NBA: Ranking the 30 best players to win NBA Finals with 2 or more teams

NBA Championship. This is the goal of every player who makes it to the league and only a select few win one every season. Even rarer is the group of players that have won titles for multiple franchises. In fact, there are only 43 players to have ever accomplished this feat. On this list, we will rank the top 30 NBA players of all time to be a part of championships with multiple NBA teams.</p> <p>This will not be based on how good they were necessarily in the Finals but that will be used as a tie-breaker in certain situations. This list contains some of the best players of all time.</p> <p>The honorable mentions consist of the 13 men who have done this but not made it to the top 30: Walt Davis, Patrick McCaw, Earl Cureton, Will Perdue, Quinn Cook, Chris Boucher, James Jones, Pep Saul, Wally Walker, Mario Elie, Charles Johnson, Jack Coleman and JaVale McGee.</p> <div id="attachment_400533" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-400533 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1110,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F74214891.jpeg" alt="Lindsey Hunter" width="1600" height="1110" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/74214891.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/74214891-768x533.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Lindsey Hunter (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 30. Lindsey Hunter</h2> <p>Lindsey Hunter saw his best seasons from an individual standpoint long before he would be a part of championship teams. Thought of as a defensive specialist, Hunter was drafted by the Detroit Pistons 10th overall in 1993. While playing for the Pistons, he would make the All-Rookie team and was a double-digit scorer in six of his eight seasons spent in his first stint in Detroit.</p> <p>Hunter was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2000 and then was traded the following season to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would win his first NBA Championship. After winning his first title, Hunter was shipped to Toronto and traded to Detroit for his second run in the Motor City in 2003. After some salary-cap maneuvering that would not be allowed today (traded at the deadline only to be waived and immediately re-signed with the Pistons) the Goin’ to Work Pistons made consecutive Finals appearances, beating Hunter’s former Lakers teammates in 2004.</p> <p>Hunter would go on to play another five seasons following the consecutive Finals appearances. When he finished his run, he was the oldest active NBA player and immediately transitioned into coaching. Notably, he was the interim head coach for the Phoenix Suns in 2013 and is currently the head coach at Mississippi Valley State University.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 29 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_401321" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-401321 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1201,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F06%2F81581882.jpeg" alt="James Posey " width="1600" height="1201" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/06/81581882.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/06/81581882-768x576.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">James Posey (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 29. James Posey</h2> <p>During the early 2000s, James Posey was the quintessential championship-level role player and was ahead of his time as a 3-and-D wing player. While plenty of players today attempt upwards of five or more 3-pointers per game, that was not the case during Posey’s time.</p> <p>Posey was drafted number 18 overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 1999 NBA Draft. The rookie started 77 games for the Nuggets and would make the All-Rookie team. He would play for the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Memphis Grizzlies over six seasons before landing in Miami.</p> <p>Posey was acquired by the Miami Heat in the largest trade in NBA history, involving 13 players and five teams. This allowed the Heat to load up for their championship run, also adding Antoine Walker and Jason Williams, among others. The post-season is where Posey shined, shooting 42.2 percent on 3.8 3-point attempts. He also made many key defensive plays to help earn Dwyane Wade his first NBA championship in 2006. Posey was tasked with guarding four positions and elite talent all-around, from Rasheed Wallace to Vince Carter.</p> <p>After another season in South Beach, Posey would make his way to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/boston-celtics/">Boston on one of the most veteran-laden teams in recent memory. Much like his role in Miami, Posey was a tenacious team defensive player and added much-needed spacing for the Celtics, shooting 38.0 percent on 3.8 3-point attempts per game.</p> <p>Following adding his second championship in 2008, Posey would play three more seasons before transitioning into coaching, notably as an assistant coach for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that upset the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 28 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424053" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424053 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1405,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F56882205.jpeg" alt="Steve Kerr " width="1600" height="1405" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/56882205.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/56882205-768x674.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Steve Kerr (Photo credit should read ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 28. Steve Kerr</h2> <p>Speaking of being ahead of their time, Steve Kerr is the type of role player that plenty of championship quality teams look for today. Kerr was one of the greatest shooters of all-time, as evidenced by his 45.4 three-point percentage, the highest in NBA history. He bounced around the league a little before coming to the Chicago Bulls in 1993. While his first two seasons in Chicago came with Michael Jordan playing baseball, Kerr would become a teammate of the greatest player of his generation before long.</p> <p>Kerr was an essential piece of the 72-10 Chicago Bulls team that won the championship in 1996, Kerr’s first. That would remain the best record in league history until the Golden State Warriors, coached by Steve Kerr, broke the record in the 2016-2017 season. Kerr would remain with the Bulls through the 1998 season, winning two more titles.</p> <p>After five seasons in Chicago, Steve Kerr moved on to a new dynastic team in the making in the San Antonio Spurs. While his role would diminish as he got older, Kerr was still a valued locker room presence during his time there. Kerr was a part of the first title in franchise history and was just the second non-Celtic to win four straight NBA championships and the second player to ever win a title with different teams in consecutive seasons.</p> <p>In his final season in the league (2002-2003) Kerr won his fifth and final championship, again with the San Antonio Spurs. At the time of his retirement, Steve Kerr held the record for single-season 3-point percentage (52.4) and career 3-point percentage (45.4).</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 27 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424054" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424054 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2104,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1483157.jpeg" alt="John Salley " width="3200" height="2104" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1483157.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1483157-768x505.jpeg 768w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1483157-850x560.jpeg 850w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">John Salley (Photo by: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 27. John Salley</h2> <p>The man known as the Spider, John Salley was one of the more quirky role players of his time. He had the kind of personality that if he came along today, he would have been a TikTok sensation. Salley has the honor of being the first player on this list with championships for three different franchises, proving that his quirks endeared him to enough teammates over the years that he was welcomed and cherished in a variety of locker rooms.