Most championships
- Boston Celtics – 18
- Los Angeles Lakers – 17 (including 5 as the Minneapolis Lakers)
- Golden State Warriors – 7
- Chicago Bulls – 6
- San Antonio Spurs – 5
2026: the Knicks end a 53-year wait
The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 4–1 in the 2026 Finals. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in the 94–90 Game 5 win in San Antonio. It was New York’s first title since 1973, and the city’s celebrations were as big as you would expect. The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, reached their first Finals since 2014.
A quick tour of the century
Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant won three straight for the Lakers from 2000 to 2002. Tim Duncan’s Spurs collected titles across 12 years, from 2003 to 2014. LeBron James won with Miami twice, then brought Cleveland its first title in 2016, coming back from 3–1 down against a 73-win Warriors team. Stephen Curry’s Warriors changed the game with three-point shooting and won four titles between 2015 and 2022. The 2019 Raptors are still the only champion from outside the United States.
Parity in the 2020s
Seven different teams won the seven titles from 2019 to 2025. Analysts put that down to tighter salary-cap rules and stars spreading across more teams. Find live NBA and WNBA games on our live scores page.
Frequently asked questions
Which NBA team has the most championships?
The Boston Celtics, with 18 titles.
Who won the 2026 NBA Finals?
The New York Knicks, beating the San Antonio Spurs 4–1.
More sports history
Data and credits: Facts compiled and written by ViralScopeHub, checked against ICC, FIFA, UEFA, NBA, NFL, IOC and major news reports (Reuters, AP). Flag images from our self-hosted flag set (see LICENSE). See live scores, sports history and our credits page.