The following is a list of National Basketball Association (NBA) players who won the most championships.
The NBA is a major professional basketball league in North America. It was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). [1] The league adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL). [2] The NBA Finals is the championship series for the NBA and the conclusion of the sport's postseason. The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Players from the winning team usually receive championship rings from the team honoring their contribution, with "rings" becoming shorthand for championships. [3] The number of championships won by NBA superstars is often used as a measurement of their greatness. [4]
Boston Celtics center Bill Russell holds the record for the most NBA championships won with 11 titles during his 13-year playing career. [5]
As of 2024, Robert Horry, John Salley, LeBron James and Danny Green are the only players to have won championships with three different teams. [6]
Pos | G | Guard | F | Forward | C | Center |
* | Denotes players who have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame | |||||
^ | Denotes players who are currently active in the NBA | |||||
† | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration [a] |
a A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for two calendar years.
b Russell was inducted both as a player and as a coach.
c Heinsohn won two additional championships in 1974 and 1976 as head coach of the Boston Celtics.
d Jones won four additional championships: in 1972 as assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, in 1981 as assistant coach of the Boston Celtics, and in 1984 and 1986 as head coach of the Celtics.
e Sanders was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a contributor. [91]
f Loscutoff did not play in the 1960 Playoffs and Finals due to injury. [92]
g Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971 after winning his first championship. He also won two championships as an assistant coach with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. [93]
h Nelson was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach.
i Kerr won additional championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022 as head coach of the Golden State Warriors.
j Sharman won an additional championship in 1972 as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
k Wilkes did not play in the 1985 playoffs due to injury, but remained on the roster until after the Finals. [94]
l Kupchak was injured 26 games into the 1981–1982 season, resulting in him missing the remainder of that season including the playoffs. He did not remain on the roster, but he did receive recognition as a member of the 1982 championship team.