</p> <p>Salley was drafted by the Detroit Pistons out of Georgia Tech and was immediately a key shot blocker off the bench for the notorious “Bad Boy Pistons.” Unlike many of his teammates, when the run of three consecutive NBA Finals came to an end, Salley made the more classy move. Several Pistons walked off the court before the game was over, failing to congratulate the rival Chicago Bulls. Salley stayed back and offered his respect after multiple hard-fought series.</p> <p>After winning two titles in the Motor City, Salley was traded to the Miami Heat. He would then spend three seasons on South Beach before being selected in the expansion draft by the Toronto Raptors. He would not finish the season with his new team and found his way to the Chicago Bulls in time for the playoffs, rejoining Bad Boys teammates James Edwards III and Dennis Rodman (more on them later). Salley would only play 5.3 minutes per game in the postseason but was part of the final roster for the aforementioned 72-10 Chicago Bulls.</p> <p>Salley would retire for a few months before going overseas to play in Greece. This was not a long stay and ultimately John Salley retired again after a month. Even this would not last as Salley would come back to the NBA two years later to join the Los Angeles Lakers. Salley would play even less for the Lakers than he had for the Bulls but that would not stop him from proudly stating that he had won “four championship rings, with three different teams, in three different decades and two different millennium”.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 26 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_413615" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-413615 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F102294431.jpeg" alt="Boston Celtics logo" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/102294431.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/102294431-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 26. Gerald Henderson</h2> <p>After being draft in the third round of the NBA draft (yes, that was a thing at the time), a championship career probably felt unlikely for Gerald Henderson. Lucky for him he was selected by the Boston Celtics and was able to thrive alongside such famous teammates as Robert Parish, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird.</p> <p>Henderson was no slouch in his own right, averaging 11.6 points per game in his final season in Boston, coincidentally the same season he won his second title, this time as a major contributing factor. Henderson famously stole the ball from James Worthy in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, tying the game and leading to a Boston Celtics overtime win against the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers.</p> <p>After winning his second title in Boston Henderson was traded to the Seattle Supersonics for the first round pick which would eventually be Len Bias. Henderson would bounce from Seattle to the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks from 1984 to 1990 before ending up in Detroit. Henderson would help seal a win for the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of the NBA Finals in 1990, helping to earn his third championship ring.</p> <p>Henderson would play two more seasons before calling it a career. Years later his son, Gerald Henderson, Jr., would follow in his footsteps and be drafted in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft. His son had a solid career at Duke and was a serviceable pro but would never be able to boast about having two key moments leading to franchises winning titles.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 25 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331668" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331668 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2246,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1060646348.jpeg" alt="NBA game ball" width="3200" height="2246" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1060646348.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1060646348-768x539.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 25. Slater Martin</h2> <p>Jumping into the way back machine, Slater Martin was a part of the league before most of your parents were even following the NBA. Martin played in the NBA from 1949 to 1960 for the Minneapolis Lakers, New York Knicks and St. Louis Hawks. In addition to the championships, which we will get to, Martin would make seven All-Star teams and five All-NBA Second Teams.</p> <p>It started with the Lakers, where Martin was a defensive standout next to George Mikan, one of the first true NBA legends. Martin was a decent scorer in his own right, scoring 13.6 and 13.2 points per game in his last two seasons in Minneapolis.</p> <p>After only playing 13 games for the New York Knicks, Slater Martin found his way to the St. Louis Hawks. He was also the head coach of the Hawks for the 1957 season and won his final championship in 1958 alongside fellow future Hall of Famer Bob Pettit.</p> <p>Following his playing career, Martin would return to coaching in the ABA for the Houston Mavericks. He would coach for the 1967-1968 season and part of the following season. He would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982, becoming the first player from the University of Texas to earn that honor.</p> <p>Few of the history books focus on the impact of the players from the time that Slater Martin played, often concentrating on the top guy on the title team and not much else. Make no mistake, Martin earned his spot on this list by being a defensive staple and a coach on the floor.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 24 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424055" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424055 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_879,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F121662943.jpeg" alt="Mitch Kuchak" width="1600" height="879" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/121662943.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/121662943-768x422.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Mitch Kuchak (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 24. Mitch Kupchak</h2> <p>Known more today for his career as an NBA executive, Mitch Kuchak won the first of his many titles as a player in the 1970s and 1980s. Kupchak was drafted in the first round by the then-Washington Bullets and was named to the All-Rookie team with averages of 10.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in just 18.5 minutes per game.</p> <p>Kupchak would average double figures in scoring in four of his first five seasons and was a part of the only championship in Washington Bullets/Wizards history. Kupchak showed enough flashes to make Magic Johnson urge the brass of the Los Angeles Lakers to bring in the former North Carolina Tarheel as the last piece to get them over the hump of championship contention.</p> <p>Kupchak suffered a knee injury early in his first season with the Lakers and did not play the rest of that year or any of the next. Upon returning from the injury, Kupchak transitioned into a bench role. Kupchak would play three seasons with the Lakers after the knee injury and would be a part of the 1985 championship team. A year later, it was all over. Kupchak was part of an altercation that also involved Hakeem Olajuwon, seeing the future executive ejected from his final game.</p> <p>Kupchak was working to learn the front office dating back to his rookie contract and upon his retirement, he immediately transitioned into being the assistant general manager of the Lakers. He would remain with the organization (eventually being promoted to general manager) until 2017. Kupchak’s career may have been cut short due to injury, but his impact on championship teams cannot be denied. He would go on to be an executive for seven more NBA championships with the Lakers.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 23 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424056" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424056 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1279429262.jpeg" alt="Danny Green" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1279429262.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1279429262-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Danny Green (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 23. Danny Green</h2> <p>Danny Green is the first player on this list that is still able to add to his resume so he could ultimately shoot up the rankings. For the time being, finding himself here would have been a pipedream when he was cut from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010. He was given an opportunity by the San Antonio Spurs and has turned into one of the better postseason shooters in NBA history.