Greatest Single-Season NBA Starting Lineups
Career résumés are noisy. Peak seasons are the cleanest read on a starting five's true ceiling. Here are the 10 most dominant single-season lineups in NBA history — and a simulator so you can run any of them yourself.
Chicago Bulls — 1995–96
Jordan's MVP/Finals MVP/scoring title triple plus the best wing defender ever plus a +12 rebounding margin. Set the standard.
Golden State Warriors — 2016–17
Four future Hall of Famers in their primes and the highest-scoring postseason of all time. 16–1 through the playoffs.
Los Angeles Lakers — 1986–87
Magic's MVP season and Showtime's peak. League-best offensive rating and a Finals romp over the Celtics.
Boston Celtics — 1985–86
Bird's third straight MVP, three Hall of Fame frontcourt starters, and a 40–1 home record. The best frontcourt ever assembled.
Golden State Warriors — 2015–16
Most wins in NBA history and Curry's unanimous MVP. The Finals collapse is the only reason this isn't #1.
Miami Heat — 2012–13
LeBron's best statistical season (.565 FG%, MVP, Finals MVP) plus a 27-game win streak — the second-longest ever.
San Antonio Spurs — 2013–14
Pop's masterpiece. The most beautiful team-basketball Finals ever played, with Kawhi's breakout earning Finals MVP at 22.
Los Angeles Lakers — 2000–01
Went 15–1 in the playoffs — the most dominant postseason run ever. Shaq + Kobe at their two-man peak.
Philadelphia 76ers — 1966–67
The team that finally broke Boston. Wilt led the league in assists as a center and the Sixers set a then-record 68 wins.
Dallas Mavericks — 2010–11
Dirk's legendary playoff run plus the upset of the Heat super-team. Not the most talented five — the most clutch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the greatest single-season NBA starting lineup ever?
The 1995–96 Chicago Bulls (72–10) — Harper, Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Longley — are the consensus pick, with the 2016–17 Warriors (Curry, Thompson, Durant, Green, Pachulia) and the 1986 Celtics (DJ, Ainge, Bird, McHale, Parish) right behind.
Why does single-season talent matter more than career résumé?
Career arcs are noisy — peak season is the cleanest measure of a unit's true ceiling. A starting five's best year tells you what's possible when health, scheme, and chemistry align.
Did the 2017 Warriors actually beat the 1996 Bulls on paper?
Most simulations split — Golden State's spacing and Durant's mid-range edge them in raw efficiency, but Chicago's defense and rebounding hold up across eras. The matchup is closer than the takes suggest.
Can I simulate these lineups in Lock The Lineup?
Yes. Pick any franchise in the daily or free draft and assemble the same five — we'll run an 82-game season against the field and compare you to the historical result.