Which Player and Team Has the Most NBA Championship Rings?

nba player with most rings

Every basketball player’s dream is to play in the NBA and win an NBA title. Even if you ask every college basketball player that has the potential of going into the NBA on what their career goal is, they will surely tell you that they like to win an NBA championship. If you are lucky enough to ask the current and former NBA players that have been lucky to win at least one NBA ring for sure they will tell you that it was the pinnacle of their NBA career.

Even though some NBA players have an astounding career, did you know that only 20% of NBA players have been fortunate to win an NBA title? The odds of winning a championship relies on the players on the team that is around you than your performance. You will notice that not all NBA hall of fame won a ring. Here are the greatest NBA players who never won a championship:

  • Chris Mullin
  • Shawn Kemp
  • Tim Hardaway
  • Charles Oakley
  • Chris Webber
  • Rolando Blackman
  • Dikembe Mutombo
  • Dan Issel
  • Bob Lanier
  • Dave Bing
  • Connie Hawkins
  • Artis Gilmore
  • Bernard King
  • Walt Bellamy
  • Nate Thurmond
  • Lenny Wilkens
  • George Gervin
  • Alex English
  • Pete Maravich
  • Reggie Miller
  • Dominique Wilkins
  • Patrick Ewing
  • John Stockton
  • Charles Barkley
  • Karl Malone
  • Elgin Baylor

While only 20% have won a title, some NBA superstars have been talented and fortunate to have multiple rings. Do you know who they are? And which NBA player in history has the most rings?

By continuing to read this article, you will know the NBA players and teams that won NBA championships. Let’s get into it!

Most NBA Titles: By Team

The players who won the most rings correlate to the most successful franchises in NBA history. Let’s expose some of those NBA teams

1. Boston Celtics – 17 NBA Championships

The Boston Celtics are the first dynasty in the NBA. They showed dominance across the league during the 1950s and 1960s, winning 11 titles in 14 years between 1957-1970. Their dominance did not stop there as the Celtics have won more championships in the 1980’s-2000s. 

2. Los Angeles Lakers – 16 NBA Championships

The Celtics and the Lakers are the two teams who are battling in the finals for numerous years and the Lakers have come close to tying the Celtics championships numbers. They saw early triumph in the 1940s and 1950’s and they were the only teams that could beat the Celtics throughout the NBA golden years in the 1980s. The Lakers also have the most NBA titles in the 2000s with a three-peat from 2000-2002 and another championship in 2009-2010.   

3. Golden State Warriors & Chicago Bulls – 6 NBA Championships each

Even though the Warriors and Bulls have experienced different paths, the fact remains that they are tied for the third on the list. The two teams have different leaders that carried the team into glory. For the Bulls, we have Michael Jordan and for the Warriors, we have Stephen Curry. 

The Bulls won all their six rings because of the help of Michael Jordan. In their six championships, Jordan and his team managed to win consecutive championships in 1991-1998.  

The Warriors or called The Dubs have won their first three championships in 1947, 1956, and 1975. They made multiple titles again last 2015, 2017, and 2018. 

Other Teams That Won Multiple Championships

Team # of Championship Year
San Antonio Spurs 5 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014
Philadelphia 76ers 3 1955 (as Syracuse Nationals), 1967, 1983
Detroit Pistons 3 1989, 1990, 2004
Miami Heat 3 2006, 2012, 2013
New York Knicks 2 1970, 1973
Houston Rockets 2 1994, 1995
Atlanta Hawks 1 1958 (as St. Louis Hawks)
Washington Wizards 1 1978 (as Baltimore Bullets)
Oklahoma City Thunder 1 1979 (as Seattle SuperSonics)
Cleveland Cavaliers 1 2016
Portland Trail Blazers 1 1977
Milwaukee Bucks 1 1971
Dallas Mavericks 1 2011
Sacramento Kings 1 1951 (as Rochester Royals)

NBA Players With Most Rings: Runner Ups

Who do you think has the most rings in the NBA? We all know that Bill Russell has the most rings snatched in the NBA, but who is behind him? 

It is not a surprise that these players are from the Boston Celtics and these are the teammates of Bill Russell. The top 7 spots for most rings are held by the Boston Celtics that played from 1957-1970. 

During the Celtics lucky decade, many of the most rings snatched players were on the team for a long time and some of them were lucky and some were skilled players. The Celtics were unbeatable from 1957-1970 and were the highest championship earned franchise in NBA history. Here are the players from the Boston Celtics that hold the spot for most rings earned:

  • Sam Jones – Won 10 rings in only 12 seasons played
  • *Tom Heinsohn – Won 8 rings in only 9 seasons played
  • *K.C. Jones – Won 8 rings in only 9 seasons played
  • *Tom “Satch” Sanders – Won 8 rings in 13 seasons played
  • *John Havlicek – Won 8 rings in 16 seasons played
  • Jim Loscutoff – Won 7 rings in only 9 seasons played
  • *Frank Ramsey – Won 7 rings in only 9 seasons played

As you can see the Boston Celtics really dominated the league from 1957-1970 and the franchise still holds the record for most championships earned. 

Since this is not a Boston Celtics dynasty article, I would like to share with you some of the NBA players that have achieved to earn many rings throughout their careers. 

Robert Horry – 7 titles (Houston Rockets: 1994, 1995, Los Angeles Lakers: 2000-2002, San Antonio Spurs: 2005-2007)

Robert Horry is a role player. His career is astounding and he always gives his best in any team he plays. He was given the nickname “Big Shot Bob” for hitting some huge shots in multiple NBA finals games.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar (formerly Lew Alcindor) – 6 titles (Milwaukee Bucks: 1971, Los Angeles Lakers: 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)

Kareem is still the all-time scoring leader in NBA history, Jabbar was dominant when he entered the league. He gave the Bucks their first championship title before he was traded to Los Angeles Lakers. During his career with the Lakers, Jabbar helped the franchise to earn 5 championships with the help of Magic Johnson.

Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen – 6 titles (Chicago Bulls: 1991-93, 1996-98) 

We all claim Jordan is the GOAT in the league but he is in the last spot for most rings earned. Yes, Jordan could be the greatest of all-time in NBA history with his outstanding career and performance inside the court, but he can’t be the only GOAT as many great players have played ever since the league started.

Pippen and Jordan have the same number of rings and they are like Batman and Robin in the league. They both destroy every opponent they matched up with and they have good chemistry.  

Most NBA Rings: Bill Russell

The most rings earned goes to Bill Russell. Bill was a defensive machine for the Boston Celtics, he was the greatest defensive player to ever play the game and those who played with him claimed that he is the greatest teammate ever. 

Russell gave the Boston Celtics eleven championships. In human anatomy, a normal human being has only ten fingers. This means that Bill Russell could not even wear every ring he snatched if he wanted to.

During Bill Russell’s career, Russell’s biggest rivalry was Wilt Chamberlain. Many claimed that Chamberlain is better than Bill and some claimed that Chamberlain is the real GOAT of the NBA. But if you can see the highlight reel of these two players, they are almost tied up. 

Bill and Chamberlain went at each other 142 times during the 10 years of rivalry. Russel’s team won 85 times against Chamberlain and Chamberlain, who was with the Warriors, 76ers, and Lakers during that period has won 57 times. If you will sum it up, it is 14 meetings a year.

Russell never wanted to be the league’s best player. What he wants is to beat any team that is against his team. He is a legend and beating the record of eleven rings seems impossible but who knows? 

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