</p> <p>Even his opportunity with the Spurs did not stick at first as Green was waived and spent some time in the D-League and Slovenia before rejoining the Spurs after the 2011 NBA lockout. Green started 38 games in that shortened season and shot a blistering 43.6 percent from long range. Green would rise to be a clutch performer in his two Finals appearances against the Miami Heat.</p> <p>Green would play eight seasons total for the Spurs and would make an All-Defensive team in 2017. He also shot 39.6 percent on 4.7 3-point attempts per game during his time there. Green was traded along with Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. As a key piece on another championship run, Danny Green started to see a decline but was still a clutch shot maker and defender for the Raptors and helped bring home the franchise’s first NBA title.</p> <p>Then, a year later, he would win another, this time with the Los Angeles Lakers. This would make Green one of four men to win titles with three different teams. Green was traded by the Lakers following the championship run and is currently a starter for the Philadelphia 76ers. As the Sixers roll toward the best record in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star break, Green has a chance to add another title to his already impressive collection.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 22 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_390125" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-390125 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2161,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F117068181.jpeg" alt="Boston Celtics logo" width="1600" height="2161" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/117068181.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/117068181-768x1037.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 22. Arnie Risen</h2> <p>From a present-day contributor, we hop back into the time machine, going all the way back to the 1950s. Arnie Risen’s career started in the National Basketball League and BAA and was part of the transition into the NBA. Before the renaming of the league, Risen would be named second-team All-NBL and second-team All-BAA.</p> <p>As a rookie for the Rochester Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) Risen led the league in field goal percentage (42.3 percent) and averaged 16.6 points per game. Two years later he would average 19.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in the postseason for the Royals on the way to his first NBA championship.</p> <p>Risen would be named an All-Star four times, from 1952 to 1955. Risen was a double-digit scorer in each of his first eight seasons, including his first year with the Boston Celtics. His role severely diminished in his second season in Boston but he won his second NBA title, a worthwhile trade indeed. Risen is a name that most of our parents and grandparents may not even remember but as one of the stars that helped bridge the gap between the days of the NBL and the NBA. He was the type of dynamic scorer (at least for his time) that only got better as the stakes were raised.</p> <p>It is hard to say if his game would translate to the present day. It was a totally different world back then. Risen may have benefitted from the time that he played in more than any other player on this list but his resume is what it is.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 21 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_386056" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-386056 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F963163126.jpeg" alt="J.R. Smith" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/963163126.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/963163126-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">J.R. Smith (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 21. J.R. Smith</h2> <p>Even if he has turned into something of a meme (and with good reason) J.R. Smith was a much better player than he will ever get credit for. He was drafted right out of high school, treated like a prodigy long before he ever made the leap to the league. He was named Rookie of the Month multiple times and even participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. Unfortunately, he quickly wore out his welcome with coach Byron Scott and after a promising rookie campaign found himself traded after his sophomore season.</p> <p>He was traded twice that offseason and ultimately ended up on the Denver Nuggets. In his second season in Denver, he would have the most efficient season of his career (57.8 effective field goal percentage). He would also finish as a runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in 2009. Three years later though, he would win that same award for the New York Knicks.</p> <p>Two and a half years later, Smith found himself traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and endeared himself to LeBron James. He was a key role player on the first Cavaliers team to win an NBA championship. Sure he would eventually forget the score in an NBA Finals game. In New York, he would get in trouble for untying opponent’s shoes. He even notoriously threw soup.</p> <p>That did not prevent him from landing on the shortlist of bench players added to the back end of the roster for the bubble for the Los Angeles Lakers. Reuniting with his former Cavaliers teammate one last time. Smith may have not seen the court much but he still locked down his second championship and did what he does best: celebrated.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 20 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_400518" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-400518 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2144,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F2074178.jpeg" alt="James Edwards" width="3200" height="2144" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/2074178.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/2074178-768x515.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">James Edwards (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 20. James Edwards</h2> <p>The second member of the Bad Boys Pistons to make the list, James Edwards was significantly better than the way that he is remembered. Edwards did not get the individual accolades that some of his peers were lavished with and would play for a number of teams over the course of his career but one thing remained a constant: James Edwards could score in the low post.</p> <p>Edwards was drafted in the third round of the 1977 draft and found himself thrust into the starting lineup early after an injury knocked out Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the first game of the season. After acquitting himself well as a starter and in need of a change to the roster, Edwards was shipped out in December of his first season to the Indiana Pacers. In Indiana, Edwards was a force averaging 15.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He spent nearly four seasons with the Pacers before moving on.</p> <p>In his next step, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Edwards was actually slightly better. The big man averaged 16.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game over the two partial seasons he played there. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, they were owned by Ted Stepien and he would salary dump Edwards to the Phoenix Suns.</p> <p>Edwards spent the next four seasons in Phoenix and in the fifth, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons, becoming an integral member of the Bad Boys champions. Edwards came off the bench for the first title team and started all 20 playoff games for the second. Buddha, as his teammates called him, was born to be a Piston even if his run with the team only lasted three full seasons after the trade.</p> <p>Following his departure from the Pistons, Edwards would steadily see his minutes slip over stints with the LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers before signing up with the Chicago Bulls for his 19th and final season. Though his role was limited, the team went 72-10 and Buddha got his third ring to end his career.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 19 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424057" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424057 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F526897.jpeg" alt="Horace Grant" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/526897.