Uncovering Basketball Stars by Total NBA Rings: Who Tops the Chart?
NBA rings are considered the ultimate status symbol for athletes in the basketball world. These dazzling pieces of jewelry are awarded to each player on the team that emerges victorious in the NBA Finals each year. In this article, we're going to delve into who holds the record for the most NBA rings in history. Additionally, we'll provide a comprehensive list of all players with more than two rings to their name. Let's get started!
1. Bill Russell (11 NBA Rings)
Bill Russell reigns supreme with 11 NBA rings to his name, making him the highest achiever in this category. An integral part of the 1950s and 60s, Russell transformed the center position and took it to new heights. Remarkably, he managed to win championships in a striking 85% of his 13-season career. Not only did he rack up an impressive number of titles, but he also revolutionized his position's importance on the court, particularly on the defensive end.
Beyond his basketball accomplishments, Russell was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a two-time inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame (as a player and a coach), and even received the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2010. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 88.
2. Sam Jones (10 NBA Rings)
The Boston Celtics' dominance during the 50s and 60s is widely regarded as the greatest dynasty in American sports history. The period between 1959 and 1966 saw them win an astonishing eight consecutive championships. It's no surprise, then, that many of Russell's teammates also make it onto this list.
Sam Jones, Russell's complementary partner on the court, was a standout shooting guard, known for his deadly shooting skills. His 10 NBA rings were achieved across just 12 seasons, and he was a five-time NBA All-Star. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 88.
3. Tom Heinsohn, K. C. Jones, Satch Sanders, and John Havlicek (8 NBA Rings Each)
Four players share the title for third place in terms of NBA rings, and they're all former Boston Celtics. Tom Heinsohn, K. C. Jones, Satch Sanders, and John Havlicek each boast eight rings, having starred alongside Bill Russell and Sam Jones during the club's golden age.
The first two have the highest winning percentage, as they both played for just nine seasons. Satch Sanders and John Havlicek, on the other hand, had shorter but highly successful careers, each spanning over 10 seasons.
Of these four, Tom Heinsohn stands out for his multi-faceted contributions to the team. After retiring as a player, he enjoyed a 9-year coaching tenure with the Celtics and, subsequently, had a 30-year stint as a commentator. He played a pivotal role in every one of the Celtics' 17 championship wins, earning him the nickname "Mr. Celtic."
4. Jim Loscutoff, Frank Ramsey, and Robert Horry (7 NBA Rings)
Jim Loscutoff and Frank Ramsey were also part of the mighty Celtics dynasty of the 50s and 60s.
Both players won seven rings during their stints with the team spanning between 1957 and 1964. Loscutoff, however, has not yet been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Robert Horry, while not a part of the 50s and 60s Celtics, has managed to carve out a remarkable legacy of his own. Horry is the most decorated NBA Champion from the modern era, thanks to his championship wins with the Houston Rockets (2), the Los Angeles Lakers (3), and the San Antonio Spurs (2).
Horry may not have been a prolific scorer (averaging 7 points per game throughout his career), but he was known for his clutch performances, especially during the playoffs. Some standout moments include scoring game-winning shots in the 2002 Western Conference Finals, the 2003 Western Conference Finals, and the 2005 NBA Finals, where he racked up 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. This extraordinary performance earned him comparisons to Michael Jordan's legendary playoff exploits in 1998.
5. Bob Cousy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen (6 NBA Rings)
Bob Cousy is a member of the Celtics dynasty who notched up six championships between 1957 and 1963. He was drafted to the Celtics six years before Russell joined the team and is often hailed as the first great point guard in NBA history. With a sterling career highlighted by five All-Star appearances and eight NBA Assist Leaders honors, Cousy was an instrumental figure in many of the Celtics' championship triumphs.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar boasts an impressive collection of six rings, split between two teams. He began his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, resulting in a single title in 1971. Later, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, where he guided the team to five championships between 1980 and 1985.
Michael Jordan's basketball prowess is a widely celebrated chapter in the NBA's history. His six rings are spread across his successful stints with the Chicago Bulls (6) and the Washington Wizards (none). His unparalleled play earned him NBA MVP honors five times.
