Breaking Down the NBA's All-Time Greatest Dynasties
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh didn't join forces last summer just because they were good buddies.
The "Big Three" had one thing in mind: leading the Miami Heat to the NBA's next dynasty.
As we all know, they failed to win a championship in their first year together as they fell to Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks this past June. However, LeBron and Co. still have a chance to reel off a slew of titles in the future, especially if they can assemble a better supporting cast.
If the Heat manage to capture a few titles, they will be referred to as a dynasty, joining great teams of the past like the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers and 1990s Chicago Bulls.
This slideshow will shine light on every dynasty and "mini-dynasty" (winning at least two titles in three or four years) in NBA history.
Minneapolis Lakers (1949-1954)
1 of 12Head Coach: John Kundla
Alpha Dog: George Mikan
Other Key Players: Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen, Slater Martin, Herm Schaefer, Don Carlson, Arnie Ferrin
Before moving to sunny Los Angeles, the Lakers called Minneapolis home. During their stay in frigid Minnesota, the team was led by big man George Mikan, the NBA's first superstar.
And the NBA's first superstar led the Lakers to the NBA's first dynasty as the team won five titles in six years.
Mikan, Pollard and Mikkelsen formed a solid front line in Minneapolis for several years.
Boston Celtics (1957-1969)
2 of 12Head Coach: Red Auerbach, Bill Russell
Alpha Dog: Bill Russell
Other Key Players: Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Tom Heisohn, Sam Jones, Bill Sharman, Frank Ramsey, K.C. Jones, Tom "Satch" Sanders
In 1956, the Boston Celtics acquired University of San Francisco center Bill Russell from the St. Louis Hawks. Russell would go on to become the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty that won an unheard of 11 championships in 13 years.
The team won it all eight straight years from 1959 until 1966 and it's pretty safe to say that no NBA franchise will ever win that many titles in a row.
With Russell's stellar shot blocking and rebounding, Bob Cousy's nifty playmaking and solid scoring from several stars like Bill Sharman and John Havlicek, the Celtics dominated the NBA in the 1950s and 1960s.
Red Auerbach retired as coach in 1966 and was replaced by Russell, who would serve as player-coach.
New York Knicks (1970-1974)
3 of 12Head Coach: Red Holzman
Alpha Dog: Willis Reed
Other Key Players: Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe, Jerry Lucas, Dick Barnett, Cazzie Russell
With superstars Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and possibly Chris Paul down the road, the Knicks could win a championship in the near future.
If so, it would be the franchise's first championship since the mini-dynasty of the 1970s. Led by Willis Reed and Walt "Clyde" Frazier, the Knicks won it all in 1970 and after picking up Earl Monroe and Jerry Lucas, the team won another in '73.
Future Hall of Fame head coach Phil Jackson contributed to the dynasty as a reserve forward/center.
Boston Celtics (1972-1976)
4 of 12Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Alpha Dog: John Havlicek
Other Key Players: Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, Paul Silas, Don Nelson
Following a Hall of Fame playing career in Boston, Tom Heinsohn guided the Celtics to titles in both 1974 and 1976.
The '70s mini dynasty was led by John Havlicek, Heinsohn's teammate for three years, and center Dave Cowens, who was drafted fourth overall in 1970.
Talented guard Jo Jo White was name NBA Finals MVP in 1976 as the Celtics defeated Paul Westphal and the Phoenix Suns.
Los Angeles Lakers (1980-1991)
5 of 12Head Coach: Paul Westhead, Pat Riley
Alpha Dog: Magic Johnson
Other Key Players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, Jamaal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, A.C. Green
The Lakers landed the top pick in the 1979 draft and selected some guy from Michigan State named Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
As a rookie, filling in for the injured superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson would lead the Lakers to a title and was named Finals MVP. He recorded an incredible 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in Game Six of the NBA Finals.
Magic and Kareem formed an amazing duo in Los Angeles and with James Worthy arriving in 1982, the Lakers then had an amazing trio, one of the greatest of all time.
The Lakers would capture a total of five titles during the 1980s.
Boston Celtics (1980-1988)
6 of 12Head Coach: Bill Fitch, K.C. Jones
Alpha Dog: Larry Bird
Other Key Players: Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Cedric Maxwell, Bill Walton, Danny Ainge
In 1978, the Celtics drafted Bird despite knowing there was a chance he would remain at Indiana State for another season. Bird ended up staying in school for another year but eventually proved to be worth the wait as he became the most important piece of a Celtics dynasty.
The drafting of Bird was a ridiculously smart move by the Celtics and so was the 1980 trade with Golden State that brought Robert Parish and Kevin McHale to Boston.
