Who Has The Most NBA Rings? List of NBA Teams and Players With The Most Championships
by Janani | Updated Jun 03, 2023
NBA Rings
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), a coveted championship ring is bestowed upon individuals who are part of the victorious team in the annual NBA Finals. These rings are a symbol of triumph and are presented to players, coaches, and members of the executive-front office who contributed to the team's success. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics share the record for the most championship rings, with both teams having amassed an impressive total of 17 rings each.
When it comes to coaching, Phil Jackson holds the distinction of having the highest number of championship rings, having accumulated a remarkable 11 rings throughout his career. As for players, Bill Russell stands at the pinnacle with an astounding 11 championship rings to his name as well.
The tradition of awarding NBA championship rings dates back to the inaugural NBA Finals in 1947. Since then, these rings have become highly sought-after symbols of excellence and achievement in the basketball world. In the modern era, the defending champions are honored with their rings during their first home game of the season, adding an extra layer of celebration and anticipation for both the team and their passionate fans.
Who Has the Most NBA Rings?
11
Bill Russell
13
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
10
Sam Jones
12
Boston Celtics (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
8
Tom Heinsohn
9
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965)
K. C. Jones
9
Boston Celtics (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)
Satch Sanders
13
Boston Celtics (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
John Havlicek
16
Boston Celtics (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)
7
Jim Loscutoff
9
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
Frank Ramsey
9
Robert Horry
16
Houston Rockets (1994, 1995)
Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002)
San Antonio Spurs (2005, 2007)
6
Bob Cousy
14
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
(formerly Lew Alcindor)
20
Milwaukee Bucks (1971)
Los Angeles Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Michael Jordan
15
Chicago Bulls (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Scottie Pippen
17
5
George Mikan
7
Minneapolis Lakers (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954)
Jim Pollard
7
Slater Martin
11
Minneapolis Lakers (1950, 1952, 1953, 1954)
St. Louis Hawks (1958)
Larry Siegfried
9
Boston Celtics (1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
Don Nelson
14
Boston Celtics (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)
Michael Cooper
12
Los Angeles Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Magic Johnson
13
Dennis Rodman
14
Detroit Pistons (1989, 1990)
Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997, 1998)
Ron Harper
15
Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997, 1998)
Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001)
Steve Kerr
15
Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997, 1998)
San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003)
Kobe Bryant
20
Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
Derek Fisher
18
Tim Duncan
19
San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
4
Vern Mikkelsen
10
Minneapolis Lakers (1950, 1952, 1953, 1954)
Frank Saul
6
Rochester Royals (1951)
Minneapolis Lakers (1952, 1953, 1954)
Bill Sharman
11
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961)
Gene Guarilia
4
Boston Celtics (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963)
Jamaal Wilkes
12
Golden State Warriors (1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985)
Kurt Rambis
14
Los Angeles Lakers (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Robert Parish
21
Boston Celtics (1981, 1984, 1986)
Chicago Bulls (1997)
Will Perdue
13
Chicago Bulls (1991, 1992, 1993)
San Antonio Spurs (1999)
John Salley
11
Detroit Pistons (1989, 1990)
Chicago Bulls (1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (2000)
Horace Grant
17
Chicago Bulls (1991, 1992, 1993)
Los Angeles Lakers (2001)
Shaquille O'Neal
19
Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002)
Miami Heat (2006)
Manu Ginóbili
16
San Antonio Spurs (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
Tony Parker
18
LeBron James
19
Miami Heat (2012, 2013)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2016)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
Stephen Curry
13
Golden State Warriors (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)
Draymond Green
10
Andre Iguodala
18
Klay Thompson
9
3
Bob Harrison
9
Minneapolis Lakers (1950, 1952, 1953)
Whitey Skoog
6
Minneapolis Lakers (1952, 1953, 1954)
Gene Conley
6
Boston Celtics (1959, 1960, 1961)
Clyde Lovellette
11
Minneapolis Lakers (1954)
Boston Celtics (1963, 1964)
Willie Naulls
10
Boston Celtics (1964, 1965, 1966)
Paul Silas
16
Boston Celtics (1974, 1976)
Seattle SuperSonics (1979)
Mitch Kupchak
11
Washington Bullets (1978)
Los Angeles Lakers (1982[k], 1985)
Dennis Johnson
14
Seattle SuperSonics (1979)
Boston Celtics (1984, 1986)
Larry Bird
13
Boston Celtics (1981, 1984, 1986)
Kevin McHale
13
Byron Scott
14
Los Angeles Lakers (1985, 1987, 1988)
James Worthy
12
Gerald Henderson
13
Boston Celtics (1981, 1984)
Detroit Pistons (1990)
B. J. Armstrong
11
Chicago Bulls (1991, 1992, 1993)
Bill Cartwright
15
Stacey King
8
John Paxson
11
Scott Williams
15
James Edwards
19
Detroit Pistons (1989, 1990)
Chicago Bulls (1996)
Randy Brown
12
Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997, 1998)
Jud Buechler
12
Toni Kukoč
13
Luc Longley
10
Dickey Simpkins
7
Bill Wennington
13
Mario Elie
11
Houston Rockets (1994, 1995)
San Antonio Spurs (1999)
A.C. Green
16
Los Angeles Lakers (1987, 1988, 2000)
Rick Fox
13
Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002)
Devean George
11
Brian Shaw
14
Bruce Bowen
13
San Antonio Spurs ( 2003, 2005, 2007)
Sam Cassell