Lastly, Scottie Pippen is another Chicago Bulls' legend with six rings to his name. He was a crucial component of the Bulls' successful '90s run, which included consecutive titles from 1991 to 1998. Pippen was also a seven-time NBA All-Star and earned All-NBA First Team honors two times.
...Here's a list of every player who has won more than two rings:
11 Rings: Bill Russell10 Rings: Sam Jones8 Rings: Tom Heinsohn, K. C. Jones, Satch Sanders, John Havlicek7 Rings: Jim Loscutoff, Frank Ramsey, Robert Horry6 Rings: Bob Cousy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen5 Rings: Red Auerbach, Jerry West, Kevin Garnett, Shaq O'Neal4 Rings: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, Kevin McHale, Dirk Nowitzki, Ron Harper, Duncan Robinson, and Jimmy Butler (all 2023)3 Rings: Steve Kerr, Walt Frazier, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James2 Rings: Dennis Rodman, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Paul Pierce, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, JR Smith, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love, Mike Miller, PJ Tucker, Patrick Ewing, Tim Hardaway, Robert Parish, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen...
One of the most renowned basketball players of all time, Abdul-Jabbar, held the NBA career scoring record for around 40 years. He was a six-time NBA MVP, a 19-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, two-time scoring champion, four-time blocks leader, and once a rebounding leader.
Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan are two basketball legends that require no introduction. They created unparalleled on-court chemistry, leading the Chicago Bulls to three consecutive championships between 1991-1993 and 1996-1998.
Their exceptional performances on the court are evident when they're not playing together. Jordan's average dipped to 7.5 points less per game, while Pippen's decreased by 2 points. They've both been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and their collective NBA All-Star appearances amount to 21.
In recent years, their relationship seems to have grown strained, with Pippen claiming Jordan didn't pay enough recognition to his teammates, as depicted in the "Last Dance" documentary aired in 2020. Nevertheless, their significance in the basketball world can never be diminished, and they rightfully belong among the most decorated players in NBA history.
NBA Players with the Most Rings
A few top-tier players we're accustomed to aren't featured in the aforementioned list. Where does LeBron rank, what about Dennis Rodman? How many rings did Kobe have?
Well, they're only a few rings short of the top spots, with Kobe Bryant and Dennis Rodman boasting five rings each. LeBron James lies just beneath them with four NBA titles.
Check out the list below of players who have won more than two rings:
The NBA players with the most rings:
- Bill Russell - 11 rings
- Michael Jordan - 6 rings
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 6 rings
- Magic Johnson - 5 rings
- Kobe Bryant - 5 rings
- Dennis Rodman - 5 rings
- Tim Duncan - 5 rings
- LeBron James - 4 rings
FAQs About NBA Rings
Who possesses the most NBA rings? Bill Russell is the player with the most rings in the NBA. He earned them all with the Boston Celtics in 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969. Incredibly, Russell only missed out on one championship win.
Who has won the most NBA championships? Bill Russell owns the record for the most NBA championships. He secured 11/13 championships for the Boston Celtics between 1957 and 1969.
How many NBA players have 11 rings? Only Bill Russell has managed to win 11 NBA championship rings, solidifying his place as the player with the most.
Which NBA players have 0 rings? A plethora of NBA players have never won a ring, including Steve Nash, Charles Barkley, Elgin Baylor, and Russell Westbrook.
Do NBA players receive rings? Yes. An NBA championship ring is typically awarded to every player, coach, and staff member on the winning team.
Which point guard has the most rings? K.C. Jones is the point guard with the most rings, having amassed eight rings between 1959 and 1964.
How many rings did Kobe Bryant win? Kobe Bryant won five NBA rings throughout his career. He won championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2010 with the LA Lakers.
How many rings did Dennis Rodman win? Dennis Rodman claimed five NBA rings for himself. He won two with the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990, as well as three with the Chicago Bulls in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
What's Lebron's ring count? Lebron James' NBA ring total stands at four. He won two with the Miami Heat (2012, 2013), one with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), and one with the LA Lakers (2020).
Interested in more NBA-related content? Browse our articles on the average height of NBA players and players with the largest hands in the NBA.
Lead image: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff/Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0
Read also:
- Habeck alleges that Israel is breaching international legal norms.
- Conflict in Ukraine: a current overview
- Schalke nears massive changes
- Funkel expresses gratitude and bids farewell, though it seems insufficient.
