Michael Jordan celebrates the Chicago Bulls’ 1996 NBA title, the franchise’s 4th championship.
Winning just one NBA championship is difficult. Winning multiple championships puts a player in a different echelon in NBA history. Let’s highlight the top 10 players in terms of most championships won.
1. Bill Russell – 11 Championships
Russell played 13 seasons for the Celtics. He won his first championship during his rookie season in 1957. The Hall of Famer went on to win 11 titles. Russell averaged 16.2 points, 24.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game In the playoffs.
2. Sam Jones – 10 Championships
Jones played all 12 seasons of his career with the Celtics, winning 10 championships. He played alongside Russell for each title. Across 154 career playoff games, Jones averaged 18.9 points.
3. John Havlicek – 8 Championships
Havlicek played 16 seasons with the Celtics and made 13 trips to the playoffs. He won eight championships, including in 1974 when he was named Finals MVP. Across 172 career playoff games, Havlicek averaged 22.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
4. Tom Heinsohn – 8 Championships
Heinsohn was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 1956-57 season. He then won a title in eight of his nine seasons with the Celtics. Across 104 career playoff games, Heinsohn averaged 19.8 points and 9.2 rebounds.
5. K.C. Jones – 8 Championships
Jones won a championship in each of his first eight seasons in the NBA. The only season he didn’t win a title was 1966-67, his last season in the league. His best playoff run came in 1965 when he averaged 10.1 points and 6.2 assists over 12 games.
6. Thomas Sanders – 8 Championships
Sanders played 13 seasons with the Celtics. He went to the playoffs 11 times and won eight championships. When the Celtics won the title in 1965, he averaged 13.3 and 8.5 rebounds over 12 playoff games.
7. Robert Horry – 7 Championships
Horry is the first member of this list who didn’t win a championship with the Celtics. He won two championships with the Rockets, three with the Lakers and two with the Spurs.
8. Jim Loscutoff – 7 Championships
Loscutoff played nine seasons in the NBA, all with the Celtics. He was a member of seven championship teams along the way. When the Celtics won the title in 1957, he averaged 8.0 points and 8.3 rebounds over 10 playoff games.
9. Frank Ramsey – 7 Championships
Ramsey won seven championships across his nine seasons with the Celtics. His first title came in 1957. During the Celtics’ run to the title in 1959, he averaged 23.2 points and 6.2 rebounds over 11 playoff games.
T-10. Michael Jordan – 6 Championships
Jordan won six championships with the Bulls. He was named Finals MVP for all six titles.
T-10. Scottie Pippen – 6 Championships
Pippen won six championships with the Bulls. He was also recognized for his defensive talents and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight times.
T-10. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 6 Championships
Abdul-Jabbar won a championship with the Bucks in 1971. He then won five more titles as a member of the Lakers.
T-10. Bob Cousy – 6 Championships
Cousy won all six of his championships with the Celtics, including five straight from 1959 through 1963.
