Retrospective

The All-Time Title Scaler

Celtics vs Lakers. Lakers vs Celtics. A tale as old as time and just as boring (for everyone else). “The Minneapolis championships shouldn’t count.” “The league was so small back then.” “Russell was playing against plumbers.” “The Lakers are dumb¹.”

Given the intractable nature of this feud — and as a fig leaf to Bulls, Warriors, and Spurs fans — we at The Institute have developed an indisputable, authoritative, ordered accounting of which, in cold, unemotional fact, are the greatest basketball franchises, in terms of post-season titles.

In short, operating under the thesis that not all titles are created equal, we have developed an exclusive, proprietary formula that scales every championship against the number of teams in the league at that time. It stands to reason that it is easier to win a championship when there are fewer teams — for example, in an 8-team league, 12.5% of the teams win a title. In a 30-team league, however, that percentage drops to 3.3%. Our researchers have determined the weighted achievements of each franchise, and present our exclusive findings here, for the first time.

author: Esther P. Logathry

experiment: Championship ledger, rebased

document classification: HWRI-HIS-8RVZ-7KG7-4GUS-TQIP-JMTH

approved by: The Hardwoodist

clearance: Public Release

reference league: 30 teams

titles on file: 78

The Formula

scaled_credit(ring) = teams_that_season ÷ 30 → franchise_total = Σ scaled_credit

Raw Ledger · Winningest Franchise

Boston Celtics

18championships

Scaled Ledger · Winningest Franchise

Los Angeles Lakers

12.20championships (rebased to 30)

The Pie, Redistributed

same data, two angles

Raw

78 championships

Boston Celtics18
Los Angeles Lakers17
Golden State Warriors7
Chicago Bulls6
San Antonio Spurs5
Detroit Pistons3

Scaled

56.2 modern-equivalent

Los Angeles Lakers12.20
Boston Celtics8.90
Chicago Bulls5.60
Golden State Warriors5.23
San Antonio Spurs4.93
Miami Heat3.00

