If you’ve spent any time at all arguing in a sports bar, you know the vibe. One guy is wearing a Larry Bird jersey, another is rocking Kobe’s number 24, and they're both screaming about whose franchise is actually "the greatest." Usually, it comes down to a single number.
Winning is the only thing that sticks. In the NBA, that means holding up the Larry O’Brien trophy while confetti rains down on your head. But if we’re looking at the history books, which basketball team has won the most NBA championships? Honestly, the answer just changed recently, breaking a long-standing tie that had the two biggest titans of the league deadlocked for years.
The Boston Celtics: Alone at the Top
As of right now, in the early months of 2026, the Boston Celtics hold the crown. They have won 18 NBA championships.
For a long time, the Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers were tied at 17. It was the ultimate stalemate. But then 2024 happened. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown finally figured it out, steamrolling through the playoffs and hanging Banner 18 in the rafters of TD Garden. That win didn't just give them a trophy; it gave them back the lead in the greatest rivalry in pro sports.
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The Celtics' history is basically the history of the league itself. Between 1957 and 1969, they did something that sounds like a glitch in a video game. They won 11 titles in 13 years. Bill Russell, the center who anchored that defense, ended his career with 11 rings—more than he had fingers. It’s a level of dominance we’ll probably never see again because, frankly, the league is way too competitive now.
The Los Angeles Lakers: The 17-Ring Shadow
Right behind them—and probably fuming about it—are the Los Angeles Lakers with 17 championships.
If the Celtics are about "tradition" and "grit," the Lakers are about "Showtime" and "Star Power." They don't just win; they do it with flair. They’ve got 12 titles from their time in LA and 5 from their early days as the Minneapolis Lakers.
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The Lakers have actually been to the Finals way more than the Celtics (32 appearances vs. 23). They’re almost always relevant. Whether it was Magic and Kareem in the 80s, Shaq and Kobe in the early 2000s, or LeBron James leading them to the "Bubble" title in 2020, the Lakers find a way to stay in the conversation. Right now, they’re sitting at 17, and with the 2026 trade deadline approaching, the rumors are flying that they’re desperate to make a move to tie it back up at 18.
The Best of the Rest
After the "Big Two," there is a massive gap. It's like the Celtics and Lakers are playing a different sport compared to everyone else.
- Golden State Warriors (7 titles): The Splash Brothers era—Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green—pushed them past the Bulls. They’ve got four rings just from the last decade.
- Chicago Bulls (6 titles): All six came in the 90s. If Michael Jordan hadn't taken a break to play baseball, who knows? They might have eight or nine.
- San Antonio Spurs (5 titles): The definition of "boring but effective." Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan built a culture that stayed elite for twenty years.
- Oklahoma City Thunder (2 titles): This is a fun one. They won as the Seattle SuperSonics back in 1979, but they just added their second title in 2025. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is basically the new king of OKC.
Why Does the Count Matter So Much?
In the NBA, the championship count is the ultimate "get out of jail free" card in any debate. It defines a franchise's DNA. When a team like the Celtics wins, it validates their "Celtic Pride" philosophy. When the Lakers win, it reinforces the idea that Hollywood is the center of the basketball universe.
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But it’s also about the fans. Being a Celtics fan means you get to brag about 18 banners. Being a Lakers fan means you get to point out that your team has been to the Finals nearly ten more times than Boston. It's a game of "what have you done for me lately" versus "look at the trophy case."
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Finals
We’re halfway through January 2026, and the race is heating up. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the betting favorites to win it all this year, which would give them three total. Meanwhile, the Celtics are currently 24-15 and sitting pretty in the Eastern Conference standings, looking to extend their lead to 19.
The Lakers? They’re hovering around .500, fighting for a playoff spot. They need a miracle or a massive trade to get to 18 this year. But in the NBA, things change fast. A single trade or an injury can flip the entire script.
What to Watch for Next
If you're tracking the championship race, keep your eyes on the February 2026 trade deadline.
The Lakers are reportedly hunting for a "two-way wing" to help LeBron and AD. If they land a star, the race for 18 titles could be tied up by June. On the flip side, keep an eye on the Thunder. If they win again in 2026, we might be witnessing the start of the next great NBA dynasty. Check the standings weekly as we approach the All-Star break to see who is actually a contender and who is just a pretender.