Basketball in the U.S. is big business and the second most popular spectator sport in the country. When it comes to participation, basketball is in a league of its own, with over 27 million playing basketball at least once during the course of a year.
During the 2022/23 season, the NBA boasted an average of 1.69 million viewers per game during the season with an average of 11.64 million tuning in to see the Denver Nuggets lift the first title in their history.
While the Denver Nuggets have just won a historic championship, the history of the NBA has seen a variety of winners, with some teams more prolific than others. Here are the most successful teams in NBA history.
3 Titles
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of three teams to have won the championship 3 times in total along with the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons. Their championship victories came way back in 1955, 1976, and 1983. However, their most recent of nine visits to the finals came in 2001.
The 76ers play in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division out of the Wells Fargo Center which can hold a maximum of 21,000. Some big-name players to grace the 76ers’ court include Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain, and Allen Iverson. Iverson went on to play in 11 NBA All-Star games and was the shortest NBA MVP at 6 feet tall.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a relatively new franchise and was founded in 1988. Despite being new to the scene, they have enjoyed success and played in five NBA finals, winning three. Their victories came in 2006, 2012, and 2013.
Their most recent wins saw them defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012 and San Antonio Spurs in 2013. Erik Spoelstra coached the team to both of these championships and LeBron James was the MVP in both too.
The Kaseya Center in Miami’s Biscayne Bay can hold 19,600 and has undergone a number of name changes based on its sponsors.
The Heat’s most recent visit to the finals saw them lose 4-1 to the Denver Nuggets this year. Fans will be hoping that they can go one better next year, but the odds are not in their favour. At around 10/1, the Miami Heat is the fifth-favorite for the championship behind the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Milwaukee Bucks.
Some good news is that sports betting has recently been given the go-ahead after the DC Circuit Court of Appeals decided to reverse a decision that prohibited that. This means those looking for a sportsbook to play in Florida should have options to bet on the Heat in the near future.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons won three of the seven NBA finals that they have competed in. Their wins came in 1989, 1990, and 2004 and the most recent finals appearance was a 4-3 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in 2005.
The Pistons date back to 1937 and play out of the 20,332-capacity Little Caesars Arena. Some of the most notable names to feature for the team include Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman, and Joe Dumars.
5 Titles
San Antonio Spurs
The fifth most successful team in NBA history is the San Antonio Spurs with 5 championship wins. The Spurs play in the Western Conference Southwest Division out of the 18,418-capacity AT&T Center.
The team enjoyed success from their first win in 1999 to their last in 2014 with players like Tim Diuncan and Tony Parker being driving forces behind the success.
Their only defeat in a final came in 2013 when they lost 4-3 to a strong Miami Heat team featuring MVP LeBron James.
6 Titles
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls were the team of the ’90s and have won the only six championship finals they have played in. These victories came in 1991-93 then resumed in 1996-98.
Consistency was key for these victories with Phil Jackson coaching the team to all of these victories. Another major factor was the dominance of arguably the greatest NBA player of all time, Michael Jordan.
Jordan was the MVP in all of these victories and is the biggest name in the sport’s history. While younger generations might associate him more with the iconic footwear that is still as sought after today as it ever was, Bulls fans regard him as the greatest to wear their shirt.
It is worth mentioning that this great Bulls team of the ’90s was not a one-man team. Other players like Scottie Pippin and Dennis Rodman were also key factors in the success.
7 Titles
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are the third most successful team in NBA history with seven titles in total. Four of these wins have come since 2015, the most recent in 2022, making the Warriors the most dominant NBA franchise in recent years.
Fans have flocked to the 18,064-capacity Chase Center to see stars like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant in recent years. The Golden State Warriors also featured in the 2016 and 2019 finals, losing out to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors respectively.
17 Titles
The two most successful franchises in NBA history are the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers who have 17 titles each. They are ten ahead of their nearest rivals and boast a long history of success.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics is one of the most famous NBA franchises and was founded in 1946. They are instantly recognizable for their green and white uniforms and have had their lucky leprechaun logo since 1968.
Playing out of the 19,156-capacity TD Garden arena, the Celtics have had a bit of a dry spell recently, with the last of their championship wins coming 15 years ago in 2008.
The Eastern Conference Atlantic Division side has won a total of 17 NBA Finals out of the 22 they have been involved in. They have also seen some of the biggest names in NBA history on their roster, including Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and John Havlicek.
Los Angeles Lakers
The LA Lakers are synonymous with glitz and glamour. You will typically see the courtside seats filled with A-list celebrities who want to get close to the action and have the best view of the joint-most-successful team in NBA history.
Like the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers have 17 championships to their name. However, the Lakers have featured in far more finals, 31 in total. The last NBA final win celebrated by the Lakers was in 2020 when they defeated the Miami Heat 4-2. During this match, the legendary LeBron James was named MVP, but James is not the only big name to feature for the Lakers over the years.
Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson are regarded as some of the best Lakers of all time. However, it is the late, great Kobe Bryant who spent his entire career in LA that people often think of when talking about this great team.