You’d think the math is simple, right? You play the games, you win the rings, and you hang the banners. But if you look at the teams most NBA championships leaderboard lately, there’s a lot more drama beneath the surface than just a tally of trophies. We’re currently sitting in 2026, and the landscape of NBA royalty has shifted in ways that would have felt like fan fiction just a decade ago.
Honestly, the battle for the top spot isn't just a rivalry anymore; it’s a full-on obsession. For the longest time, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics were locked in a stalemate at 17 titles apiece. Then 2024 happened. Boston broke the tie, clinching their 18th title and leaving the Lakers in the rearview mirror—at least for a moment. But then the 2024-25 season wrapped up, and we saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to their second franchise title (counting the 1979 Sonics win), proving that the old guard doesn't have a monopoly on greatness anymore.
The Green Machine: Why Boston Still Leads the Pack
The Boston Celtics are the gold standard. Period. With 18 titles in the rafters, they technically hold the record for teams most NBA championships. Most of that heavy lifting was done during the Bill Russell era, where they basically treated the NBA Finals like a private party. Winning 11 rings in 13 years is a stat that feels fake, but it's the bedrock of why Boston is "Titletown."
What’s wild is how they did it recently. The 2024 championship wasn't a fluke. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown finally silenced the critics who said two wings couldn't win together. They didn't just win; they dominated. It was a masterclass in modern roster building.
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The Lakers’ Minneapolis Asterisk
Now, if you ask a Celtics fan about the Lakers' 17 titles, you’re going to hear about Minneapolis. A lot. Five of the Lakers’ championships came before they ever saw a palm tree in California. George Mikan was the original dominant big man, and while those rings count in the official NBA record books, some purists argue the "Los Angeles" Lakers are still trailing.
Regardless of the geography, the purple and gold legacy is inescapable. From Magic Johnson’s Showtime to Kobe’s relentless "Mamba Mentality" and LeBron James’ 2020 "Bubble" title, the Lakers have a way of staying relevant that other franchises can only dream of. They’re the only team that feels like a Hollywood blockbuster every single year.
The Modern Dynasties: More Than Just Two Teams
It's easy to get hyper-focused on the Lakers-Celtics war, but the teams most NBA championships conversation has to include the Golden State Warriors and the Chicago Bulls. These aren't just "successful teams"—they redefined how basketball is played.
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- Golden State Warriors (7 Titles): They changed the geometry of the court. Before Steph Curry, nobody thought you could win a title by shooting 30-footers. They have seven rings now, and even as the "Big Three" of Steph, Klay, and Draymond enters the twilight of their careers, that 2022 win remains one of the most impressive "prove them wrong" runs in sports history.
- Chicago Bulls (6 Titles): They have a perfect record. Think about that. Six trips to the Finals, six trophies. No losses. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen created a vacuum in the 90s where nobody else was allowed to win. If MJ hadn't retired to play baseball, who knows? We might be talking about the Bulls as the #1 team on this list.
- San Antonio Spurs (5 Titles): The "Boring" Dynasty. Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan built a culture of winning that lasted two decades. They didn't care about highlights; they cared about back-door cuts and fundamentally sound defense. It worked five times.
The Rise of the New Blood
The 2025 Finals saw the Oklahoma City Thunder take down the Indiana Pacers, which felt like a changing of the guard. OKC now has two titles to their name (1979 as the Sonics and 2025 as the Thunder). It's a reminder that the historical giants can't just rest on their laurels. The Denver Nuggets (2023 champions) and the Milwaukee Bucks (2021) are also lurking, proving that small markets can build sustained excellence.
Honestly, the parity in the league right now is insane. You've got the Detroit Pistons—who have three titles of their own—actually looking like a threat again in the Eastern Conference standings this year. The 76ers and Heat are always in the mix too, each holding three titles. It's a crowded room at the top.
Assessing the Value of a Championship
Does a title in 1955 carry the same weight as one in 2026? It’s a polarizing question. In the early days, there were fewer teams and fewer rounds of playoffs. Today, the "Gauntlet" is real. You have the Play-In tournament, three grueling rounds of best-of-seven series, and then the Finals.
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When we talk about teams most NBA championships, we're looking at a cumulative history. But fans today value "modern" rings differently. A title won in the era of advanced analytics and global scouting feels different than a title won when players had summer jobs. Both are valid, but they tell different stories of the league's evolution.
What to Watch for This Season
If you're tracking the race for the most titles, keep your eyes on the Western Conference. The Thunder are favorites to go back-to-back, which would move them into a tie with the Pistons, Heat, and 76ers. Meanwhile, the Lakers are desperately trying to retool around a roster that can tie Boston once more.
If you want to sound like an expert during the next game, don't just memorize the numbers. Understand the context. Mention how the 1970s was the era of parity where almost a dozen different teams won. Talk about how the 80s was the Lakers-Celtics revival. That's the stuff that actually matters when discussing the greatest franchises of all time.
Actionable Insights for NBA Fans:
- Track the "Active" Leaders: Don't just look at the total count. Look at which teams have won in the last decade (Warriors, Nuggets, Celtics, Thunder, Bucks, Lakers). This tells you who the current powerhouses are.
- Check the Draft Assets: Teams like the Thunder and Spurs are set up to add more titles because of their massive stash of future draft picks. Historical success is great, but "future-proofing" is better.
- Watch the Salary Cap: With the new "Second Apron" rules, it’s harder than ever for teams like the Warriors or Suns to buy a championship. Sustained winning now requires elite scouting and internal development.
The race for teams most NBA championships isn't a sprint; it’s a marathon that’s been running since 1946. Boston might have the lead for now, but in the NBA, "forever" usually only lasts until the next superstar demands a trade.