How Many Teams in the NBA Have 3-peated?

The answer may surprise you – there have only been three teams to three-peat in the NBA!

Three-Peat Teams in the NBA

In the history of the NBA, only four franchises have won three consecutive championships. The Boston Celtics (1959-1966), the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002), the Miami Heat (2012-2014), and the Golden State Warriors (2015-2018). Out of these four teams, the Warriors are the only team to have done it twice.

Boston Celtics (1961-1963)

Led by head coach and future Hall of Famer Red Auerbach, the Boston Celtics dynasty of the early 1960s is often considered one of the best in NBA history. The team won an incredible eight championships in a row from 1959 to 1966, including three straight from 1961 to 1963. Bill Russell was the star player on those championship teams, averaging over 20 points and 20 rebounds per game during his Celtics career.

Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002)

In 2001, the Los Angeles Lakers became the first team in NBA history to win three successive championships since the Boston Celtics accomplished the feat from 1959 to 1966. The “three-peat” would have been an unprecedented fourth consecutive title had the Lakers not been upset by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals. The Lakers went on to defeat the New Jersey Nets in 2002 and again in 2003 to become only the second team (after the Celtics) to win three consecutive championships on two separate occasions.

Miami Heat (2012-2014)

The Miami Heat are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The Heat play their home games at American Airlines Arena, and have won three NBA championships.

The franchise began play in 1988 as an expansion team, where after a period of mediocrity, the Heat would gain relevance during the 1990s following the acquisition of future Hall of Fame center Alonzo Mourning in 1995. Claiming their first ever championship in 2006, led by Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and newly acquired superstar in Chris Bosh, the Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals. After losing in the Finals again in 2011 to the Dallas Mavericks, and then being swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers led by LeBron James in the first round of 2012 NBA Playoffs, Wade and Bosh left via free agency after 2012-13 season leaving James as the only “Big Three” member remaining on the team.

With a revamped roster that featured All-Star point guard Goran Dragic and versatile big man Hassan Whiteside alongside James, the Heat returned to playoff contention in 2014 but were ultimately defeated by James’ former team, the Cavaliers, who went on to win that year’s NBA Finals. In 2016, James departed from Miami once again to return home and play for his former team, this time joining forces with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers; this created another “Big Three”. After missing playoffs for two consecutive seasons following James’ departure in 2016 and 2017 respectively (due mainly to Whiteside suffering various injuries that limited him to 54 combined games played over those two seasons),
the 2018–19 season saw significant changes for both personnel and coaching staff: Dwyane Wade returned to Miami after spending a year with his hometown Chicago Bulls while Udonis Haslem remained with only Tyler Johnson being from among those who were on roster prior to Riley’s full-scale rebuild process that began after Pat Riley assumed total control over basketball operations prior to 2014 off-season. Head coach Erik Spoelstra also significantly changed Miami’s playing style/philosophy after years of having implemented a physical defensive identity under Spoelstra’s predecessor Erik Spoelstra; this subsequently resulted into Spoelstra being named Coach of The Year for 2018–19 season while helping lead Miami back into Eastern Conference Playoff picture with a 44–29 (.603) regular season record good enough for sixth seed going into 2019 NBA Playoffs where they lost in first round 4-3 to eventual Eastern Conference champion Toronto Raptors.

Reasons for Three-Peat

basketball teams that have won three consecutive championships are rare. In fact, out of the four major American sports leagues, it has only happened twice in the NBA. The Boston Celtics were the first team to do it, winning titles in 1959, 1960, and 1961. The Los Angeles Lakers accomplished the feat in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why these teams were able to achieve this level of success.

Dominant Players

In 1996, the Chicago Bulls won their fourth NBA championship in six years. From 1991 to 1998, the Bulls had the greatest eight-year run in NBA history, winning six championships in eight years and never posting a losing record. They were led by two of the greatest players ever: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

The Bulls weren’t the only team of the 1990s to enjoy success thanks to dominant players. The Houston Rockets won back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995 behind Hakeem Olajuwon, who was named Finals MVP both years. The Rockets also had Clyde Drexler, who was a key contributor to their success.

The Los Angeles Lakers won three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Lakers added Pau Gasol in 2008 and went on to win two more championships, making them the most recent team to three-peat.