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/526897-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Horace Grant (Photo Credit: Jeff Gross/Allsport)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 19. Horace Grant</h2> <p>From one former champion Chicago Bull to another, Horace Grant was at his best when he was playing alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Grant averaged double-figure scoring 10 times over the course of his career and double-figure rebounds twice.</p> <p>Grant was drafted by the Chicago Bulls three seasons after Michael Jordan and in the same draft as Scottie Pippen. Grant quickly became the third star of the Chicago Bulls and rewarded them for their investment in him. Over his Bulls tenure, Grant would make two All-Defensive teams, his lone All-Star appearance and was a part of the first three title teams.</p> <p>Grant would leave the Bulls shortly before Michael Jordan’s return to the league and would join the Orlando Magic. While the Magic never quite made it all the way, they were one of the most popular teams of the era and gave Grant a chance to compete at the highest level against his former team. He was an integral part of the Magic making the Finals in 1995 before they were ultimately swept by the Houston Rockets.</p> <p>Following a trade to the Seattle Supersonics that resulted in one year up north before being traded again to the Los Angeles Lakers. This was a double reunion for Grant. He got to play for Phil Jackson again and share the frontcourt with Shaquille O’Neal. Grant started 77 games for the Lakers in the 2000-2001 season and helped earn his fourth championship ring. Grant had another ill-fated stop in Orlando that lasted only a little over a year and ended his career with one last NBA Finals appearance in a return to the Lakers.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 18 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424058" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424058 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1083,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1396496.jpeg" alt="Robert Horry" width="1600" height="1083" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1396496.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1396496-768x520.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Robert Horry (Photo Credit: Harry How /Allsport)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 18. Robert Horry</h2> <p>Robert Horry is possibly the poster boy for championship role players who have won everywhere. He is often used as the other side of the either-or when comparing historically great players: would you rather be Charles Barkley and never win or Robert Horry and never be the star?</p> <p>As great as the “Round Mound of Rebound” was, this is a disservice to Big Shot Rob. Horry may have never made an All-Star game but he played like a star during the Finals. He set a Finals record with the Houston Rockets for most steals in a single game (seven) and also hit numerous clutch shots en route to the only two championships in Rockets history.</p> <p>In his four seasons with the Rockets Horry averaged 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.2 blocks and shot 35.6 percent on 2.7 3-point attempts per game. Speaking of Barkley, Horry was part of the trade package sent to the Phoenix Suns to bring Barkley to Houston. Horry had a notably rocky relationship with coach Danny Ainge which led to him being quickly shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers. Horry was a key reserve for all three of the titles won by the Shaq and Kobe Lakers.</p> <p>After winning titles with the Rockets and the Lakers, Horry would move on to the San Antonio Spurs. His late-game heroics were not a thing of the past, even as his role diminished. He would go on a scorching run of 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime against the Detroit Pistons in 2005, helping to lock down his first of two championships with the Spurs. Winning his seventh championship gave him the most any player not part of the 1960s Celtics. While he will not go down as a star, Horry was certainly a star role player and was the definition of clutch.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 17 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424059" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424059 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1071,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F497514.jpeg" alt="Paul Silas" width="1600" height="1071" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/497514.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/497514-768x514.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Paul Silas (Photo Credit: Craig Jones /Allsport)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 17. Paul Silas</h2> <p>Remembered more today for his time as a coach, Paul Silas was a great player in his own right and did plenty of winning as a player before transitioning to the bench full time. A great rebounder in college at Creighton (20.6 per game) Silas transitioned well to the NBA and started his career with the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks.</p> <p>Silas had his best individual season with the Phoenix Suns (his second stop) where, in his final season with the team, he averaged 17.5 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists and made his first All-Star appearance. A stellar defensive presence, Silas moved on to the Boston Celtics and began to win for real.</p> <p>He was part of two championship teams in Boston, made another All-Star team and continued to rack up the defensive accolades. Silas made two First Team All-Defense and three Second Team All-Defense over his career. As his star years waned, he moved on to the Denver Nuggets for a single season before making his final stop in Seattle. Silas played a significantly smaller role in Seattle than he had in previous stops but he was good enough to help push the team to its third championship before ending his career.</p> <p>Paul Silas immediately transitioned to coaching after retirement, becoming the head coach of the San Diego Clippers. He would go on to be an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets and a head coach for the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 16 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_390118" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-390118 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1156,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F81031556.jpeg" alt="Sam Cassell" width="1600" height="1156" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/81031556.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/81031556-768x555.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Sam Cassell #28 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 16. Sam Cassell</h2> <p>Another player that has transitioned to coaching, Sam Cassell may have one of the most meme-able celebrations of all time. For anyone who does not know what I am referring to, pause reading this, Google it and then come back to enjoy this section with a better understanding of just what a personality that Sam Cassell was.</p> <p>Cassell was a bench player for the Houston Rockets’ teams that won back-to-back championships in the mid-1990s. His numbers improved in the postseason and he averaged 9.4 points and 11.0 points per game in the two title seasons while shooting 37.8 percent and 40.0 percent from distance respectively.</p> <p>Cassell was traded to the Phoenix Suns in the previously mentioned Charles Barkley trade where he played part of the final season of his rookie contract before entering free agency. He was traded again to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the deal that landed the Suns with their next star, Jason Kidd. This was not the last trade for Cassell this year, as after only 16 games, he was shipped to the New Jersey Nets. In his first full season with the Nets Cassell averaged 19.6 points and 8.0 rebounds but was injured early the next season before being traded again, this time to the Milwaukee Bucks.</p> <p>Cassell would spend four seasons in Milwaukee (including an appearance in the Conference Finals) and was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves just prior to the 2003-2004 season. The Timberwolves made their only Conference Finals appearance in team history and Sam Cassell made his lone All-Star appearance. He was also named to the second-team All-NBA. He would play two seasons in Minnesota and then was traded to the LA Clippers where he played two and a half seasons before being waived. He would go on to join the Boston Celtics for the stretch run of their much-celebrated 2008 championship run.