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“Showtime” Lakers dynasty
One of the earliest NBA franchises with one of the most colorful histories, from their days in Fort Wayne to the Dave Bing/Bob Lanier eras to the “Bad Boys” dynasty and beyond
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American Basketball Association (ABA)
The ultimate rebel basketball league, it ran from 1967 to 1976, featured a colorful cast of players, coaches, and owners, launched the careers of Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and more, all before merging with the NBA and providing the Pacers, Spurs, Nets, and Nuggets
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Arizona Wildcats
A modern powerhouse out in the desert, Arizona rose up under Lute Olsen into a yearly threat, which peaked in a 1997 national title but also included multiple notable upset victimizations
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Atlanta Hawks
One of the NBA’s most tumultuous but prosperous early franchises, with three relocations but also a 1958 title. Settled into Atlanta in the late ’60s but are now over a half century removed from their last NBA Finals appearance.
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Baltimore Bullets (Original, 1947-1954)
Originally an ABL franchise, they joined the BAA in 1947 and shocked everyone by winning a title in their first season. But mismanagement led to their folding just seven years later.
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Bird Celtics dynasty
Everybody heard about the Bird, as Larry and company picked up three championships in the ’80s, with a freewheeling style that lacked the glitz of “Showtime” but got similar results
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Boston Celtics
A charter NBA franchise, the all-time leaders in championships and arguably the league’s quintessential team, with superstars like Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and Dave Cowens roaming the parquet floor at the Boston Garden
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Brooklyn Nets
An ABA powerhouse that struggled with financial issues post-merger, settling into a lengthy malaise until Jason Kidd came to town and turned them into a contender.
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Buffalo Braves
An NBA expansion franchise in 1970, they were a playoffs staple during their first decade, led by league MVP Bob McAdoo, but didn’t last long in upstate New York, relocating to San Diego in 1978
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Charlotte Hornets
Their ’90s Starter jackets were the ultimate NBA fashion statement and Larry Johnson matched that flashy style on the court, but it’s been nothing but mediocrity for the team in the 21st century, since reconstituting as the Bobcats.
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Chicago Bulls
One of the earliest expansion franchises, they made some inspiring runs in the ’70s but were floundering until Michael Jordan came along, transforming and defining the Bulls with his eight-year dynasty run. Post-Jordan has been a series of stops and starts.
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Everything can be split into BL (Before LeBron) and LE (LeBron Era), a franchise wandering in the wilderness until a King led them to the promised land in 2016 and brought new hope to a championship starved city.
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College basketball
The pinnacle of amateur competition in the United States, college basketball has served as not just a feeder system for pro leagues but a consistent source of exciting basketball, especially come March
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Connecticut Huskies
Easily the nation’s most successful program when combining the men’s and women’s levels, they have 18 combined championships and have produced legends like Sue Bird, Ray Allen, and Diana Taurasi
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Dallas Mavericks
Joined the NBA in 1980 to complete the Texas trifecta, had some early spotty success, then rocketed into title contention with Dirk Nowitzki’s drafting and Mark Cuban’s purchasing.
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Denver Nuggets
Points have always come easy in the Mile High City, from their early days in the ABA through the Doug Moe up-tempo ’80s, but championship success wasn’t attainable until Nikola Jokic came to town.
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Detroit Pistons
One of the earliest NBA franchises with one of the most colorful histories, from their days in Fort Wayne to the Dave Bing/Bob Lanier eras to the “Bad Boys” dynasty and beyond
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Dream Team (1992 U.S. Olympic men’s team)
The greatest basketball team ever assembled, with 11 future Naismith Hall of Fame inductees coming together to dominate international competition at the 1992 Olympics and change the sport forever
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Duke Blue Devils
The premier program of the modern NCAA era, with 13 Final Four appearances and five titles under Coach K. NBA success… not so much, but there have been some superstars over the years like Grant Hill, Kyrie Irving, and Jayson Tatum.
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Georgetown Hoyas
One of the original Big East programs and a standard bearer of ’80s college basketball, they won a title in 1984 and have produced legends Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson
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Golden State Warriors
Champions of the first NBA season, they later added a second title in Philly then headed West, where Golden State success came in the ’70s and ’10s
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Houston Rockets
Began life in San Diego but the Rockets nickname carried over perfectly to their permanent home in Houston. Consistently solid since the late ’70s, peaking with Hakeem Olajuwon leading them to back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995.
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Indiana Hoosiers
From basketball’s heartland, they’ve won national championships and their history is tied up, for better or worse, in controversial longtime coach Bobby Knight
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Indiana Pacers
The patron saint of small market NBA franchises, they dominated the ABA but struggled post-merger; their ’90s rivalry with the Knicks is a notable peak
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Jordan Bulls dynasty
They owned sports in the ’90s, not just in trophies and records set but in cultural impact, winning six championships and vaulting Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman into mega celebrity status
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Kansas Jayhawks
Rock, chalk, Jayhawk, University of Kansas has won four national titles, launched the career of Wilt Chamberlain, and their original coach was none other than James Naismith
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Kentucky Wildcats
The all-time winningest program in college basketball history, from Adolph Rupp to Rick Pitino to John Calipari they’ve won eight championships and produced numerous NBA superstars
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Los Angeles Clippers
Seemingly cursed from the beginning, even as the Buffalo Braves, they had multiple franchise saviors come and go until Chris Paul and Blake Griffin ushered in a new era, followed by the cathartic jettison of Donald Sterling and Elgin Baylor.
