By Andrew Mayor ’17
The legendary Chicago Bulls team, led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, is widely regarded as the best team in NBA history. The Bulls led the NBA in both offensive and defensive efficiency in 1996 en route to 72 regular season wins and their fourth NBA Championship under head coach Phil Jackson. All together, they won six championships. Not until this year has anyone ever doubted that Bulls team’s supreme dominance, but now it is now in question. Coming off their first finals win under head coach Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors are legitimately in the discussion to be the best team ever assembled in the NBA. To this point in the season, the Warriors are 43-4 and first in the league in total offensive efficiency, while third in defensive efficiency. They are on pace to top the Bulls’ record 72 wins, with a dominance that has never been seen before – the Golden State Warriors are the best team the NBA has ever seen.
To begin, it is clear that the Bulls have the better roster, with two Hall of Famers, including the best player ever, Michael Jordan. However, the Warriors are in no way lacking talent. With reigning MVP and perhaps the best three-point shooter ever, Stephen Curry, along with fellow sharpshooter Klay Thompson, the Warriors run a fast-tempo, shoot at will offense that is unlike anything the game of basketball has ever seen.
Both the Bulls and Warriors have fantastic offenses and defenses, but the one thing that distinguishes them is potential. The Bulls won their fourth championship in their record 1996 season with their top three scorers’ ages being 32, 30, and 34. All three of these players were at their peaks, as their numbers steadily declined following that season. Because of this, the Bulls were also at their peak. They won 72 games in the ’96 season, won two more championships in a less dominate fashion, and then tapered off. Conversely, the ages of the Warriors top three scorers are 27, 25, and 25. They may have not even entered their prime yet, and they are already on pace to set the single season wins record. This team will only get better. By the time Stephen Curry retires, there will be no question that the dynasty he created is the unrivaled best team ever.