Golden State Warriors: Where Do They Stand Among All-Time Best Teams?
By Sumeet Paul
The Golden State Warriors enjoyed a dominant season last year, en route to ending their long wait for an NBA championship.
However, just how high do they rank when compared with the league’s all-time best teams?
More from Warriors News
- 3x champion may come to regret forgoing Golden State Warriors reunion
- Golden State Warriors: History shows USA may need Stephen Curry for more than the Olympics
- Golden State Warriors villain pours on more pain to end USA’s World Cup
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry continues philanthropic efforts off the court
- The Dream starting 5 for the Warriors 5 years from now
Steve Kerr’s men ended with a 67-15 record after the regular season last year, which was unsurprisingly good enough for top spot in a highly competitive Western Conference.
Despite their achievements though, their doubters questioned whether or not they would be able to maintain their form and kick on in the playoffs.
Over the course of those two months or so, the Warriors progressively silenced those doubters as they seemingly went up another gear and played their way through the West before defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals 2015.
It was a well-deserved triumph for Kerr and his players, as ultimately they proved over the course of the entire season and playoffs that they were indeed the best team in the NBA.
However, where would you rank them amongst the top teams in the history of the league?
The 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls immediately stand out after they went an all-time best 72-10 in the regular season with Michael Jordan coming out of retirement the year before to then lead them back to glory that next season.
They weren’t bad the year after either as they finished 69-13 before Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman helped them to back-to-back titles.
Outside of the Windy City, the Los Angeles Lakers registered the third best ever regular season record in 1971-1972 after going 69-13 under the leadership of Wilt Chamberlain.
The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers also feature heavily in that list, but essentially, if you’re looking at the best teams in their respective seasons, then the Warriors are competing with Jordan’s Bulls and Chamberlain’s Lakers.
More from Blue Man Hoop
- 3x champion may come to regret forgoing Golden State Warriors reunion
- Golden State Warriors: History shows USA may need Stephen Curry for more than the Olympics
- 7 players Golden State Warriors might replace Klay Thompson with by the trade deadline
- Golden State Warriors villain pours on more pain to end USA’s World Cup
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry continues philanthropic efforts off the court
There’s an argument to suggest that the Warriors will receive further praise in the years to come, especially if they can repeat and go on to dominate again next season.
For many, that will prove that this past season wasn’t a fluke and that the players are committed and are ready to go again.
It takes something very special to knock Jordan and Chicago off the top spot, and at this stage, personal belief suggests that Stephen Curry and Co. haven’t quite got the nod to be put above them.
In time, that might change. The history books and highlights don’t lie, as it was certainly a history-making season for Golden State.
However, you’ll be hard pressed to find many who believe that they were more dominant and convincing than the Bulls of 95-96, even though the ride was a whole lot of fun.