Which NBA players have won the most championship rings?

There is nothing more difficult in professional sports than winning a championship. Players and staff pour thousands of hours into games, practices, film room sessions, physical therapy, weight training, travel, and press conferences every season. Even when a talented team gets on the same page, all it takes is a single missed shot or unfortunate injury to send a title hopeful into an unmitigated tailspin.

With all the blood, sweat, and tears that culminate in a ball club lifting the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, it makes sense that fans and analysts often measure individual greatness on a scale that puts rings on a pedestal. Though countless all-timers ended their legendary careers without this crowning achievement, a select few have immortalized themselves as the foundations of dominant dynasties.

NBA All-Time Leaders in League Championships

1. Bill Russell (11)
2. Sam Jones (10)
T-3. Tom Heinsohn (8)
T-3. K.C. Jones (8)
T-3. Satch Sanders (8)
T-3. John Havlicek (8)
T-7. Jim Loscutoff (7)
T-7. Frank Ramsey (7)
T-7. Robert Horry (7)
T-10. Bob Cousy (6)
T-10. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
T-10. Michael Jordan (6)
T-10. Scottie Pippen (6)

One of the first things you'll notice when scrolling through this list of all-time champions is how many Celtics are atop the leaderboard. Those Hall of Famers deserve their flowers for their unprecedented reign over the NBA, but there is needed context that levels the playing field. Boston won most of their titles during an era when the league had less than 10 teams, which undoubtedly helped their cause.

That isn't to say all the rings Bill Russell and company collected are worthless. However, the ascent to the summit has only become more daunting. The talent pool has continued increasing each year, and the league has only doubled down on rules that penalize front offices for forming superteams. Even if you manage to find a franchise cornerstone, stars have more power than ever to demand trades.

Tim Duncan narrowly missed out on the top 10 of the all-time championship leaderboard, but he is no doubt one of the best players in NBA history. His two-way precision and loyalty to the 2-1-0 made the San Antonio Spurs the gold standard of the league. Who knows whether this organization would have five titles without his unbelievable chemistry with Manu GInobili, Tony Parker, and Gregg Popovich?