Jump to content

Superteams in the NBA

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A superteam in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is an arbitrary term to describe a team that uses player acquisitions (via trades or free agency) in a short period of time to create a higher than average concentration of top-level players. While there is no official definition, it is generally viewed as a team with three or more Hall of Fame, All-NBA, or perennial All-Star players that join together to pursue an NBA championship.[1][2][3]

Notable superteams

[edit]

1968–1973: Los Angeles Lakers

[edit]
Los Angeles Lakers superteam
Wilt Chamberlain
Jerry West
Elgin Baylor
Gail Goodrich

The earliest example of a superteam not being developed through the draft was superstar Wilt Chamberlain joining Jerry West and Elgin Baylor on the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1968 offseason. This trio reached the NBA Finals on two separate occasions, both times losing in a game seven, first to the Boston Celtics in 1969 and then to the New York Knicks in 1970. The team then reacquired Gail Goodrich from the Phoenix Suns after previously losing him in the 1968 NBA expansion draft. The Lakers eventually won the NBA championship in 1972 while recording what was at the time the best regular season record ever at 69–13 (including the longest winning streak in NBA history at 33 straight victories), but Baylor had retired early in the season due to injuries. Nevertheless, Baylor still earned a championship ring for his services to the team.[4][5][6] Chamberlain retired in 1973, ending what can be considered the first superteam in NBA history; West later retired as a player in 1974, while Goodrich left in free agency in 1976.

1979–1989: Los Angeles Lakers

[edit]
Los Angeles Lakers superteam
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson
James Worthy
Jamaal Wilkes
Bob McAdoo

On June 16, 1975, the Los Angeles Lakers made a blockbuster trade to acquire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from the Milwaukee Bucks.[7] In 1977, the Lakers signed Jamaal Wilkes in free agency after the Golden State Warriors declined to match the Lakers' offer. In the 1979 NBA draft, new owner Jerry Buss drafted Earvin "Magic" Johnson with the #1 pick acquired via trade with the New Orleans Jazz. The Lakers saw immediate success, forming the foundation of the team that would be dubbed Showtime, and winning the 1980 NBA Finals over the Philadelphia 76ers, with rookie Johnson winning Finals MVP. The 1979–80 Lakers season is the inspiration for the first season of HBO's "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty".

The team reached the playoffs a year later but were suffered a stunning upset in the first round at the hands of the eventual Western Conference champion Houston Rockets.[8] The Lakers responded by not only firing coach Paul Westhead and replacing him with former Lakers player Pat Riley,[9] but also by acquiring former MVP Bob McAdoo from the New Jersey Nets on a Christmas Eve trade in 1981.[10] These moves helped lift the Lakers to their second NBA championship of the Showtime era in 1982. In the offseason, the team selected forward James Worthy as the #1 pick in the 1982 NBA draft due to a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers then reached the NBA Finals in both 1983 and 1984, losing to the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.

The 1984–85 Los Angeles Lakers accumulated a 62-20 record in the regular season and reached the 1985 NBA Finals to face the Boston Celtics again, this time taking their revenge in a 4-2 series win. Despite the departures Jamaal Wilkes and Bob McAdoo, the team posted an identical regular season record in the following year, but were upset in a shocking loss in the Western Conference Finals to the Rockets, this time led by Hakeem Olajuwon. After this defeat, the 1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers embarked on one of the greatest seasons in franchise history, winning 65 games in the regular season and posting a 15-3 record in the playoffs that culminated in a win over the Celtics in the 1987 NBA Finals. The Lakers achieved their first repeat championship of the era with a 4-3 win over the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals. After losing a rematch with the Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals, Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement from the NBA.[11] The Showtime era continued through early 1990's, including an NBA Finals appearance in 1991 under new head coach Mike Dunleavy Sr., but they were unable to recapture the success of the 1980's. Johnson announced his retirement from the sport during the 1991 preseason after revealing he had tested positive for HIV, with Worthy retiring 1994.

1980–1992: Boston Celtics

[edit]
Boston Celtics superteam
Larry Bird
Kevin McHale
Robert Parish
Nate Archibald
Dennis Johnson

With the sixth pick of the 1978 NBA draft, the Celtics selected Larry Bird, who returned to school at Indiana State University for another season rather than playing professionally. A trade for former All-Star Nate "Tiny" Archibald did little to improve the team, and they finished with a 29-53 record. Bird joined the Celtics for the 1979–80 NBA season and guided the team to a 32 win improvement, achieving a 61-21 record and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.[12] The team further bolstered their roster the in the following offseason, trading the #1 and #13 picks in the NBA draft to the Golden State Warriors to acquire center Robert Parish and the #3 pick of the draft, used to select power forward Kevin McHale.[13] These players combined with Bird for what pundits and analysts consider to be one of the best frontcourts in NBA history. The Celtics further improved upon their previous season, winning 62 games in the regular season and the 1981 NBA Finals over the Houston Rockets led by Moses Malone.

