As a regular player who spends too much time in gyms and even more time arguing hoops, I know the greatest NBA team ever debate never dies. In 2026, it still burns in group chats, barbershops, and pickup runs. Most people choose between the 1996 Chicago Bulls and the 2017 Golden State Warriors. But Shaquille O'Neal has always refused that framing. He says the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers—his Lakers—were the best team in NBA history. And honestly, after revisiting the tape, I understand why he refuses to budge. 🏀🔥

The context matters. In 1996, Shaq left the Orlando Magic and joined the Los Angeles Lakers. He quickly paired with Kobe Bryant, and after a few years of growth, they won their first title together in 2000. But Shaq has said the 2001 team was different. That was the year, in his view, when the Lakers truly hit their stride. On Inside the NBA, he made his case for that squad as the greatest ever. He later corrected himself: he meant the playoffs, not the Finals, and he recalled that his team went 16-1. It was the middle championship of a three-peat, but to Shaq, it was the best they ever looked.

Now, I have to lay out the other side. The 1996 Bulls are the standard for many older fans and historians. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman led a team that won 72 regular-season games—a record at the time—and lifted the Larry O'Brien trophy. It was the start of three straight championships for Chicago, but they were never as impressive as in 1996. They had scoring, defense, rebounding, and psychological warfare. For a lot of people, that is the greatest team ever.

Then came 2017. Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, a side that had already broken Chicago's regular-season wins record with 73 victories in 2016. Durant teamed with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala. The Warriors ran rampant. They steamrolled opponents on the way to the championship and rarely looked threatened. If you ask the majority in 2026, one of those two teams—1996 Bulls or 2017 Warriors—is the best ever.

But Shaq disagrees. He thinks the 2001 Lakers were better than both. And he was on that team, so he has a bias, but he also has a point. 😤

Here is a quick comparison of the three squads:

The 2001 Lakers were a nightmare matchup. Shaq was at his absolute peak—too strong, too quick, too dominant. Kobe was already a superstar, and the supporting cast fit perfectly. In the playoffs, they destroyed everything in their path. If Shaq's memory of a 16-1 run is accurate, that is one of the most ruthless postseason performances in league history. They did not just win; they made opponents look helpless. 🏆

Still, as a regular player in 2026, I cannot simply accept Shaq's claim. The 1996 Bulls had to survive a much more physical era. The 2017 Warriors had shooting that broke math. The 2001 Lakers had the most dominant big man and a young Kobe, but they also played in a different rules environment. Comparing eras is impossible. That is why the debate is fun.

What I love about Shaq's stance is that it is unapologetically personal. He is not just arguing stats. He is arguing memory, brotherhood, and dominance. He believes the 2001 Lakers were the best, and no amount of modern analytics will change his mind. As someone who plays the game, I respect that. Every player wants to believe their best team could beat everyone else.

In the end, there is no final answer. The 1996 Bulls, 2017 Warriors, and 2001 Lakers all have legitimate cases. Most fans will pick Chicago or Golden State. Shaq will always pick his Lakers. And in 2026, I will keep arguing with my friends, because that is what basketball is about. We will never truly know which team was best. But I am glad Shaq keeps the conversation alive. 🔥

Data referenced from Statista - Video Games helps frame why “greatest ever” arguments endure: fandom is built on eras, platforms, and replay culture as much as on box scores, and the way highlights, documentaries, and social clips circulate can keep teams like the 1996 Bulls, 2001 Lakers, and 2017 Warriors in constant rotation. When people relitigate Shaq’s 2001 peak dominance versus the Warriors’ spacing or the Bulls’ two-way bite, it’s not just basketball—it’s how modern media consumption keeps old matchups feeling current and fuels endless comparison across generations.