The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships in league history, with 18 titles through the conclusion of the 2025–26 season. The Los Angeles Lakers rank second with 17 championships, while the Golden State Warriors are third with seven.
The Celtics secured their record-breaking 18th championship in 2024, moving ahead of the Lakers, who had previously matched Boston with 17 titles. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks captured their third NBA championship in 2026, adding another title to their historic franchise record.
NBA championships are the ultimate measure of postseason success. From Boston’s legendary dynasty to the Lakers’ Hollywood era and the Chicago Bulls’ dominance in the 1990s, several franchises have shaped basketball history.
Here is the complete ranking of current NBA franchises by championships won, updated through the 2025–26 season.
NBA Teams With the Most Championships: All-Time Rankings
| Rank | NBA Team | Championships |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 18 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Lakers | 17 |
| 3 | Golden State Warriors | 7 |
| 4 | Chicago Bulls | 6 |
| 5 | San Antonio Spurs | 5 |
| 6 (tie) | New York Knicks | 3 |
| 6 (tie) | Miami Heat | 3 |
| 6 (tie) | Detroit Pistons | 3 |
| 6 (tie) | Philadelphia 76ers | 3 |
| 10 (tie) | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2 |
| 10 (tie) | Milwaukee Bucks | 2 |
| 10 (tie) | Houston Rockets | 2 |
| 13 (tie) | Denver Nuggets | 1 |
| 13 (tie) | Toronto Raptors | 1 |
| 13 (tie) | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 |
| 13 (tie) | Dallas Mavericks | 1 |
| 13 (tie) | Washington Wizards | 1 |
| 13 (tie) | Portland Trail Blazers | 1 |
| 13 (tie) | Atlanta Hawks | 1 |
| 13 (tie) | Sacramento Kings | 1 |
| 21 (tie) | Brooklyn Nets | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | Charlotte Hornets | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | Indiana Pacers | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | LA Clippers | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | Memphis Grizzlies | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | Minnesota Timberwolves | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | New Orleans Pelicans | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | Orlando Magic | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | Phoenix Suns | 0 |
| 21 (tie) | Utah Jazz | 0 |
Source: NBA.com
1. Boston Celtics — 18 NBA Championships
The Boston Celtics hold the record for the most NBA championships, with 18 titles. Their success has spanned several generations, making them one of the most decorated franchises in professional basketball.
Boston’s most dominant period came during the Bill Russell era. The Celtics won 11 championships between 1957 and 1969, including eight consecutive titles from 1959 through 1966.
The franchise later enjoyed additional championship success with stars such as Larry Bird, Paul Pierce and Jayson Tatum.
The Celtics’ most recent championship came in 2024, when they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. That victory gave Boston its 18th title and broke its long-standing tie with the Lakers.
Key fact: The Celtics are the first franchise in NBA history to reach 18 championships.
2. Los Angeles Lakers — 17 NBA Championships
The Los Angeles Lakers rank second in NBA history with 17 championships. Their titles span multiple eras, from the Minneapolis Lakers of the late 1940s and early 1950s to the modern Los Angeles franchise.
The Lakers’ championship legacy includes some of basketball’s biggest names, including Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The franchise won five championships during the 1980s, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It then captured three consecutive titles from 2000 through 2002 with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers’ most recent championship came in 2020, when they defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
Key fact: The Lakers have 17 championships and remain one title behind the Celtics.
3. Golden State Warriors — 7 NBA Championships
The Golden State Warriors rank third with seven championships.
The franchise won its first two titles as the Philadelphia Warriors in 1947 and 1956. After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, the team established another championship dynasty in the 2010s.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green formed the core of the Warriors’ championship teams. Golden State won titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
The Warriors’ 2022 championship was particularly significant because it came after several difficult seasons affected by injuries and roster changes.
Key fact: Golden State has seven championships, including four won during the Stephen Curry era.
4. Chicago Bulls — 6 NBA Championships
The Chicago Bulls have won six NBA championships, all during the 1990s.
Led by Michael Jordan and coached by Phil Jackson, the Bulls won two separate three-peats: three consecutive championships from 1991 through 1993 and another three from 1996 through 1998.
Scottie Pippen was another essential member of those championship teams, helping Chicago become one of the most recognizable dynasties in sports history.
The Bulls have not won an NBA championship since 1998.
Key fact: Chicago won all six of its championships in just eight seasons.
5. San Antonio Spurs — 5 NBA Championships
The San Antonio Spurs have won five championships, establishing themselves as one of the most consistent teams of the modern NBA era.
Their championship years were 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.
Tim Duncan was central to the franchise’s success, playing alongside stars such as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Head coach Gregg Popovich helped build a system based on teamwork, defense and disciplined basketball.
