Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant have all been part of special teams, but the legends that three-peated will be held to a higher regard.
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LeBron James joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat. Kevin Durant joined Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green on the Warriors. However, both of those super teams managed “only” two titles. Meanwhile, Jordan had two three-peats in his career while the Kobe and Shaq Lakers enjoyed one of their own.
The fact that LeBron and KD could never reach that elusive third title means that their teams are held in a much lower regard than the Bulls and Lakers of yesteryear.
Dwyane Wade Defends LeBron James Decision To Join Miami Heat Superteam: ‘Michael Jordan Played With Hall Of Famers.’https://t.co/4COg6o2iJU pic.twitter.com/mXG5tHdBIU
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 19, 2020
Nobody:
Me watching Nets games: I miss KD on the Warriors 😔 pic.twitter.com/gixheYbWaj
— Elijah 🇯🇲 (@eli_carey98) June 8, 2021
Which Legendary Team Was The Best? Michael Jordan & The Bulls? Kobe Bryant and Shaq’s Lakers or Superteams LeBron James and Kevin Durant Formed?
The biggest argument behind crowning LeBron’s Heat or KD’s Warriors the greatest teams of all time is the fact that they never three-peated like the Lakers and Bulls had with Kobe Bryant and Shaq and Michael Jordan respectively.
Everyone freaked out when LeBron James joined the Miami Heat, and Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors.
Yet, neither team won 3 championships in a row.
Just goes to show how special those Michael Jordan Bulls and Kobe/SHAQ Lakers were……
— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) May 8, 2021
Jordans’ Bulls three-peated twice. Once between 1991 and 1993 and then again between 1996 and 1998. The most famous of these seasons was the 1995-96 season when Jordan’s Bulls set the record for most wins in an NBA season at the time. Finishing 72-10, an NBA title was the perfect cherry on top to a historic season.
Kobe and Shaq dominated the NBA between 2000 and 2002. The 2001 season included the greatest postseason run in NBA history as the Lakers would go 15-1 in the playoffs en-route to their third championship.
LeBron joined the Miami Heat in 2010, but he didn’t find success immediately. The Heat lost their Finals to Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs in 2011, a loss that drastically altered James’ legacy. However, they went back to back in 2012 and 2013, beating the Thunder and Spurs. In a rematch with the Spurs in 2014, the Heat would lose.
KD joined the Warriors after they beat Jordan’s 72-10 record by going 73-9. However, they would ultimately lose in the Finals, famously blowing a 3-1 lead. Durant made sure they’d avenge their loss, beating the Cavs in back to back years in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, injuries decimated the Warriors as the Toronto Raptors would finish the Finals at 4-2, beating a Durantless and Klayless Warriors team.
So, the comparison does become clearer the more we look at it. Jordan, Kobe and Shaq had some very special teams that even the greatest superteams of all time couldn’t match. When will the next NBA three-peat happen? Your guess is as good as mine.