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 15 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424060" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424060 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1739,w_1535/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1191302401.jpeg" alt="Ron Harper" width="1535" height="1739" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1191302401.jpeg 1535w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1191302401-768x870.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1535px) 100vw, 1535px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1535px;">Ron Harper (Photo by JOHN ZICH/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 15. Ron Harper</h2> <p>Ron Harper was a victim of the depth at the guard positions in the league when he played. If he played in another era he would have easily made a few All-Star games, boosting his resume. The five championships will have to do that for him.</p> <p>Harper played for Miami of Ohio and was drafted eighth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1986. As a rookie for the Cavs, Harper was explosive, averaging 22.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He was an easy All-Rookie First Team selection and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. In his second and third seasons, the team improved, making the playoffs but being eliminated by the Chicago Bulls in the first round both times.</p> <p>Shortly after the start of his fourth season in the league, Harper was traded to the LA Clippers where he would spend the next four and a half seasons. In his first season with the Clippers he again looked like a star, averaging 23.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.1 blocks before his season was truncated by injury.</p> <p>After his run with the Clippers, Harper signed with his old rival in Chicago. His role with the Bulls was different than anything he had ever done. Instead of being a go-to scorer, he became a key defender and helped run the offense. He would go on to play five seasons in Chicago, including all three championship seasons from 1996 through 1998. After being released by the Bulls (who were pivoting into a rebuild) Harper rejoined coach Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers and earned a few more titles to pad his resume.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 14 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424061" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424061 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F145700559.jpeg" alt="Rajon Rondo" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/145700559.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/145700559-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Rajon Rondo (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 14. Rajon Rondo</h2> <p>As he has gotten older and more grizzled, the reputation of Rajon Rondo has turned more into the difference between the regular season and Playoff Rondo. It ignores just how special Rondo was in his early days with the Boston Celtics when he was at the peak of his athleticism.</p> <p>Rondo was one of the few young players kept on the roster when the Celtics swung trades for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to form the first modern example of the “Big Three.” Alongside Kendrick Perkins, Rondo started beside the previously mentioned two stars and Paul Pierce, a future Hall of Famer.</p> <p>As a complimentary player on the Big Three Celtics, Rondo thrived, averaging 10.6 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals while playing lockdown defense. He did not have to score a ton on that team and that suited him perfectly. After the title-winning season, Rondo would start to earn some recognition of his own, making four All-Star appearances, four NBA All-Defensive teams, one All-NBA team and led the league in steals once and assists twice.</p> <p>From there, Rondo would turn into a journeyman, owed in large part to his notably prickly personality. He would make stops with the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans with none lasting more than a season. He would lead the league in assists one more time during his year in Sacramento.</p> <p>He most recently made his way to the Los Angeles Lakers, joining forces with former rival LeBron James. Rondo trudged through the regular season and showed signs of not being much of a contributor until the playoffs started. Rondo would average 8.9 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals off the bench for the Lakers and earned his second title.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 13 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424062" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424062 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1534,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F72182857.jpeg" alt="Jamaal Wilkes" width="1600" height="1534" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/72182857.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/72182857-768x736.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Jamaal Wilkes (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/ Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 13. Jamaal Wilkes</h2> <p>Jamaal Wilkes spent his entire basketball career in the state of California and was better for it. Growing up in Berkeley, California, Wilkes played high school in Santa Barbara, college at UCLA and was drafted 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors.</p> <p>Wilkes was named Rookie of the Year and posted an impressive stat line of 14.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals for a Warriors team that would win the NBA Championship. The following season, Wilkes made his first (of three) All-Star appearances. Wilkes played a total of three seasons with the Warriors and made two All-Defensive teams during his tenure.</p> <p>Joining the Showtime Lakers came next and so came the accolades. During his time with the Lakers Wilkes would be named to two more All-Star games and would win three more championships. At his peak, his numbers were strong: 22.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals. He was a 20 point per game scorer (20.0 and 20.3 specifically) for the Lakers in the two Finals appearances he was healthy for.</p> <p>The forgotten moment for Wilkes comes in a game that is famous, but for the performance, his teammate put on. In the deciding game of the 1980 NBA Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was unable to play. Magic Johnson made his legend that day as a rookie guard starting at center. Johnson posted a line of 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block. Wilkes was not too far behind with 37 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Wilkes was made for the biggest stage.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 12 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424064" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424064 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F915960382.jpeg" alt="Bob Dandridge" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/915960382.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/915960382-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Bob Dandridge (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 12. Bob Dandridge</h2> <p>Going back in time yet again, Bob Dandridge was a two-way forward who was one of the best to play in the 1970s. He was a scoring machine and paired with some of the greatest players of all time in two smaller markets to win the rings that got him on this list.</p> <p>Dandridge was drafted in the fourth round of the 1969 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and joined forces with Lew Alcindor. Dandridge would make three All-Star appearances, two NBA Finals appearances and would win one championship over his nine seasons in Milwaukee. He averaged 18.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals over that same time period.</p> <p>Dandridge would move on to the Washington Bullets and would continue more of the same. He made another All-Star game in Washington to go along with two more trips to the Finals, an All-NBA team, an All-Defensive team and brought home another title.</p> <p>In all, Dandridge would appear in four NBA Finals during the 1970s and walk away as the leading scorer on that Finals stage for the decade. In each situation, he shared the floor with two Hall of Fame forwards (Alcindor and Oscar Robertson in Milwaukee and Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes in Washington) but presented a level of consistency that set him apart. Specifically with the Bullets, over two postseason runs, Dandridge averaged 22.