Who has the most rings in the NBA?

Today’s NBA behaves like the National ‘Bling’ Association. Whether it’s 4-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal bellowing to ringless Hall of Famer Charles Barkley on TNT or Joe Fan shrieking about Michael Jordan’s GOAT status in the barbershop, whenever pro basketball talk starts, rings quickly join the conversation. 

Despite Skip Bayless' attempt at manipulating public opinion, many players equal or surpass Jordan’s 6-championship ring count. And MJ is not even the top winner of the last 30 years. 

The following rundown settles which NBA player won the most NBA championships, but Bill Russell has the most - 11 NBA Rings.

Bill Russell: 11 NBA Rings

Bill Russell represents the ultimate leader in the history of team sports. No one playing in professional North American sports has accumulated more championships. Only the NHL’s Henri Richard equals the feat after having won 11 Stanley Cups. Nevertheless, Richard played hockey for 20 seasons while Russell’s NBA career lasted 13 seasons.

The coveted Celtics center’s unselfish willingness to facilitate offensive ball movement while also playing legendary defense, separated his winning legacy from rival Wilt Chamberlain’s impossible offensive output that only led to 2 championships. Russell’s Celtics defeated Chamberlain’s assorted teams 57 of 94 times in the regular season and in 8 of 12 NBA Finals games. Keep in mind Russell surrendered four inches of height and over 50 pounds to Chamberlain in a classic basketball era where stars rarely saw substitutions and centers patrolled the post. 

Anchoring 11 championships pales in comparison to Russell’s impact as a human rights activist off the court. In 1961 he led the first NBA exhibition game boycott after a Kentucky cafe denied teammates Sam Jones and Tom Sanders food service. Russell also marched with Martin Luther King and advocated for Muhammad Ali when the boxing icon was being nationally denounced for his anti-war stance. President Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

Related: Enhance your basketball experience with our detailed NBA Predictions.

Fun Fact: Players with multiple NBA championships, Finals MVPs, and regular season MVPs:

Sam Jones: 10 NBA Rings

Playing alongside Russell resulted in many Celtics wearing many championship rings. Shooting guard Sam Jones christened 10 Celtics titles with clutch jump shots. One of his most notable baskets arched over 7’1 Wilt Chamberlain at the buzzer to win Game 4 of the 1969 Finals. 

While Russell, supreme slasher John Havlicek, and passing wizard Bob Cousy take the lion’s share of the Celtics dynasty credit, Sam Jones deserves an honorable mention for being a reliable sharpshooter during the ‘50s and ‘60s as a 3-time All-NBA player. Historians consider him to have had one of the greatest bank shots in basketball, even though his era lacked a 3-point line complemented by today’s shooting analytics.

In addition to participating in the game boycott based on civil rights, Jones was part of  the first All-Black starting five in the NBA in 1964.

Related: The Best 3-Point Shooter in the NBA

Tom Heinsohn: 8 NBA Rings

Tom Heinsohn’s NBA record of being the only person to win Rookie of the Year, 8 NBA championships as a player, and 2 more as a coach appears as safe as any. The Hall of Fame forward’s steady, physical style secured his teammates as well.

Many great players proclaim consistency, but few, if any, come close to Heinsohn’s lifelong franchise loyalty. He played 9 seasons exclusively for the Celtics, coached the team for 9 more seasons, and transitioned to color commentary for decades. “Mr. Celtic” contributed to the team for 64 seasons. For perspective, that number triples LeBron James’ NBA career and was only 3 years behind Vin Scully’s tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

John Havlicek: 8 NBA Rings

“Hondo” Havlicek dazzled defenses with an impressive scoring array at a time when professional play lacked pizzazz. No one before him had ever scored 1,000 points in 16 consecutive seasons. Few have scored over 20 points per game in 8 consecutive seasons while seldom missing a game. Defensive skill wasn’t absent either. Havlicek snatched and clawed to 8 All-NBA Defense Teams. Havlicek sacrificed even greater statistical heights for the benefit of the team having a premiere player fresh off the bench to dominate opposing second units.

Countless longtime fans recognized Havlicek’s greatness as a fast forward. Few knew of his success investing in a fast food chain. The basketball star knew Wendy’s CEO Dave Thomas and decided to invest in the early restaurants. Thomas’ daughter, Wendy, babysat Havlicek’s children. He used the returns for retirement money and became a corporate speaker for the company.

‘Satch’ Sanders: 8 NBA Rings

Thomas ‘Satch’ Sanders sustained a lengthy reign as the most-decorated alliterative champion in NBA history. The nickname pays homage to legendary Negro Leagues pitcher Satchel Paige (who might have been regarded as the greatest pitcher ever if MLB’s color barrier had collapsed sooner). Sanders’ stout defense disallowed any opponent to take his name lightly. Sanders served as the penultimate line of Celtics defense until 1973, a span of 13 seasons. 

