden State was devastated by injuries during the series. Kevin Durant missed the first four games of the series and then tore his Achilles in Game 5. Klay Thompson missed Game 3 (a Toronto win) and tore his ACL in Game 6. Still, the Raptors were a deserving champ. Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol were an imposing six-man group.
21. 2011 Dallas Mavericks
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In the moment, the 2011 Dallas Mavericks winning the title seemed miraculous. The franchise had won between 50 and 67 games the four previous years but had only won one series during that time. In 2011, Dallas won 57 games and entered the playoffs as the 3-seed. After taking down Portland in six, Dallas was set to face the back-to-back champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavs made a stunning comeback in Game 1 and proceeded to sweep Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Next, Dallas took out a young OKC group in five games — setting up a showdown with the Miami Heat (LeBron, Wade, Bosh). Dallas fell behind 2-1 in the series but rallied to win the final three games — avenging the ’06 Finals loss in the process.
Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler, Jason Terry, Shawn Merrion and J.J. Barea played incredible ball throughout the run to glory. The triumph has looked better as time has passed, as well. En route to the championship, the Mavs knocked off a slew of Hall of Famers and future HoF players: Kobe/Pau Gasol, Durant/Westbrook/Harden, LeBron/Wade/Bosh.
20. 2020 Los Angeles Lakers
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The 2020 Lakers will forever be questioned due to their triumph taking place in ‘The Bubble’. Of course, the ’20 season was disrupted by the pandemic — resulting in the playoffs being held in an empty gym. However, this team was very good prior to the lockdown and arguably was the favorite to win the title. Before the world came to a halt, the Lakers held a 49-14 record and had just defeated two fellow title contenders — the Bucks and Clippers. When the season resumed in the Bubble, the Lakers claimed the No. 1 seed and swiftly tore through the Western Conference — eliminating Portland, Houston and Denver in five games. Led by a dominant Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Lakers outclassed Miami in the Finals — winning three games by double-digits. Davis averaged 25/11 with two blocks, while James put up 30/12/9.
19. 2012 Miami Heat
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When LeBron James and Chris Bosh opted to join Dwyane Wade in Miami, the Heat became the most disliked team in the NBA. Year 1 of the ‘Heatles’ ended with a loss to the Mavericks in the Finals — a series that saw James come up small in the biggest moment of his career. However, the team responded in a big way in Year 2. James took his game to another level en route to his third MVP and led the Heat to the 2-seed. After dispatching New York in the first round, Miami overcame a 2-1 deficit in round two and eliminated Indiana in six.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami took on a Boston team making its last stand. The Heat won the first two games of the series but lost the next three — setting up a do-or-die game in Boston. James delivered arguably the best performance of his career in Game 6 — torching the Celtics for 45 points and 15 rebounds to force Game 7. After trailing by seven at half in Game 7, the Heat outscored Boston by 20 in the second half to return to the Finals. There, Miami overwhelmed Oklahoma City en route to a 4-1 win.
18. 2007 San Antonio Spurs
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From 1999 to 2010, two teams dominated the NBA — the Spurs and Lakers. The two teams combined to win five-straight titles and 9-of-12 overall. San Antonio had won in ’99, ’03 and ’05 — with ’06 ending in the second round following a 63-win regular season. In ’07, the Spurs captured their fourth ring. Boasting the league’s best defense, the Spurs won 58 games in the regular season and entered the playoffs as the 3-seed. While Tim Duncan continued his dominance, both Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili had become stars in their own right.
The Spurs lost Game 1 to Denver to open the playoffs but then rattled off four wins in a row to advance. In round two, San Antonio battled the 61-win Suns and survived a tough six-game series. The next two rounds were light work for the champs. After pummeling Utah over five games in the West Finals, San Antonio swept LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. Parker won the Finals MVP after averaging 24.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 3.3 APG.
