Who Has the Most NBA Rings as a Player?
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We’re taking a look at which NBA players have won the most championships rings throughout their careers.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is a former American professional basketball player who is widely considered to be the greatest of all time. He played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. Jordan won six NBA Finals MVPs, six NBA Championships, and five MVP Awards.
6 NBA Finals appearances
In his 15-year NBA career, Michael Jordan appeared in 6 NBA Finals series. He won all 6 of those series, cementing his legacy as one of the best players of all time.
Jordan’s first appearance came in 1991, when he led the Chicago Bulls to a 4-0 sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers. He would go on to win back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, before losing to the Houston Rockets in 1994.
Jordan returned to form in 1995, winning three more titles with the Bulls from 1996 to 1998. His final appearance came in 1999, when he played for the Washington Wizards and lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
6 NBA championships
Michael Jordan is a retired American professional basketball player, businessman, and principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets. He played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. His biography on the NBA website states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
Jordan played three seasons for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick. He quickly emerged as a league star and entertained crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks fromStanding”, earned him nicknames such as “Air Jordan” and “His Airness”. He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with Chicago, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a “three-peat”. Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before themes 1995–1996 season began, he returned to the Bulls in March 1996 and led them to three additional championships (1996–1998), as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins en route to receiving Finals MVP honors all four times.
During his tenure with Chicago, Jordan led the franchise to six NBA Finals appearances (1991–1993; 1996–1998), achieving an NBA Finals record of 6–0 en route to winning six NBA championships (1991–1993; 1996–1998). He is one of only two players in NBA history to have won back-to-back Finals MVPs on three separate occasions (1991–1993; 1996–1998), along with Shaquille O’Neal (2000–2002). In 1996, he was named one ofthe 50 Greatest Playersin NBA History. After his fourth championship triumph with Chicago in 1998, O’Neal moved to another team via free agency after accepting a record-breaking $120 million contractfromthe Los Angeles Lakers; this resulted instars Tracy McGradyand Vince Carterbeing drafted into successful situations immediately after him across North America during their high school careers that summer by their respective hometown teams Magicand Raptors(which were then both expansion franchises), respectively. Free agency rules would also see Kevin Garnettjoining Minnesota soon afterwards while further stars were being drafted such as Kobe Bry antelling Shaquille O’Nealto join him soon after being drafted by Los Angeles out of high school that summer as well. These events set off amovement which extensively utilized sociological theories on how young people behave atypically compared to adults when making major decisions about their future lives which have subsequently been dubbed by commentators suchas Sports Illustratedas The Summerof Samor Love Him or Hatedraft due to how successful most of those chosen became very early into their respective careers while others flamed out just as quickly or became role players or journeymen survivors/veterans.
Bill Russell
When it comes to rings, Bill Russell has more than any other player in NBA history. He won 11 championships with the Boston Celtics during his playing days, and he was also a five-time NBA MVP. Let’s take a closer look at the career of this legendary player.
11 NBA Finals appearances
Bill Russell played on 11 NBA championship teams, the most of any player in history, including two championship teams with the Boston Celtics before he was named head coach. He also coached the Seattle SuperSonics to their only NBA championship in 1979.
10 NBA championships
In his 13 years with the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships, including an unprecedented eight in a row from 1959 to 1966. He remains the only player in NBA history to win that many championships as part of a dynasty that also included eight Eastern Conference titles and 10 trips to the NBA Finals.
Russell was an indispensable part of those championship teams, anchoring the Celtics’ defense and averaging a double-double (points and rebounds) for his career. He was also a five-time NBA MVP and a 12-time All-Star. His No. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 1972, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1974.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most NBA rings as a player. He was a part of the Los Angeles Lakers championship teams in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. Abdul-Jabbar was also a part of the Milwaukee Bucks championship team in 1971. He has a total of six NBA championship rings.
10 NBA Finals appearances
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.; April 16, 1947) is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. A member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two as an assistant coach, Abdul-Jabbar twice was voted NBA Finals MVP. In 1996, he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. NBA coach Pat Riley and players Isiah Thomas and Julius Erving have called him the greatest basketball player of all time.
After winning 71 consecutive basketball games on his high school team in New York City’sPublic Schools Athletic League (PSAL), Alcindor was recruited by Jehovah’s Witnesses’to play for their sponsored college team at Power Memorial Academy, where he played alongside future Boston Celtic Bill Russell. Alcindor began his collegiate career at UCLA; he played on three consecutive national championship teams (1967–1969), and wonentered the NBA draft after his junior year. His entrance into the league with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 was timely, as they won their first–and only–NBA Championship that year. After four seasons with the Bucks, he signed with the Lakers; they won five championships between 1971 and 1980 during Abdul-Jabbar’s tenure with the team.
