From Legends to Icons: The Complete List of All NBA Winners

The NBA is the strongest basketball league in the world, gathering the best players from every corner of the globe in always competitive editions. The first NBA tournament took place in 1946, and since then, numerous teams have managed to lift the trophy and win the tournament

In basketball, one of the most challenging achievements is winning a league championship, as the scoring system allows even an underdog to have a chance of victory on the court. Throughout NBA history, various teams have been champions, achieving incredible feats.

Let’s have a closer look at the NBA and how this championship works.

NBA History and Championship Meaning

As mentioned earlier, the first NBA tournament, the National Basketball Association, was in 1946, six years after the BAA was created. The first NBA began with only 24 teams, but even so, some basketball games were localized. That year, the NBA began to gain popularity, especially after the NBL merged with the BAA. Although the NBA was created in 1946, it wasn’t until 1970, when the NBA underwent changes in format to make the matches more exciting, that it gained success and popularity.

This format worked very well, and in the 1980s, names like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan became legends of the sport. This championship is a merger of the existing American basketball leagues. It has become a way to unify everything and bring 30 different teams to the courts competing for the League title.

Criteria for Inclusion in the List

The NBA only started in 1946, but many people consider trophies from before the NBA as official championship titles. To make a fair list, you need to separate the listed information by criteria.

For example, in this list, you will only see NBA winners after 1946, the year of the first NBA game. Below, you can see a list of all the major NBA winners, taking into account factors such as influence, importance to the history of the sport, and especially their final standing in the year. See in detail who all the NBA winners are throughout history.

The List of All NBA Winners

Below in detail are each of the teams that won the NBA.

Boston Celtics: 17 Titles

Los Angeles Lakers: 17 Titles

Golden State Warriors: 7 Titles

Chicago Bulls: 6 Titles

San Antonio Spurs: 5 Titles

Minneapolis Lakers: 5 Titles

Detroit Pistons: 3 Titles

Philadelphia 76ers: 3 Titles

Miami Heat: 3 Titles

Philadelphia Warriors: 2 Titles

New York Knicks: 2 Titles

Houston Rockets: 2 Titles

Baltimore Bullets: 1 Title

Rochester Royals: 1 Title

Syracuse Nationals: 1 Title

St. Louis Hawks: 1 Title

Milwaukee Bucks: 1 Title

Portland Trail Blazers: 1 Title

Seattle SuperSonics: 1 Title

Dallas Mavericks: 1 Title

Cleveland Cavaliers: 1 Title

Toronto Raptors: 1 Title

Denver Nuggets: 1 Title

The Complete List of All NBA Champions Year by Year

For those who like more detailed information, below is a list of all the NBA winners with the years of their victories:

Trends and Dynasties Analysis

As you may notice, the Celtics were the only team to maintain a long dynasty in the competition. The others managed to win at most three consecutive championships. Despite this, the Celtics have the same number of victories as the Los Angeles Lakers, who, without creating a long dynasty, won the league several times sporadically.

Legendary Players and Their Contributions

In the NBA, three names are considered legends of the sport: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson. These three were responsible for popularizing the NBA worldwide. Without them, the NBA and basketball might only have been popular in their country of origin, but these great figures and exceptional players managed to take the sport global.

Impact and Legacy of the Winners

Although many teams took a long time to win a trophy, the fact is that when they did, it completely changed the course of the sport. Many teams are considered legends, like the Bulls for a successful season with great players. Currently, the winning teams are different from the past, but the strength of each team’s jersey makes them known worldwide. To some extent, teams from the 1980s and 1990s are more famous among basketball novices around the world.

Challenges and Controversies

The NBA has an East and West tournament, but at the end of the year, there’s always a game between these two champions. This tournament makes everything very complex since many consider champions those who won the regional league. Nonetheless, this should be corrected in the future, as the NBA has always sought to improve its competition and provide clearer information about the games and competitions.

The Future of NBA Championships

Currently, the NBA is trending towards a Golden State Warriors dynasty, which is playing very well and has excellent players. It’s quite likely that this team will enter the history of the sport.

Conclusion

The NBA has a long history of winners, with many players marking an era and teams that have stayed at the top for a long time. Indeed, the NBA is a very popular sport, and the trend is for it to gain more prominence each year, especially with the balance between teams in the current NBA format.