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Los Angeles Lakers
Originally based in Minneapolis, the Lakers relocated to Los Angeles and came to embody Hollywood glamour in basketball form, with superstar players like Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Kobe Bryant leading them to the most NBA Finals appearances ever
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Memphis Grizzlies
Originally based in Vancouver, where they barely made a dent in the standings, relocated to Memphis and became a playoff perennial albeit with a ceiling of success
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Miami Heat
A young franchise that’s punched above its weight thanks to a lengthy relationship with Pat Riley, who built championship teams around Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, and coached the former to glory.
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Michigan State Spartans
Magic Johnson put them on the map and coach Tom Izzo made them legendary, with eight Final Four appearances this century including the 2000 title
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Michigan Wolverines
A two-time NCAA champion and the standard bearer of Big 10 basketball, they gave us Glen Rice, Cazzie Russell, and the infamous “Fab Five”
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Milwaukee Bucks
An instant success thanks to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, they’ve had peaks and nadirs ever since, with highlights including a memorable “Nellie Ball” ’80s era and a second title thanks to Giannis
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Minnesota Timberwolves
Joined the NBA 30 years after the Lakers skipped town and have created only a minor lasting legacy thus far, with peaks built around Kevin Garnett and Anthony Edwards
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New York Knicks
One of the three original franchises who survive to this day, they won a third championship in 2026, adding to a long legacy with legends like Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, and Jalen Brunson
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North Carolina Tar Heels
With six championships and a record 21 Final Four appearances, the Tar Heels are one of the most successful programs in NCAA history and produced none other than Michael Jordan
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Orlando Magic
The Magic Kingdom has not always been the happiest place on Earth, with the two biggest superstars in franchise history (Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard) fleeing for greener pastures after leading the team to a Finals loss.
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Philadelphia 76ers
Originally the Syracuse Nationals, champions in 1955, they relocated to Philadelphia in the early ’60s and produced two of the greatest teams of all time in ’66-’67 and ’82-’83; legends include Julius Erving, Allen Iverson, Billy Cunningham, Moses Malone, and Wilt Chamberlain.
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Phoenix Suns
Maybe the most star-crossed franchise in NBA history, they’ve played in three NBA Finals and come up just short each time. Most of their biggest stars are associated with injuries (Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Johnson) and/or playoff disappointments (Charles Barkley, Steve Nash).
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Pistons “Bad Boys” dynasty
One of the earliest NBA franchises with one of the most colorful histories, from their days in Fort Wayne to the Dave Bing/Bob Lanier eras to the “Bad Boys” dynasty and beyond
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Portland Trail Blazers
Last bastion of the NBA foray into the Pacific Northwest, the Blazers found early success with Bill Walton and have remained in contention nearly constantly since, thanks to superstars like Clyde Drexler and Damian Lillard.
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Russell Celtics dynasty
Still the greatest dynasty in NBA history, with 11 championships over 13 seasons, they set the ultimate template for success, built around the win-at-all-costs attitudes of Bill Russell and Red Auerbach
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Sacramento Kings
The NBA’s oldest franchise, having begun life in 1923 as a Seagram distillery company team, they won a title in 1951 as the Rochester Royals but have stumbled through later stints in Kansas City, Omaha, and Sacramento.
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San Antonio Spurs
Part of the 1976 ABA merger, the Spurs have been consistently successful in the 50+ years since, peaking with five titles in the Tim Duncan era
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Seattle SuperSonics
Once an NBA institution, with a 1979 title run and exciting ’90s stars like Gary Payton, they were wrested away from Seattle to become the Thunder but fans look forward to the franchise’s inevitable return via expansion
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Syracuse Nationals
Led by superstar Dolph Schayes, the former NBL franchise was a powerhouse in the NBA ’40s and ’50s, including a championship in 1955, and the last small market team to survive up to their 1963 relocation to Philadelphia
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Syracuse Orange
Consistent contenders for decades under coach Jim Boeheim, they made noise every March with their patented zone defense and their unmistakeable citrus mascot
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Toronto Raptors
Founded in 1995, they mostly struggled for their first two decades of existence but turned it around in the ’10s thanks to Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, eventually winning the first championship by a Canadian team in 2019.
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UCLA Bruins
College basketball’s ultimate dynasty in the ’60s and ’70s, with coach John Wooden winning 11 championships thanks to superstars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. Has continued to produce legends since (Russell Westbrook, Reggie Miller) but has won only one title in modern era.
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Washington Wizards (formerly Bullets)
Started life in Baltimore as the Bullets and were one of the premier squads of the ’70s; it’s been a near constant disaster ever since and the ’90s rebrand to Wizards didn’t help
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