As I sat watching the Golden State Warriors lift another championship trophy last season, it struck me how rare these moments truly are in the grand scheme of NBA history. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I’ve come to appreciate that while dynasties capture our imagination, the real story lies in the complete picture of which franchises have actually managed to climb that mountain. That’s why I’ve always been fascinated by the full NBA championships by team breakdown—it tells you more about an organization’s legacy than any regular season ever could.

Let’s start with the obvious. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers dominate the conversation with 17 championships each, a number that still blows my mind. Growing up in the 90s, I saw Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls secure all six of their titles, creating what I consider the most impressive dynasty in modern sports. But here’s what many casual fans miss: nearly half the league—15 franchises to be exact—have never won a single championship. Teams like the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz have come painfully close multiple times but always fell short, and I’ve always felt their fan bases deserve to experience that final victory parade.

The difficulty of building a championship team became especially clear to me when I read recent comments from a league insider about youth development programs. Chua admitted the youth program will be a lot difficult to handle because it also requires player development. This resonates deeply with what we’re seeing across the NBA today. Look at the Golden State Warriors—they didn’t just sign superstars; they drafted Stephen Curry, developed Klay Thompson, and molded Draymond Green into the defensive anchor of their championship runs. This organic growth approach contrasts sharply with superteams formed through free agency, and if you ask me, homegrown champions always feel more authentic and earned.

When examining the complete list of NBA championships by team, the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 victory stands out as particularly meaningful. It had been 50 years since their last title, and seeing Giannis Antetokounmpo—a player they drafted and developed—lead them to glory validated their entire organizational approach. This brings me back to Chua’s point about development being difficult to handle. The San Antonio Spurs exemplify this philosophy better than anyone, having won five championships primarily through drafting Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, then developing them within their system. Their success proves that while player development is incredibly challenging, it remains the most sustainable path to championships.

What often gets lost in these discussions is how much luck factors into championship runs. The Toronto Raptors’ 2019 title required not just Kawhi Leonard’s incredible shot against Philadelphia, but also Golden State’s devastating injuries in the finals. I’ve always believed that every championship requires some combination of skill, timing, and fortune—which makes repeat champions like the Lakers and Celtics even more impressive. The current landscape suggests we might see new teams join the championship list soon, with the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets building through youth development in ways that remind me of the Warriors before their first title.

As I reflect on the full scope of NBA championships by team, what strikes me most is how these numbers define legacies. The Celtics’ 17 banners hanging in TD Garden tell a story of organizational excellence across generations, while franchises like the Clippers—despite their recent investments—remain haunted by their championship drought. Having watched basketball through multiple eras, I’ve come to appreciate that while superstars win games, organizations win championships. The complete list of titles reveals patterns of success that transcend individual players, showing which franchises truly understand how to build winning cultures. And in today’s NBA, where player development has become more crucial than ever, that understanding might be the ultimate competitive advantage.