The Ledger, Rebased

sorted by scaled total

01Los Angeles LakersRaw titles: 17Scaled titles: 12.20▲ 1
Per-title breakdown
1. 1948-4912-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.40
  - George Mikan1.51 credit0.42 wt
  - Herm Schaefer0.63 credit0.18 wt
  - Jim Pollard0.31 credit0.09 wt
2. 1949-5017-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.57
  - George Mikan1.09 credit0.31 wt
  - Vern Mikkelsen0.45 credit0.13 wt
  - Don Carlson0.26 credit0.07 wt
3. 1951-5210-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.33
  - George Mikan0.96 credit0.14 wt
  - Vern Mikkelsen0.80 credit0.12 wt
  - Jim Pollard0.37 credit0.05 wt
4. 1952-5310-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.33
  - George Mikan0.72 credit0.11 wt
  - Vern Mikkelsen0.50 credit0.07 wt
  - Slater Martin0.47 credit0.07 wt
5. 1953-549-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.30
  - George Mikan0.93 credit0.15 wt
  - Vern Mikkelsen0.46 credit0.07 wt
  - Jim Pollard0.39 credit0.06 wt
6. 1971-7217-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.57
  - Wilt Chamberlain0.88 credit0.48 wt
  - Gail Goodrich0.62 credit0.33 wt
  - Happy Hairston0.53 credit0.29 wt
7. 1979-8022-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.73
  - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar0.87 credit0.53 wt
  - Magic Johnson0.70 credit0.43 wt
  - Jamaal Wilkes0.48 credit0.29 wt
8. 1981-8223-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.77
  - Magic Johnson0.81 credit0.54 wt
  - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar0.52 credit0.34 wt
  - Norm Nixon0.44 credit0.29 wt
9. 1984-8523-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.77
  - Magic Johnson0.62 credit0.34 wt
  - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar0.53 credit0.29 wt
  - James Worthy0.48 credit0.26 wt
10. 1986-8723-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.77
  - Magic Johnson0.77 credit0.42 wt
  - James Worthy0.52 credit0.29 wt
  - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar0.40 credit0.22 wt
11. 1987-8823-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.77
  - Magic Johnson0.76 credit0.42 wt
  - James Worthy0.53 credit0.29 wt
  - Byron Scott0.52 credit0.28 wt
12. 1999-0029-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Shaquille O'Neal1.01 credit0.89 wt
  - Kobe Bryant0.49 credit0.43 wt
  - Glen Rice0.31 credit0.27 wt
13. 2000-0129-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Shaquille O'Neal0.80 credit0.70 wt
  - Kobe Bryant0.74 credit0.65 wt
  - Derek Fisher0.37 credit0.33 wt
14. 2001-0229-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Shaquille O'Neal0.82 credit0.72 wt
  - Kobe Bryant0.62 credit0.55 wt
  - Robert Horry0.46 credit0.41 wt
15. 2008-0930-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Kobe Bryant0.78 credit0.73 wt
  - Pau Gasol0.75 credit0.70 wt
  - Lamar Odom0.43 credit0.40 wt
16. 2009-1030-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Pau Gasol0.79 credit0.74 wt
  - Kobe Bryant0.67 credit0.63 wt
  - Andrew Bynum0.38 credit0.36 wt
17. 2019-2030-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Anthony Davis0.84 credit0.79 wt
  - LeBron James0.79 credit0.74 wt
  - Dwight Howard0.25 credit0.23 wt
02Boston CelticsRaw titles: 18Scaled titles: 8.90▼ 1
Per-title breakdown
1. 1956-578-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.27
  - Bill Sharman0.55 credit0.07 wt
  - Bill Russell0.49 credit0.06 wt
  - Bob Cousy0.49 credit0.06 wt
2. 1958-598-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.27
  - Bill Russell0.73 credit0.09 wt
  - Frank Ramsey0.62 credit0.08 wt
  - Bill Sharman0.47 credit0.06 wt
3. 1959-608-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.27
  - Bill Russell0.92 credit0.11 wt
  - Tom Heinsohn0.52 credit0.06 wt
  - Frank Ramsey0.45 credit0.06 wt
