NBA Players With The Most Finals Appearances: Bill Russell Is The Lord Of The Rings

With the Heat winning last year, it means that James has tied Shaq’s Finals appearances with eight. The Cavs have LeBron’s combined ten years. Jordan and Kobe are on pace to tie each other this season if they both win their current games.

The “most nba finals appearances by team” is a list of the top 10 players in NBA history with the most Finals appearances. The list includes Bill Russell, who has 11 Finals Appearances.

Winning an NBA title is a difficult endeavor. Some athletes spend their whole careers without winning a championship. Making it to the NBA Finals is a challenging task in and of itself. Making the NBA Finals once is more than most people can claim when they leave the league. Only a few players have ever appeared in both the NBA Finals and the NBA Playoffs.

There is a small group of exceptional players that have been in the Finals many times. Eight Finals appearances have been made by 13 players. Only two players have achieved this feat since 2000, demonstrating how tough it is to reach the big time. Micahel Jordan did it just six times, and we use the term extremely loosely. When it comes to who has made the most appearances, Bill Russell is still in a class by himself.

8T. Michael Cooper has been in eight NBA Finals and won five NBA rings.

Cooper spent his entire 12-year career with the Lakers, appearing in over 1,000 games and scoring 9,310 points. Cooper’s No. 21 has been a fan favorite for many years, and some feel it should be retired at the Staples Center. Cooper, who mostly served as a sixth man, won five titles. He was the first defensive player to earn Defensive Player of the Year after coming off the bench in 1987.

Cooper may be remembered for being the victim of Julius Erving’s “Cradle Dunk” in the 1983 Finals, but he still has the last laugh since he has more rings than fingers. In Game 6 of the 1980 Finals, he played his most critical game. Magic Johnson began at center and Cooper scored 16 points as a shooting guard. Another example is when he made the game-winning jumper in the second round of the 1988 playoffs against the Utah Jazz.

Cooper appeared in 46 games in the NBA Finals, averaging 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. Cooper had a lot of fun playing with Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but every team needs a dependable role player.

Derek Fisher has been in eight NBA Finals and won five NBA rings.

Fisher is well-versed on the subject of dependent role actors. Fisher has more NBA Finals appearances than his superstar teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal combined. He has the same number of rings as Bryant since they were teammates during the Lakers’ five titles.

Fisher spent his first eight seasons with the Lakers after being selected with the No. 24 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. Fisher returned to town in 2007 after a short time with the Warriors and Jazz, and helped the franchise achieve three more Finals appearances. Fisher remembers his buzzer-beater with 0.4 seconds left in Game 4 of the 2005 Western Conference playoffs against the Spurs as one of his favorite moments.

Fisher was largely used as a role player in the Finals, appearing in 43 games and averaged 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. His strongest number was his free throw shooting, where he averaged over 81 percent from the line.

8T. Frank Ramsey – 7 NBA Rings and 8 Finals appearances

Ramsey won seven titles in nine seasons with the Boston Celtics, where he played with superstars like as Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Bill Russell, Sam Jones, and many more. Ramsey never had the individual stats in his nine-year career, but he did end with respectable figures, including 8,378 points and 3,410 rebounds.

In 69 games, he averaged 16.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, which was his finest statistical season. Surprisingly, it was the Celtics’ first season in which they did not win a championship. Ramsey had a career average of 13.4 points and 5.5 rebounds.

Ramsey had a reputation for being a good player at the appropriate moment. He was a key part of numerous great playoff campaigns that led to several championships for the Celtics. Ramsey averaged over 17 points each game in the playoffs from 1957 through 1961. In 1958-1959, he had his finest playoff performance, scoring 23.2 points per game, grabbing 6.2 rebounds, and leading the Celtics to a championship. Ramsey averaged 13.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 47 NBA Finals appearances.

Jones, 8T. K.C. – 8 NBA Finals/8 NBA Rings

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Jones, a tough defender, played his entire professional career with the Celtics, earning eight titles between 1959 and 1966. Only Bill Russell and Sam Jones from those famous Celtics teams have won more titles than Jones. Jones won eight consecutive rings when he first entered the league, going a perfect 8-0 in the Finals. Jones retired from basketball after the Celtics fell to the 76ers in the 1967 playoffs.

Jones averaged only 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in the Finals, which is not surprising given his past. Jones was always tasked with guarding the greatest player on the other squad. Although thefts were not a statistic at the time, he would have been a strong candidate for league MVP.

Jones is one of only seven players in basketball history to accomplish the “Triple Crown,” which includes winning the NCAA Championship, NBA Championship, and Olympic Gold Medal. Russell, Clyde Lovellette, Jerry Lucas, Quinn Buckner, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan are the other six.

