You know, every time I sit down to watch an NBA game, I can't help but think about how much the league has evolved since those early days back in 1947. It's like watching history unfold in real time, and honestly, that's part of what makes basketball so magical to me. I remember reading this quote from a coach who said, "Every day naman, kapag ginagamit siya, inoobserve ko talaga kung ano 'yung pwede kong makuha from her and ina-apply ko lang din kung anong nakikita ko and nao-observe ko sa kanya." While she was talking about something completely different, that approach perfectly captures how I feel about studying NBA champions through the decades - you observe what works, learn from it, and apply those lessons to understand the game better.
Let's start at the very beginning, back when the Minneapolis Lakers dominated the late 40s and early 50s with George Mikan, this absolute giant of a man who basically invented what it meant to be a dominant big man. I've watched grainy footage of those games, and it's incredible how different the game was back then - no three-point line, much slower pace, but the fundamentals were already there. The Celtics dynasty that followed from 1957 to 1969, winning 11 championships in 13 years under Red Auerbach, still blows my mind whenever I think about it. Bill Russell's defensive prowess, Bob Cousy's flashy ball-handling - they created a blueprint for team basketball that coaches still study today. What's fascinating to me is how each championship team seemed to learn from previous winners, adapting and evolving their strategies much like that coach described - observing what worked and applying those lessons.
The 70s brought us a more diverse championship landscape, with teams like the Knicks, Bucks, and Warriors breaking through. I have this particular soft spot for the 1975 Warriors team because they were such underdogs, sweeping the heavily favored Washington Bullets in what remains one of the biggest upsets in Finals history. Then came the 80s, which for me represents the golden era of NBA basketball. Magic's Showtime Lakers versus Larry Bird's Celtics - that rivalry had everything. The contrasting styles, the personalities, the sheer brilliance of their basketball IQ. Watching those games felt like attending a masterclass in team basketball. I've lost count of how many times I've rewatched Game 6 of the 1980 Finals when Magic, as a rookie, played center for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and dropped 42 points to clinch the championship. That's the kind of moment that makes you realize greatness isn't just about skill - it's about rising to the occasion.
Michael Jordan's Bulls of the 90s redefined what dominance looked like. Those two three-peats from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998 created what I consider the perfect basketball team. They had everything - Jordan's otherworldly talent, Scottie Pippen's versatility, Phil Jackson's philosophical coaching approach, and role players who knew exactly what they needed to do. I'll never forget where I was when Jordan hit that final shot against Utah in 1998 - it felt like watching poetry in motion. The post-Jordan era brought us the Lakers three-peat with Shaq and Kobe, then the Spurs dynasty that won five championships between 1999 and 2014. What always impressed me about the Spurs was their ability to reinvent themselves while maintaining their core identity - much like observing and applying lessons over time, they adapted to different eras while staying true to their system.
LeBron James entering the championship conversation changed everything again. His 2016 Cavaliers coming back from 3-1 down against the 73-win Warriors might be the most impressive championship run I've ever witnessed. And speaking of the Warriors, their recent dynasty has completely transformed how basketball is played, emphasizing three-point shooting and positionless basketball in ways we'd never seen before. What's interesting to me is how their style has forced every other team to adapt - again, that cycle of observing what works and applying it across the league. The 2020 Lakers bubble championship during the pandemic was surreal to watch - no fans, completely different environment, yet the competitive spirit remained untouched. And last year's Nuggets winning their first ever championship felt like a validation of building through the draft and developing talent organically.
Looking at all these champions across 75+ years, what strikes me is how each winning team leaves its mark on the game, influencing how future champions will be built and how they'll play. The evolution is constant, the lessons are always there for those willing to observe and apply. As a lifelong basketball fan, I've come to see these championship teams not just as winners, but as chapters in an ongoing story about what it takes to excel in this beautiful game. The numbers tell one story - 17 championships for the Lakers and Celtics, 7 for the Warriors, 6 for the Bulls - but the real story is in how each champion contributed to the game's evolution. And honestly, that's why I keep coming back season after season, watching and learning just like that coach described - observing what works, understanding why it works, and appreciating the brilliance of championship basketball.