4. 1960-618-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.27
  - Bill Russell0.68 credit0.09 wt
  - Bill Sharman0.43 credit0.05 wt
  - Bob Cousy0.41 credit0.05 wt
5. 1961-629-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.30
  - Bill Russell1.00 credit0.16 wt
  - Sam Jones0.47 credit0.07 wt
  - Tom Heinsohn0.36 credit0.06 wt
6. 1962-639-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.30
  - Bill Russell0.90 credit0.14 wt
  - Sam Jones0.67 credit0.11 wt
  - Tom Heinsohn0.54 credit0.09 wt
7. 1963-649-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.30
  - Bill Russell0.78 credit0.12 wt
  - Sam Jones0.70 credit0.11 wt
  - Tom Heinsohn0.34 credit0.05 wt
8. 1964-659-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.30
  - Bill Russell1.04 credit0.16 wt
  - Sam Jones0.67 credit0.11 wt
  - K.C. Jones0.41 credit0.06 wt
9. 1965-669-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.30
  - Bill Russell0.79 credit0.12 wt
  - Sam Jones0.58 credit0.09 wt
  - Tom Sanders0.35 credit0.06 wt
10. 1967-6812-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.40
  - John Havlicek0.65 credit0.14 wt
  - Bailey Howell0.59 credit0.12 wt
  - Don Nelson0.46 credit0.10 wt
11. 1968-6914-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.47
  - John Havlicek0.67 credit0.19 wt
  - Bailey Howell0.51 credit0.15 wt
  - Don Nelson0.48 credit0.14 wt
12. 1973-7417-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.57
  - John Havlicek0.76 credit0.41 wt
  - Dave Cowens0.52 credit0.28 wt
  - Paul Silas0.41 credit0.22 wt
13. 1975-7618-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.60
  - Dave Cowens0.74 credit0.45 wt
  - Paul Silas0.59 credit0.36 wt
  - Jo Jo White0.56 credit0.34 wt
14. 1980-8123-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.77
  - Larry Bird0.74 credit0.49 wt
  - Cedric Maxwell0.64 credit0.42 wt
  - Robert Parish0.44 credit0.29 wt
15. 1983-8423-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.77
  - Larry Bird0.90 credit0.49 wt
  - Kevin McHale0.48 credit0.26 wt
  - Robert Parish0.45 credit0.25 wt
16. 1985-8623-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.77
  - Larry Bird0.84 credit0.46 wt
  - Kevin McHale0.62 credit0.34 wt
  - Danny Ainge0.48 credit0.27 wt
17. 2007-0830-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Kevin Garnett0.64 credit0.60 wt
  - Paul Pierce0.51 credit0.48 wt
  - Ray Allen0.49 credit0.46 wt
18. 2023-2430-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Jayson Tatum0.51 credit0.48 wt
  - Derrick White0.51 credit0.48 wt
  - Jrue Holiday0.42 credit0.40 wt
03Chicago BullsRaw titles: 6Scaled titles: 5.60▲ 1
Per-title breakdown
1. 1990-9127-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.90
  - Michael Jordan0.94 credit0.71 wt
  - Scottie Pippen0.55 credit0.42 wt
  - Horace Grant0.50 credit0.38 wt
2. 1991-9227-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.90
  - Michael Jordan0.80 credit0.61 wt
  - Horace Grant0.64 credit0.49 wt
  - Scottie Pippen0.60 credit0.45 wt
3. 1992-9327-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.90
  - Michael Jordan0.94 credit0.71 wt
  - Horace Grant0.51 credit0.38 wt
  - B.J. Armstrong0.39 credit0.30 wt
4. 1995-9629-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Michael Jordan0.85 credit0.74 wt
  - Scottie Pippen0.53 credit0.47 wt
  - Dennis Rodman0.32 credit0.28 wt
5. 1996-9729-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Michael Jordan0.86 credit0.75 wt
  - Scottie Pippen0.54 credit0.47 wt
  - Ron Harper0.39 credit0.34 wt
6. 1997-9829-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Michael Jordan0.84 credit0.74 wt
  - Scottie Pippen0.46 credit0.40 wt
  - Toni Kukoc0.41 credit0.36 wt
04Golden State WarriorsRaw titles: 7Scaled titles: 5.23▼ 1
Per-title breakdown
1. 1946-4711-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.37
  - Joe Fulks1.06 credit0.25 wt