Abdul-Jabbar’s contribution to basketball continued well after his playing career; he authored several books on the subject, including Giant Steps: The Autobiography of Kareem Abdul-Jabbarand blocks , which featured seven foot two inch (218 cm) former Houston Rocket Hakeem Olajuwon; Kareem helped coach Olajuwon to become one of only two players—the other being Abdul-Jabbar himself—to win an NCAA championship , an NBA championship , and an Olympic gold medal . He remains active in retirement, conducting various coaching clinics worldwide., selling real estate , writing books ,and appearing in documentaries . In 2012, he was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be a U.S. global cultural ambassador .
Abdul-Jabbar has also been an outspoken political activist throughout his life., advocating for numerous causes including support for U.S. President Barack Obama . He has also raised awareness for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society ,same sex marriage , been active in support for Alzheimer’s disease research , relieved poverty around America , donations to Haiti relief funds following 2010 earthquake devastation among other things.. As such he has been honored multiple times by various organizations including receiving President Barack Obama’s 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom award – becoming only the third sports figure to receive this honor after Muhammad Ali and Bill Russell – being named by Time magazine as one of their 100 most influential people four times: once in 1975 and again 1984 as one of their “Men (and Women) of The Year”; receiving NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award presented by actor Sidney Poitier in 2009.; In 2010 GQ Magazine named him one of their Men Of The Year
6 NBA championships
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American former professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. A member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, Abdul-Jabbar twice was voted NBA Finals MVP. In 1996, he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. NBA coach Pat Riley and players LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have called him the greatest basketball player of all time.
After winning 71 consecutive basketball games on his high school team in New York City, Abdul-Jabbar accepted a scholarship to play for John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team, where he played for three seasons (1966–1969). In college, he was a three-time First Team All-American and won the 1970 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament with his team before being selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the first overall pick in the 1970 NBA draft. At 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m), he was one of the tallest players ever drafted at that time. He made an immediate impact with the Bucks, winning Rookie of the Year honors in his first season. An unstoppable force near both baskets with his trademark “skyhook”, Abdul-Jabbar established himself as one of the league’s top scorers and rebounders. His regular season accomplishments included six Most Valuable Player Awards, eleven All-Star Game selections, nine All-NBA First Team nods (tied for second most ever), five All Defensive First Team honors (tied for second most ever) , nineteen All Star Game selections (tied for record), eleven All defensive Second Team nods (tied for second most ever), ten scoring titles (second most ever), four rebounding titles (tied 6th all time with Wilt Chamberlain), nine field goal percentage titles—leading both leagues—and three blocked shots titles. He also led tied league record for block average total per season three times Karl Malone , Hakeem Olajuwon & Mark Eaton
Abdul-Jabbar’s contributions to basketball have been recognized by two retired jersey numbers: 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson by every team in MLB following Robinson’s 1997 death and 33 by every team in the NCAA following Wooden’s 2005 death; both are considered universal retired numbers across multiple sports leagues. In 2012, he was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be a U.S. global cultural ambassador as part of “The Ambassador13” initiative/program through Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs within The United States Department Of State .
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is an American retired professional basketball player who is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. He played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers for 13 seasons. During that time, he won five NBA championships, was an All-Star 12 times, and won two NBA Finals MVP Awards. He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 as part of the “Dream Team”.
9 NBA Finals appearances
Johnson made nine NBA Finals appearances in his career, winning five of them. He is often considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
5 NBA championships
Johnson won a total of five NBA championships as a player. He was a member of the “Showtime” Lakers that won championships in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. He also won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team (“The Dream Team”).
Robert Horry
Robert Horry has the most NBA rings as a player with 7. He won 2 rings with the Houston Rockets, 3 with the Los Angeles Lakers, and 2 with the San Antonio Spurs. Horry is also a 3-time NBA champion and a 2-time Olympic gold medalist.
7 NBA Finals appearances
Robert Horry is a former professional basketball player who played primarily for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning seven championships with the team. He also played for the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, winning two more championships with each team. Horry is widely considered one of the greatest clutch performers in NBA history, and he has been nicknamed “Big Shot Rob” because of his propensity for making large, game-winning shots.
7 NBA championships
Robert Horry is a former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is best known for winning seven NBA championships, the most of any player who never played on the team that drafted him. Horry was a key member of three NBA championship teams with the Houston Rockets, two with the Los Angeles Lakers, and two more with the San Antonio Spurs. He also played briefly with the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks late in his career.Upon retiring as a player in 2008, Horry became a broadcast analyst for Time Warner Cable SportsNet.