After failing to reach the NBA Finals in the next two seasons, the Celtics made a trade with the Phoenix Suns by to acquire All-Star guard and former NBA Finals MVP winner Dennis Johnson,[14] which also let them waive Archibald afterward. The Celtics made an immediate return to their postseason success, winning the 1984 NBA Finals 4–3 over the longtime rival Los Angeles Lakers. On September 6, 1985, the team traded for former MVP and NBA champion Bill Walton.[15] The Celtics completed one of the most impressive seasons in NBA history, winning 67 games in the regular season and a 15-3 run in the playoffs that culminated with a win in the 1986 NBA Finals against a newly formed Houston Rockets led by the "Twin Towers" center duo of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. As a result of their historic dominance and overwhelming star power, the 1985–86 Boston Celtics are widely considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history.[16][17][18]

Despite the emotional weight of losing #2 pick Len Bias to a drug overdose days after the 1986 NBA draft and a drug scandal involving Dennis Johnson,[19] the Celtics returned to the NBA Finals once again in 1987, this time falling to the Lakers 4-2. The Celtics were unable to recreate their championship success in the following seasons, losing in the Eastern Conference playoffs to "Bad Boys" era Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks. Afterwards, the team slowly came apart, with Dennis Johnson retiring first after failing to acquire a new contract with Boston in 1990, followed by Larry Bird retiring in 1992 after years of battling injuries, McHale retiring in 1993, and Robert Parish signing with the Charlotte Hornets in 1994.

1982–1986: Philadelphia 76ers

[edit]
Philadelphia 76ers superteam
Julius Erving
Moses Malone
Bobby Jones
Charles Barkley

After the NBA-ABA merger, the Philadelphia 76ers obtained the player rights for Julius Erving from the New York Nets, reaching the 1977 NBA Finals in his first year with the team. In the following seasons, the team traded with the Denver Nuggets to acquire Bobby Jones and also drafted guards Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney. As a result, the 76ers made both the 1980 and 1982 NBA Finals, losing in 6 games to the Los Angeles Lakers each time. The 76ers became an undisputed superteam on September 15, 1982, when restricted free agent Moses Malone was acquired in a sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets.[20] The 1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers achieved a 65–17 record in the regular season, and when asked how they would fare in the playoffs, Malone answered "four, four, four", predicting a sweep in each series.[21] The Sixers nearly achieved Malone's boast, sweeping the New York Knicks, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, and winning the third championship in franchise history with a four-game sweep of the defending champion Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals.[22]

The following season, the 76ers only managed a 52–30 record and were upset in the First Round by the New Jersey Nets. In the 1984 NBA draft, the 76ers drafted Charles Barkley with the 5th overall pick. With the inclusion of Barkley, the 76ers improved to a 58–24 record and reached the Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in 5 games. The following season, the 76ers had a 54–28 record and were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by the Milwaukee Bucks in 7 games. In the offseason, Bobby Jones announced his retirement and the 76ers traded Moses Malone to the Washington Bullets,[23] ending the superteam era of the Philadelphia 76ers with the sole championship. Julius Erving later retired in 1987 and other notable players slowly left over the following years.

1995–1998: Chicago Bulls

[edit]
Chicago Bulls superteam
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Dennis Rodman

At the beginning of the decade, the Chicago Bulls had won three straight championships from 1991 to 1993 with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen leading a team coached by Phil Jackson. Following this three-peat, Jordan shockingly retired from the NBA after the 1993 championship, choosing to pursue professional baseball in honor of his recently deceased father's memory.[24] Before the end of the 1994-95 season, Jordan announced his return to the team and the league with a famous fax carrying the statement "I'm back",[25] but the Bulls were unable to repeat their former championship success and fell to the Orlando Magic in the 1995 NBA Playoffs. During the following offseason, the Bulls traded for the eccentric former two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner Dennis Rodman. The Bulls finished their first season together with a 72–10 regular season record, setting NBA records for the most wins, highest winning percentage, and highest net rating in a single season, the latter of which still stands.[26][27] Their dominance continued in the playoffs, posting a 15–3 playoff record and winning their fourth championship in six years. The 1995–96 Chicago Bulls have since been widely regarded as the greatest team in NBA history.[28][16][29][30]

Following this triumphant season, the Bulls repeated their success in the following year with a 69–13 regular season record and a 15–4 playoff record for the team's fifth championship win in franchise history. The series win in the 1997 NBA Finals in six games over the Utah Jazz was highlighted by Jordan's "Flu Game", during which Jordan was purportedly ill from food poisoning.[31] The 1997–98 NBA season proved more challenging for the Bulls, as tensions in the front office, an aging roster, and injuries to key players threatened to derail the team.[32][33] Despite these struggles, detailed in the 2020 documentary series The Last Dance, Jordan still managed to lead the team to a 62-20 regular season record.[34] Pushed to seven games by Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls emerged victorious and reached their third NBA Finals in a row, and their sixth in eight years. The team completed their second three-peat by beating the Jazz 4–2 in a rematch of the previous season, with Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals famously ending with Jordan's last shot in a Bulls uniform, a play now considered one of the greatest moments in NBA history.[35] The Bulls' dynasty disbanded the following offseason during which Phil Jackson was relieved as head coach, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA for the second time, and many of the team's key players were traded or signed to new teams in free agency.[36]

2007–2012: Boston Celtics

[edit]
Boston Celtics superteam
Kevin Garnett
Paul Pierce
Ray Allen
Rajon Rondo

Following a lackluster 2006–2007 season, finishing 24–58, the Celtics sought a new move to propel them to the top of the league.[37] During the summer of 2007, Danny Ainge made two different blockbuster moves. First, on the night of the 2007 NBA draft, he traded No. 5 pick Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to Seattle for perennial all-star Ray Allen and Seattle's second-round pick (which the team used to select LSU's Glen "Big Baby" Davis). The Celtics then traded Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and a first-round draft pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for superstar power forward Kevin Garnett on July 31, 2007. These moves created a new "Big Three" of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett."[38] This new "Big Three" created the most drastic record changes in NBA history seeing them finish 66-16 for the season en route to the 2008 NBA Finals Championship.[39][40] The Celtics later returned to the NBA Finals in 2010 under a new "Big Four" with Rajon Rondo starting to become established as a star player for the Celtics himself, but they ultimately fell in 7 games to their longtime rival Lakers, once Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were traded to the newly established Brooklyn Nets and Ray Allen left to join the Miami Heat.

