Although there are 30 teams in the NBA, some franchises have been more successful than others. Many teams have never won a championship. Some teams have won several championships.
The NBA has been around for 76 years, and some teams have been around since the start of the league. Which franchise is the best all-time team?
There are really only two right answers here. The two most popular franchises in the league are also the most decorated. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are the two best NBA franchises, but which one is better? Let’s compare these teams and make a decision.
Players
The Celtics and the Lakers have a huge collection of all-time greats that have played for their team. Let’s start with the Celtics. Boston has been a great team since the 1950s, and they never really stopped winning. Some of the best players to play for the Celtics are Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. There are plenty more Celtics legends. They certainly have a long list of all-time greats.
It is also worth noting that the Celtics are the better NBA team currently. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the two best players on the team. They hope to solidify their legacy as the next great Celtics.
Moving on to the Lakers, the franchise had some success in the 60s and 70s, but their true dominance came after the 80s. Laker legends include Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal. Once again, there are plenty more legends that weren’t mentioned.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are current Lakers that can be added to the list of all-time Laker greats. LeBron is arguably the greatest of all-time, while Davis is one of the elite players at his position. The superstar duo led the Lakers to a championship in 2020.
So who has the better players? Ultimately, this is a very close race because both franchises have so many great players to choose from. However, let’s consider the top ten players in NBA history. You could make the argument that six or seven former Lakers belong in the top ten ranking of players in NBA history. However, it is more realistic that only two Celtics make the list (Bird and Russell). Therefore, the slight edge goes to the Lakers for this category.
Team Success
Let’s briefly highlight the success of both franchises. The Celtics and the Lakers are currently tied for the most championships in NBA history. Which championships are more valuable depends on your perspective.
The Celtics set an unbreakable record during the 1960s by winning eight championships in a row. They won 11 championships in 13 seasons, and then won a few later on.
The Lakers’ championship story is a little more spread out. Most of their titles came in the 1980s and 2000s, but there are a few more championships scattered around.
If you value having an unstoppable dynasty, then Boston should be considered more successful. If you value more recent success, then Los Angeles is your pick.
Final Verdict
The Celtics and the Lakers are two of the best franchises in all of sports. Keeping everything in mind, the Los Angeles Lakers are the greatest NBA franchise of all-time. From the iconic players to the 17 championships, there is something to appreciate and admire about every aspect of the LA Lakers.