15
Houston Rockets (1994, 1995)
Boston Celtics (2008)
Udonis Haslem
19
Miami Heat (2006, 2012, 2013)
Dwyane Wade
16
James Jones
14
Miami Heat (2012, 2013)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2016)
Shaun Livingston
14
Golden State Warriors (2015, 2017, 2018)
Patrick McCaw
5
Golden State Warriors (2017, 2018)
Toronto Raptors (2019)
Danny Green
13
San Antonio Spurs (2014)
Toronto Raptors (2019)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
JaVale McGee
14
Golden State Warriors (2017, 2018)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
Kevon Looney
7
Golden State Warriors (2017, 2018, 2022)
No.of.Championships
Player
Seasons Played
Championship teams
NBA Players With the Most Rings As of 2023
1
Bill Russell
13
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
2
Sam Jones
12
Boston Celtics (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
3
Tom Heinsohn
9
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965)
4
K. C. Jones
9
Boston Celtics (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)
5
Satch Sanders
13
Boston Celtics (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
6
John Havlicek
16
Boston Celtics (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)
7
Jim Loscutoff
9
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
8
Frank Ramsey
9
9
Robert Horry
16
Houston Rockets (1994, 1995)
Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002)
San Antonio Spurs (2005, 2007)
10
Bob Cousy
14
Boston Celtics (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963)
S.No
Player
Seasons Played
Championship teams
Bill Russell, the esteemed center of the Boston Celtics, holds the extraordinary record for the most NBA championships won, boasting an impressive tally of 11 titles throughout his illustrious 13-year playing career. Russell's championship journey began in his rookie year when he clinched his first championship with the Boston Celtics. Subsequently, he continued his winning streak by securing an astonishing ten championships in the following 12 years.
A remarkable feat of Russell's career was his incredible stretch of eight consecutive championships, spanning from 1959 to 1966. This unprecedented achievement showcased his exceptional skills, leadership, and the Celtics' dominance during that era. In addition to his extraordinary playing abilities, Russell showcased his versatility by assuming the role of player-coach in his last two championship victories in 1968 and 1969.
Among Russell's esteemed teammates, Sam Jones stands as the second-highest record holder in NBA history, having secured an impressive ten championships from 1959 to 1969. Furthermore, four other Celtics players left an indelible mark in basketball history, each capturing eight championships. These legendary players include Tom Heinsohn, K. C. Jones, Satch Sanders, and John Havlicek, with Havlicek being the only one to achieve championships independently of Russell's era.
Additionally, two other remarkable Celtics players, Jim Loscutoff and Frank Ramsey, made their mark by winning seven championships each. The combined success of these exceptional players not only solidified the Boston Celtics as a dominant force in the NBA but also established an unparalleled legacy of championship triumphs in the annals of basketball history.
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America, consisting of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). It is regarded as the top basketball league globally and is considered one of the major professional sports leagues in both the United States and Canada.
Originally established as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in New York City on June 6, 1946, the league merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) on August 3, 1949, and adopted the name National Basketball Association. In 1976, the NBA merged with the American Basketball Association (ABA), resulting in the addition of four franchises to the NBA. The regular season of the NBA takes place from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. The league's playoff tournament extends into June. As of 2020, NBA players have the highest average annual salary among all athletes worldwide.
The NBA is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the governing body for basketball in the United States. The league's main offices are located in Midtown Manhattan, where they oversee several international and team-specific offices. NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios operate from offices in Secaucus, New Jersey. In terms of revenue, the NBA is the third wealthiest professional sports league in North America, following the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), and ranks among the top four leagues globally.
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are the most successful teams in the NBA, with each winning a total of 17 NBA championships. The Golden State Warriors are the current league champions, having defeated the Boston Celtics 4–2 in the 2022 NBA Finals to conclude the 2021–22 season.
Who Has the Most NBA Rings? - FAQ
Both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics share the record for the most championship rings, with each team having won a total of 17 rings.
Bill Russell, the renowned Boston Celtics center, holds the record for the most NBA championships won, with an incredible 11 titles to his name.
Phil Jackson holds the distinction of having the highest number of championship rings as a coach, with an impressive total of 11 rings throughout his coaching career.
Bill Russell, in addition to holding the record for the most championships won, also holds the record for the most championship rings as a player, with an astounding 11 rings.
The tradition of awarding NBA championship rings dates back to the inaugural NBA Finals in 1947. In the modern era, the defending champions are honoured with their rings during their first home game of the season, creating a special celebration for the team and their passionate fans