Which NBA Team Has Won the Most Championships in League History?

As I sat watching the Sunday PBA Philippine Cup match between San Miguel and Phoenix, I couldn't help but reflect on how championship pedigree manifests differently across basketball leagues worldwide. The sight of June Mar Fajardo sitting out the entire second quarter for San Miguel—a strategic move that ultimately contributed to their victory—got me thinking about the teams that have truly mastered the art of winning when it matters most. This naturally led my mind to wander toward the NBA, where championship legacies are written in gold and remembered for generations. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I've developed a particular fascination with franchises that build lasting dynasties rather than just having fleeting moments of glory.

When we talk about NBA championships, one franchise stands so far above the rest that it's almost comical—the Boston Celtics. Now, I'll admit I've always had a soft spot for the Lakers, but even I can't argue with the numbers. The Celtics have won 17 championships, which is just mind-boggling when you really think about it. What's even more impressive is that 11 of those came during a 13-year span from 1957 to 1969, a period of dominance that I believe we'll never see again in professional sports. That Bill Russell-led dynasty was something else entirely—they weren't just winning; they were fundamentally redefining what team basketball could look like at its absolute peak. I often wonder what it must have been like to watch that team systematically dismantle opponents night after night, year after year.

The Los Angeles Lakers sit right behind them with 17 championships as well, though if we're being completely honest about the timeline, the Celtics technically won their 17th first back in 2008. The Lakers matched that number in 2020 during the bubble season, which—and this is just my personal opinion—felt somewhat different from traditional championships given the unique circumstances. Still, a championship is a championship, and the Lakers' ability to remain competitive across multiple eras is nothing short of remarkable. From the Minneapolis days with George Mikan to the Showtime era with Magic Johnson, then the Kobe and Shaq dynasty, and now the LeBron and AD chapter, their sustained excellence is what truly separates great franchises from merely good ones.

What strikes me about these two franchises is how they've managed to maintain their championship DNA despite completely different approaches to team building. The Celtics have traditionally valued continuity and culture, while the Lakers have mastered the art of attracting superstar talent. Both methods clearly work, but they create distinctly different viewing experiences for fans like myself. I've always preferred the Lakers' flashier style, but I can't deny the admiration I feel watching the Celtics' more systematic approach to winning.

Then there's the significant gap before we get to the Chicago Bulls with 6 championships, all coming during the Michael Jordan era in the 1990s. While some might argue that having all their championships concentrated in one decade makes them less of a dynasty franchise, I'd push back hard against that notion. Those Bulls teams didn't just win—they captured the global imagination in ways no basketball team had before or since. I remember staying up late to watch their games from Australia, completely mesmerized by Jordan's otherworldly talent and Phil Jackson's tactical genius.

The Golden State Warriors have been making serious moves recently, now sitting at 7 championships after their 2022 victory. What's fascinating about the Warriors is how they've built championships across different eras—from the 1975 team that shocked the world to the modern dynasty that revolutionized basketball with their three-point heavy approach. As someone who's watched basketball evolve over the years, I find Golden State's impact on how the game is played today particularly fascinating. They've literally changed the geometry of the court in ways we're still understanding.

Thinking back to that PBA game I mentioned earlier, what struck me was how San Miguel's coaching staff managed Fajardo's minutes strategically, preserving their star player for crucial moments. This is exactly the kind of long-term thinking that separates championship organizations from the rest. The great NBA dynasties—whether we're talking about the Spurs with their 5 championships or the Heat with 3—all understand that winning isn't just about having talent; it's about managing that talent across the grueling marathon of a season and playoffs.

The Spurs deserve special mention here because their 5 championships across three different decades demonstrate a level of organizational excellence that I consider the gold standard in professional sports. Their ability to remain competitive while transitioning from David Robinson to Tim Duncan to Kawhi Leonard as franchise cornerstones is something I don't think gets appreciated enough in broader basketball conversations.

As I reflect on these various championship pedigrees, what becomes clear to me is that while star power matters—and let's be real, it matters a ton—the organizations that consistently compete for championships share certain DNA markers. They have strong ownership, visionary front offices, and cultures that prioritize winning above individual accolades. The Celtics and Lakers have this in spades, which explains why they've been able to remain relevant across basketball's different eras despite the league's evolving landscape.

Watching teams like San Miguel in the PBA or the various NBA dynasties I've followed throughout my life has taught me that championship habits are built day by day, quarter by quarter, even when your star player is resting on the bench. The true measure of a franchise isn't just in the championship banners hanging from the rafters, but in the institutional knowledge passed down from one generation to the next—the understanding of what it takes to win when everything is on the line. And right now, in the NBA history books, that understanding resides most profoundly in Boston, with those 17 championships serving as both inspiration and target for every other franchise dreaming of glory.