Winningest NBA Franchises in History

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Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs pulls down a defensive rebound against Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets in the first half January 5, 2003 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Duncan had 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the Spurs 98-74 win.
(Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Oct 24, 2024, 4:02 PM

In basketball, as in life, success does not accrue evenly across the board.ย 

The Lakers and Celtics have won a combined 35 titles. Meanwhile there are 11 NBA teams that have never won a championship at all.ย 

Yes, there are 30 teams in the NBA, but the level of historical success enjoyed by each one varies greatly.ย 

Thatโ€™s why most basketball fans need a little cheat sheet to remind them which clubs are the greatest NBA franchises of all time.ย 

Best NBA Franchisesย 

TeamNBA Titles WonFinals Appearances
Boston Celtics1823
Los Angeles Lakers1732
Golden State Warriors711
Chicago Bulls66
San Antonio Spurs56
Philadelphia 76ers39
Detroit Pistons37
Miami Heat36
New York Knicks28
Houston Rockets24
Milwaukee Bucks23
Cleveland Cavaliers15
Atlanta Hawks14
Oklahoma City Thunder14
Washington Wizards13
Portland Trail Blazers13
Dallas Mavericks13
Toronto Raptors11
Sacramento Kings11
Denver Nuggets11
Phoenix Suns03
Utah Jazz02
Orlando Magic02
Brooklyn Nets02
Indiana Pacers01
Los Angeles Clippers00
Minnesota Timberwolves00
New Orleans Pelicans00
Memphis Grizzlies00
Charlotte Hornets00

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.ย 

That history of the NBA begins with the Bill Rusell-led Celtics in the 1960s, continues through the โ€œShowtime Lakersโ€ in the 1980s & Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, and concludes (for now) with the revolutionary Golden State teams of the 2010s.ย 

After winning the championship in 2024, the Celtics now have 18 championships โ€“ one more than the rival Lakers and their 17 titles. (For insight on this yearโ€™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.ย 

The Lakersโ€™ 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 Stateโ€™s dynastic run of four championships came in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022, headed by the duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.ย 

Chicagoโ€™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.ย 

Three different franchises have three total titles: the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and the Miami Heat.ย 

There are also three teams with two championships apiece: the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Houston Rockets.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.