For decades, NBA players sold their collective souls to obtain the Larry O'Brien trophy. Receiving that shiny, gold award meant your team was the best! It took 82 regular-season games and 16 playoff victories to obtain that prize. There are 32 teams in the Eastern and Western conferences. Each year, there are over 1500 players, coaches, trainers and team personnel dedicated to win the championship. The teams that win the most are considered the best of the best! Here are three teams who claimed that accolade.

The Boston Celtics have won 15 NBA championships. They are to basketball what the New York Yankees are to baseball! They celebrated their title reigns at legendary Boston Garden. This sport arena was known for its "dead spots" on the court and closed-in set up. Fans stood on top of the players. Opposing teams ventured into introductions at their own risk. The Celtics dominated foes in two different eras. From 1957 to 1971, they won ll NBA titles in a row! Hall of fame center, Bill Russell commanded the basket with his shot-blocking and rebounding. He initated a transition offense with precise outlet passes to all-world, point-guard, Bob Cousy. Cousy broke down defenses with and dished to the forward tandem of Sam and K.C. Jones. After a brief hiatus from the Finals, they returned with a vengenance.

During the 1980s, a sweet-shooting forward from Indiana landed in Boston. He and power-forward extraordinare, Kevin McHale, the relentless center, Robert Parish and defensive specialist, Dennis Johnson accumulated four more NBA titles. These Celtics had a heated feud with the Showtime Lakers under Coach Pat Riley. With longtime cigar-smoking guru, Red Auerbach, Boston proved to both conferences that the path to Larry O'Brien's gold came by going through them! Judging by the numbers, many teams failed miserably.

In 1969, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted West Virginia forward, Jerry West. From that point, they earned nine NBA titles in three, different decades; the 1970s, 1980s and 2000-present. West teamed up with basketball icon, Wilt Chamberlain and all-stars, Gail Goodrich and Happy Hairston in their run to basketball glory. West's career ended with him being one of the league's best clutch shooters of all time. He won games with his deadly, mid-range jumper. His astute mind made him like a coach on the floor. It was no surprise he earned Executive of the Year nominations for putting his Memphis Grizzles franchise in the playoffs

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