2010–2014: Miami Heat

[edit]
Miami Heat superteam
LeBron James
Dwyane Wade
Chris Bosh
Ray Allen

On July 8, 2010, two-time NBA MVP LeBron James announced his free agency decision on a live ESPN broadcast titled The Decision,[41] joining the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade. Shortly afterward, All-Star Chris Bosh signed with Heat, uniting three of the first five picks of the lauded 2003 NBA draft on one team.[42] The Heat superteam were expected to immediately compete for the championship, with James himself proclaiming the team would win eight titles.[43][44] The 2010–11 Miami Heat finished the regular season with a record of 58-24, claiming the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. After breezing through the Eastern Conference playoffs, they stunningly lost a 4-2 series in the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, one of the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history.[45][46][47]

Following this setback, the 2011-12 Miami Heat finished 46-20 in a lockout-shortened season. The team overcame a 3-2 deficit to win in 7 games in a tight series against the Boston Celtics before taking down a young Oklahoma City Thunder team 4-1 to obtain their first championship together.[48] On July 11, 2012, the Heat signed Ray Allen, adding one of the greatest three-point shooters in NBA history while simultaneously weakening their primary rival, the Boston Celtics.[49] Allen proved to be instrumental in the team's second consecutive championship in the 2013 NBA Finals, hitting a key shot that ultimately helped overcome the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6, with the team eventually winning the series 4–3.[50] During this same season, the Heat also achieved 27 straight regular season victories from February 3 to March 25, 2013, the second-longest win streak in NBA history.[51] In the 2014 Finals, the Heat lost to the Spurs in 5 games in a rematch of the previous Finals. Following the loss, LeBron James reentered free agency and returned to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, ending the Miami "Big Three".

Multiple NBA players and analysts have pointed to James's free agency and the Miami Heat superteam as being the catalyst for the leaguewide explosion in superteams over the following years.[52][53][54][55][56]

2014–2017: Cleveland Cavaliers

[edit]
Cleveland Cavaliers superteam
LeBron James
Kyrie Irving
Kevin Love

The Cleveland Cavaliers were awarded the #1 pick of the 2011 NBA draft when a draft pick acquired from a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers won the draft lottery. The team selected Duke point guard Kyrie Irving, who soon became an NBA All-Star.[57] LeBron James signed as a free agent on July 12, 2014, reuniting with his former team.[58] A month later, on August 23, Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love was acquired in a three-team trade for Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, who had been selected first overall by the Cavaliers in the 2013 and 2014 NBA Drafts, respectively.[59] During their first season together, the team saw immediate success with a 53–29 record to finish second in Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time franchise history, but untimely injuries to Love and Irving played a part in a 4–2 series loss to the Golden State Warriors.[60]

Despite starting the following season with a 30–11 record, the Cavaliers fired head coach David Blatt and replaced him with assistant coach Tyronn Lue for the remainder of the season,[61] obtaining the first seed in the Eastern Conference. The team cruised through the Eastern Conference playoffs to set up a rematch with Golden State in the 2016 NBA Finals. The Cavaliers initially struggled in the series, going down 3–1 against a Warriors team that set the mark for the best regular season record in NBA history at 73–9. However, after winning Games 5 & 6, the Cavaliers triumphed in a low-scoring Game 7 that featured a timely block by LeBron James and a celebrated three-point shot by Kyrie Irving to bring the Cavaliers their first ever NBA Finals championship, completing the first 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history.[62] This championship is considered the end of the 52-year citywide Cleveland sports curse.

After their title success, the Cavaliers completed their first full season under Lue with a 51–31 record. Despite a less successful regular season campaign, the Cavaliers still achieved a 12-1 record in the Eastern Conference Playoffs and third straight NBA Finals appearance. However, the Warriors new superteam with Kevin Durant completed a commanding 4–1 series victory. During the following offseason, Irving demanded a trade out of Cleveland and was later sent to the rival Boston Celtics.[63] In the face of Irving's absence, the Cavaliers still managed their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance. Facing the Golden State Warriors in the Finals for the fourth year in row, the Cavaliers suffered their third defeat in four seasons, this time being swept 4–0. LeBron James subsequently left the Cavaliers to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018,[64] ending his second stint with Cleveland.

2016–2019: Golden State Warriors

[edit]
Golden State Warriors superteam
Stephen Curry
Kevin Durant
Klay Thompson
Draymond Green

In the 2016 offseason, after blowing a 3–1 lead to the Cavaliers in the 2016 Finals, the Warriors made a move to re-assert their spot as the most dominant franchise in the league by acquiring former MVP Kevin Durant in free agency,[65] who had himself been a part of the Thunder team that lost a 3–1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals against the same Warriors.[66] Before the playoffs, the Warriors matched or broke several NBA records. They reclaimed the top seed with 67 wins, won the most ever games by a 40-point-plus margin, and extended their run of most games without back-to-back losses in the regular season to 146 (spanning from April 9, 2015, to March 2, 2017).[67][68] They tied the record for most players in the All-Star game with 4 (Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green). In the postseason, the Warriors broke the records for best start (15–0), longest win streak (15), and best overall record (16–1). They swept the Western Conference Playoffs 12–0 before eliminating the Cavaliers in the Finals in 5 games.[69][70]

