5 Greatest NBA Dynasties Ever + Fan Rankings

The Boston Celtics beat the St. Louis Hawks in 2OT of Game 7 to capture their first of 11 championships over a 13-year span on April 13, 1957 exactly 65 years ago, so it’s a great time to look at the top 5 greatest NBA dynasties of all time with them highlighting the list.

To be called a “dynasty” is possibly the most sought-after sign of respect for any core of players, coaches, and executives on one team after reaching a certain level of success. It’s already extremely difficult for a team to win a single championship, much less multiple in a relatively short period of time. Rarely does a franchise get the opportunity to be called a dynasty, as it takes extended success and unrivaled consistency.

Many players and coaches strive to become part of the next dynasty because that is the lens through which the story of a particular league is written. The teams that win multiple championships and maintain long runs of dominance in a league are the ones that will be remembered when they are done playing, whereas singular champions often fade away in significance over time.

Building a dynasty requires a concerted effort from all levels of the organization, from the ownership to the front office, the coaching staff, and of course, the players. Individuals must sacrifice at times for the good of the team, whether it be through money, playing time, or both. Many surefire dynasties over the years have been derailed by egos and team conflict.

This list includes the franchises that have written the book of NBA history, with the utter dominance of their era to go with providing some of the most legendary players ever. These teams reflect the differences between generations in the style they used to win championships. Honorable mention includes: 1980s Celtics, 2000s Spurs, 1940-50s Lakers.

Here are the top 5 greatest NBA Dynasties of all time. Create your own rankings below!