How much is an NBA Championship ring worth? Average price and more
Every time an NBA team reaches the pinnacle of winning a championship, it has been a tradition for players, coaches and staff to be rewarded with NBA Championship rings. As the 2024 NBA Finals is about to begin, we explore how much a championship ring costs.
The Dallas Mavericks scored a date to be dance partners with the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals, and most of the players in this series will win their first NBA Championship. When everything is said and done, the winning team will be able to customize their championship rings.
In a report by Dunkfest, these NBA Championship rings can cost $10,000 to $40,000. Some teams spend as much as $100,000 per ring if they choose an expensive design.
The team owner shoulders the cost of the NBA rings and decides on the budget and design.
An NBA Championship ring can be made of 10-karat, 14-karat or even 18-karat gold depending on how many diamonds, rubies and other stones are included in the design. The rings usually come with the team's logo, along with the Larry O'Brien Trophy as part of the design.
There are commercially designed championship rings that can be sold in the mass market, but it is usually a watered-down version made cheaper for fans who want to purchase a piece at a more affordable cost.
Brief history and facts of NBA Championship rings
This tradition of giving out rings for NBA champions started in 1947. The Philadelphia Warriors were the first to initiate this tradition and has been part of league history ever since.
Bill Russell still owns the record for most championship rings earned with 11 — all with the Boston Celtics. His success early in the league meant Sam Jones trails him by just one ring. Tom Heinsohn, K.C. Jones, John Havlicek and Satch Sanders follow up with eight rings.
Phil Jackson is the winningest coach in the NBA with 11 NBA championship rings in league history, and he has delivered a title in 11 of 20 seasons for either the Chicago Bulls or Los Angeles Lakers. Red Auerbach trails Jackson by two championship rings, while three other coaches (John Kundla, Pat Riley and Greg Popovich) are tied for five championship rings each.
LeBron James, along with the Golden State Warriors trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, have the most championship rings in the NBA as active players today.