Ranking the Best Classic Teams in NBA 2K21

NBA 2K21 allows you to play as Classic teams. With that in mind, we're ranking the best classic teams in NBA 2K21. Here is a look at the strongest of the bunch:

2016-17 Warriors

The Golden State Warriors of 2016-2017 was a star-studded side. The cream was Kevin Durant.

The Warriors power duo of Kevin Durant (97 OVR) and Steph Curry (96 OVR) lead the way. Klay Thompson and Daymond Green are also in the 90s OVR. They also have a great supporting cast complementing that core, with Andre Iguodala, David West, and Javale McGee being key contributors. Not only is this team as talented as the USA Men's Basketball Team, but their skillsets fit seamlessly with each other.

1995-96 Bulls

The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were one of the most influential teams of all time.

The Bulls reached their peak when they reached a 72-10 record and won a championship. That's thanks in no small part to maybe the greatest athlete in history, Michael Jordan. He can score at ease, lock down the opponent's best scorer, and fits quite nicely alongside the ultimate sidekick, Scottie Pippen. Also, they have other outstanding players. Dennis Rodman gobbles up every rebound in sight. Ron Harper and Luc Longley do serviceable jobs of providing defensive support. Toni Kukoc is a torch off the bench, providing a much-needed scoring punch. And of course, Steve Kerr is an automatic shooter.

1986-87 Lakers

The 1986-87 Lakers are widely accepted as one of the 10 greatest NBA teams of all time, and it represents the best of the "Showtime" era. LA had their best regular-season record of the decade with 65 wins.

It helps to have the greatest point guard of all time, Magic Johnson, running the show and the all-time leading scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at the center. It helps even more that both are surrounded by players that can do their own thing. James Worthy can create his own shot. Michael Cooper and Byron Scott can shoot threes. Mychal Thompson, Kurt Rambis, and AC Green can control the paint.

2013-14 Spurs

The 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs are perhaps the most underrated NBA Champion of the past decade. It put an end to the Miami Heat's Big 3 and sent LeBron James back to the Cleveland Cavaliers and changed the course of basketball as we know it.

Playing alongside Duncan are his usual suspects, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, as well as Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Making up the role players are solid rim protector Tiago Splitter, Danny Green before he forgot how to shoot, veteran bucket-getters Patty Mills and Marco Belinelli, and skilled big man Boris Diaw.

2012-13 Heat

LeBron James makes a second appearance, returning to arguably his prime form as the 2012-13 NBA MVP. They beat the San Antonio Spurs, putting together one of the most impressive comebacks in NBA history in game 6 and then putting the icing on top of the cake in game 7.

His supporting cast is off-the-charts with talent, too. Dwyane Wade at this point was still a great all-around player. Chris Bosh is an excellent third option, too. Surrounding them are a litany of three-point shooters; Ray Allen, Mike Miller, and Shane Battier all help out the stars in that they provide space for them to create and knock down shots when needed. Rounding out the roster is Heat lifer, Udonis Haslem, who provides a nice rebounding boost.
 

1985-86 Celtics

The 1985-86 Celtics was an absolute juggernaut. They went 67-15 on the season and set a record by finishing a staggering 40-1 on their homecourt. That expanded into a postseason where they went unbeaten at home en route to an NBA Championship.

A roster that included league Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP Larry Bird, as well as legendary Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, and Robert Parish was too much for the rest of the NBA. Then they added another Hall of Famer in Bill Walton to really make things difficult on their opponents.

2018-19 Raptors

The most recent team on this list, the Raptors were the definition of "flash in the pan" during their 2018-19 season.

They had superstar Kawhi Leonard for only one season. Pascal Siakam is a solid secondary scorer and can get buckets when Kawhi gets too much attention on defense. Kyle Lowry is a steady, all-around player, helpful on both offense and defense. Everyone else on the team can shoot, among many other things, from remaining starters Danny Green and Marc Gasol, to key bench players like Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, and Norman Powell.

2015-16 Cavaliers

Cleveland won its first-ever NBA championship with an incredible 3-1 comeback in the NBA Finals against the 73-win Warriors.

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving led the charge and were supported by Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, and Tristan Thompson.

2007-08 Celtics

The Big Three's first year was an absolute success. After winning a league-high 66 games, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett won their first NBA championship, beating Kobe Bryant's Lakers in the finals.

 

 

 

 

2003-04 Lakers

With a couple of Hall-of-Famers joining the Lakers for the last chance at a title, this squad featured a stacked starting lineup.

The Bryant-O'Neal duo is accompanied by Gary Payton and Karl Malone, who were both over the hill at this point in their careers. Although they lost to the Detroit Pistons in a slightly less than favorable experience during the 2004 NBA Finals, the Lakers had finished their season 56-26 and had been the NBA Pacific Division's 1st place team under the coaching of Phil Jackson.

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