So I am going to go through all 30 teams in the NBA and say whether each team is relevant or irrelevant and why. This relevancy can be based off any type of reason, game play style, history, pop culture, etc GOOD or BAD. In addition, I will state which teams are "Iconic" aka relevant on a higher level than just within the realm of basketball.
----Iconic Teams----
Boston Celtics: They have had several players through their history that can make a case for greatest of all-time, including the only basketball player to ever win 11 titles. The organization itself has won another 6.
New York Knicks: There are 2 reasons I would call the Knicks iconic. One, their long history, and two, their home court.
Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan, need I say more?
Los Angeles Lakers: They're relevant for basically the same reason as the Celtics, several players in the conversation for G.O.A.T
----Relevant Teams---
Philadelphia 76ers: Dr. J revolutionized the game of basketball with Philly.
Detroit Pistons: They created one of the greatest --- and most hated --- teams of all-time. Not to mention they've been around forever.
Miami Heat: No team has made as many successful moves than the Heat in the 21st century.
San Antonio Spurs: 19 consecutive playoff apperances and 5 titles, this team is borderline iconic in my eyes.
Houston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon, James Harden, and Moses Malone, all a part of one of the oldest institutions in basketball.
Portland Trail Blazers: Long history and always seem to have a competitive team, albeit never really a great one.
Utah Jazz: They have had some of the best players of all time, with John Stockton being the all-time leader in two of the 5 major statistical categories, and Karl Malone being #2 in scoring
Golden State Warriors: Theyre historic play over the last 1 and 1/4 years has erased their irrelevancy for the previous 70.
----Bubble Teams----
Indiana Pacers: Always seem to be competitive, and happen to be the team from where basketball was invented, but still they'res something missing.
Orlando Magic: They're a young franchise, but they drafted Shaq and Dwight Howard, could be worse
Oklahoma City Thunder: They were practically the same team as Portland when they were in Seattle, and have been successful ever since the relocation, but still, it will take some time for people to adjust to not having the Sonics.
Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash gave this team a bit of relevancy, and so has their competitive teams throughout their long history, but again they'res just something missing.
----Irrelevant Teams----
Toronto Raptors: Canada and basketball do not mix, ask the Grizzlies.
Brooklyn Nets: They get points for being in one of the most basketball centric places in the world, but they have moved around too much. Try staying in Brooklyn for a while and try again.
Cleveland Cavaliers: They've been around for a LONG time, but still, how many great players have they had that weren't named LeBron James?
Milwaukee Bucks: They are the team that made Kareem Abdul-Jabbar great, but withut him they're really nothing
Atlanta Hawks: They;ve been trying to be relevent for so long, I hope for their sakes they do so one of these days
Washington Wizards: They might be relevant if they didnt change their name for no real reason
Charlotte Hornets: They're owned by the most relevant basketball player of all-time, but the fact that the most famous name of theirs is an executive and not a player doesnt speak well.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzky has done his part to make this team relevant in the 21st Century, but theres a lot of nothing before he arrived.
Memphis Grizzlies: They might not be in Canada, but Memphis isn't a huge step up.
New Orleans Pelicans: New Orleans has a long basketball history, they just cant hold on to a franchise, or a name for that matter.
Minnesota Timberwolves: 25-ish years and not much to show for it.
Denver Nuggets: Even longer with even less to show for it.
Los Angeles Clippers: One of the worst sports franchises in sports history thats so irrelevent that most people think your stupid when you say LA Clippers ("Don't you mean LA Lakers?")
Sacramento Kings: Yeah, California just doesn't have a whole lot of luck with Basketball, except for the Lakers.