  - Art Hillhouse0.50 credit0.12 wt
  - Howie Dallmar0.40 credit0.09 wt
2. 1955-568-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.27
  - Paul Arizin0.91 credit0.11 wt
  - Neil Johnston0.78 credit0.10 wt
  - Tom Gola0.44 credit0.05 wt
3. 1974-7518-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.60
  - Rick Barry0.84 credit0.51 wt
  - Clifford Ray0.42 credit0.25 wt
  - Jamaal Wilkes0.35 credit0.21 wt
4. 2014-1530-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Stephen Curry0.73 credit0.68 wt
  - Draymond Green0.46 credit0.43 wt
  - Klay Thompson0.37 credit0.35 wt
5. 2016-1730-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Stephen Curry0.65 credit0.61 wt
  - Kevin Durant0.60 credit0.56 wt
  - Draymond Green0.45 credit0.42 wt
6. 2017-1830-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Kevin Durant0.65 credit0.61 wt
  - Draymond Green0.43 credit0.41 wt
  - Stephen Curry0.40 credit0.38 wt
7. 2021-2230-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Stephen Curry0.60 credit0.56 wt
  - Kevon Looney0.39 credit0.37 wt
  - Jordan Poole0.38 credit0.35 wt
05San Antonio SpursRaw titles: 5Scaled titles: 4.93—
Per-title breakdown
1. 1998-9929-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Tim Duncan0.81 credit0.71 wt
  - David Robinson0.70 credit0.61 wt
  - Sean Elliott0.39 credit0.34 wt
2. 2002-0329-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Tim Duncan0.99 credit0.87 wt
  - David Robinson0.38 credit0.33 wt
  - Manu Ginobili0.32 credit0.28 wt
3. 2004-0530-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Manu Ginobili0.80 credit0.75 wt
  - Tim Duncan0.69 credit0.65 wt
  - Robert Horry0.46 credit0.43 wt
4. 2006-0730-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Tim Duncan0.70 credit0.65 wt
  - Manu Ginobili0.55 credit0.52 wt
  - Tony Parker0.39 credit0.36 wt
5. 2013-1430-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Tim Duncan0.46 credit0.43 wt
  - Kawhi Leonard0.44 credit0.41 wt
  - Tiago Splitter0.35 credit0.33 wt
06Miami HeatRaw titles: 3Scaled titles: 3.00—
Per-title breakdown
1. 2005-0630-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Dwyane Wade0.93 credit0.87 wt
  - James Posey0.37 credit0.34 wt
  - Udonis Haslem0.34 credit0.32 wt
2. 2011-1230-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - LeBron James0.97 credit0.91 wt
  - Dwyane Wade0.52 credit0.48 wt
  - Chris Bosh0.34 credit0.32 wt
3. 2012-1330-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - LeBron James0.92 credit0.86 wt
  - Chris Bosh0.40 credit0.38 wt
  - Dwyane Wade0.36 credit0.34 wt
07Detroit PistonsRaw titles: 3Scaled titles: 2.70▼ 1
Per-title breakdown
1. 1988-8925-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.83
  - Joe Dumars0.48 credit0.31 wt
  - Isiah Thomas0.43 credit0.28 wt
  - Bill Laimbeer0.43 credit0.28 wt
2. 1989-9027-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.90
  - Isiah Thomas0.54 credit0.41 wt
  - Bill Laimbeer0.53 credit0.40 wt
  - Joe Dumars0.44 credit0.33 wt
3. 2003-0429-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.97
  - Chauncey Billups0.66 credit0.57 wt
  - Ben Wallace0.63 credit0.55 wt
  - Richard Hamilton0.58 credit0.51 wt
08Houston RocketsRaw titles: 2Scaled titles: 1.80▼ 1
Per-title breakdown
1. 1993-9427-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.90
  - Hakeem Olajuwon0.90 credit0.68 wt
  - Otis Thorpe0.54 credit0.41 wt
  - Robert Horry0.48 credit0.36 wt
2. 1994-9527-team league · 4-round playoffs× 0.90
  - Hakeem Olajuwon0.71 credit0.54 wt
  - Robert Horry0.54 credit0.41 wt
  - Kenny Smith0.37 credit0.28 wt
09Milwaukee BucksRaw titles: 2Scaled titles: 1.57▼ 2
Per-title breakdown
1. 1970-7117-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.57
  - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar0.83 credit0.45 wt
  - Oscar Robertson0.53 credit0.29 wt
  - Bob Dandridge0.41 credit0.22 wt