In 2018, the Warriors were unable to reclaim the league's best record after 3 straight years of doing so. They eliminated the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans each in 5 games before narrowly beating the 1st-seeded Houston Rockets in 7 games in the Western Conference Finals.[71] They swept the 2018 Finals over Cleveland to win a second straight title, and 3 titles in 4 years.[72][73] In the 2018 offseason, the Warriors signed DeMarcus Cousins as a free agent. The Warriors became the first franchise in 42 years to be able to start five All-Stars from the previous season at each floor position.[74][75][76] The Warriors reclaimed the 1st seed in the Western Conference with a 57–25 record and made it to their 5th straight NBA Finals. However, they lost the 2019 Finals in 6 games to the Toronto Raptors led by Kawhi Leonard.[77] The Warriors were plagued by injuries, with Kevin Durant missing playoff games with a calf injury and an Achilles tear, and Klay Thompson suffering hamstring and ACL injuries in the Finals. In the 2019 offseason, Durant joined the Brooklyn Nets in a sign-and-trade deal. However, the Warriors without Durant and Cousins did win another NBA Finals championship in 2022 with their originally drafted Big Three of Curry, Thompson, and Green before the Warriors eventually announced the breakup of the Splash Brothers and their original Big Three on July 1, 2024 by saying Klay Thompson would not return to the team.[78]

Notable failed superteams

[edit]

1996–1999: Houston Rockets

[edit]
Houston Rockets superteam
Hakeem Olajuwon
Charles Barkley
Clyde Drexler
Scottie Pippen

On August 19, 1996, NBA superstar Charles Barkley was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Rockets, combining Barkley with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. The Rockets achieved a 57–25 record in the 1996–97 NBA season and reached the Western Conference Finals, losing to the Utah Jazz in 6 games.[79] Injuries and an aging roster in the next season contributed to a slide to 41–41 and a 3–2 first round defeat against the same Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Playoffs. During the lockout-shortened 1999 season, the Rockets made a sign-and-trade for Chicago Bulls small forward Scottie Pippen in one last effort to win with Olajuwon and Barkley after Clyde Drexler retired in 1998.[80] The Rockets did improve upon their previous season's winning percentage, finishing with a 31–19 record and the fifth seed. However, the team fell in the first round once again, this time in a 3–1 series loss to the Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers. Pippen was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers the following season partially due to issues between him and Barkley, and Barkley suffered a career-ending knee injury later that year.

2003–2004: Los Angeles Lakers

[edit]
Los Angeles superteam
Shaquille O'Neal
Kobe Bryant
Karl Malone
Gary Payton

The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, had won three consecutive titles from 2000 to 2002. They failed to win a fourth straight in 2003 after losing to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals.[81] The 2003–04 Lakers signed Gary Payton and Karl Malone, who were both seeking their first NBA championship. Instead of improving significantly, the Lakers suffered through locker room troubles the entire season. O'Neal unsuccessfully demanded a new contract,[82] while Bryant missed several games due to a sexual assault trial.[83] Malone allegedly caused issues within the team when he made a pass at Bryant's wife, Vanessa.[84] All three players also suffered injuries throughout the season.[85] Despite these challenges, the Lakers returned to the NBA Finals, only to lose the championship series 4–1 against the defensive-oriented Detroit Pistons in possibly the biggest upset in NBA Finals history.[86][87] After the series loss, the team was dismantled: coach Phil Jackson resigned (but eventually returned the position a year later),[88] Malone retired, and O'Neal and Payton were traded, with both later winning a title together with the Miami Heat in 2006.[89]

2012–2013: Los Angeles Lakers

[edit]
Los Angeles Lakers superteam
Kobe Bryant
Dwight Howard
Pau Gasol
Steve Nash

On July 11, 2012, Steve Nash was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Lakers. On August 10, 2012, NBA superstar Dwight Howard was traded by the Orlando Magic to the Lakers in a 4-team trade,[90] pairing them with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. The Lakers dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season,[91] and on February 18, 2013, Lakers owner Jerry Buss passed away from kidney failure, leaving ownership of the team to his family's estate. On April 12, 2013, Bryant tore his Achilles, limiting him to only 41 games over the following two years.[92] The Lakers finished with a 45–37 record and were swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. Howard then chose to sign as a free agent with the Houston Rockets.[93] During the 2013–14 NBA season, the team missed the playoffs entirely. Pau Gasol signed with the Chicago Bulls during the 2014 offseason[94] while Steve Nash retired during the middle of the following season, ending the Lakers' second superteam attempt of the century,

2013–2014: Brooklyn Nets

[edit]
Brooklyn Nets superteam
Deron Williams
Joe Johnson
Kevin Garnett
Paul Pierce

On July 12, 2013, the Brooklyn Nets acquired Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the Celtics, pairing them with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.[95] The Nets look poised to contend ahead of the 2013–14 season, but both Garnett and Pierce were in their late 30s and Williams' production declined due to injuries. The Nets ultimately won 44 games and were eliminated by the Heat in the second round.[96] The following season, Pierce joined the Washington Wizards,[97] and Garnett was traded midseason back to the Minnesota Timberwolves.[98] After losing in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks in 2015, the Nets did not re-sign Williams who later joined the Dallas Mavericks.[99] Then midway through the 2015–16 season, the Nets waived Johnson who ultimately joined the Heat.[100]

2017–2018: Oklahoma City Thunder

[edit]
Oklahoma City Thunder superteam
Russell Westbrook
Paul George
Carmelo Anthony

