Top NBA Franchise from the 2000's

After flourishing throughout the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson-Michael Jordan era of the 1980's and 1990's, the NBA struggled to reach a broad demographic in the 2000's. With the rapid rise of the NFL and NASCAR in the early 2000's, as well as the rekindling Boston Red Sox versus New York Yankees rivalry in Major League Baseball, the NBA became somewhat of an afterthought in the eyes of many sports fans as the 21^st century progressed. Nevertheless, there was some fantastic basketball played during the 2000's. Below are the top franchises over the course of the decade.

Los Angeles Lakers

The decade of the 2000's was exceptional on paper for the Lakers. However, there were some issues along the way. Nonetheless, they won four NBA championships throughout the decade. They ended the 1990's by defeating the Indiana Pacers four games to two in the 1999-00 NBA finals. They proceeded to win the 2000-01 championship over the Philadelphia 76ers and the 2001-02 title over the New Jersey Nets, becoming the first NBA team the win three consecutive titles since the Chicago Bulls. A rift caused a division within the team, as Phil Jackson retired as the Lakers coach in 2004. Center Shaquille O'Neal was shipped to the Miami Heat that same season. The team endured a rebuilding project, but returned to championship form in 2008-09 by defeating the Orlando Magic, and duplicated the feat in 2009-10 by ousting their archrival Boston Celtics. Key components to the Lakers success in the early 2000's was coach Jackson, center O'Neal, guards Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, and forwards Rick Fox and Robert Horry. The latter part of the decade was defined by the dominance of Bryant, as well as excellent play from center Pau Gasol.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs were able to build off the momentum they built in 1998-99. They were contenders throughout the early portion of the 2000's. They returned to the NBA finals in 2002-03, as they cruised past the Nets four games to two. In 2004-05 they won another championship after being pushed to seven games by the Detroit Pistons. In 2006-07 they won a third title in the decade, fourth overall, as they swept LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Spurs won 50 or more games in every season throughout the decade, 60 or more in two seasons. They were led by coach Greg Popovich. Notable players include center Tim Duncan, guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, and forward Bruce Bowen.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons clinched their third franchise NBA championship in 2003-04 when they crushed the Lakers four games to one. They repeated as NBA Eastern Conference champions in 2004-05 only to fall victim to the Spurs in seven games. They won more than 50 games in seven seasons, more than 60 in one. They began to fade as the decade drew to a conclusion. The Pistons of the 2000's were led by coaches Larry Brown and Flip Saunders, forward-center Ben Wallace, guards Richard "Rip" Hamilton and Chauncey Billups, and forward Rasheed Wallace.

Honorable mentions include Boston Celtics; Miami Heat; Dallas Mavericks

Resource: Basketball Reference