Tom Sanders has won eight NBA championships and has eight rings.

“Satch” Sanders spent his entire 13-year career with the Celtics, going 8-0 in eight Finals appearances. The Celtics retired his No. 16, and he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. After averaging 16.8 points and 13.0 rebounds as a freshman at New York University, he was a desirable commodity in the NBA Draft in 1960. The Celtics believed they had gotten the steal of the draft when they selected him at No. 8 overall.

Sanders appeared in eight more games for the Celtics, continuing their famous run. The Celtics had won the league’s two previous titles before Sanders joined the squad. With him on board, they would go on to win six more games. Sam Jones, Tom Heinsohn, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Bob Cousy were among the cast members. His job description called for him to play lockdown defense and rebound.

Sanders accepted the task and, in the process, slowed down Willis Reed, Jerry Lucas, and Elgin Baylor. The Celtics may not have won as many games if he hadn’t played such good defense and rebounding. Sanders averaged 10.5 points and 6.4 rebounds in 43 Finals appearances. Blocks were not a statistic that was recorded at the time.

8T. John Havlicek has won eight NBA championships and has eight rings.

Havlicek was a major member of the Celtics’ dynasty, and he was recognized for his clutch play in important games. Havlicek concluded his 16-year career as the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer. He also had over 8,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists in his career. He was selected to 13 consecutive All-Star Games, 11 All-NBA teams, and eight All-Defensive Teams.

Havlicek was the team’s “supersub” when he first arrived. He didn’t mind playing as the team’s sixth player and went on to become a valuable scorer. Havlicek scored 50 points in the 1968 Conference Finals against the 76ers, helping Boston reach the NBA Finals. In the 1976 NBA Finals, he made a stunning game-saving shot against the Suns in the last seconds of the second overtime period to force a third overtime period. The Celtics won the game 128-126 and went on to win the title.

Havlicek’s wear and tear is also outstanding. In 47 games, Havlicek averaged 21.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals in 39.8 minutes per game. He is a Celtics legend.

7. Tom Heinsohn – 8 NBA rings and 9 NBA Finals appearances

When you’re playing alongside people like Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, and Bill Russell, you’re certain to be overshadowed. In 654 regular-season games, Heinsohn averaged 18.6 points per game. He was a dynamic scorer who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.

Heinsohn, a skinny and small striker, defied his naysayers and made the squad when he initially joined the league. He averaged 16.2 points per game and over 30 minutes per game in his debut season. Russell missed the first 24 games of the 1956-1957 season because he was away with the Celtics competing in the Olympics. Heinsohn was named Rookie of the Year in the end.

His first championship victory may have been the pinnacle of his basketball career. Heinsohn scored 37 points in a 125-123 triumph against Bob Pettit and the St. Louis Hawks in Game 7, which included two overtimes. Heinsohn averaged 19.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in 52 Finals appearances.

6. Jerry West (NBA Finals: 9 wins, 1 ring)

Is Jerry West one of the all-time great NBA guards? You get the guy on the logo when you combine his lethal jump shot, fierce defense, unmistakable swagger, and desire to win. New York fans still remember the agony of losing Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals, which included a 60-foot switch by West at the buzzer.

West, on the other hand, was usually on the wrong side of heartbreak most of the time. West only had one ring in nine Finals appearances. The Celtics were responsible for the majority of the defeats. In the 1962 Finals, the team suffered a particularly humiliating defeat. Following Elgin Baylor’s 61-point effort in Game 5, the Lakers lost the next two games to lose the series. In Game 7, a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer by Frank Selvy would have won the game in regulation, but the Celtics came back to win 110-107 in overtime.

West is still the second-best scorer in NBA Finals history, averaging 30.5 points per game. West is second only to Michael Jordan in terms of games played; however, West has played precisely 20 more games. In 55 Finals appearances, West also averaged 5.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists.

5. Magic Johnson (NBA Finals 9 times, 5 rings)

In the 1980s, Magic Johnson was a big star. In the 1950s, he was Bob Cousy, and in the 1960s, he was Oscar Robertson. Johnson, a five-time champion in the decade, is a strong contender for the title of best point guard of all time. Johnson’s name is often used while discussing the Mt. Rushmore of all time in basketball.

Johnson, a rookie at the time, put on a remarkable performance in a series-clinching Game 6 in the 1980s Finals. Johnson filled in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was out with an injured ankle. He scored 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and threw out seven assists. Johnson improved his outside shooting and playmaking ability after winning another championship two years later. Starting in 1985, the Lakers would win three championships in the following four years.