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 11 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424065" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424065 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F490466058.jpeg" alt="Dennis Johnson" width="3200" height="2160" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/490466058.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/490466058-768x518.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Dennis Johnson (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 11. Dennis Johnson</h2> <p>From a player who paired well with multiple Hall of Famers to a Hall of Famer who partnered well with everyone, Dennis Johnson was one of the best defensive guards of his era and missed only 48 games during his 14-year NBA career.</p> <p>Johnson got his start with the Seattle Supersonics and was the leader of the only championship-winning team in franchise history. During the 1979 playoffs, Johnson averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks and was named the NBA Finals MVP. During his Seattle tenure, Johnson would make two All-Star games, an All-NBA team and an All-NBA Defensive team.</p> <p>He would then move on to the Phoenix Suns where he would make two more All-Star appearances, another All-NBA team and three All-Defensive teams before moving on to the Boston Celtics. Johnson made five more All-Defensive teams and a Final All-Star appearance. Adding two more rings to an already astounding resume and would cement his reputation as one of the most successful players of his era while being consistently dominant in the clutch on both sides of the ball.</p> <p>After his playing days were over, Johnson would move on to coaching, first as an assistant for the Boston Celtics. He would also be an assistant for the LA Clippers before serving as the interim head coach to end the season. He then moved on to the early stages of the NBA Developmental League to coach the Florida Flames and Austin Toros prior to his untimely passing.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 10 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_403318" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-403318 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2044,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F101600117.jpeg" alt="Boston Celtics logo" width="3200" height="2044" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/101600117.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/101600117-768x491.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 10. Clyde Lovellette</h2> <p>One of the greatest stars of the 1950s is the place we start the top 10 of all time. Clyde Lovellette was one of the best scorers of his time. He played 11 seasons in the NBA and averaged at least 20 points per game six different times. He was also a double-digit rebounder six times.</p> <p>Lovellette was the first player in NBA history to win titles for the two most legendary franchises in the league: the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Lovellette started his career in Minneapolis where he played five seasons. While there, he would be named to two All-Star teams, one All-NBA team and would win his first championship.</p> <p>After stops with the Cincinnati Royals (one season) and St. Louis Hawks (four seasons), in which he made two more All-Star appearances, Lovellette would move on to the Boston Celtics to finish out his career. By this time, Lovellette was just a rotation player but he was still an integral part of championships in his final two career seasons.</p> <p>The biggest reason Lovellette ranks so highly on this list is because of how ahead of his time he was. Typically players of his size (6’9” and 234 lbs.) were stuck down low. Clyde Lovellette adapted his shooting mechanics to pull him out of the paint, allowing him to play any of the front court positions. This type of versatility is commonplace now but that was not the case 65 years ago.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 9 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_400513" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-400513 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1097,w_1514/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F52027879.jpeg" alt="Dennis Rodman" width="1514" height="1097" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/52027879.jpeg 1514w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/52027879-768x556.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1514px) 100vw, 1514px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1514px;">Dennis Rodman (Photo credit MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 9. Dennis Rodman</h2> <p>If this were a list of the most unique personalities of all time, Dennis Rodman would rank even higher. His play on the court speaks for itself. Known as the “Worm,” Rodman was a transcendent rebounder.</p> <p>Let’s start with the accolades. Dennis Rodman was a two-time All-Star (both with the Detroit Pistons), two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-NBA third teamer, eight-time All-Defensive teamer and led the league in rebounding seven years in a row. Rodman also led the league in field goal percentage once at 59.5 percent. Whether it be with the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs or Chicago Bulls Rodman was transformational.</p> <p>Rodman was a key reserve for the Bad Boy Pistons, coming off the bench to average 9.4 and 9.7 rebounds respectively in two title seasons. After that second title however, Rodman never averaged single-digit rebounds again.</p> <p>Rodman was the weird type of star who was a non-factor from a scoring perspective. Rodman only averaged more than 10 points per game once in his career, topping out at 11.6 points per game. With the Chicago Bulls, where he won his three later championships, Rodman only averaged 5.2 points per game but added 17.1 rebounds per game.</p> <p>If Rodman had ever gotten his off-the-court activities under control, his career may have been a little more stable. But it is impossible to imagine him being anything more spectacular than he was. For a player measuring at just 6’7” and weighing 210 lbs. to be the best rebounder of all time is truly amazing.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 8 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_214563" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-214563 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2430,w_3600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F08%2F501930544-portland-trail-blazers-v-new-york-knicks.jpg" alt="Bill Walton" width="3600" height="2430" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/08/501930544-portland-trail-blazers-v-new-york-knicks.jpg 3600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/08/501930544-portland-trail-blazers-v-new-york-knicks-768x518.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3600px) 100vw, 3600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3600px;">Bill Walton #32 (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 8. Bill Walton</h2> <p>Some may take exception with how high Bill Walton is on this list. His career was limited by injury and was never quite able to exhibit sustained greatness relative to his overall potential. Or maybe they just think of him as the old hippie who calls college games and tells long-winded stories. However, when he was able to be on the court, Walton was one of the best to ever touch a basketball.</p> <p>Walton was the number one overall pick in the 1974 draft after a transcendent college career where he was a three-time consensus All-American, three-time National college player of the year, two-time NCAA champion and Final Four Most Outstanding Player. He immediately made an impact with the Portland Trail Blazers.</p> <p>As a rookie, Walton averaged 12.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.7 blocks per game. His first two seasons were marred by the foot issues that would eventually cut his career short but when he was on the court he was unstoppable. His apex came in his third season when he led the Blazers all the way to the championship. Walton led the league in rebounds (14.4 per game) and blocks (3.2 per game). He made the All-Star game that year and was named Finals MVP. The next season he would be named the MVP of the league.</p> <p>Walton was robbed of three of the next four seasons due to foot injuries, two of which came during his tenure with the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers. This was a terrible time for Walton, and his relationship with the much-maligned owner Donald Sterling was toxic, to say the least.