The Spurs’ 2014 championship was particularly memorable because they defeated the Miami Heat in five games, avenging their loss in the 2013 Finals.
Key fact: San Antonio won five championships between 1999 and 2014.
Which NBA Teams Have Won Three Championships?
Four current NBA franchises have three championships each: the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers.
New York Knicks — 3 Championships
The Knicks won their first two championships in 1970 and 1973. They captured their third title in 2026 by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, ending a 53-year championship drought.
Miami Heat — 3 Championships
Miami won championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal helped deliver the first title, while LeBron James, Wade and Chris Bosh led the franchise to consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013.
Detroit Pistons — 3 Championships
The Pistons won titles in 1989, 1990 and 2004. Their championship teams were known for physical defense and strong team play.
Philadelphia 76ers — 3 Championships
The franchise won titles in 1955, 1967 and 1983. The first championship was earned when the team was known as the Syracuse Nationals.
Which NBA Teams Have Won Two Championships?
Three current franchises have two championships each.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: The franchise’s titles include the 1979 championship won by the Seattle SuperSonics and the 2025 championship won as the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Milwaukee won championships in 1971 and 2021.
- Houston Rockets: Houston won consecutive championships in 1994 and 1995.
These franchises have achieved championship success in different eras, with Milwaukee’s 2021 title led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Houston’s 1990s titles led by Hakeem Olajuwon.
Which NBA Teams Have Won One Championship?
Eight current franchises have one NBA championship each.
| Team | Championship Year |
|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | 2023 |
| Toronto Raptors | 2019 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2016 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 2011 |
| Washington Wizards | 1978 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1977 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1958 |
| Sacramento Kings | 1951 |
The Denver Nuggets won their first championship in 2023, led by Nikola Jokic. Toronto captured its first title in 2019, while Cleveland’s 2016 championship ended the city’s long wait for a major professional sports title.
Dallas won its only championship in 2011 behind Dirk Nowitzki. Portland’s title came in 1977, and Washington won in 1978 when the franchise was known as the Washington Bullets.
The Atlanta Hawks’ championship was won in 1958 when the team was based in St. Louis. The Sacramento Kings’ title dates back to 1951, when the franchise was known as the Rochester Royals.
Which NBA Teams Have Never Won a Championship?
Ten current NBA franchises have never won an NBA championship:
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
- Indiana Pacers
- LA Clippers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Orlando Magic
- Phoenix Suns
- Utah Jazz
Several of these teams have reached the NBA Finals without winning a championship. The Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets are among the franchises that have experienced Finals heartbreak.
The Indiana Pacers won the ABA championship before joining the NBA, but those titles are not counted as NBA championships in this ranking.
A franchise’s lack of an NBA title does not necessarily mean it has lacked success. Some teams have built strong regular-season records or reached the playoffs repeatedly without winning the Finals.
Do Minneapolis Lakers and Seattle SuperSonics Championships Count?
Historical franchise names can make NBA championship rankings confusing.
The Lakers won five championships while based in Minneapolis before moving to Los Angeles. Those titles are included in the Los Angeles Lakers’ total of 17.
Similarly, the Seattle SuperSonics won the 1979 championship. Following the franchise’s relocation to Oklahoma City, that championship is included in the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise’s historical total.
The Syracuse Nationals’ 1955 championship is also included in the Philadelphia 76ers’ franchise history.
These distinctions matter when comparing teams across different eras because franchise histories can continue even after a team changes its city or name.
The 1948 championship won by the original Baltimore Bullets is a separate historical case. That team is defunct and is not counted among the 30 current NBA franchises listed above.
Celtics vs. Lakers: Which Franchise Is More Successful?
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are the NBA’s two most successful franchises by championship count.
| Category | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
|---|---|---|
| Total championships | 18 | 17 |
| Most recent championship | 2024 | 2020 |
| Championship lead | 1 | — |
Boston leads the all-time championship standings, but the Lakers have built a comparable legacy through multiple dynasties and generations of star players.
The Celtics dominated much of the early NBA era, while the Lakers have enjoyed major championship runs in Minneapolis, during the Showtime era of the 1980s and in the 2000s.
Their rivalry remains one of the defining stories in NBA history.
Final Verdict: Which NBA Team Has the Most Championships?
The Boston Celtics are the most successful NBA franchise by championship count, with 18 titles through the 2025–26 season. The Los Angeles Lakers follow with 17, while the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs complete the top five.
The New York Knicks’ 2026 championship added another chapter to NBA history, bringing their total to three titles.
Although championship totals can change with every NBA Finals, these rankings provide a historical snapshot of the league’s most successful current franchises.
For fans comparing NBA dynasties, the Celtics and Lakers remain the benchmark—and the race for the next championship continues.
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