Bird, McHale and Parish, possibly the greatest frontcourt in NBA history, would steer the Celtics to three titles in the '80s.
Detroit Pistons (1987-1991)
7 of 12Head Coach: Chuck Daly
Alpha Dog: Isiah Thomas
Other Key Players: Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Vinnie Johnson, Mark Aguirre, Rick Mahorn, John Salley, James Edwards
The Pistons teams of the late '80s and early '90s were simply stacked. Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Vinnie Johnson are probably the greatest backcourt trio in NBA history. And the frontcourt consisted of quality players such as Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman and Mark Aguirre.
Head coach legend Chuck Daly guided the "Bad Boys" to back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. Dumars was named Finals MVP in '89 and Thomas received the honor in '90.
These Pistons played extremely physical defense, which prevented Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls from winning titles earlier.
Chicago Bulls (1989-1998)
8 of 12Head Coach: Phil Jackson
Alpha Dog: Michael Jordan
Other Key Players: Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Horace Grant, Toni Kukoc, B.J. Armstrong, John Paxson, Ron Harper, Bill Cartwright, Steve Kerr
After losing to Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals two straight years, the Bulls finally got over the hump by winning a title in 1991. It would be the first of six titles won by the team in the '90s.
And If it wasn't for Michael Jordan's brief retirement, Chicago just might have won it all eight consecutive years.
The one-two punch of Jordan and fellow Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen was surrounded by role players like rebounders Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman as well as sharpshooters like John Paxson and Steve Kerr.
Houston Rockets (1994-1995)
9 of 12Head Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich
Alpha Dog: Hakeem Olajuwon
Other Key Players: Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry, Otis Thorpe, Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Mario Elie
Houston reached the NBA Finals twice in the 1980s and lost both times.
However, the '90s were a different story. Powered by MVP center Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets won a title in 1994 and after trading for Clyde Drexler, they would repeat as champions.
Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen were later acquired, but neither star was able to help Olajuwon and Houston win another title. The Rockets had to settle for the "mini-dynasty" label.
San Antonio Spurs (1999-2007)
10 of 12Head Coach: Gregg Popovich
Alpha Dog: Tim Duncan
Other Key Players: David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Sean Elliott
San Antonio drafted Wake Forest big man Tim Duncan with the top pick in the 1997 draft.
The "Big Fundamental" would instantly team with David Robinson to give the Spurs an intimidating frontcourt duo.
With Robinson and Duncan inside, the Spurs won titles in both 1999 and 2003. Robinson retired in '03, but with draft steals like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to help Duncan, the team would grab two more titles in 2005 and 2007.
Some people claim the Spurs aren't a true dynasty since they never manged to win back-to-back titles. However, four titles in nine years is simply impressive.
Los Angeles Lakers (1998-2004)
11 of 12Head Coach: Phil Jackson
Alpha Dog: Shaquille O'Neal
Other Key Players: Kobe Bryant, Rick Fox, Glen Rice, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher
The Lakers picked up both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal during the 1996 offseason.
Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte (now New Orleans) Hornets 13th overall in the '96 draft and was then traded to L.A. for Vlade Divac. And O'Neal signed as a free agent, leaving the Orlando Magic behind.
The Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals in 1998, but were eliminated by the Karl Malone and John Stockton-led Utah Jazz.
After the Bulls dynasty was broken up, Phil Jackson headed to L.A. in 1999, replacing Kurt Rambis as coach. With Jackson on the sidelines, and with the dynamic duo of Shaq and Kobe leading the way, the Lakers would go on to win three straight titles from 2000-2002.
The Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs in 2003, but returned to the NBA Finals in 2004, only to lose to the underdog Detroit Pistons.
In the offseason, the dynasty ended as O'Neal was traded to Miami and Jackson took a year off.
Los Angeles Lakers (2008-?)
12 of 12Head Coach: Phil Jackson
Alpha Dog: Kobe Bryant
Other Key Players: Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, Trevor Ariza, Ron Artest
With Shaq down in South Beach, the Lakers went from a title contender to a non-playoff team and then to a first-round and out playoff team.
But after acquiring All-Star Pau Gasol from Memphis midway through the 2007-08 season, the Lakers returned to a championship-caliber ball club.
They would lose to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 Finals, but would then go on to win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 as Kobe Bryant picked up Finals MVP both years.
The favorites to win it all this past season, the Lakers were shockingly swept by the eventual-champion Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals.
But if the Lakers can acquire a superstar like Dwight Howard or Chris Paul after the lockout ends, another true dynasty just might develop in Los Angeles.