</p> <p>Walton would join the Boston Celtics and was the Sixth Man of the Year for the 1986 NBA champions. Walton would have been one of the best players of all time had his feet not failed him but his spot on this list is secure.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 7 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_211859" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-211859 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1530,w_2136/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F08%2F450526156-2014-nba-finals-game-four.jpg" alt="Ray Allen" width="2136" height="1530" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/08/450526156-2014-nba-finals-game-four.jpg 2136w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/08/450526156-2014-nba-finals-game-four-768x550.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 2136px) 100vw, 2136px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2136px;">Ray Allen (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 7. Ray Allen</h2> <p>Ray Allen may not have many friends among his championship teammates on the Boston Celtics but he was one of the biggest stars of his era before transitioning into more of a supportive role that saw him hit one of the most memorable shots in NBA history.</p> <p>Before getting shipped to the Celtics in 2007, Allen was a dynamic scorer on Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle Supersonics teams that were good in the regular season and then ultimately could not get far enough in the playoffs. Before joining Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in Boston, Allen made seven All-Star appearances, two All-NBA teams and won a 3-point contest to boot. From 1999 (his first All-Star season in Milwaukee) until 2007 (his last season in Seattle) Allen never averaged less than 21.8 points per game.</p> <p>Moving to Boston saw his role diminish to running off screens and hitting big shots but that was perfect for Allen. With the Celtics, he was a 40.9 percent 3-point shooter on 5.4 attempts per game. He was the third option on a loaded team that went to two NBA Finals and won one title in 2008.</p> <p>Allen ended up being the personality that did not fit within the locker room and chose to spend the final seasons of his career with the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/miami-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miami Heat</a> and ultimately ended up being the only member of the first “big three” of the 2010s to win multiple championships. Ray Allen hit the shot that pushed Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs to overtime before ultimately winning it all in-game 7.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 6 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424066" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424066 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1045767034.jpeg" alt="Robert Parish" width="3200" height="2160" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1045767034.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1045767034-768x518.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Robert Parish defending the shot attempt (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 6. Robert Parish</h2> <p>Known as “The Chief,” Robert Parish was one-third of the dominant Boston Celtics trio that won three NBA Championships in the 1980s. He was a blossoming player who was traded to Boston as he was starting to take off with the Golden State Warriors. Parish was coming off consecutive seasons averaging a double-double (17.2 points and 12.1 rebounds in 1979 and 17.0 points and 10.9 rebounds in 1980) and was ready to explode into being an All-Star.</p> <p>Parish was selected to nine All-Star games and two All-NBA teams as a member of the Boston Celtics and was absolutely dominant. He posted a stat line of 16.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game over 14 seasons with the Celtics. At age 41, Parish was not quite ready to call it a career and moved into a reserve role, first with the Charlotte Hornets for two seasons.</p> <p>At age 43, he signed with the Chicago Bulls to play his final season. Parish only appeared in 43 regular-season games for the Bulls and only played 9.4 minutes per game. He also only appeared in two playoff games, but that was enough to make him the third-oldest player to ever play in an NBA game and the oldest to win an NBA championship. Even if Parish is almost exclusively remembered for playing alongside Kevin McHale and Larry Bird that does not take away from the special nature of that accomplishment. It is the type of achievement that is unlikely to ever be duplicated unless someone else, later on this list, has something to say about it.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 5 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424067" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424067 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1155813264.jpeg" alt="Kawhi Leonard" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1155813264.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1155813264-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Kawhi Leonard (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 5. Kawhi Leonard</h2> <p>The modern-day mercenary, Kawhi Leonard is quickly climbing up this list as he continues to dominate the NBA at the highest levels. Leonard was a revelation as a young player thriving on an aging dynasty with the San Antonio Spurs before going out on his own.</p> <p>Leonard was not thought of a sure thing coming out of San Diego State when the Spurs traded up to select him in the 2011 NBA Draft. He thrived immediately on the defensive end of the court, leading the league in steals in 2014-2015 and winning two Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was also named Finals MVP in 2014, preceding his regular-season accomplishments. During that playoff run, Leonard averaged 14.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game while often locking down the best player on the opposing team.</p> <p>Leonard made two All-Star appearances and two All-NBA teams in San Antonio before an injury and a misdiagnosis led to an ugly divorce with the Spurs. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors in one of the most ambitious gambles in recent NBA memory in 2018.</p> <p>For the Raptors, that one year was worth whatever the price. The memories of that championship run are priceless. During the regular season, Leonard put up a line of 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He was an All-Star, an All-NBA performer and a Finals MVP.</p> <p>Leonard hit one of the most ridiculous shots in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals to eliminate the Philadelphia 76ers in game 7 and then rolled through the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors. Kyle Lowry may go down as the greatest Toronto Raptor of all time but Leonard was the story of this run. Now with the LA Clippers, he’s carving out his own path with Paul George, his legacy may just be getting started.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 4 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424068" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424068 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1086,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F51602397.jpeg" alt="Shaquille O’Neal" width="1600" height="1086" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/51602397.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/51602397-768x521.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Shaquille O’Neal (Photo credit should read MIKE NELSON/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 4. Shaquille O’Neal</h2> <p>Force of nature does not begin to describe the impact that Shaquille O’Neal made during his time in the NBA. If O’Neal had committed to the game the way the two players ahead on this list had, he may have been better than anyone to ever play. Instead, he enjoyed himself more than anyone and still was able to capture four championships.</p> <p>That is not to take away from what O’Neal was on the court. He is one of the few who can say he beat a prime Michael Jordan in a playoff series (no matter how much people try to pretend that Jordan did not play in the 1995 Playoffs). O’Neal was Rookie of the Year but that was not the only accolade he earned in his first season. Shaq was an All-Star in his first season with an average line of 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds (career-high), 3.5 blocks (career-high) and 1.9 assists per game. Two years later, he led the league in scoring at 29.3 points per game.