Who are the most successful franchises in NBA history?
Since it was formed in 1947, the NBA has crowned 20 different franchises as champions of the 76 available championships.
With 20 franchises winning in 76 attempts, some teams have blown smaller market franchises out of the water, creating dynasties to be remembered for a lifetime.
With the 2023 NBA Playoffs in full swing, will a franchise win its first championship, or will the elite prevail and add more banners to their arenas?
Here are the most successful franchises in NBA history.
The Philadelphia 76ers have a rich history in the NBA, reaching nine finals and winning three championships in franchise history.
The franchise has always had that one player with the X factor, starting with Wilt Chamberlain in the 60s, Julius Erving in the 70s and 80s, Allen Iverson in the 2000s, and now, MVP front-runner Joel Embiid.
The San Antonio Spurs were the defining dynasty of the 2000s. Starting with their first championship in 1999, under the court guidance of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, The Spurs won four more titles.
The franchise's regular fixture of players and Greg Popovich at the helm led to San Antonio setting the NBA record for most consecutive playoff appearances with 22 in a row (1998-2019).
One team in NBA history has won in all of their NBA Finals appearances: The Chicago Bulls 6-0. Under the guidance of Michael Jordan, The Bulls dominated the 90s, winning six championships with two three-peats.
Before and after Michael Jordan's tenure with The Bulls, Chicago has been mediocre at best. They produced former MVP Derick Rose, but the success and legendary status of the 90s team make them one of the greatest franchises in history.
The Warriors were one of the first successful teams in the NBA, winning three titles in 1947, 1956, and 1975. However, the 80s, 90s, and 2000s were not so kind for The Warriors, often missing the playoffs in most seasons.
As of 2015, with the introduction of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and coach Steve Kerr, The Warriors have been the most dominant team in the NBA, winning four championships and making six NBA Finals appearances.
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have the same number of titles, but due to a lack of distribution between the championships, The Celtics are second on the list.
The Celtics won 11 NBA Championships from 1957 to 1969, largely due to star Bill Russell and coach Red Auerbach. Boston won three with Larry Bird, and the last came in 2008.
The Los Angeles Lakers are by far the most successful franchise in NBA history, winning 17 championships and showcasing the game's brightest stars, such as Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and now LeBron James.
The Lakers won six championships before 1980, but the winning continued, securing five titles in the 'Showtime' era and a further six since the start of the century.