Johnson is the best point guard to ever play in the NBA Finals. Johnson averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 11.7 assists, and 2.0 steals in 40.9 minutes per game throughout his 50-game career. Johnson is the only player in NBA history with a double-digit assist average among Finals qualifiers.

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (ten NBA Finals, six NBA Rings)

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images photo

The Milwaukee Bucks had been without a championship for 50 years until Giannis Antetokounmpo arrived. The inaugural championship was won in 1971, with MVP Kareem Adbul-Jabbar leading the squad to victory. Following a great run in Milwaukee, Kareem moved to Los Angeles, where he helped the Lakers reach the Finals eight times in ten seasons from 1980 to 1989.

Kareem may have found the 1985 series to be the most gratifying. Many people thought he was washed up at the age of 38. In a 109-102 triumph against the Celtics in Game 2, he had 30 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, and three blocked shots. The Lakers eventually overcame the Celtics on the floor of the Boston Garden, putting an end to Laker fans’ fears of losing to the Celtics innumerable times in the past.

Kareem has appeared in the third-most Finals games in NBA history, and his 2.2 blacks per game ranks second among all-time leaders. He averaged 23.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.2 blocks in 56 outings.

3. LeBron James – 10 NBA Championships and 4 NBA Rings

LeBron James is sometimes chastised for his lack of titles, although he is one of just four players to have been in the NBA Finals ten times or more. LeBron began his career by attempting to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, which he achieved once before losing to the Spurs in 2007. After failing to reclaim the Cavs. In Miami, LeBron joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and he reached the Finals four times in a row, winning two championships in 2012 and 2013.

After that, LeBron returned to Cleveland, where he made four more NBA Finals appearances in a row. In 2016, he finally achieved his long-awaited dream of winning a championship in Ohio, but it came at the cost of three losses to the Golden State Warriors. Despite losing the championship, LeBron was named Finals MVP one of those years. In 2017, LeBron James became the first player in the Finals to average a triple-double, averaging 33.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists, but Kevin Durant won the award.

LeBron averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 55 career games. His assist total is third all-time, behind only Bob Cousy and Magic Johnson. It’s worth noting that LeBron isn’t even a point guard, so this is all the more astounding. This year’s Lakers are expected to be a championship contender. He’ll be joining some famous company if he can make his 11th appearance in the Finals.

2. Sam Jones – 11 NBA Championships/10 Rings

Jones was dubbed “Mr. Clutch” by several of his contemporaries during his prime. Jones was a key member of the Celtics’ dynasty throughout the 1950s and 1960s. When Jones was a member of the Celtics, he helped the club win 10 titles in 12 years. Jones scored 17.7 points per game in his career, shot 80.3 percent from the free throw line, and was named to the All-Star team five times.

Jones had a critical moment against Wilt Chamberlain and the Warriors in the 1960 playoffs. With two seconds remaining in regulation, Jones scored a game-winning shot over Chamberlain’s extended arms, and Chamberlain praised Jones as the team’s most clutch player. Then, in Game 7 of the Finals against the Lakers, Jones scored five of the team’s ten overtime points to help Boston win its fourth consecutive title.

Jones ranks second all-time in Finals appearances with 64. Jones averaged 17.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game. Jones may be compared to “Robin,” since the genuine “Batman” of the NBA Finals is in a different league.

1. Bill Russell (NBA Finals 12 times, 11 rings)

Sports Illustrated Vault (Credit: Sports Illustrated)

Russell is supreme in the world of championships. Russell, after all, is the only player who has been in the NBA Finals 12 times and has played in a total of 70 games. From 1959 until 1966, he led the Celtics to eight straight championships. His rebounding record is unbreakable. Russell averaged 16.4 points and 24.5 rebounds per game while winning 11 championships.

The Celtics are the NBA’s equivalent of the New York Yankees. With that stated, Russell is seldom the one to lead the way. Russell established a record of 29.5 rebounds per game in 1959, which he still holds today. There are just a few individuals who have gone toe-to-toe with Wilt Chamberlain and come out on top. Russell is in a class by himself when it comes to dethroning one of the game’s all-time greats.

To put that in context, Russell established an NBA Finals record with 40 rebounds in a game, which was later surpassed by Chamberlain’s 41 rebounds in 1967. Russell, on the other hand, had one of the best Game 7 stat lines in Finals history, with 22 points and 35 rebounds in 1960. Given how sophisticated basketball is now and how difficult it is to win many championships, we may never witness another performance like this. Russell is the best when it comes to winning. 

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The “Bill Russell Rings” is a term used to describe the NBA player who has won the most Finals appearances. Bill Russell has been able to win 11 rings, so he is the Lord of the Rings. Reference: bill russell rings.

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