17. 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
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LeBron James decision to return home resulted in the Cavaliers appearing in the NBA Finals four years in a row. And while the Cavs went 1-3 against Golden State with the title on the line, their one triumph will live on forever. Facing a Warriors team that won an NBA-record 73 games, the Cavs found themselves in a 3-1 hole. Then, Draymond Green was suspended and the Cavs stole the momentum. In Game 5 at Golden State, James and Kyrie Irving each scored 41 points. Back at home for Game 6, James once again scored 41 points to force a Game 7. In the winner-take-all finale, James had a triple-double (27/11/11) and produced the greatest block in NBA history. Irving would soon hit the game-winning three-pointer to complete the epic comeback. With James, Irving and Kevin Love on the team, the Cavs were a great team.
16. 2023 Denver Nuggets
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Led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets claimed the first championship in franchise history in 2023 in dominant fashion. Riding a lineup featuring Jokic, a star guard in Jamal Murray and a stellar supporting cast including Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets went 12-3 in the Western Conference playoffs en route to the NBA Finals. In the WCF, Denver swept the 7-seed Los Angeles Lakers. At that point, the Finals felt like a mere formality. Squaring off against the 8-seed Miami Heat, the Nuggets cruised to the title in five games — winning three games by 11 points or more.
15. 2010 Los Angeles Lakers
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The acquisition of Pau Gasol in 2008 changed everything for the Lakers. With another star next to him, Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles to the NBA Finals three years in a row — capped off with a second showdown with the Boston Celtics in 2010. Attempting to go back-to-back, the Lakers won 57 games in the regular season to secure the No. 1 seed. Los Angeles knocked off Oklahoma City in six tough games, swept Utah in the second round and bested Phoenix in six games to advance to the Finals. Bryant and Gasol starred throughout the seven-game series, but Los Angeles’ supporting cast came up huge in big moments. Metta World Peace made an iconic three in the closing moments of Game 7, and stalwarts Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher played pivotal roles throughout.
14. 2015 Golden State Warriors
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We didn’t know it at the time, but Golden State’s triumph in 2015 marked the beginning of a dynasty. After the team won 51 games in ’14, coach Mark Jackson was fired and Steve Kerr was brought in to lead the young team. Golden State — led by an ascendent Steph Curry who won his first of back-to-back MVPs — won 67 games and stormed through the West playoffs. The league’s best offense had no trouble on the biggest stage. In the NBA Finals, the young Warriors fell behind Cleveland 2-1. Then, the Dubs ripped off three wins in a row — including two blowouts — to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy. While Curry averaged 26 PPG in the series, Andre Iguodala took home Finals MVP honors.
13. 2024 Boston Celtics
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The Boston Celtics dominated the league in 2024. Led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Boston demolished the competition en route to a 64-18 regular season. The Celtics finished 14 games ahead of the New York Knicks in the East and had seven more wins than Oklahoma City and Denver — the top-two seeds in the West. In the postseason, Boston benefitted from its Eastern opponents dealing with injuries. Miami’s Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier were unable to play in Round 1 — Boston won in five games, with three wins coming by 20 or more.
In Round 2, Cleveland played without center Jarrett Allen for all five games and star guard Donovan Mitchell was sidelined for Games 4 and 5. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston swept the Indiana Pacers — winning Game 1 in overtime and Games 3 and 4 by three points apiece. Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton missed the last two games of the series. In the Finals, Boston dismantled the Dallas Mavericks. Aside from a 38-point loss in Game 4, the C’s had no trouble beating the Mavs — winning two games by 18 points and two by seven points. Boston’s depth was far too much for Dallas to handle.
12. 2009 Los Angeles Lakers
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One of the more unheralded Laker title-winning teams, the ’09 outfit won 65 regular season games en route to winning the 15th championship in franchise history. The roster featured Kobe Bryant’s best supporting cast since Shaquille O’Neal’s departure five years prior. Bryant rapidly formed elite chemistry with All-Star teammate Pau Gasol. With Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom in the front court, the Lakers dominated the paint on both ends of the floor. Bryant enjoyed one of his more efficient seasons, finishing second in MVP voting behind LeBron James.
A second-round matchup with the Houston Rockets proved to be their toughest series. A 21-point, 18-rebound performance from Gasol powered a Game 7 victory. In the Finals, the Lakers were greeted by Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic — who squashed any chance of a Finals rematch by defeating the Boston Celtics before beating the James-led Cleveland Cavaliers. An overtime win in Game 4 — thanks to a couple of clutch threes from Derek Fisher — ultimately decided the series as the Lakers won 4-1. Bryant won his fourth ring and hoisted his first Finals MVP.