These are just a few examples of teams that have enjoyed success thanks to dominant players. There have been other teams throughout NBA history that have been led by great players but haven’t been able to win multiple championships in a row. The main reason for this is that it’s very difficult to put together a team of multiple All-Stars and role players who can mesh together and win consistently over multiple years.

Systemic Advantages

Historically, dynasties have been built on two models: stockpiling great individual talent or developing systemic advantages that make it harder for other teams to compete against them. The former feels more intuitive—if you have the best player, or even the best two or three players, it stands to reason that your team should be really good. The latter is harder to see but no less important: having a great coach, playing in a favorable division or conference, or drafting well year after year can make it harder for other teams to keep up. In fact, some of the most successful dynasties in NBA history have benefited from a perfect storm of both models.

Good Coaching

It’s been said that “NBA championships are won with good coaching.” We tend to agree. In order for a team to be successful in the playoffs and win a championship, it generally needs a great coach. A good coach can take a team of talented players and turn them into a championship-winning team.

Some of the greatest coaches in NBA history have been able to win multiple championships with their teams. These coaches include Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, Pat Riley, and John Wooden. Each of these coaches has won at least three NBA championships with their respective teams.

But what about teams that have won three championships in a row? This is commonly referred to as a “three-peat.” Only eight teams in NBA history have been able to achieve this feat.

The first team to win three consecutive championships was the Minneapolis Lakers, who did it from 1952 to 1954. The Lakers were led by head coach John Kundla and stars George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Elgin Baylor, and Jim Pollard. The Lakers were able to win five championships in six years from 1949 to 1954.

The next team to three-peat were the Boston Celtics, who did it from 1959 to 1966. The Celtics were coached by Red Auerbach and led by stars Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, and John Havlicek. The Celtics won eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966.

The next team to do it were the Los Angeles Lakers, who three-peated from 2000 to 2002 under head coach Phil Jackson. The Lakers were led by superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Lakers dynasty continued as they went on to win two more championships in 2009 and 2010.

The most recent team to three-peat are the Miami Heat, who did it from 2012 to 2014 under head coach Erik Spoelstra. The Heat were led by superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

As you can see, winning three consecutive championships is no easy feat. It takes great coaching, along with a talented roster of players, to be able to achieve this goal.

Determining Factors

When looking at how many teams have won three championships in a row, there are a few things that stand out. First, no team has ever done it in the NBA Finals. Second, most teams that have done it have had some sort of dynasty. The Lakers did it with Magic Johnson, the Bulls did it with Michael Jordan, and the Spurs did it with Tim Duncan. It takes a lot of things to come together to win three championships in a row.

Age of Players

The age of the player is the most important factor when it comes to whether or not a team will 3-peat. The prime years for players are typically between 27 and 32, with a few outliers on either side. The majority of teams that have 3-peated have had at least 2 players in their primes, and often times 3 or more. This allows for a core group of players that knows how to win and has the experience to do so.

The second most important factor is the coaching staff. A good coach can make or break a team, especially come playoff time. A coach that knows how to get the most out of his players and has a good offensive and defensive gameplan can be the difference between winning and losing.

The third factor is the supporting cast. A team is only as good as its role players, and teams that have 3-peated have typically had very strong supporting casts. Role players who can step up and make big shots when called upon are crucial come playoff time, when every possession counts.

Free Agency

Free agency is a time where players can sign with any team of their choice. The player’s former team can choose to match the offer, but if they decline, the player is free to sign with the new team. This process often leads to teams “loading up” by signing multiple high-profile players in order to create a “super-team.” These super-teams are often able to 3-peat, or win 3 championships in a row.

Injuries

Injuries are a big factor in whether or not a team can 3-peat. If a team’s star player goes down with an injury, it significantly decreases the chances of that team winning another championship. In addition, role players are often crucial to a team’s success and if they are injured, it can also hurt a team’s chances.

Other factors that can determine whether or not a team can 3-peat are things like age and contract status of players. If a team’s core players are getting older, it might be harder for them to win another title. Additionally, if players are close to the end of their contracts, they might be more likely to try and force their way out of town – which could also hurt a team’s chances.