Oregonsportshall.com – The 21st century has seen an explosion in the number of professional sports teams competing in the top leagues around the world. With competition at an all-time high, teams have had to work hard to stay on top and maintain their legacy. In this article, we look at the teams who have consistently performed at the highest levels, achieving the greatest success in their respective sports.
1. New England Patriots (2000-2019)
The New England Patriots have been the gold standard of the NFL for the better part of the 21st century. Led by legendary coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots have won six Super Bowls, eight AFC championships, and 14 division titles. The Patriots have also made 11 consecutive AFC championship game appearances and set a record for the longest winning streak in NFL history, winning 21 games in a row during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2019)
The Los Angeles Lakers have been the most successful team in the NBA over the past two decades. Led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, the Lakers won five championships in the early 2000s and added two more titles with LeBron James in 2009 and 2010. The Lakers also had the best regular-season record in the NBA three times, and they won 10 division titles during the 21st century.
3. San Antonio Spurs (1999-2018)
The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the most successful teams of the 21st century. Led by legendary head coach Gregg Popovich and future Hall of Fame players Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs won five NBA championships, six division titles, and four conference titles. They also had the best regular-season record in the NBA three times and set the record for the longest winning streak in NBA history, winning 20 games in a row in the 2016-17 season.
4. Detroit Red Wings (2001-2017)
The Detroit Red Wings were one of the most successful teams in the NHL during the 21st century. Led by legendary head coach Scotty Bowman and stars such as Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Nicklas Lidstrom, the Red Wings won four Stanley Cups, five division titles, and nine conference titles. The Red Wings had the best regular-season record in the NHL two times, and they set an NHL record for the longest winning streak with 23 consecutive wins in the 2005-06 season.
5. Barcelona (2000-2019)
Barcelona has been one of the most successful teams in Europe over the past two decades. Led by superstars such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona has won eight La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, and six Copa del Rey titles. Barcelona also had the best regular-season record in La Liga seven times and set a Spanish record for the longest winning streak with 16 consecutive wins in the 2013-14 season.
6. Real Madrid (2000-2019)
Real Madrid has been the most successful team in Europe over the past two decades. Led by superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid has won four Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and three Copa del Rey titles. Real Madrid also had the best regular-season record in La Liga six times and set a Spanish record for the longest unbeaten streak with 40 consecutive games in the 2015-16 season.
7. Golden State Warriors (2014-2019)
The Golden State Warriors have been one of the most successful teams in the NBA over the past five years. Led by superstars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the Warriors won three NBA championships, five division titles, and four conference titles. The Warriors also had the best regular-season record in the NBA five times, and they set an NBA record for the longest winning streak with 28 consecutive wins in the 2015-16 season.
The 21st century has been the age of professional sports teams and the teams listed above have been among the best in their respective sports. They have achieved great success and set numerous records. While some teams may rise and fall, these teams have cemented their legacies as some of the greatest teams in sports history.