11. 2014 San Antonio Spurs
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Following their crushing defeat in the previous NBA Finals, the 2014 Spurs were a team on a mission. San Antonio won 62 games in a highly competitive Western Conference and finished first in net rating. Kawhi Leonard had begun coming into his own as a player in Year 3. He was named to the All-Defensive team for the first time and posted career-highs across the board. The veteran core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili were prepped for another postseason run.
Playing a beautiful brand of basketball, the Spurs carved through the West playoffs with precision and accuracy. San Antonio finished the year No. 1 in three-point percentage and assists. Their signature style featured elite ball movement, shooting ability, and unselfishness. Once they reached the Finals and stood opposite a familiar foe in the Miami Heat, it was obvious which team had the upper hand. The Spurs destroyed the Heat in the rematch, ending the series with an average margin of victory of over 20 points.
10. 2005 San Antonio Spurs
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Elite defenses ruled the NBA in the mid-2000s. The 2005 Spurs were among the best at locking opponents down and preventing scores. Led by two All-Defensive First-Team selections — Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen — the Spurs finished first in PPG allowed and routinely held teams to under 80 points. On the other end, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili had developed their offensive games enough to allow Duncan some reprieve on both ends.
Much to the dismay of the casual NBA fan, the 2005 NBA Finals featured the two best defenses in the league pitting the Spurs against the defending champion Detroit Pistons. The 100-point mark was cleared just once — Pistons in Game 4 — in the seven-game set. Homecourt advantage ended up reigning supreme, as the Spurs took Game 7 in San Antonio by a score of 81-74.
9. 2004 Detroit Pistons
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Speaking of those Pistons, the 2004 group is perhaps the best defensive team from this century. Led by three-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace and four-time All-Defensive selection Tayshaun Prince, the ’04 Pistons boasted a shutdown group that rivaled the “Bad Boys” of yesteryear. While not featuring a true superstar talent, the Pistons had a balanced starting lineup that fit perfectly together. Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton were among the best backcourt in the league, and the polarizing Rasheed Wallace had the talent to battle any of the league’s top forwards.
Entering the NBA Finals, the Pistons were labeled as massive underdogs to the star-studded Lakers. In a shocking turn of events, Detroit dominated Los Angeles from the opening tip-off — their only loss coming in an overtime slugfest in Game 2. A team led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were held to just 81.8 PPG in a five-game set. For that alone, the 2004 Pistons deserve a top-10 spot.
8. 2013 Miami Heat
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Ray Allen’s iconic shot helped cement the 2013 Miami Heat in the history books. After clinching the franchise’s second title a year prior, the Heat entered the 2012-13 season as favorites to repeat as NBA Champions. Miami won 66 games in the regular season and landed the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. This year also featured perhaps the most dominant version of LeBron James who finished the year shooting 56-percent from the field, 40-percent from three, and captured his fourth (and, most recent) regular season MVP award.
Their season nearly ended in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, but a miraculous three-pointer from Ray Allen in the closing seconds of regulation forced overtime. The Heat won the contest 103-100 and then outlasted the Spurs in Game 7 by a score of 95-88.
7. 2002 Los Angeles Lakers
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The 2002 Lakers made it look easy. Following two straight title runs, the Lakers were looking for a three-peat. It was fitting considering the phrase “three-peat” originated from the franchise in the 80s when then-coach Pat Riley said it following the ’88 and ’89 titles. In ’02, Kobe Bryant enjoyed his best regular season yet. He was named to the All-NBA First-Team and finished fifth in MVP voting. The Lakers’ two-man combo of Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal laid waste to opponents all year long.
LA’s biggest competition came in the form of the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Finals. The seven-game set was marred by an officiating scandal as the Lakers eventually came out on top. In the NBA Finals, the Nets stood no chance as Los Angeles swept New Jersey to cap off the three-peat.
6. 2018 Golden State Warriors
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Golden State sleepwalked through the entire 2018 season. Steph Curry missed 31 games as the Warriors ceded the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference to the Houston Rockets. That’s exactly who they matched up with in the Conference Finals, setting up a showdown with James Harden, Chris Paul, and company.
