Top 8: 2016-17 Golden State Warriors (67-15)

They then added Kevin Durant, surpassed 73 wins, and became an autowin. They posted the best playoff record in NBA history at 16-1. They changed the game of soccer by going small (with four future Hall of Famers: Durant, Curry, Thompson, Green) and running small-ball in their primes. The 63 wins was the most in franchise history, until it was topped last year by doing it against the 1993-94 Detroit Pistons (63-19). The “Bad Boys” rewrote the book on NBA physicality. With their Jordan Rules, they won back-to-back titles alongside Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. They steamrolled their way through the playoffs in 1989, going 15-2, included a Finals sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Top 7: 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers (65-17)

Showtime at its peak. Magic Johnson won MVP, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was still an unstoppable force at 39, and James Worthy emerged as a superstar. They finished 15-3 in the postseason, beating Larry Bird’s Celtics in the Finals. They played a fast-break style that helped redefine entertaining basketball.

Top 6: 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (69-13)

This team of Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Gail Goodrich won a then-record 69 games and had a 33-game winning streak that still stands. They were as convincing a champion as any team, raising the prospect that small-ball superstars could continue to dominate at an advanced age.

Top 5: 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (73-9)

They did not win the title, but their 73-win season set the single-season mark, breaking the Chicago Bulls' record from 1996. Stephen Curry’s unanimous MVP season changed three-point shooting. Their small-ball “Death Lineup” revolutionized modern basketball.

Top 4: 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (69-13)

Chicago’s second three-peat, first championship Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman made for perhaps the most complete Bulls team ever. Their 69 victories came in a more competitive time frame than their 72-win season.

Top 3: 1985-86 Boston Celtics (67-15)

Arguably, Larry Birds is the best team. They had amazing depth with Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Bill Walton. They were 40-1 at home and crushed the playoffs, dropping only three games total.

Top 2: 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10)

This juggernaut was created by Michael Jordan returning to full dominance following baseball. Rodman joined Jordan and Pippen to set the wins record (which would soon be eclipsed by the Warriors) and went 15-3 in the playoffs. There was no one like Jordan and their intensity on defense.

Top 1: 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs (62-20)

My controversial top pick. Their on-paper record in the regular season never quite approached historic, but their 2014 playoff run achieved basketball perfection. After suffering the heartbreaking loss in the 2013 Finals, they bounced back to put on the most beautiful display of team basketball the league has ever seen. Their Finals demolition of the super-team Heat (average margin of victory: 18 points) featured peerless ball movement, shooting and coaching. Under the genius of Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard embodied the perfect mix of youth and experience.

Honorable Mentions

2000-01 Lakers (56-26): Shaq and Kobe at their height; dominant playoff run (15-1)

2007-08 Celtics (66-16): Concept of modern super-team.

1970-71 Bucks (66-16): Kareem and Oscar Robertson glided to the title

It’s hard to rank NBA teams across eras — rules and competition and styles all change. But these ten franchises stand as pillars of basketball excellence in terms of dominance, innovation, and championship glory. The 2014 Spurs are at the top of my list for showing we don’t just need talent to win at the highest level — that selflessness and IQ as a team can defeat the most talented contingent — a lesson that still resonates in the NBA.