Whenever we talk about the greatest NBA player of all time, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – these names sound almost synonymous. What comparison would settle the NBA GOAT debate? NBA Championships?
The answer is no! None of the greats mentioned above are among the top nine players with the most NBA championships. While the majority of the NBA players with the most NBA titles represented the Boston Celtics, the 1960s was the championship-winning era. Here are the top seven NBA greats with the most championship rings.
Bill Russell: 11 NBA Championships
Boston Celtics’ legendary center Bill Russell played for the franchise in the NBA for 13 years and won 11 championships. His career started in 1956, and he played his last game in 1969. He was the core of the Celtics dynasty and passed away on July 31, 2022, at 88.
Sam Jones: 10 NBA Championships
Sam Jones was the shooting guard for the Boston Celtics and played from 1957 to 1969. He was part of the Celtics’ 10 NBA title victories. Known for his shooting abilities at crucial times, he was called Mr. Clutch and The Shooter. Jones was the five-time NBA All-Star and has his no. 24 retired by the Celtics.
K.C. Jones: 8 NBA Championships
During the Celtics’ eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966, K.C. Jones was one of only three Celtics (along with teammates Russell and Sam Jones) to be part of each title. Apart from his eight championships as a player, he won two as assistant coach and two as head coach.
Tom Heinsohn: 8 NBA Championships
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The 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year, Tom Heinsohn, was also part of the Celtics dynasty from 1956 to 1965. In his nine years, he won the NBA title eight times. Heinsohn’s loyalty to the franchise and its tradition earned him the nickname Mr. Celtic. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and won the championship twice as the Celtics head coach.
Tom Sanders: 8 NBA Championships
Tom Sanders, a power forward, joined the Celtics in 1960 and played his entire 13-year NBA career for the same team. He never lost an NBA Final and is one of three players with an 8-0 Finals record. After hanging his boots, Sanders coached the Harvard Crimson men’s basketball team and the Boston Celtics.
Also Read: Most Points in a Single Basketball Game in Olympics
John Havlicek: 8 NBA Championships
In his 16-year career from 1962 to 1978, John Havlicek, who was picked 7th overall by the Boston Celtics, remained with the team for his entire NBA career. The 1974 NBA Finals MVP is the leading scorer in the Celtics history with 26,395 points. He was also the 13-time NBA All-Star.
Jim Loscutoff, Frank Ramsey, Robert Horry: 7 NBA Championships
Jim Loscutoff, Frank Ramsey, and Robert Horry tied for seventh place with seven NBA championships. Loscutoff was picked third overall by the Celtics in the 1955 NBA Draft and played nine seasons with the team. Ramsey was also a part of Boston from 1954 to 64. He played nine seasons in the NBA and spent one year in the military during the 1955-56 season.
Robert Horry was known for his clutch performances in crucial games. He won two championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995, three with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s Lakers, and two with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005 and 2007.
How Many NBA Championship Michael Jordan Has?
Regarding NBA championships, never forget to mention His Airness, Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls legend, who won six NBA championships, is tied with Bob Cousey, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, and Scottie Pippen.
After playing 15 seasons in the NBA, Jordan won six titles and was named the Finals MVP on all occasions. During the Bulls’ dominance in the 1990s, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were part of the NBA franchise that twice completed a title-winning hat trick.
Kareem Abdul-Jabar, who held the record for the leading scorer in the NBA for almost 39 years, won the NBA title six times, one with the Milwaukee Bucks and five with the Lakers. Bob Cousey was a point guard who won six NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in 1957 and 1959-1963.
Legends like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal have won five and four NBA championships, respectively. In the NBA, four active players are tied to the most NBA titles. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson have won the NBA title four times. Considering their age and titles, Bill Russell’s record is, safe to say, secure.