Gritty specialization capped statistical possibilities on the court. Sanders swished several huge shots off the court. He coached Harvard’s basketball team upon retirement and served as the longtime NBA Vice President for Player Programs. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

K.C. Jones: 8 NBA Rings

Thinking about K.C. victories conjures images of quarterback Patrick Mahomes slinging no-look touchdowns for Andy Reid’s Super Bowl-bound Chiefs. In a similar vein, K.C. Jones became Bob Cousy’s eventual successor as the passing wizard for Red Auerbach-led Boston Celtics teams to the tune of 8 NBA championships. 

Jones is one of eight players to have won a ‘trifecta’ of the NCAA Division I Championship, NBA championship, and Olympic gold medal. Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Jerry Lucas and Bill Russell are all among the eight in that exclusive club. Notables who fell short of that feat include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan. 

Robert Horry: 7 NBA Rings

Some fans label Robert Horry as the NBA’s luckiest role player. He consistently started for just a couple of his seven championship teams spanning three franchises. ‘Big Shot Bob’ flashed plenty of skill in key moments of several championship-winning seasons. The biggest buzzer-beater completed a 24-point comeback after halftime of the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals between Horry’s Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings.

Horry was more than an opportune marksman. The 17-year NBA veteran’s playoff blocks and steals reside in the top 15. Last November, Shaquille O’Neal boldly claimed that Horry’s playoff efforts alone deserve Hall of Fame consideration.

‘Big Shot Bob’ won’t get the big, gold jacket, but he hit big shots and a bigger ring count than any non-Celtics in history. Not bad for a ‘benchwarmer.’

Jim Loscutoff: 7 NBA Rings

Small forward Jim Loscutoff makes an infinitely more-compelling case for strictly being in the right place at the right time. He wowed Auerbach with his ferocious hustle, setting a pre-Bill Russell record for Celtics rebounds in his rookie year. 

A knee injury curtailed his 9-year NBA career. The medical field resembled Dr. Jeckyl more than Dr. Andrews in 1958. He channeled that on-court aggression to relentlessly rehabilitate back to the Celtics dynasty. His diminished athleticism garnered essentially 5 points and 4 rebounds per game in his last six seasons.

Frank Ramsey: 7 NBA Rings

Photo courtesy of AP

Frank Ramsey was the consummate ‘coach’s player.’ He sparked the Celtics backcourt offense when Bob Cousy and shooting guard Bill Sharman needed rest. Coach Auerbach appreciated his ‘sixth-man’ so much that Ramsey became the legendary coach’s first choice as a successor. However, he declined, prioritizing family over basketball and the pressure of coaching at the pro-level. Nevertheless, 7 NBA championships put Ramsey in close company with greats.

Bob Cousy: 7 NBA Rings

Cousy gained notoriety recently among the younger generation of basketball fans after getting roasted by J.J. Reddick in 2022 over comments that seemingly dismissed modern NBA play. Reddick dismissed basketball in the ‘50s by saying that Cousy was being guarded by “plumbers and firemen.” With the introduction of a revolutionary passing style and up-tempo orchestration of offense, Cousy paced all NBA players in assists for 8 consecutive seasons. The sports world hailed him as the first great NBA point guard. He still remains the last ‘50s NBA player clinging to the top 20 career assists leaderboard.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 6 NBA Rings

Photo courtesy of Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Want a challenge? Try arguing against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar —formerly Lew Alcindor — being the greatest basketball player ever when considering a career spanning high school, college, and professional. 

Alcindor steered Power Memorial Academy to three straight New York City Catholic championships and a 71-game winning streak. Scouts adjusted their eyes to that statistic better than competition altered gameplans to prevent more of the same in college. The UCLA Bruins amassed an 88-2 record during Alcindor’s tenure that culminated in 3 championships and a pair of College Player of the Year Awards. Averaging 26.4 points and 15.5 rebounds per game (blocks weren’t an official stat yet) at 7 '2 center compelled the NCAA to temporarily ban dunking as a “skilless shot.”

No one could stop his signature sky hook shot, especially in the pros. In 1984, Abdul-Jabbar was first to break Wilt Chamberlain’s career NBA points record. LeBron James will eventually become the NBA all-time scoring king in 2023 and surpass Abdul-Jabbar. It’s worth noting that LeBron has played for his entire career with a 3-point line while evolving professionally in the current NBA era of prioritizing perimeter shooting and offense in general. The NBA also eliminated hand-checking, big-men camping in the post for more than three seconds, and upped the punishment for egregious fouls, before ‘King James’ embarked on his claim to the all-time scoring throne.

