Best Dynasty in NBA History (with a twist)

[DraymondGold]

Out of the usual dynasties in NBA History (e.g. Russell Celtics, Magic/Kareem Lakers, Bird Celtics, Jordan Bulls, Shaq/Kobe Lakers, Duncan Spurs, Curry Warriors), which team has the best lineup? Which team would be most likely to beat the others?

The twist: You can pick any year for each dynasty's stars/role players (so long as it's a year that those players were playing for the dynasty).
For example for the Bulls, you might pick 91 Jordan, 95 Pippen, 96 Rodman, 96 Toni Kukoc, 93 Horace Grant, etc. You could not pick 1992 Rodman, since Rodman wasn't on the Bulls in 1992.

In this thought experiment, which team improves the most? Which team is the best?

[AEnigma]

1983-85 Lakers are cracked. Peak Magic, Worthy, Wilkes, Cooper, and Scott, with peak or peak-ish Kareem (unclear whether 1977 counts for Kareem) and the best version of Lakers McAdoo.

Although if you are including Grant and Rodman, we may be interpreting this question differently. The answer then might be the Spurs; is 2013-16 an extension of their run given that it has the same coach, lead player, and overall trio? Because if I can choose the 1998-2016 Tim Duncan “dynasty”, I want that.

[Colbinii]

There should be some stipulations to this otherwise I dont see a case for anyone other than Duncan.

1998 David Robinson
2003 Tim Duncan
2016 Kawhi Leonard
2005 Manu Ginobili
2013 Tony Parker

Bench: 2016 LMA
2003 Bruce Bowen
2015 Danny Green
2014 Boris Diaw
1999 Avery Bradley

[Colbinii]

Do we consider "Wade's Heat" a Dynasty from 2005-2014?

[Stan]

It's definitely the Warriors

2016 Curry
2019 Klay
2015 Iggy
2017 KD
2016 Dray

[penbeast0]

Deepest depth is Boston who completely turned over their roster during their dynasty. Of course, their top players outside Russell weren't as great as some others but the 6-12 guys may be the best.

[AEnigma]

Do we consider "Wade's Heat" a Dynasty from 2005-2014?

The disrespect to Udonis.

[DraymondGold]

There should be some stipulations to this otherwise I dont see a case for anyone other than Duncan.

1998 David Robinson
2003 Tim Duncan
2016 Kawhi Leonard
2005 Manu Ginobili
2013 Tony Parker

Bench: 2016 LMA
2003 Bruce Bowen
2015 Danny Green
2014 Boris Diaw
1999 Avery Bradley

The discussion by y'all about the Spurs is interesting. It brings up the question: when does a dynasty start and stop being a dynasty?

To me, my qualitative has always been something like: as long as the dynasty's core is able to win championships. Of course, that brings up other questions...

1. Who's part of the core? If the Spurs Dynasty's core is just Duncan, then theoretically we might include every year for 98-16. If it's the big 3 of Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker, then the dynasty might start later in 2003 (or even later in 2005 if we want Ginobili and Parker to be in their prime). If Pop and Spurs Culture are an important part of the core, we might extend the dynasty to 2017.

2. And what determines when and how a team's able to win championships? Is it just within the bounds of when they actually won a championship (so 1999-2014), or do we also include edge cases where the teams were "championship-level" (such as 2016/2017)?

I'm not sure there's a right answer here, so feel free to take whatever interpretation you find most interesting. Personally, I tend to agree that the Spurs would be the obvious best team if we included the full 1999-2016 range (plus possibly 1998 or 2017). In that case, perhaps we split the Spurs dynasty in two...
Spurs Dynasty Part 1: 1999-2008 (so first time they won a championship to the last time they made the conference finals before their 4-year intermission) (edit: or starting in 98 if you'd like to have a better Robinson )
Spurs Dynasty Part 2: 2009-2017 (starting with the brief hiatus and going through the last time they made a conference finals)

Do we consider "Wade's Heat" a Dynasty from 2005-2014?

I personally wouldn't, but you're welcome to add them to the list if you think it's interesting!

4 years of poor regular season and postseason play (for a dynasty) from 2007-2010 knocks them off my own dynasty list. I would be open to the Lebron-Wade Heat as a dynasty though from 2011-2014.

For that matter, it would be interesting to consider the "Prime LeBron Team" as a dynasty, particularly during that run when he made the Finals every year from 2011-2018. If we get to pick star players from both the LeBron Heat and the 2nd Cavs stint, that dynasty obviously shoots up the list given they could have a 5-allstar starting lineup of Kyrie, Wade, LeBron, Love, Bosh.

[homecourtloss]

It's definitely the Warriors

2016 Curry
2019 Klay
2015 Iggy
2017 KD
2016 Dray

What’s absolutely wild is that these five did play together although not the specific years.

[prolific passer]

Hmmm. Guess I'll do the bulls
92 Grant. 94 Grant did make an all star team though.
96 Rodman
95 Pippen but I am prone to picking 92 Pippen as well with his 21 7 7
91 Jordan but 92 Jordan is probably my fav. 30 6 6.
94 B.J.

[henshao]

Define "dynasty"

[trelos6]

Celtics take a big hit. So I’m being liberal with their dynasty being ‘57 to ‘73

Cousy ‘57
Sharman ‘57
Sam Jones ‘65
Havlicek ‘71
Heinsohn ‘62
Russell ‘64
Howell ‘67
White ‘71
Cowens ‘73

I’d prob start: White, Jones, Havlicek, Cowens, Russell

With Cousy, Sharman, Howell, Heinsohn off the bench.

[trelos6]

I’ll do Lakers as well.


Magic ‘90
Cooper ‘84
Wilkes ‘80
Worthy ‘90
Kareem ‘80

—————
Scott ‘88
Nixon ‘82
Green ‘89
McAdoo ‘83

Not as good as I thought it would be, but still quite formidable with 2 top 10 all timers.