List of NBA Teams with Most Championships of All Time

Last Updated on October 23, 2023 by Lorraine Long

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The name of the championship trophy of the NBA is Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy. Every year National Basketball Association (NBA) awards this trophy to the winner of the NBA finals.

However, until 1984 the name of this trophy was Walter A. Brown Trophy. Do you know which are the NBA teams with most championships?

A star player is mostly judged by how many championships he has won. Achieving that feat certainly changes a player’s legacy. As he is rewriting history, this title win very much ensures his place in the NBA.

The same can be said about a team’s perspective. Generally, you look up to a team, check the history book, and see how many trophies they’ve got in their cabinet. Then you make a judgment.

And winning a title in a season or repeating the feat multiple times increases the prestige of a franchise, leading to plenty of tangible benefits.

So, as the 2020 NBA finals have come to an end, let’s see which NBA team has won the most championships.

NBA Teams With Most Championships By Year

Team

No. of Finals

No. of titles

Champion Year

Boston Celtics

21

17

1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008

Los Angeles Lakers

32

17

1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954 (As Minneapolis)1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020

Golden State Warriors

12

7

1947, 1956 (As Philadelphia Warriors)1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022

Chicago Bulls

6

6

1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998

San Antonio Spurs

6

5

1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014

Philadelphia 76ers

9

3

1955 (As Syracuse Nationals)1967, 1983

Detroit Pistons

7

3

1989, 1990, 2004

Miami Heat

6

3

2006, 2012, 2013

Milwaukee Bucks

3

2

1971, 2021

New York Knicks

8

2

1970, 1973

Houston rockets

4

2

1994, 1995

Atlanta Hawks

4

1

1958

Washington Wizards

4

1

1978 (As Baltimore Bullets)

Oklahoma City Thunder

4

1

1979 (As Seattle Super Sonics)

Cleveland Cavaliers

5

1

2016

Portland Trail Blazers

3

1

1977

Dallas Mavericks

2

1

2011

Sacramento Kings

1

1

1951 (As Rochester Royals)

Toronto Raptors

1

1

2019

So, these are the NBA teams with most titles. In total, 19 franchises have won at least one NBA championship.

Golden State Warriors NBA Champion 2022Golden State Warriors Have Won last time In 2022.

Three franchises did it by playing for different cities: Lakers, Warriors, and 76ers. Only five teams have managed to win more than three championships: The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State Warriors. In fact, these franchises have alone claimed nearly 70 percent of all titles.

Los Angeles Lakers Have Won Last Time In 2020Los Angeles Lakers Have Won Last time In 2020:Photo Source: Sportsnews.com

In the history of the NBA, the Celtics have won 17 championships, the last one coming in 2008. Next at second place comes Los Angeles Lakers with 17 titles. They were known as Minneapolis Lakers from 1947 to 1960. The Lakers have competed in as many as 32 NBA championship series, most by any team.

Boston Celtics Have Won Last Time In 2008Boston Celtics Have Won Last Time In 2008: Photo Source: Boston.com

The Golden State Warriors are pretty much used to championship feeling nowadays. Till now, they have won six NBA championships in total. Two of them came as Philadelphia Warriors. Even in 2019, they reached the NBA finals. But unfortunately, they came up short against Toronto Raptors at the finals.

The recent success of the Warriors is absolutely praiseworthy. So, it is the Celtics and Lakers who are steadily placed right at the top rank of NBA in terms of lifting the title.

Chicago Bulls have won six Titles. Legendary Michael Jordan won all of them in the 1990s. The Spurs ranks fifth in place with five titles. They were founded in 1967 but joined the NBA later in 1976. There are three other teams (Heat, Pistons, 76ers) who are tied with three titles. New York Knicks and Houston Rockets have won two titles apiece

Celtics was led well by Bill Russell. From 1957 to 1969 they had won 11 NBA championships. In the 1980s when legendary Larry Bird was drafted to Boston, he ultimately led them to title in 1981, 1984, and 1986. Boston Celtics had 15 title to their name, most at that time compared to the Lakers who had won 10 by 1986.

Though since then Celtics would face a championship drought of over 20 years. Their recent title came in 2008 when Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen would lead Celtics to their glory days once again.

11 NBA franchises with No NBA Title Yet

11 NBA franchises have not been able to make their entry into the NBA Champions list yet. Let’s see their names.

1. Brooklyn Nets

2. Charlotte Hornets

3. Denver Nuggets

4. Indiana Pacers

5. Los Angeles Clippers

6. Memphis Grizzlies

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

8. New Orleans Pelicans

9. Orlando Magic

10. Phoenix Suns

11. Utah Jazz

So, here you go. These are the NBA teams without championships.

The NBA is considered the highest-level men’s professional basketball game in the world. Every game can inspire the greatest enthusiasm among fans. If you also have a favorite team, you can customize medals with the team logo, player names, and numbers at GS-JJ to support and commemorate their games. To learn about GS-JJ medals, you can click here for more details!

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