Since its inception in 1949, the NBA has largely been dominated by the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. However, the last few decades have witnessed tough competition, which started with Michael Jordan’s golden run with the Chicago Bulls.
While it will still take at least a decade for any team to overtake either of the Lakers or Celtics’ team tally, let’s take a look at the top five teams with the most NBA Championships in 2025.
Top Five Teams With the Most NBA Championships In History
18: Boston Celtics
Years: 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024
Jayson Tatum: "We did it. WE DID IT!!!" 🏆 pic.twitter.com/zyHP4kVKgO
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The Celtics struggled heavily in their initial years until the hiring of coach Red Auerbach would spark a decade-long dynasty in the late 1950s. He drafted Bill Russell in 1956 and won the Celtics their first Championship later that season. Later, from 1959 to 1966, the Celtics won a record eight Championships in a row. Boston’s dominance, however, only lasted till the 70s and 80s, and they have won just two titles in the last three decades.
17: Los Angeles Lakers
Years: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020
Lakers hold the honor of winning the first-ever NBA Championship. They would win five of the next four as well before the Celtics rose to dominance. In the 1960s, the Lakers made the NBA Finals six out of the 10 times and lost each time to the Celtics, marking the start of their long and storied rivalry.
The Lakers made a key move to sign Wilt Chamberlain in 1968, and won their sixth NBA title four years later. Since then, the titles have come regularly for the Lakers with multiple dynasties featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.
7: Golden State Warriors
Years: 1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
The Warriors hold the honor of winning the inaugural Basketball Association of America Championship in 1947. Since the NBA was essentially a merger of the BAA and the National Basketball League, it adopted the BAA’s history and founding date, which is the result of the Warriors’ initial BAA Championship win, which is included in NBA wins.
The Warriors were contenders throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s but lost their steam at the end of the century. They later started a dynasty by hiring current head coach Steve Kerr, and with Stephen Curry at the helm, the Warriors have since won four NBA Championships.
6: Chicago Bulls
Years: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
It’s safe to say the Chicago Bulls are on this list because of Michael Jordan. The “Air Jordan” wave started in 1984 in Chicago, and after multiple heartbreaks, the team broke through the Lakers’ dominance in 1991 to win its first-ever title. They would eventually complete the three-peat with Jordan winning NBA Finals MVP all three times.
While Jordan’s retirement after 1993 for his MLB career broke the winning streak for the Bulls, he returned in 1995 and 1996, and Chicago started the run for another three-peat. The Bulls haven’t won any NBA titles since Jordan’s departure, and their only achievement is two division titles.
5: San Antonio Spurs
Years: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014
The Spurs were founded in 1967 and have won the fifth-most NBA titles in history. Their initial few decades in the league were tough before the start of the David Robinson era in the 1980s brought hope. The Spurs paired him with Tim Duncan, and the duo led them to the NBA Championships in 1999 and 2003.
Following Robinson’s retirement, the Spurs won two more championships with Duncan in 2007 and 2014, but Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard, respectively, held the honor of Finals MVP.
