The National Basketball Association (NBA) is widely considered as the top basketball league in the world, attracting a huge global audience and fanbase.
Since its inaugural season in 1946-47, several teams have gone on to claim the prestigious championship title.
As the 2025–26 season kicks off in the early hours of Wednesday, defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) will face competition from 29 other teams in the quest to be crowned champions.
However, does Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent Finals triumph place them among the top five teams with the most championship wins? In this article, SportPremi highlights the five NBA teams with the highest number of titles;
5. San Antonio Spurs (5 NBA titles):
Ranking fifth on this list is Western Conference franchise, the San Antonio Spurs, who have matched their position with their number of title wins (5).
The Texas-based team have reached six finals, losing only once – in 2013 to a LeBron James-led Miami Heats.
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They won a first championship in 1999, defeating the New York Knicks, but their last triumph was in 2014.
Can the giant figure of Victor Wembayama lift the team to the NBA throne for a sixth title this season?
4. Chicago Bulls (6 NBA titles):
The Chicago Bulls boasts an impressive 100% record in NBA finals, winning all their six final appearances.
The Eastern conference franchise have won three consecutive titles on two separate occasions, first between 1991 and 1993, before repeating the feat from 1996 till 1998.
3. Golden State Warriors (7 NBA titles):
Formerly referred to as the Philadelphia Warriors and the San Francisco Warriors, the Golden State Warriors have won the NBA finals on seven occasions.
They won a first championships in 1947, with two further wins in 1956 and 1975.
The California-based team then won three titles between 2015 and 2018, before winning a seventh championships in 2022, defeating Ime Udoka’s Boston Celtics.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (17 NBA titles):
The Los Angeles Lakers, a dominant force in the Western Conference, have been home to numerous basketball legends and hold the record for the most NBA Finals appearances with 32.
However, they rank second on this list with 17 victories, losing a record 15 times – the most of any team.
The Western Conference Franchise won a first title in 1949, as the Minneapolis Lakers, while their last triumph came in 2020, led by LeBron James to victory over the Miami Heats.
With LeBron James ready for a record-breaking 23rd NBA season and still showing no signs of slowing down, he could inspire the Lakers to a historic, record-equaling 18th championship title.
1. Boston Celtics (18 NBA titles):
The Boston Celtics reign supreme as the most successful team in NBA history, boasting a record of 18 championship titles.
They also have the most consecutive wins in history (8), winning it between 1959 and 1966, although a first-ever championship win came in 1957.
They won a record-extending 18th title in 2024, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in just five games.
