In basketball, as in life, success does not accrue evenly across the board.
The Lakers and Celtics have won a combined 35 titles. Meanwhile there are 11 NBA teams that have never won a championship at all.
Yes, there are 30 teams in the NBA, but the level of historical success enjoyed by each one varies greatly.
That’s why most basketball fans need a little cheat sheet to remind them which clubs are the greatest NBA franchises of all time.
Best NBA Franchises
| Team | NBA Titles Won | Finals Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 18 | 23 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | 32 |
| Golden State Warriors | 7 | 11 |
| Chicago Bulls | 6 | 6 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 5 | 6 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 9 |
| Detroit Pistons | 3 | 7 |
| Miami Heat | 3 | 6 |
| New York Knicks | 2 | 8 |
| Houston Rockets | 2 | 4 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 2 | 3 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 | 5 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1 | 4 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 1 | 4 |
| Washington Wizards | 1 | 3 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1 | 3 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1 | 3 |
| Toronto Raptors | 1 | 1 |
| Sacramento Kings | 1 | 1 |
| Denver Nuggets | 1 | 1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 0 | 3 |
| Utah Jazz | 0 | 2 |
| Orlando Magic | 0 | 2 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 0 | 2 |
| Indiana Pacers | 0 | 1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 0 | 0 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 0 | 0 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 0 | 0 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 0 | 0 |
Most Successful NBA Franchises: A Quick History
In the 75-year history of the NBA, fans have witnessed a handful of dominant teams in the league.
That history of the NBA begins with the Bill Rusell-led Celtics in the 1960s, continues through the “Showtime Lakers” in the 1980s & Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, and concludes (for now) with the revolutionary Golden State teams of the 2010s.
After winning the championship in 2024, the Celtics now have 18 championships – one more than the rival Lakers and their 17 titles. (For insight on this year’s ring race, you can always check out my NBA championship odds breakdown.)
Over the decades, Boston has won nine of the twelve meetings they had in the finals, thus dominating the head-to-head record.
The Lakers’ latest championship came in 2020, where they outlasted the Miami Heat 4-2 in the NBA bubble. The last Boston-LA matchup in the NBA Finals was back in 2008.
The Golden State Warriors and the Chicago Bulls sit right behind LA and Boston with seven and six championships, respectively. Golden State’s dynastic run of four championships came in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022, headed by the duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Chicago’s famous titles are from two three-peats in the 1990s, spearheaded by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
The San Antonio Spurs are next with five championships, all from the post-Jordan era: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
Three different franchises have three total titles: the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and the Miami Heat.
There are also three teams with two championships apiece: the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Houston Rockets.
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