The Boston Celtics hold the all-time record with 18 NBA championships, winning their most recent title in 2024. The Los Angeles Lakers rank second with 17 titles.
These two franchises have won 35 of the 79 total championships awarded in NBA history. Only five teams have captured more than three titles, while ten franchises have never won a championship despite competing for decades.
All-Time Championship Leaders
| Rank | Team | Championships | Finals Appearances | Best Era |
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 18 | 33 | 1957-1969 (11 in 13 years) |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | 31 | 1980-1988, 2000-2002 |
| 3 | Golden State Warriors | 7 | 9 | 2015-2019 (3 in 5 years) |
| 4 | Chicago Bulls | 6 | 6 | 1991-1998 (6 in 8 years) |
| 5 | San Antonio Spurs | 5 | 7 | 1999-2014 (5 in 16 years) |
| 6 | Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 5 | 1955-1983 |
| 7 | Detroit Pistons | 3 | 3 | 1989-1990 |
| 8 | Miami Heat | 3 | 6 | 2012-2013 |
| 9 | New York Knicks | 2 | 5 | 1970-1973 |
| 10 | Milwaukee Bucks | 2 | 3 | 1971, 2021 |
The Celtics won 11 titles between 1957 and 1969 under coach Red Auerbach. The Lakers matched this dominance during the 1980s “Showtime” era with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Recent NBA Champions (2015-2025)
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Finals Result |
| 2025 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Indiana Pacers | 4-3 |
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks | 4-1 |
| 2023 | Denver Nuggets | Miami Heat | 4-1 |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | 4-2 |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-1 |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 4-3 |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-2 |
The Warriors dominated the mid-2010s with four titles in five years. The Celtics won their 18th in 2024, breaking a 16-year championship drought.
The Most Dominant NBA Dynasties
Boston Celtics (1957-1969)
The Celtics won eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. Bill Russell led Boston to 11 titles in 13 seasons as a player. They built this dynasty on elite defense, ball movement, and consistent excellence.
Red Auerbach coached all 11 Celtics championships. His system prioritized team play over individual scoring. The 1960s Celtics beat the Lakers repeatedly in Finals matchups.
Los Angeles Lakers Showtime Era (1980-1988)
Magic Johnson joined the Lakers in 1979 and immediately transformed them into champions. The Lakers won five titles in nine years during the 1980s. Their fast-paced style revolutionized basketball and captivated audiences nationwide.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook remained unstoppable during this era. The Lakers lost Finals matchups to the Celtics in 1984 and 1985. Magic’s leadership elevated role players into championship contributors.
Golden State Warriors (2015-2019)
The Warriors won three titles in four years during their dynasty run. Stephen Curry’s shooting range changed how basketball was played forever. Adding Kevin Durant in 2016 made them virtually unbeatable.
The 2017 Warriors went 16-1 in the playoffs, among the best performances ever. They won 73 games in the 2015-16 regular season before losing to Cleveland. The Warriors’ small-ball system proved doubted critics wrong completely.
Chicago Bulls (1991-1998)
Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman formed the greatest trio in basketball history. The Bulls won six championships in eight years. They never made the Finals without winning it all during this run.
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Jordan won Finals MVP in all six championships. The 1995-96 Bulls set the regular season wins record at 72 victories. Chicago dominated the Eastern Conference and never faced serious competition in the Finals.
Teams That Have Won Exactly One Championship
Ten NBA teams have won only a single title in league history. The Toronto Raptors won their only championship in 2019 against the Warriors. The Seattle SuperSonics won in 1979 before relocating.
The Baltimore Bullets won their only title in 1948 as an original NBA team. The St. Louis Hawks won once in 1958 before moving to Atlanta. These teams proved one great run can define a franchise forever.
Teams That Have Never Won a Championship
Ten franchises have never captured an NBA title despite competing for years. The Phoenix Suns reached the Finals three times but lost every matchup. The Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, and Memphis Grizzlies remain ringless.
The New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Clippers haven’t won either. The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, and Minnesota Timberwolves complete this list. These teams continue searching for their first championship moments.
Championship Trends and Patterns
The Eastern Conference leads the Western Conference in all-time championships. Eastern teams have won 41 titles compared to 38 for the West. Original Celtics dominance explains much of this East-West gap.
Conference Finals have become tighter and more competitive recently. No team has repeated as champions since the Lakers in 2001 and 2002. Salary cap rules make sustained dominance significantly more difficult today.
Younger teams are winning championships more frequently than before. The Raptors won in 2019 after just 24 seasons in existence. The Bucks won in 2021 after relocating decades prior.
How Teams Qualify for the NBA Finals
Each team must win three playoff rounds to reach the Finals. The first two rounds feature best-of-seven series matchups. Conference Finals winners advance to the championship series.
Sixty teams make the playoffs starting from 2024 onward. Only 16 teams qualified in earlier eras with fewer NBA franchises. The playIn tournament determines seeds seven through ten.
The top seed in each conference hosts Game 1 of the Finals. Home court advantage no longer guarantees success like it once did. Recent champions have won Finals on opposing courts repeatedly.
FAQs
What Team Has the Most NBA Championships?
The Boston Celtics hold the all-time record with 18 championships. They won 11 titles between 1957 and 1969 alone. Their 2024 championship broke a 16-year drought.
How Many NBA Championships Have the Lakers Won?
The Los Angeles Lakers have 17 NBA championships as of 2025. They won five titles during the 1980s showtime era. The Lakers’ combined Celtics competition explains their strong Finals history.
Which NBA Team Won Back-to-Back Titles Most Recently?
The Miami Heat won consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013. The Los Angeles Lakers accomplished this in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Repeat championships have become rare in modern basketball.
How Many Teams Have Never Won an NBA Championship?
Exactly ten NBA franchises have never won a championship. These teams include the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Denver Nuggets. The Pelicans, Clippers, Nets, Hornets, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, and Pacers complete the list.