The Thunder had finished 47–35 in their 2016–17 season, during which Russell Westbrook joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to average a triple-double for an entire season. But after losing in the first round to the Houston Rockets, the Thunder made a pair of superstar trades in order to give Westbrook support, trading for Paul George from the Indiana Pacers on July 6, and Carmelo Anthony from the New York Knicks on September 25.[101][102] The trio of Westbrook, George and Anthony were nicknamed the "OK3", in reference to Oklahoma City's area code.[103] But the Thunder only managed a one-game improvement from the previous season before they were eliminated in the first round by the Utah Jazz. Westbrook again averaged a triple-double for the season, and George put up 21 ppg. However, Anthony had his worst statistical season to that point, mustering only 16 ppg while also playing a reduced role offensively.[104] After the season, the Thunder traded Anthony to the Atlanta Hawks before getting waived.[105] In the 2018–19 season, the Westbrook-George tandem carried the Thunder to a 49-win season but fell in the first round again, this time to the Portland Trail Blazers. After that season, the Thunder traded away both Westbrook (to the Houston Rockets) and George (to the Los Angeles Clippers), the latter of which resulted in the acquisition of future all-star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.[106][107]

2021–2022: Brooklyn Nets

[edit]
Brooklyn Nets superteam
Kevin Durant
James Harden
Kyrie Irving

In the summer of 2019, The Brooklyn Nets signed Kyrie Irving and acquired Kevin Durant in a trade with the Golden State Warriors. On January 13, 2021, the Nets traded for James Harden in a four-team trade, which reunited Harden with his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Durant.[108][109] The team struggled through various injuries during the 2020–21 season and were eliminated by the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in overtime of Game 7 in the second round. The following season, Harden requested and was given a trade after only 12 months with the team, going to the 76ers in exchange for a package headlined by All-Star Ben Simmons.[110] Simmons sat out the remainder of the season, and the team finished 7th in the conference, surviving the play-in tournament before being swept by the eventual Conference champion Celtics in the first round.[111] In February 2023, Irving also requested a trade and was sent to the Dallas Mavericks.[112] Following Irving's trade, Durant was subsequently traded to the Phoenix Suns.[113]

2021–2023: Los Angeles Lakers

[edit]
Los Angeles Lakers superteam
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Russell Westbrook

After sustaining the longest playoff drought in franchise history, even after acquiring LeBron James in free agency from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Lakers traded for All-NBA player Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite an interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lakers ended their drought and won the 2020 NBA Finals at the 2020 NBA Bubble. In the next season, the team ended the regular season as the 7th seed and participated in the first iteration of the NBA play-in tournament before ultimately losing 4-2 in their first round series against the Phoenix Suns.[114]

During the 2021 free agency period, the Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook in a five-team trade,[115] and signed Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, DeAndre Jordan, Trevor Ariza, Avery Bradley, as well as Malik Monk. Along with the contemporary Brooklyn Nets superteam, the Lakers were expected to be clear championship contenders, and both teams were considered heavy favorites to meet in the 2022 NBA Finals.[116][117][118] In contrast to these high expectations, the 2021-22 Lakers finished with a 33-49 record and missed the playoffs entirely, a result that multiple outlets termed the "most disappointing team in NBA history".[119][120][121][122][123] As a result, the team fired head coach Frank Vogel after the end of their season,[124] and hired Darvin Ham as his replacement. Further struggles throughout the following season forced the team to make changes to the roster, causing them to trade Westbrook to the Utah Jazz.[125]

2023–2024: Los Angeles Clippers

[edit]
Los Angeles Clippers superteam
Kawhi Leonard
Paul George
James Harden
Russell Westbrook

After winning the 2019 NBA Finals in his sole season with the Toronto Raptors over the superteam Golden State Warriors, Kawhi Leonard signed as a free agent with his hometown Los Angeles Clippers. At the same time, the Clippers traded with the Oklahoma City Thunder for star forward Paul George. In the pair's first two seasons together resulted in a 4-3 series loss to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2020 NBA playoffs in the NBA Bubble and then a 4–2 loss in the first franchise's first ever Western Conference Finals appearance to the Phoenix Suns featuring former Clippers guard Chris Paul. With Leonard missing the entire 2021–22 NBA season, the team posted a 42–40 record and failed to qualify for the 2022 Playoffs after losing two games in the play-in tournament. The Clippers later signed former MVP point guard Russell Westbrook off of waivers in 2023,[126] which aided their return to the playoffs, but lost 4–1 to the Phoenix Suns superteam, with Leonard missing most of the series. On November 1, 2023, the Clippers acquired James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers.[127] The team finished with a 51–31 record and faced the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs for the third time in five years, losing 4–2 with Leonard missing most of the series. That summer, George signed a four-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers and Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz for a Kris Dunn sign-and-trade, officially ending not just George and Leonard's dynamic duo period, but also their brief superteam run as well.[128][129]

Current Superteams

[edit]

2023–present: Phoenix Suns

[edit]
Phoenix Suns superteam
Devin Booker
Kevin Durant
Bradley Beal

The Phoenix Suns drafted Devin Booker as the 13th pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Before the 2019–20 NBA season, Phoenix acquired star point guard Chris Paul in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.[130] The addition of Paul not only ended their decade-long playoff drought, but also helped the team reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993, ultimately losing 4-2 to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. The next year, the Suns achieved the best regular season record in franchise history at 64–18, but were unable to duplicate the prior year's playoff success, losing a 4-3 series against Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks.[131] In the following season, which included an ownership controversy that forced former owner Robert Sarver to sell the team to Mat Ishbia, the team acquired Kevin Durant in a trade at the deadline with the Brooklyn Nets, effectively creating their first rendition of a superteam.[132] Injuries limited Durant and the Suns finished the season with a 4-2 series loss to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets in the second round. As a result, the Suns fired head coach Monty Williams and replaced him with Frank Vogel. In the aftermath of their first year as a superteam, the Suns traded Paul to the Washington Wizards on June 24, 2023 in order to acquire Bradley Beal.[133] In a rocky first season with Beal, the Suns earned the #6 seed in the Western Conference at 49–33 before losing in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a four game sweep. This led to the Suns firing Vogel after only one season with the team and replacing him with the head coach that originally beat them in the 2021 Finals, Mike Budenholzer.