2. 2020-2130-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Giannis Antetokounmpo0.74 credit0.69 wt
  - Brook Lopez0.45 credit0.43 wt
  - Khris Middleton0.45 credit0.42 wt
10Philadelphia 76ersRaw titles: 3Scaled titles: 1.40▼ 4
Per-title breakdown
1. 1954-559-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.30
  - Dolph Schayes0.82 credit0.13 wt
  - Red Rocha0.47 credit0.07 wt
  - George King0.36 credit0.06 wt
2. 1966-6710-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.33
  - Wilt Chamberlain1.05 credit0.15 wt
  - Chet Walker0.58 credit0.08 wt
  - Hal Greer0.47 credit0.07 wt
3. 1982-8323-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.77
  - Moses Malone0.84 credit0.56 wt
  - Maurice Cheeks0.49 credit0.33 wt
  - Julius Erving0.43 credit0.28 wt
11New York KnicksRaw titles: 2Scaled titles: 1.03▼ 4
Per-title breakdown
1. 1969-7014-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.47
  - Walt Frazier0.72 credit0.21 wt
  - Willis Reed0.68 credit0.19 wt
  - Dick Barnett0.38 credit0.11 wt
2. 1972-7317-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.57
  - Walt Frazier0.76 credit0.41 wt
  - Earl Monroe0.48 credit0.26 wt
  - Jerry Lucas0.31 credit0.17 wt
12Cleveland CavaliersRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 1.00▼ 4
Per-title breakdown
1. 2015-1630-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - LeBron James0.83 credit0.78 wt
  - Kyrie Irving0.52 credit0.48 wt
  - Tristan Thompson0.40 credit0.38 wt
12Dallas MavericksRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 1.00▼ 4
Per-title breakdown
1. 2010-1130-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Dirk Nowitzki0.72 credit0.67 wt
  - Tyson Chandler0.56 credit0.52 wt
  - Jason Terry0.47 credit0.44 wt
12Denver NuggetsRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 1.00▼ 4
Per-title breakdown
1. 2022-2330-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Nikola Jokić0.90 credit0.85 wt
  - Jamal Murray0.47 credit0.44 wt
  - Aaron Gordon0.39 credit0.37 wt
12Oklahoma City ThunderRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 1.00▼ 4
Per-title breakdown
1. 2024-2530-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander0.70 credit0.66 wt
  - Jalen Williams0.41 credit0.38 wt
  - Isaiah Hartenstein0.35 credit0.32 wt
12Toronto RaptorsRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 1.00▼ 4
Per-title breakdown
1. 2018-1930-team league · 4-round playoffs× 1.00
  - Kawhi Leonard0.85 credit0.80 wt
  - Kyle Lowry0.50 credit0.47 wt
  - Pascal Siakam0.49 credit0.46 wt
13Portland Trail BlazersRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 0.73▼ 5
Per-title breakdown
1. 1976-7722-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.73
  - Bill Walton0.62 credit0.37 wt
  - Maurice Lucas0.61 credit0.37 wt
  - Bob Gross0.57 credit0.34 wt
13Seattle SuperSonicsRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 0.73▼ 5
Per-title breakdown
1. 1978-7922-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.73
  - Gus Williams0.72 credit0.43 wt
  - Dennis Johnson0.58 credit0.35 wt
  - Jack Sikma0.55 credit0.33 wt
13Washington WizardsRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 0.73▼ 5
Per-title breakdown
1. 1977-7822-team league · 3-round playoffs× 0.73
  - Elvin Hayes0.72 credit0.44 wt
  - Wes Unseld0.50 credit0.30 wt
  - Bob Dandridge0.48 credit0.29 wt
14Sacramento KingsRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 0.37▼ 6
Per-title breakdown
1. 1950-5111-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.37
  - Bobby Wanzer0.66 credit0.12 wt
  - Arnie Johnson0.66 credit0.12 wt
  - Arnie Risen0.61 credit0.11 wt
15Atlanta HawksRaw titles: 1Scaled titles: 0.27▼ 7
Per-title breakdown
1. 1957-588-team league · 2-round playoffs× 0.27
  - Cliff Hagan1.19 credit0.15 wt
  - Bob Pettit0.70 credit0.09 wt
  - Ed Macauley0.37 credit0.05 wt