Houston had built its team with dethroning the Warriors in mind. And, they nearly toppled the juggernaut. The Warriors faced a 3-2 deficit in the series and had to win a Game 7 on the road. Thanks to a 7-for-44 performance from beyond the arc by the Rockets, the Warriors clinched another NBA Finals appearance. Kevin Durant dominated the Cavaliers for the second-straight year, as Golden State convincingly swept Cleveland.
5. 2008 Boston Celtics
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The Celtics had announced their arrival during the 2007 offseason after acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The two stars joined Paul Pierce to form a “Big 3” of sorts in Boston. It took no time at all for the three stars to gel. Boston sprinted to a 29-3 record to begin the season. They finished the year with 66 wins and the league’s No. 1 defense.
Postseason play proved to be a bit more difficult. Boston’s 10 losses during the 2008 playoffs were the most of any title-winning team this century. The Finals saw an old rivalry rekindled as the Celtics took on the Los Angeles Lakers. A 20-point comeback in Game 4 on LA’s home floor proved to be the turning point. The Celtics broke a 22-year dry spell to hoist their 17th banner.
4. 2003 San Antonio Spurs
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2003 was a pivotal year for the Spurs. It marked the last season for franchise stalwart David Robinson while also serving as the launch point for the next era of Spurs basketball. Second-year player Tony Parker emerged as the team’s second-leading scorer while a rookie named Manu Ginobili provided excellent play off the bench. Of course, everything revolved around league MVP Tim Duncan who was elite on both ends of the floor.
San Antonio toppled the three-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the playoffs. Duncan outplayed both Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant en route to a convincing victory. After defeating the Mavericks to advance to the NBA Finals, the Spurs matched up with the back-to-back Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Nets. While a couple of games came down to the wire, San Antonio ultimately prevailed to win their second NBA title in team history.
3. 2000 Los Angeles Lakers
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After getting swept in the playoffs each of the two previous years, the Lakers went on a coaching search prior to the 2000 NBA season. They eventually landed Phil Jackson who had led the Bulls to six NBA titles. Employing a new offensive scheme (known as the ‘Triangle’) Jackson helped the Lakers reach new heights with superstar center Shaquille O’Neal. Playing alongside O’Neal was a 21-year-old Kobe Bryant who was emerging as an NBA star.
Facing a massive deficit in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers rallied late to topple a stacked Trail Blazers team. Bryant suffered an ankle injury in the NBA Finals but mustered up enough energy to lead a crucial Game 4 win in overtime (sans O’Neal who had fouled out in regulation). O’Neal dominated the rest of the way, averaging 38 PPG and 16.7 RPG while capturing Finals MVP honors.
2. 2017 Golden State Warriors
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The Warriors stacked the deck in their favor by signing former league MVP and scoring savant Kevin Durant following the 2016 season. Durant joined a team of three All-Stars that had just won 73 games a year prior. Finishing one game short of winning a title led the Warriors to create one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
What separated this group from the rest lies in the abilities of its stars. Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green was flanked by a 7-foot Durant and a premier perimeter defender in Klay Thompson. Offensively, there was no stopping the Durant-Curry-Thompson trio once they got going. No team — past or present — could match up with that firepower. Golden State may have come short of its 73-win total from the year prior, but it demolished the competition in the postseason en route to an NBA-best 16-1 playoff run.
1. 2001 Los Angeles Lakers
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The league’s premier dynamic duo, the ’01 Lakers were a two-man show led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The inside-out combination was too much to handle. The Lakers would feed the dominant big man over and over again for easy baskets. Once it got to crunch time, Bryant had blossomed into one of the league’s top clutch players with his ability to create any shot he wanted. Sharpshooters like Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, and Robert Horry crowded the perimeter just in case teams wanted to double-team LA’s top two stars.
O’Neal and Bryant saved their best for the postseason, going 15-1 in the playoffs. Before reaching the Finals, Los Angeles swept Portland (50-32), Sacramento (55-27) and San Antonio (58-24). The lone loss came in an overtime battle against Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the Finals. LA would take the next four games against Iverson’s Sixers, capturing their second title in as many years.