Criticism

[edit]

There has been some controversy about superteams in the NBA. Claims persist that superstar players are no longer looking to make the game competitive, but rather finding an easier way to win championships and nullifying smaller contenders by joining other elites.[134] From James joining the Heat to Durant joining the Warriors, there has been derision from the media and fans in their efforts to unbalance the NBA.[135] However, there have been cases for both sides as others argue that the NBA has achieved its highest grossing TV revenue, that it was all done under the rules of the salary cap, and that it is enjoyable sports entertainment.[136] Recent efforts made to punish teams that look to assemble long-term superteams, starting in the 2023–24 season, have been implemented under newly established salary cap rules and limitations at hand. One such effort/method made was the creation of the second tax apron, which looks to significantly hamper teams that would look to overspend in order to create their superteams in question.[137]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NBA Super Teams and the History". NBA.com. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "What is a Superteam in the NBA?". The Pudding. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "What Should the NBA Do When Nobody Can Touch the Superteams?". GQ. May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  4. ^ Lynch, Andrew; ET, 2017 at 8:35a (June 16, 2017). "The history of NBA superteams, from Wilt Chamberlain to the 2017 Warriors". FOX Sports. Retrieved October 7, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Dan Woike (July 20, 2018). "1968: Lakers' first 'Big 3' didn't deliver immediate banner". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Lakers JERRY WEST EXPLAINS What Went Wrong with NBA's 1st SUPER TEAM". YouTube. November 7, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Bonk, Thomas (December 25, 1987). "JUNE 16, 1975: A BANNER DAY FOR LAKERS : KAREEM TAKES HIS POST : 4 Players Bucks Got in Trade Gone, but He's Still on Job". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Vecsey, George; Times, Special To the New York (April 6, 1981). "Rockets Win, 89-86, and Eliminate Lakers in Playoffs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Ap (November 20, 1981). "LAKERS DROP WESTHEAD AS COACH". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  10. ^ Goldaper, Sam (December 25, 1981). "Nets Deal McAdoo To Lakers for Cash And Draft Choice". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  11. ^ Archives, Sam McManis L. A. Times (April 24, 1989). "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA's all-time leading scorer, receives rocking sendoff from Lakers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  12. ^ Papanek, John (May 5, 1980). "THEN THE CELTICS BLINKED". Sports Illustrated.
  13. ^ May, Peter (June 19, 2017). "Trading the No. 1 Pick Worked Out Well for the Celtics in 1980". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 28, 1983). "Celtics Obtain Dennis Johnson". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  15. ^ Waterman, Frederick (October 20, 1985). "Walton Trade to Celtics Highlights NBA Wheeling and Dealing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Amick, Sam. "The 25 most dominant NBA teams ever". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  17. ^ Wright, Brian (December 22, 2023). "10 Greatest NBA Teams Ever". Basketball Reference Blog. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  18. ^ Silver, Nate; Fischer-Baum, Reuben (May 22, 2015). "The Best NBA Teams Of All-Time, According To Elo". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  19. ^ "More NBA Players Linked to Arizona Drug/Gambling Probe". Los Angeles Times. May 9, 1987. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "MALONE GOES TO 76ERS FOR CALDWELL JONES". New York Times. September 16, 1982. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  21. ^ Beslic, Stephen (October 24, 2022). "MOSES MALONE'S ICONIC '83 PLAYOFFS PREDICTION "Fo, fo, fo"". Basketball Network - Your daily dose of basketball. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  22. ^ Johnson, Roy S. (June 1, 1983). "76ERS WIN N.B.A. TITLE WITH SWEEP OF LAKERS". New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  23. ^ Gruson, Lindsey (June 18, 1986). "76ERS TRADE MALONE TO ACQUIRE RULAND". The New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  24. ^ "Michael Jordan's baseball detour was one final gift to his late dad". nbcsportsbayarea.com. May 11, 2020.
  25. ^ "Michael Jordan's famous fax, 25 years later". ESPN.com. March 18, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  26. ^ "Top Moments: Bulls set NBA record with 72-win season". NBA.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  27. ^ Bitar, Eddie (April 5, 2024). "10 Greatest Net Rating NBA Teams Of All Time". Fadeaway World. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  28. ^ "Two Bulls teams voted among NBA's 10 best of all time". Chicago Tribune. June 15, 2011. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  29. ^ "SLAM's TOP 75 NBA Teams of All Time: No. 1, 1995-96 Chicago Bulls". SLAM. June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  30. ^ "1995-96 Bulls chosen as NBA's greatest team of all time". www.nba.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  31. ^ "The truth behind Michael Jordan's infamous NBA Finals 'Flu Game'". ESPN. June 11, 2021.
  32. ^ "The Last Dance: The simmering tension that loomed over the Chicago Bulls entering the 1997/98 season | Sporting News India". www.sportingnews.com. April 19, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  33. ^ Vasić, Luka (April 25, 2020). "Behind the Numbers of Michael Jordan's 1997–98 Bulls". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  34. ^ "1997-98 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  35. ^ Hollinger, John (June 11, 2010). "Best single-game performances: No. 4". ESPN. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  36. ^ Medina, Mark. "Michael Jordan on Chicago Bulls: 'I felt like we could've won seven' NBA titles". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  37. ^ "2006-07 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  38. ^ "Boston Celtics", Wikipedia, November 30, 2021, retrieved December 1, 2021