</p> <p>The accolades are mind-blowing. O’Neal was a 15-time All-Star (for four different teams) and made 14 All-NBA teams (eight First Teams, two Second Teams and four Third Teams) and three All-Defensive teams. He led the league in scoring twice and field goal percentage 10 times. With the Los Angeles Lakers, O’Neal won three titles, an MVP and three Finals MVPs. After his relationship with Kobe Bryant soured, O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat and, along with Dwyane Wade, made them an immediate title threat.</p> <p>O’Neal won his fourth and final title in Miami in 2006. If he had stayed committed the same way as he had in his first two seasons in South Beach he could have collected a few more. Instead, O’Neal enjoyed life, become a sheriff, danced with the Jabbawockeez and made memories alongside Steve Nash, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett. As much as he grates on people from behind a TNT desk now, Shaquille O’Neal was easily one of the best players of all time.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_398888" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-398888 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2143,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F85467102.jpeg" alt="Wilt Chamberlain" width="3200" height="2143" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/85467102.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/85467102-768x514.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Wilt Chamberlain Photo by: Ron Kuntz Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 3. Wilt Chamberlain</h2> <p>If Wilt Chamberlain did today, in a world of social media, what he did during his time he would be bigger than anything the sports world has ever seen. Chamberlain was a statistical marvel. It is far more than the 100 point game that just celebrated its 59th anniversary this week. While Bill Russell may have won more titles, the honors that Chamberlain owned stand tall as well.</p> <p>Wilt Chamberlain led the league in scoring seven times, rebounding 11 times, assists once, minutes nine times and field goal percentage nine times. He once averaged 50.2 points per game for a season. Over a nine-year span, he never averaged less than 30.1 points per game. His worst rebounding season was averaging 18.2 per game.</p> <p>Chamberlain made 13 All-Star games, 10 All-NBA teams, two All-Defensive teams and grabbed four MVPs. He won a title with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972. He even played for the Harlem Globetrotters before coming to the NBA and somehow put up more ridiculous numbers in games that were not staged for your entertainment.</p> <p>The two biggest knocks on Chamberlain were that he was not the most team-oriented player and that he struggled to beat Bill Russell. Considering just how much Russell’s Celtics won, it is hard to criticize anyone for falling in their wake. Of course, it would be better if Chamberlain was less of a stat hunter and played more in the flow of the team. But if the present-day fans are going to celebrate Russell Westbrook for averaging a triple-double for a team that barely finished in sixth place in their conference, imagine the impact that Chamberlain would have.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424069" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424069 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2178,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1301565316.jpeg" alt="Kareem Abdul-Jabbar" width="3200" height="2178" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301565316.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301565316-768x523.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Photo by Bud Symes/Allsport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</h2> <p>Calling someone the greatest of all time has become commonplace in the current discussion of sports. In basketball, there are ardent supporters of LeBron James being the heir apparent to the title. Others will tell you Michael Jordan holds the crown and will never let it go. One man was the GOAT before the GOATs. That was, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.</p> <p>Abdul-Jabbar is the king of longevity. He played for 20 seasons and was named an All-Star in 19 of them. He won his first title in 1971 in just his second year in the league with the Milwaukee Bucks. During that season he posted a line of 31.7 points, 16.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists. The following season he won his second consecutive MVP award and he averaged 34.8 points, 16.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists. After six seasons in Milwaukee, Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade and was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers.</p> <p>With the Lakers, he would win five more championships and three more MVPs. Over fourteen seasons with the Lakers he averaged 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 blocks per game. Over the course of his career he led the league in scoring twice, rebounding once, blocks four times, made 15 All-NBA teams, 11 All-Defense teams and won two Finals MVPs. He was a part of one of the greatest teams in the history of the league with the Showtime Lakers.</p> <p>Abdul-Jabbar may have retired back in 1989, but he is still the all-time leader in points scored, field goals made, and wins. He is third in rebounds and blocked shots. Before the continued ascension of the top player on this list, he would have been a lock. But the next man is coming for all his thrones.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 1 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_424071" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-424071 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1929,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F170992553-1.jpeg" alt="Lebron James" width="3200" height="1929" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/170992553-1.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/170992553-1-768x463.jpeg 768w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/170992553-1-268x162.jpeg 268w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Lebron James (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA players to win NBA Finals with two or more teams: 1. LeBron James</h2> <p>Given the fact (yes, fact) that LeBron James is the greatest player of all-time overall, it only makes sense for him to be number one on this list. James is on pace to break all of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s records and is still performing at the level of the best in the league later than those he is compared to.</p> <p>For example, James is in his 18th season and is averaging 25.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. Abdul-Jabbar was comparable, averaging 23.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Michael Jordan did not even make it to 17 seasons. He retired for the second time before he even got to the age that James is playing at now, 36.</p> <p>Outside of his rookie season, LeBron James has been named an All-Star in every season. He has won one scoring title and one assist title. With the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, he made eight straight NBA Finals. James is the only player in NBA history to win championships with three different franchises as Finals MVP. He has not stopped yet and he already holds the record for all-time playoff points and is creeping up the points (currently third) and assists (currently eight) all-time lists.</p> <p>The simple point that James is already considered for the top spot while not yet showing signs of slowing down is telling. The Lakers are still the favorite to win the NBA championship this season and James seems likely to play a number of seasons alike Abdul-Jabbar. This race may not be close for much longer. All hail the King.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="30 best seasons from players 35-years-old an older" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/23/nba-best-seasons-michael-jordan/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/03/06/nba-ranking-the-30-best-players-to-win-nba-finals-with-2-or-more-teams/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/23/nba-best-seasons-michael-jordan/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 30 best seasons from players 35-years-old an older </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">