The NBA has crowned a champion every year since 1947, and over seven decades only 20 franchises have ever hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Below is the 2025-updated leaderboard of the ten most decorated organizations—the ones whose rafters are crowded with banners and whose legends sparkle with rings.
Top 10 NBA Franchises by Championships Won
| Rank | Franchise | Titles | First Crown | Latest Crown | Signature Dynasty Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 18 | 1957 | 2008 | 1957-69 (11 titles in 13 yrs) |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | 1949 | 2020 | 1980s Showtime (5) & 2000s Kobe-Shaq (3) |
| 3 | Golden State Warriors | 7 | 1947 | 2022 | 2015-22 (4 titles, 6 Finals) |
| 4 | Chicago Bulls | 6 | 1991 | 1998 | 1991-98 (two 3-peats) |
| 5 | San Antonio Spurs | 5 | 1999 | 2014 | 1999-2014 (5 in 16 seasons) |
| 6 | Miami Heat | 3 | 2006 | 2013 | 2006-13 (3 in 8 yrs) |
| 6 | Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 1955 | 1983 | 1967 & 1983 super-teams |
| 6 | Detroit Pistons | 3 | 1989 | 2004 | Bad Boys era & 2004 upsets |
| 9 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2 | 1971 | 2021 | Kareem → Giannis lineage |
| 9 | Houston Rockets | 2 | 1994 | 1995 | Hakeem’s back-to-back |
| 9 | New York Knicks | 2 | 1970 | 1973 | Willis & Clyde’s Garden glory |
Note: three franchises are tied at 6th (3 rings) and three at 9th (2 rings), producing the canonical “Top 10” list of 12 entries.
Key Takeaways & Fun Facts
- Celtics reign supreme after retaking the lead in 2008 (18-17).
- Lakers have appeared in 32 of the 78 NBA Finals—far more than any other team.
- Warriors zoomed from 4th to 3rd since 2015 thanks to the Curry-Klay-Dray core.
- Bulls are the only team with multiple titles and a 100 % Finals record (6-0).
- Spurs’ five championships came with a single trio—Duncan, Parker, Ginóbili—an unmatched continuity feat in the modern era.
- Heat, 76ers & Pistons all sit on three-peat potential but have yet to break through again.
- Knicks remain the last NYC team to win an NBA crown—1973!
Title Distribution Snapshot (2025)
- Total NBA seasons played: 78
- Franchises that have won at least one ring: 20
- Franchances still ringless: 10 (including Phoenix, Utah, Brooklyn, Orlando, Indiana, Charlotte, Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, and the L.A. Clippers).
🏅 Ring Leaders by Decade (quick cheat-sheet)
| Decade | Dominant Team(s) |
|---|---|
| 1950s | Celtics (4) & Lakers (2) |
| 1960s | Celtics (9) |
| 1970s | Knicks (2), Bucks (1), Celtics (2) parade of 8 diff. teams |
| 1980s | Lakers (5), Celtics (3), Pistons (2) |
| 1990s | Bulls (6), Rockets (2) |
| 2000s | Lakers (4), Spurs (3), Heat (1), Celtics (1) |
| 2010s | Warriors (3), Heat (2), Spurs (1), Cavaliers (1), Raptors (1) |
| 2020s | Bucks (1), Warriors (1), Nuggets (1), Celtics (1) so far |
Final Whistle
Championships are the ultimate currency in basketball lore. While superstars come and go, banners hang forever—and the Boston Celtics currently own the most valuable vault. With parity rising and new contenders (Denver, Milwaukee, Boston’s new core) emerging, the 2026 season could shuffle the deck once again. Keep your eyes on the rafters; the race for rings never stops.