  39. ^ "2008 NBA Finals – Lakers vs. Celtics". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  40. ^ "2007-08 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  41. ^ "Trifecta: LeBron will join Wade, Bosh with Heat". ESPN.com. July 8, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  42. ^ "HEAT Re-Sign Wade and Acquire James and Bosh". www.nba.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  43. ^ Keefer, Case (July 8, 2010). "LeBron James' decision makes Heat the favorite in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  44. ^ "On Stage Interview with Wade, Bosh and James - July 9, 2010". www.nba.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  45. ^ Beck, Howard (June 13, 2011). "Mavericks Defeat Heat for First Title". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  46. ^ Cruz, Mike (June 16, 2020). "5 biggest upsets in NBA Finals history". ClutchPoints. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  47. ^ Echchaibi, Adam (May 2, 2024). "10 Biggest Playoff Upsets in NBA History". GiveMeSport. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  48. ^ "Heat overwhelm Thunder in Game 5 to secure NBA championship | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  49. ^ "Trifecta: Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis join Heat". ESPN.com. July 11, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  50. ^ Beck, Howard (June 21, 2013). "Pushed to Limit, James and Miami Repeat as N.B.A. Champions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  51. ^ "NBA Longest Winning Streaks - Regular Season". Land of Basketball. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  52. ^ "Kevin Durant: LeBron James 'paved the way' for this Warriors super-team". Yahoo Sports. June 6, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  53. ^ Starjacki, Will (April 27, 2021). "Julius Erving takes a subtle jab at LeBron James for creating superteams". Basketball Network - Your daily dose of basketball. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  54. ^ Axson, Scooby (June 16, 2017). "LeBron James: I didn't start superteams". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  55. ^ Nelson, Cory (July 18, 2022). "Shaquille O'Neal Blames LeBron James For 'Superteam' Concept". Sports Illustrated Miami Heat News, Analysis and More. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  56. ^ Gallo, D. J. (June 5, 2017). "LeBron James created the modern NBA superteam. Now it will destroy him". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  57. ^ Hoffman, Benjamin (June 24, 2011). "In Draft Considered Low Impact, Cavaliers Choose Duke's Irving First". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  58. ^ "Cavaliers And LeBron James Sign Multi-Year Contract". www.nba.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  59. ^ "Cavs Acquire All-Star Forward Kevin Love". www.nba.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  60. ^ Cacciola, Scott (June 17, 2015). "Golden State Warriors End N.B.A. Title Drought With Victory Over Cavaliers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  61. ^ "David Blatt fired as Cavaliers coach; Tyronn Lue to take over team". ESPN.com. January 22, 2016.
  62. ^ "Top Moments: Cavaliers end Cleveland's long championship drought". NBA.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  63. ^ "Cavs deal Kyrie to Celtics for Isaiah, Nets pick". ESPN.com. August 22, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  64. ^ "LeBron James agrees to four-year, $153.3 million deal with Lakers". ESPN.com. July 2, 2018.
  65. ^ "Durant joins Curry, will sign deal with Warriors". ESPN.com. July 4, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  66. ^ "Oklahoma City Thunder Playoff History - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  67. ^ "NBA Teams: Golden State Warriors Records Year by Year". www.landofbasketball.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  68. ^ ""Warriors"" (PDF). nba.com.
  69. ^ Hoffman, Benjamin; Ma, Jessia; Pearce, Adam; Ward, Joe (June 17, 2017). "The Golden State Warriors' Record-Setting Postseason". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  70. ^ "2017 NBA Playoffs Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  71. ^ "2018 NBA Playoffs Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  72. ^ "Warriors prove super teams can be built through the NBA Draft - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  73. ^ "Warriors vs. Cavaliers - Game Recap - June 9, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  74. ^ Jeva Lange (July 3, 2018). "The Golden State Warriors will be the first team in over 40 years to be able to start 5 All-Stars". The Week. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  75. ^ Connor Letourneau (February 12, 2019). "Warriors' five-All-Star lineup looks to work out early kinks". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  76. ^ Fromal, Adam. "Warriors Redefine the Superteam Again with DeMarcus Cousins Signing". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  77. ^ "2019 NBA Playoffs Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  78. ^ "Warriors Statement on Klay Thompson". NBA.com.
  79. ^ "Stockton, Jazz Tune Out the Rockets, 103-100". washingtonpost.com.
  80. ^ "Clyde glides into retirement". deseret.com. March 31, 2000.
  81. ^ Brown, Tim (May 16, 2003). "Fourclosed! / Three-year championship run comes to a stunning end as Duncan plays like the MVP and Spurs makes it a blowout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  82. ^ "Team Backs Off Some on Extension for Shaq". Los Angeles Times. October 1, 2003. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  83. ^ Henson, Steve (January 2, 2020). "What happened with Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  84. ^ "Kobe 'upset' about Malone's comments to wife". ESPN. December 12, 2004. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  85. ^ "Lakers' vision blurred by injuries, distractions". ESPN.com. June 11, 2004. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  86. ^ Wilbon, Michael (June 15, 2004). "Lakers, Pistons both got what they deserved". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  87. ^ "The Biggest NBA Playoff Betting Upsets of the Past 30 Seasons | The Action Network". Action Network. April 12, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  88. ^ Beck, Howard (June 14, 2005). "Phil Jackson and Lakers to Reunite 361 Days After Break-up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  89. ^ Broussard, Chris (July 14, 2004). "O'Neal Goes to Heat in Blockbuster Deal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  90. ^ "Sources: Dwight Howard to Lakers". ESPN.com. August 9, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  91. ^ "Nash injures left knee in Lakers' loss to Blazers". Sports Illustrated. November 1, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  92. ^ "Kobe Bryant tears Achilles, sidelined for months". April 13, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  93. ^ "Dwight Howard to join Rockets". July 5, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  94. ^ "Bulls sign forward/center Pau Gasol". www.nba.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  95. ^ Rinaldi, Jessica (July 12, 2013). "Nets finalize blockbuster trade with rebuilding Celtics". Reuters. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  96. ^ "Heat advance to East finals behind late rally, Ray Allen's 3". ESPN. Associated Press. May 14, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  97. ^ "Report: Pierce joining Wizards on 2-year deal". NBA.com. July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  98. ^ "Wolves Acquire Forward Kevin Garnett". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  99. ^ "Mavericks sign three-time All-Star Williams". NBA.com. July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  100. ^ "HEAT Signs Joe Johnson". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  101. ^ "Thunder Acquires All-Star Forward Paul George". nba.com. July 6, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  102. ^ "Thunder Acquires All-Star Forward Carmelo Anthony". nba.com. September 25, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  103. ^ Tjarks, Jonathan (October 14, 2017). "NBA Preview: Will Thunder's 'Big Three' challenge Warriors?". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  104. ^ Young, Royce (April 28, 2018). "The end of OK3? Thunder's grand plan comes to a crashing halt". ESPN. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  105. ^ "Carmelo Anthony traded to Atlanta Hawks; Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Dennis Schroder". nba.com. July 25, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  106. ^ "Oklahoma City Acquires Chris Paul, Two First-Round Draft Picks and the Right to Two Swap Picks". nba.com. July 16, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  107. ^ "Thunder Acquires Gilgeous-Alexander, Gallinari and Five First-Round Draft Picks". nba.com. July 10, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  108. ^ "Brooklyn-bound: Nets land Harden in blockbuster". ESPN.com. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  109. ^ "Kevin Durant and (Possibly) the Greatest Basketball Team of All Time".
  110. ^ "Nets trade James Harden to Sixers for Ben Simmons". www.nba.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  111. ^ The Athletic Staff. "Boston Celtics sweep Brooklyn Nets". The Athletic. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  112. ^ "Nets officially trade Kyrie Irving to Mavericks". NBA.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  113. ^ "The Nets Fell Apart From the Top".
  114. ^ Cacciola, Scott (June 4, 2021). "Lakers Eliminated from Playoffs With Game 6 Loss to Suns". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  115. ^ "Lakers officially land Westbrook in 5-team trade". thescore.com. August 7, 2021.
  116. ^ The Nets And Lakers Superteam vs. Rest Of The League: Who Would Win This Game?
  117. ^ O'Donnell, Ricky (August 18, 2021). "Lakers-Nets is the NBA Finals matchup the world needs". SBNation.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  118. ^ "Nets open as '21-22 favorites; Lakers, Bucks next". ESPN.com. July 21, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  119. ^ "2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers win title of most disappointing team in NBA history". Yahoo Sports. April 7, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  120. ^ Duarte • •, Michael (May 30, 2022). "2022 Lakers Ranked as Most Disappointing Team in NBA History". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  121. ^ Kram, Zach (April 6, 2022). "Are the Lakers the Biggest Disappointment in NBA History?". The Ringer. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  122. ^ "The Big Fail: Inside the Lakers' most disappointing season in franchise history". Los Angeles Times. April 8, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  123. ^ Reporter, Gerrard Kaonga US News (April 6, 2022). "Los Angeles Lakers Decried as Biggest Failures in NBA History". Newsweek. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  124. ^ "Frank Vogel fired: Lakers part ways with head coach after three seasons; GM Rob Pelinka addresses decision". cbssports.com. April 11, 2022.
  125. ^ "Lakers send Russell Westbrook to Jazz in 3-team, 8-player deal". nba.com.
  126. ^ "Westbrook signs with Clippers after clearing waivers". usatoday.com.
  127. ^ "76ers trade James Harden to Clippers, per sources: How the deal positions both teams to succeed". theathletic.com.
  128. ^ Charania, Shams; Murray, Law. "Paul George to join 76ers on 4-year max deal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  129. ^ "Russell Westbrook to join Nuggets after Clippers-Jazz trade, sources say". ESPN. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  130. ^ "Thunder trade All-Star guard Chris Paul to Suns". NBA.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  131. ^ Cluff, Jeremy. "Rewind: Phoenix Suns' season ends with blowout Game 7 loss to Dallas Mavericks". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  132. ^ "Suns Complete Trade For Kevin Durant, T.J. Warren". NBA.com. February 9, 2023. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023.
  133. ^ "Suns land Bradley Beal in swap with Wizards". NBA.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  134. ^ Ryan, Shane. "Until the NBA breaks up its "super teams," it is basically just European soccer". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  135. ^ Berger, Ken. "Who's to Blame for the Warriors Bringing NBA Teams to Their Knees?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  136. ^ "Why Kevin Durant and the Warriors aren't to blame for the NBA's Superteam problem". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  137. ^ Fischer, Jake (April 30, 2024). "NBA offseason: What is the CBA's second apron? And how does it limit high-spending teams?". www.msn.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Superteams_in_the_NBA&oldid=1261674642"