Every Franchise's Best Season Ever: 1969-1970 New York Knicks

 1969-1970 New York Knicks

Record Wins: 60 Losses: 22 Win PCT: 0.732 Playoffs: Won NBA Finals (4-3) over Los Angeles Lakers

Stat Leaders Points: Willis Reed (21.67 PPG) Assists: Walt Frazier (8.17 APG) Rebounds: Willis Reed (13.9 RPG)

The Knicks have been one of the worst teams in the NBA throughout the 2014-15 season, even prompting new president of basketball operations Phil Jackson to say, “So far, my experiment has fallen flat on its face,” per The New York Times Harvey Araton .

There was a time, however, when New York’s basketball franchise was the cream of the crop—you just have to delve into the record books going back more than four decades.
New York’s 1969-70 team finished with the league’s best record at 60-22. The dominant tandem of Walt Frazier and Willis Reed each averaged more than 20 points per game, and the Knicks managed to best a stacked Lakers team (featuring Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor) in a seven-game NBA Finals duel.

Every NBA Franchise's Best Season Ever: 2007-2008 New Orleans Hornets

 2007-2008 New Orleans Hornets

Record Wins: 56 Losses: 26 Win PCT: 0.683 Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Semifinals (4-3) to San Antonio Spurs

Stat Leaders Points: Chris Paul (21.05 PPG) Assists: Chris Paul (11.56 APG) Rebounds: Tyson Chandler (11.75 RPG)

The New Orleans Pelicans’ lone source of pride since the name change has been budding superstar Anthony Davis. “The Brow” points toward a very bright future in NOLA, but you have to revert back to the New Orleans Hornets days for the best team in an admittedly short history.
The 2007-08 squad, led by Chris Paul during one of the best seasons of his illustrious career, takes the cake. CP3 combined forces with young big men David West and Tyson Chandler to lead New Orleans past the first round of the playoffs for the first time ever.
The Paul, West, Chandler trio was delightfully fun to watch due to their prowess at running the pick-and-roll. While they were exciting to witness, they couldn’t come out on top of a hard fought seven-game series against San Antonio in the Western Conference Semis.

Every NBA Franchise's Best Season Ever: 2003-2004 Minnesota Timberwolves

 2003-2004 Minnesota Timberwolves

Record Wins: 58 Losses: 24 Win PCT: 0.707 Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Finals (4-2) to Los Angeles Lakers

Stat Leaders Points: Kevin Garnett (24.23 PPG) Assists: Sam Cassell (7.31 APG) Rebounds: Kevin Garnett (13.89 RPG)

Even with Rookie of the Year frontrunner Andrew Wiggins on board for the 2014-15 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are on track to miss the playoffs for the 11th straight season. Minny hasn’t had much to cheer about for the past decade, but its days with former MVP Kevin Garnett at least provide some fond memories.
Of the years with KG, the 2003-04 season (when “The Big Ticket” won his MVP award) was clearly the best. The T-Wolves finished 58-24 and reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
The Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell trio was a solid one, but they couldn’t overcome a stacked Lakers team that boasted Kobe and Shaq, as well as aging Hall of Famers Gary Payton and Karl Malone.

Every NBA Franchise's Best Season Ever: 1970-1971 Milwaukee Bucks

 1970-1971 Milwaukee Bucks

Record Wins: 66 Losses: 16 Win PCT: 0.805 Playoffs: Won NBA Finals (4-0) over Baltimore Bullets

Stat Leaders Points: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31.66 PPG) Assists: Oscar Robertson (8.25 APG) Rebounds: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15.99 RPG)

The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t had much success as a franchise in recent years, but its lone NBA champion was one of the best teams in league history.
The 1970-71 Bucks, headlined by a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (when he was still known as Lew Alcindor) and a 32-year-old Oscar Robertson, finished with the league’s best record at 66-16. For reference, the next best team from a record standpoint was the New York Knicks at 52-30.
Milwaukee was the top team in offensive rating and defensive rating that year, and thoroughly dominated the postseason atmosphere. The Bucks went 12-2 throughout three series against the San Francisco Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Baltimore Bullets.

Every NBA Franchise's Best Season Ever: 2012-2013 Miami Heat

 2012-2013 Miami Heat

Record Wins: 66 Losses: 16 Win PCT: 0.805 Playoffs: Won NBA Finals (4-3) over San Antonio Spurs

Stat Leaders Points: Lebron James (26.79 PPG) Assists: Lebron James (7.25 APG) Rebounds: Lebron James (8.03 RPG)

The Miami Heat have won three championships over the past decade thanks in large part to Pat Riley’s guidance over the organization. Of the three title teams, though, one stands above the rest as the most impressive for the franchise.
The 2012-13 Heat, led by the noteworthy Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, bulldozed the NBA landscape on their way to a franchise-best 66-16 record. During the course of the season, Miami won 27 straight games—the second-best win streak in league history.

The Spurs appeared to have the Heat dead to rights in the Finals, up 3-2 with a late Game 6 lead, but some late-game heroics from shooting guard Ray Allen saved South Beach’s season. Miami eventually toppled San Antonio in a thrilling seven-game series.

Every NBA Franchise's Best Season Ever: 2012-2013 Memphis Grizzlies

 2012-2013 Memphis Grizzlies

Record Wins: 56 Losses: 26 Win PCT: 0.683 Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Finals (4-0) to San Antonio Spurs

Stat Leaders Points: Rudy Gay (17.21 PPG) Assists: Mike Conley (6.09 APG) Rebounds: Zach Randolph (11.24 RPG)

The Memphis Grizzlies have only had one team in history reach the Western Conference Finals. It was also the squad that cobbled together the best regular-season record ever for the organization (56-26), so this choice is a no-brainer.
The 2012-13 Grizzlies, which traded away small forward Rudy Gay in January during the season, went on to make the deepest playoff run ever for the organization.
They benefitted from an injury to Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook and ended up firing head coach Lionel Hollins after the season due to a difference in philosophy, but that’s neither here nor there.

Every NBA Franchise's Best Season Ever: 1986-1987 Los Angeles Lakers

 1986-1987 Los Angeles Lakers

Record Wins: 65 Losses: 17 Win PCT: 0.793 Playoffs: Won NBA Finals (4-2) over Boston Celtics

Stat Leaders Points: Magic Johnson (23.86 PPG) Assists: Magic Johnson (12.21 APG) Rebounds: A.C. Green (7.78 RPG)

Since transitioning to Los Angeles back in 1960, Lakerland has won 11 championships.
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. The “Zen Master” Phil Jackson and Pau Gasol. Pat Riley, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar…let’s just agree that the Lakers franchise has had no shortage of star power. But how do you narrow down a “best” team for a franchise with the most impressive resume in the sport?

Well, picking a Lakers team that didn’t include Magic and Kareem would be a mistake. Even according to Bill Simmons—a Celtics fan and noted Lakers hater—those two guys are in the top four of best players ever, as he writes in The Book of Basketball .
If we’re targeting a Lakers team that had those two playing together at (or near) the peak of their abilities, while also racking up a dominant regular season record and capping things off by ousting a formidable opponent in the NBA Finals, the answer is the 1986-87 Lakers.

That roster went 65-17 with Magic and Kareem leading the way. James Worthy acted as a dominant third wheel (19.4 points per game), while worthy contributions from Byron Scott, A.C. Green, Michael Cooper and others aided the cause. They faced off against Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and the defending champion Celtics that year, but dispatched them in six games. All told, that’s an incredible season.