Section II — Individual Player Credit Aggregator

The Career Credit Leaderboard

At HWRI, we aren’t satisfied with the simple. We took this authoritative weighting and decided to apply it to player-seasons as well, to determine which roster players deserve the most credit for championships. The formula:

Each roster player earns a per-ring credit equal to their share of team regular-season Win Shares plus twice their share of team playoff Win Shares. That credit is scaled by the ring’s structural weight: (teams-in-league ÷ 30) × (weighted rounds factor). Each round earns weight equal to its place in the tournament — first round 1, then 2, then 3, Finals 4 — so a modern 4-round championship totals 10. A 1960s two-round champion didn’t skip the Finals, they skipped the easy early rounds; their two rounds count as 3 + 4 = 7. We also added in a percentage penalty for years when the league itself was smaller, equalling (weighted total) × (teams_in_league / playoff_field) / 2. This slightly penalizes, for example, the ’68 season, when fully 2/3rds of the league were in the post-season tournament.

The totals below sum a player’s weighted credit across every ring to which they contributed. The algorithm says many things, but it never lies².

01
Michael Jordan
CHI '91CHI '92CHI '93CHI '96CHI '97CHI '98
6×Ring-weighted credit: 4.27
02
Tim Duncan
SAS '99SAS '03SAS '05SAS '07SAS '14
5×Ring-weighted credit: 3.32
03
LeBron James
MIA '12MIA '13CLE '16LAL '20
4×Ring-weighted credit: 3.28
04
Kobe Bryant
LAL '00LAL '01LAL '02LAL '09LAL '10
5×Ring-weighted credit: 2.98
05
Shaquille O'Neal
LAL '00LAL '01LAL '02MIA '06
4×Ring-weighted credit: 2.62
06
Scottie Pippen
CHI '91CHI '92CHI '93CHI '96CHI '97CHI '98
6×Ring-weighted credit: 2.48
07
Robert Horry
HOU '94HOU '95LAL '00LAL '01LAL '02SAS '05SAS '07
7×Ring-weighted credit: 2.24
08
Stephen Curry
GSW '15GSW '17GSW '18GSW '22
4×Ring-weighted credit: 2.23
09
Magic Johnson
LAL '80LAL '82LAL '85LAL '87LAL '88
5×Ring-weighted credit: 2.14
10
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
MIL '71LAL '80LAL '82LAL '85LAL '87LAL '88
6×Ring-weighted credit: 1.94
11
Manu Ginobili
SAS '03SAS '05SAS '07SAS '14
4×Ring-weighted credit: 1.86
12
Dwyane Wade
MIA '06MIA '12MIA '13
3×Ring-weighted credit: 1.70
13
Draymond Green
GSW '15GSW '17GSW '18GSW '22
4×Ring-weighted credit: 1.50
14
Horace Grant
CHI '91CHI '92CHI '93LAL '01
4×Ring-weighted credit: 1.48
15
Pau Gasol
LAL '09LAL '10
2×Ring-weighted credit: 1.45
16
Larry Bird
BOS '81BOS '84BOS '86
3×Ring-weighted credit: 1.44
17
Bill Russell
BOS '57BOS '59BOS '60BOS '61BOS '62BOS '63BOS '64BOS '65BOS '66BOS '68BOS '69
11×Ring-weighted credit: 1.29
18
Dennis Rodman
DET '89DET '90CHI '96CHI '97CHI '98
5×Ring-weighted credit: 1.23
19
Hakeem Olajuwon
HOU '94HOU '95
2×Ring-weighted credit: 1.22
20
Kawhi Leonard
SAS '14TOR '19
2×Ring-weighted credit: 1.20
21
Derek Fisher
LAL '00LAL '01LAL '02LAL '09LAL '10
5×Ring-weighted credit: 1.19
22
Kevin Durant
GSW '17GSW '18
2×Ring-weighted credit: 1.17
23
John Havlicek
BOS '63BOS '64BOS '65BOS '66BOS '68BOS '69BOS '74BOS '76
8×Ring-weighted credit: 1.14
24
Ron Harper
CHI '96CHI '97CHI '98LAL '00LAL '01
5×Ring-weighted credit: 1.13
25
George Mikan
MNL '49MNL '50MNL '52MNL '53MNL '54
5×Ring-weighted credit: 1.12
26
Klay Thompson
GSW '15GSW '17GSW '18GSW '22
4×Ring-weighted credit: 1.00
27
Tony Parker
SAS '03SAS '05SAS '07SAS '14
4×Ring-weighted credit: 1.00
28
David Robinson
SAS '99SAS '03
2×Ring-weighted credit: 0.94
29
Toni Kukoc
CHI '96CHI '97CHI '98
3×Ring-weighted credit: 0.87
30
James Worthy
LAL '85LAL '87LAL '88
3×Ring-weighted credit: 0.85
31
Nikola Jokić
DEN '23
1×Ring-weighted credit: 0.85
32
Michael Cooper
LAL '80LAL '82LAL '85LAL '87LAL '88
5×Ring-weighted credit: 0.83
33
Jrue Holiday
MIL '21BOS '24
2×Ring-weighted credit: 0.81
34
Kevin McHale
BOS '81BOS '84BOS '86
3×Ring-weighted credit: 0.79
35
Anthony Davis
LAL '20
1×Ring-weighted credit: 0.79
36
Andre Iguodala
GSW '15GSW '17GSW '18GSW '22
4×Ring-weighted credit: 0.79
37
Steve Kerr
CHI '96CHI '97CHI '98SAS '99SAS '03
5×Ring-weighted credit: 0.77
38
Lamar Odom
LAL '09LAL '10
2×Ring-weighted credit: 0.76
39
Jamaal Wilkes
GSW '75LAL '80LAL '82LAL '85
4×Ring-weighted credit: 0.73
40
Dave Cowens
BOS '74BOS '76
2×Ring-weighted credit: 0.73

Notes on the Math

The scaler uses the simplest form of the adjustment: the baseline probability of winning the trophy in an N-team league is 1/N, and the credit per ring scales linearly with league size. A title won in the 1960-61 nine-team league counts as 9/30 = 0.30 modern championships; a title won in 2024-25 counts as exactly 1.

In keeping with the philosophy of “you can only play who’s in front of you” there has been no adjustment to the relative competitiveness of an individual season in this experiment. Weighting of Relative Championship Difficulty is a separate experiment being conducted in our laboratory.

Rings are attributed to the legal franchise lineage, not the city at the time — the 1955 Syracuse Nationals belong to Philadelphia. The SuperSonics and Thunder maintain their own separate championships per official NBA policy. The 1948 Baltimore Bullets are a defunct BAA franchise with no modern lineage and are omitted rather than mis-filed under Washington.

Footnotes

This, of course, is empirically accurate and there is no need for a rigorous, well-defined experiment to prove it. ↩
Including, among other things, that one peak Jokić year is worth two and a half Robert Horrys. ↩