Were Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen Part of the Best NBA Team Ever?

With Michael Jordan set  to introduce his longtime teammate Scottie Pippen into the Basketball Hall of Fame Friday, there is no better time to bring up one of the best basketball arguments.

Was Jordan and Pippen's 1995-96 Bulls team really the greatest of all time?

Before answering that question, it's important to broaden the pool of candidates and sift through the annals of NBA history.

Long before Jordan's incredible run in Chicago and Magic's exciting Showtime teams, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain contributed to NBA Championships on some of the most dominant teams in league history.

Here's a look at the 10 best teams in NBA history.

Honorable Mention: 1969-70 New York Knicks

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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 25: Former NBA player Walt Frazier attends the premiere of 'Black Magic' at The Apollo Theatre February 25, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

There was no room for the Knicks 1970 NBA Championship team in the top 10, but they certainly deserve to be mentioned along with the 10 greatest teams in NBA history.

An impressive regular season produced a 60-22 record and made the Knicks prohibitive favorites to stampede all the way to the NBA Finals.

The Knicks reached the finals behind the play of Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Dave DeBusschere and met a tough Lakers team.

After sustaining a serious leg injury in Game Six, Reed limped onto the parquet in Game Seven and scored the first two baskets of a 113-99 win that gave the Knicks their first NBA Championship.

Reed's iconic moment overshadowed a brilliant performance by Frazier, who scored 36 points and dished out 19 assists in the deciding game.

No. 10: 1989-90 Detroit Pistons

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11 May 1994: DETROIT POINT GUARD ISIAH THOMAS WITH A JUMP SHOT OVER A FALLING LAKER DURING THE PISTONS GAME AT LOS ANGELES.

Despite not having a truly dominant center, the Bad Boys used physical play to overwhelm anything in their path on the way to capturing the 1990 NBA Championship.

Isiah Thomas was in his prime and had plenty of help, with talented offensive players like Joe Dumars and Mark Aguirre creating match-up problems for opponents.

The Pistons were one of the deepest teams in the NBA, with Vinnie Johnson heating up off the bench and a young Dennis Rodman providing defense and rebounding.

Chuck Daly's team beat the Blazers in the finals and will be remembered as one of the best defensive teams of all time.

No. 9: 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers

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7 Feb 1997: Former Los Angeles Laker Wilt Chamberlain addresses the media at a press conference before the NBA All-Star Game at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

For one reason or another, Wilt Chamberlain rarely got the better of Bill Russell.  But in 1967, he was a dominant force for the entire season and in the NBA Finals.

The Sixers started the season 46-4 and ended the dominance of Russell and the Celtics, defeating them in the Eastern Conference Finals to end a string of eight consecutive NBA Championships.

With help from Chet Walker and Billy Cunningham, Chamberlain led the 76ers to a 4-2 win over the Warriors and an NBA Title.

No. 8: 1964-65 Boston Celtics

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LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 1: NBA Hall of Famer and Boston Celtic legend Bill Russell watches the play from the USC Trojans sideline during the game against the UCLA Bruins on December 1, 2007 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.

The Celtics culminated a 62-18 regular season with yet another appearance in the NBA Finals against the Lakers.  Bill Russell, Sam Jones and Tommy Heinsohn defeated L.A. 4-1 to capture and incredible seventh consecutive title.

The biggest moment of the season came in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against rival Philadelphia, when John Havlicek's steal created arguably the most memorable call in NBA history and preserved a 110-109 win for the Celtics.

Boston won its eighth-consecutive NBA Championship in the following season, a record that will almost certainly never be broken.

No. 7: 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers

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CHICAGO - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Maurice Cheeks of the Philadelphia 76ers coaches against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on December 2, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or

Moses Malone left Houston and came to Philadelphia with one thing on his mind: winning an NBA Championship.

A 65-17 regular season record wasn't nearly as impressive as what Malone's team did in the playoffs.

Teamed with Doctor J, Andrew Toney and point guard Maurice Cheeks, Malone led the 76ers to a title and the best postseason record in NBA history of 12-1, including a four-game sweep of the Lakers.

No. 6: 1996-97 Chicago Bulls

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10 Jun 1998: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls in action against Karl Malone #32 and Chris Morris #34 of the Utah Jazz during the NBA Finals Game 4 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Jazz 86-82. Mandatory Credit: Al B

Michael Jordan's competitive spirit was alive and well a year after his Bulls had produced arguably the best season in NBA history.

Jordan, Pippen and Rodman endured some bumps along the way in the regular season but still compiled a 69-13 record.

The Bulls knocked off the Jazz in six games to capture the NBA Championship even though Jordan and Pippen were the only players to average more than eight points per game in the postseason for Chicago.

No. 5: 1986-87 Lakers

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LOS ANGELES - 1987: Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers rebounds over Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics during an NBA Finals game at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California in 1987. (Photo by: Mike Powell/Getty Images)

Magic Johnson's incredible all-around game was on display as the Lakers ran opponents out of the gym along the way to a 65-17 record in the regular season.

The playoffs featured more of the same, with L.A. winning 11 of its first 12 playoff games thanks in part to the acquisition of Mychal Thompson.

The Lakers went on to beat Bird and the Celtics in six games.

No. 4: 1991-92 Chicago Bulls

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4 Dec 1992: Guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls (center) goes up for two during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

The young Bulls had developed a swagger after winning the franchise's first NBA Championship the year prior against the Lakers.

Chicago went 67-15 in the regular campaign and got major contributions from a number of role players in the playoffs.

Michael Jordan's famous shoulder shrug after hitting his sixth 3-pointer highlighted the Bulls victory over Clyde Drexler and the Blazers to capture a second straight title.

No. 3: 1971-72 L.A. Lakers

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 03: Former Lakers player and Genral Manager Jerry west looks on as the Boston Celtics play the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on June 3, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User

Jerry West, Gail Goodrich and Wilt Chamberlain set an NBA record for victories in the regular season with 69, winning 33 straight games along the way.

Although the 1995-96 Bulls broke the record for total victories, the record for consecutive victories isn't likely to be threatened.

The Lakers defeated the Knicks in five games to capture the NBA Championship.

No. 2: 1985-86 Boston Celtics

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MILWAUKEE - 1988-1989: Forward Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the 1988-1989 NBA game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downl

The mid to late 80's is without doubt the golden era of NBA basketball and produced some of the greatest teams to ever play the game, including the Celtics

Boston went 67-15 in the regular season and showcased perhaps the greatest frontline in NBA history, with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish in their primes.

The Celtics captured the NBA Championship by defeating the Rockets in six games.

No. 1: 1995-96 Chicago Bulls

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13 Jan 1998: Guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls moves the ball during a game against the Seattle Supersonics at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won the game, 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

Is there really an argument against the 95-96 Bulls as the greatest team of all-time?

Michael Jordan's hunger to return to the top of the NBA fueled an insane competitive drive that was absolutely contagious.

The Bulls got off to an incredible 41-3 start and never slowed down. All told, Chicago won 87 out of 100 games in the regular season and playoffs combined.

The 72-win season was culminated by the Bulls' NBA Finals win over the Supersonics in six games.