The Bullets were the last NBA club to fold outright. As an Amazon Associate, We earn from qualifying purchases. Prior to becoming the Los Angeles Lakers, the Lakers won five NBA titles in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes.. 10 Best Trampoline Basketball Hoops In 2023: Top Models Compared, How To Inflate A Basketball With A Needle, How To Dispose of Portable Basketball Hoop, How To Disassemble A Basketball Hoop: In-Ground and Portable, How To Get Sand Out Of Basketball Hoop Base. Championships followed that in each of the next seven seasons. Which NBA team has won the most championships? The St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks won in 1958, and the Philadelphia 76ers broke the string in 1967. The name of the championship trophy of the NBA is Larry OBrien NBA Championship Trophy. The Spurs won five NBA championships during their streak. The Warhawks took home their three-peat in 2011. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. That's nearly impossible, and few have been able to do it. Chicago Bulls have won six Titles. The Boston Celtics are one of three original BAA teams still in existence. In 2019 the San Antonio Spurs tied the NBA record of 22 consecutive playoff appearances. During the Lakers championship runs, ONeal was namedAll-NBA First Teameach year, with Bryant being named to the All-NBA Second Team twice and the All-NBA First Team once. Fun fact: The Boston Celtics won nine championships in a row. Since 1988, its become more regular, with nine teams winning at least two straight championships in that span. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. At a time of dynasties across all sports, no one could touch Bostons legacy of eight consecutive championships from 195966. Western Champion. A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames). Over the past 3-plus years, the UConn women are 122-1 with an average victory margin of 38. Both franchises have accounted for 34of the 74 championships (45.9%)in NBA history. These are the NBA teams without championships. NBA triple double record: Who holds the record for most triple-doubles in NBA history? The Celtics won eight NBA championships in a row from 1959 to 1966. Answer (1 of 24): The Boston Celtics. And while the Celtics have only put together consecutive championships twice, one of those ran circles around every other franchise in any sport. In 1959, the Celtics reclaimed the title they had lost the previous season, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers. Their 15-1 postseason record is the greatest in NBA history (Update: Golden State went on to break the record in the 2017 playoffs after going 16-1). With 17 championships apiece, the Lakers and the Boston Celtics share the NBA record for the most titles in history. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Top Moments: Kobe, Shaq alley-oop caps comeback, Top Finals moments: Kobe takes over in Game 4, Top Moments: Kobe drops 81 on Raptors in '06, 5 stats to know for 76ers-Bucks matchup on ABC, Brooks suspended after receiving 16th technical foul, Grizzlies' Clarke (torn achilles) out indefinitely, Ja issues apology, will miss 'at least' 2 games, Ex-NBA player Morrow facing assault charges, Durant passes 'Big O' for 13th in career points. The Lakers' championships have been more spaced out, winning their most recent title in 2020. But one franchise set the gold standard for year-after-year excellence, not just in the NBA but in all North American major team sports. There are only five runs of at least three consecutive titles, accomplished by just three franchises. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The NBA started back in 1946 andthere have been a total of 21different champion teamsto date. Your default site has been set for 7 days, NBA Finals: Most NBA championships won by a franchise, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020, Philadelphia/San Francisco/Golden State Warriors. Only threefranchises have ever won three titlesin a row - Boston Celtics (eight straight from 1959 to 1966), Chicago Bulls (twice), and Los Angeles Lakers (twice). To be able to comment you must be registered and logged in. But despite the unceremonious ending to the era, nothing will ever take away from the brilliance ONeal and Bryant displayed together on the court. From 1957 to 1969 they had won 11 NBA championships. The Chicago Bulls did it twice in the 1990s, while the Lakers have also run off a pair of what Pat Riley copyrighted as three-peats. The first came while the franchise was still in Minneapolis; the second bridged the 20th and 21st centuries. Brooks will serve his 1-game suspension Sunday when the Grizzlies visit the Clippers. But no other team has gotten even halfway to what the Boston Celtics accomplished in the late 1950s through the mid-1960s. [6] Though this has been subject to criticism and debate with some arguing that is a misconception and that championships matter less overall in the measure of a players greatness as many great players have played on teams that were considered weak or failed to meet the status of a contender despite having a great player. After winning the BAA championship in their first season, the Bullets hit hard times. Mired in personal differences and ever-growing arguments over their respective roles with the team, it reached a point that Bryant and ONeal could no longer remain teammates. The Yankees boast an astonishing 27 World Series titles, which is an MLB record. Last year, the Milwaukee Bucks took home the title for the first time since 1971, preventing the Phoenix Suns from winning their first ever NBA championship. We are reader-supported. James' triple-double