Neither kings nor jesters can take away the 6 NBA Championships and 6 MVPs Abdul-Jabbar obtained. No NBA player has accomplished that lofty feat. Blocks would’ve joined points and MVP leadership if they were officially counted 4 years earlier. The slender swatter places behind Dikembe Mutombo and leader Hakeem Olajuwon in blocks. Three of Abdul-Jabbar’s best block totals occurred in the first season's blocks counted statistically, starting in 1973.

You’d expect a pantheonic, 20-year center to horde blocks, but Abdul-Jabbar stands alone in dishes. He is the only true center in the top 50 for career assists. Deferring most possessions to all-time point guards Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson for over half his career only magnifies his impressive feat.

Scottie Pippen: 6 NBA Rings

History dismisses Scottie Pippen as Michael Jordan’s sidekick. ‘Batman’ went 1-9 in playoff games before pairing with ‘Robin.’ Pippen worked hardwood wonders defensively. A rare penchant for consistently clamping the best guards and forwards freed Jordan to exhaust offense efforts. Primary passing duties rested on the underappreciated forward’s broad shoulders as well. Pippen led the Bulls in assists for 8 consecutive seasons — 7 of those with Jordan playing.

Pippen knocked the time Jordan pursued baseball out of the park. The newfound leader pitched a statistical shutout with 22 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks. Only 4 other players have officially led their team in every major statistical category during a season.

Pippen’s quest for a post-Bulls championship navigated rougher waters, including a voyage to the Houston Rockets to form one of the first “big three” units with an aged Charles Barkley and Olajuwon. Pippen’s career lands him in rare company as not only a decorated champion but a 10-time All-NBA Defense selection.

Michael Jordan: 6 NBA Rings

The mere utterance of Michael Jordan reverberates greatness. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” remains the best-selling album and Michael Jordan thrilled audiences with dazzling aerial displays and an otherwise-grounded approach obsessed with victory. 

Jordan took winning personally from his first dribbles as 1985’s Rookie of the Year through the Last Dance, an award-winning documentary.  He took the victor’s spoils to the next level in the painstaking process, achieving 6-0 perfection in the NBA Finals along with 6 Finals MVPs. He picked up an unprecedented 10 scoring titles and 5 regular season MVPs on the journey to those playoffs, a stage where he shined brightest. 

The awe-inspiring game wasn’t all poster jams and post jumpers. There were also 3 steals crowns and 9 All-NBA Defense honors bearing Jordan’s iconic name.

The compilation of “His Airness”’s records exhausts even 20/20 eyeballs, to the point LeBron James is still climbing to reach Jordan’s zenith in many respects. Even the original “Space Jam” out-earned James’ sequel at the box office and is held in higher critical regard.

Jordan led the NBA to new popularity heights beyond outer space. “Air Jordan” revolutionized the shoe industry. Jordan became the third Black billionaire. Sneakerheads and basketball purists alike kicked back and watched Jordan in the four highest-rated NBA Finals in history.

Some of the rest

Hall of Famer Tim Duncan narrowly missed the ‘6 championship ring’ group. The San Antonio Spurs center won 5 rings that would’ve been 6 if Chris Bosh hadn’t corralled a LeBron James miss and alertly kick the ball in the corner to former all-time 3-point leader Ray Allen for a game-tying 3 with essentially seconds left in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs leading the series 3-2. 

Are any current players poised to join this lavish list? First, the league needs someone to break the tie deciding who has the most rings in the NBA right now. 

LeBron James rules the individual landscape with 4 championships as clearly the best player on those teams. Kevin Durant muddies Steph Curry’s ability to challenge that rule, even though Curry has 4 himself. Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala played important supporting roles in the Warriors’ decade of dominance to earn four as well. 

FAQ

Which player has won the most NBA championships?

Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships.Who has totalled the most NBA championship rings?

Phil Jackson won 13 total NBA championships, 11 coaching and 2 as a player.

Which player has the most NBA rings with one team?

Bill Russell won all 11 championships with the Boston Celtics.

Which basketball player has 13 rings?

Phil Jackson amassed 13 combined NBA championships. He won 2 as a New York Knicks forward, coached the Chicago Bulls to 6, and subsequently the Los Angeles Lakers to 5.

What active NBA players have the most rings?

LeBron James, Steph Curry, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson all have 4 rings.

How many rings does Michael Jordan have?

Michael Jordan won 6 NBA Championships as a player for the Chicago Bulls. The Charlotte Hornets haven’t come close to winning any for Jordan as a team owner.