NBA Finals: Most NBA championships won by a franchise

Yash Matange

NBA Finals: Most NBA championships won by a franchise image

Heading into each season, winning an NBA championship is the ultimate goal for every team. 

Two franchises - the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers - have alone combined for 34 of the 74 championships in NBA history..

The Celtics' dynasty of the 1960s is considered to be among the greatest ever as they won eight straight and 11 titles total in 13 years (1957-1969). On the other hand, the Lakers' 17 titles - including their most recent 2020 championships - are more evenly spaced as they won four or more championships in a single decade three separate times.

Only three franchises have ever won three titles in a row - Boston Celtics (eight straight from 1959 to 1966), Chicago Bulls (twice), and Los Angeles Lakers (twice)

Here's the list of all NBA franchises with multiple championships: 

TeamsFinals' appearancesChampionshipsYears won
Boston Celtics21171957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008
Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers32171949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010
Chicago Bulls661991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
Philadelphia/San Francisco/Golden State Warriors1061947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018
San Antonio Spurs651999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014
Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers931955, 1967, 1983
Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons731989, 1990, 2004
Miami Heat532006, 2012, 2013
Houston Rockets421994, 1995
New York Knicks821970, 1973
Milwaukee Bucks321971, 2021

Nine teams have one NBA championship to their name - Toronto Raptors (2019), Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), Dallas Mavericks (2011), Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder (1979), Baltimore/Washington Bullets/Washington Wizards (1978), Portland Trail Blazers (1977), St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (1958), Baltimore Bullets (1948; folded in 1954), and Rochester/Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1951).

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.

Yash Matange