lifts Heat to title", "LeBron leads Heat to second straight title", "Spurs beat Heat 104-87 in Game 5 to win NBA title", "Warriors win NBA title, down LeBron, Cavs 105-97 in Game 6", "2017 NBA Finals Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors", "2018 NBA Finals Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors", "NBA to suspend season following Wednesday's games", "Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns: 2021 NBA Finals schedule", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_NBA_champions&oldid=1138913717, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 09:52. Total championship appearances: 21 Fun fact: The Boston Celtics won nine championships in a row. Harden is third on the NBA's all-time three-pointers made list and is one of only four players ever with at least 2,500 threes made. Without further ado, let's take a look at the 25 greatest winners of all-time. 1956-1969 is known as the Bill Russell Era, as Russell played a large factor in that winning. 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. Learn more and register, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. The Boston Celtics and the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers alone own almost half of the titles, having won a combined 34 of 76 championships (with 17 apiece). 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, Warriors vs Lakers: Times, how to watch on TV, stream online | NBA, Grizzlies at Clippers: Times, how to watch on TV, stream online | NBA, Knicks at Celtics: Times, how to watch on TV, stream online | NBA. Although the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics come with a ton of fans, notoriety, and talent, they are not the top two franchises when it comes to money and valuations. How Many Games Are There In An NBA Season? The first consecutive championships recognized by the NBA went to the Minneapolis Lakers, who won the BAA crown in 1949 and the NBA title in 1950. In Game 4 of the 2000 Finals, Kobe Bryant played 47 minutes and scored 28 points to beat the Pacers in overtime. All rights reserved. The Lakers become the fifth team in NBA history to win three-straight championships from 2000-02. The Bruins won seven consecutive national titles in men's basketball from 1967 to 1973 under head coaching legend John Wooden. The goal for every team in the NBA is to win a championship. Can You Use An Outdoor Basketball Indoors? The Canadiens have taken home the Stanley Cup more times than any other NHL team. 4-2. By clinching the 2020 NBA title, the Los Angeles Lakers took their overall tally to 17 championships. The Lakers went on to win the NBA Finals in six games over the Indiana Pacers. Johnson won three MVPs from 1987 to 1990 but was unable to win all three in consecutive seasons. Most NBA Championships Won | Basketball-Reference.com Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. The 2001-02 season will forever be remembered for its controversial playoffs. But winning three or more championships in a row? Learn more. The Boston Celtics won 8 NBA consecutive championships between 1959-1966. The Spurs' streak started in the 1998 NBA playoffs and ended after missing the 2020 NBA playoffs. The 76ers won two NBA championships during their streak. Frank Saul, Steve Kerr, Patrick McCaw, Danny Green and Chris Boucher are the only players to win two championships with two different teams in consecutive seasons. As of 2022[update], the Eastern Conference/Division led the Western Conference/Division 4036 in championships won. Russell is therefore the most decorated player in the NBA. The only other team in NBA history with five or more championships is the Spurs (5). Players from the winning team usually receive championship rings from the team honoring their contribution, with "rings" becoming shorthand for championships. There are three other teams (Heat, Pistons, 76ers) who are tied with three titles. Lakers, Celtics, Warriors lead full list, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020. Even in 2019, they reached the NBA finals. When Pat Riley trademarked the phrase Three-Peat in 1988, he anticipated it would be for his two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. With Pat Summitt at the helm for over three decades, they took home eight national titles, including three in a row from 1996-'98. The Boston Celtics won in 1957, eight in a row from 1959 to 1966, and in 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, and 2008. List of NBA players with most championships, players who have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame, "194950 Season Overview: Powerful Lakers Repeat", "Mavs against Cuban's idea not to give title rings", "Debate Over Brady's Place Among the Best Returns to the Shelf", "Championship Misconceptions: Why Rings Don't Define a Player's Greatness", "NBA Players: Gene Guarilia Profile and Basic Stats", "Mitch Kupchak Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more", "Wilkes Waived, Ending an 8-Year Laker Career", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_NBA_players_with_most_championships&oldid=1137401218, Denotes players who are currently active in the NBA, This page was last edited on 4 February 2023, at 12:44. Golden State Warriors. New York Knicks and Houston Rockets have won two titles apiece. Their streak is the longest consecutive title run of any professional team in U.S. sports history. Boston Celtics had 15 title to their name, most at that time compared to the Lakers who had won 10 by 1986. The winning team of the series receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. They were a dismal 16-54 (a .229 winning percentage).