Universities with most NBA Champions

handful of college basketball blue bloods — including North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky — rank highly on the list of programs with the most NBA Finals champions. Though college and pro success aren't directly correlated, these programs and several others developed enough superstar talent and elite role players to not be denied at the next level.

A few notable college basketball programs, including Duke, Indiana, Michigan State and Louisville, didn't make this list. The Indiana Hoosiers have 8 total players with 10 total NBA Championships.

A handful of college basketball blue bloods — including North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky — rank highly on the list of programs with the most NBA Finals champions. Though college and pro success aren't directly correlated, these programs and several others developed enough superstar talent and elite role players to not be denied at the next level.

ELEVEN college basketball programs have produced at least nine NBA champions who played at least one postseason game during their team's title runs, according to CBS Sports research. Three teams groomed at least 15. Multiple blue blood alums played key roles on the Boston Celtics this season and hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy at the end of the 2023-24 season, shaking up these rankings at multiple levels.

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Here are the college basketball programs with the most Finals champions following the 2023-24 NBA season:

1: KENTUCKY WILDCATS (20)

There are 20 different former Kentucky Wildcats players who have won an NBA Championship, combining for a total of 29 NBA rings.

Notable NBA Champions: Rajon Rondo, SGA, Anthony Davis, Jamal Murray, Tayshaun Prince
Karl-Anthony Towns

Eight of Kentucky's 15 NBA Champions played under legendary head coach Adolph Rupp (1930-72). Despite the waves of talent that washed up in Lexington under former head coach John Calipari, only THREE of his Wildcats players went on to win the NBA Finals: Antony Davis, Jamal Murray and Karl-AnthonyTowns. Kentucky legend Frank Ramsey has the most rings of any Wildcats alumni, winning seven championships with the Celtics during the 1950s and 60s.

#2: UCLA Bruins (18)

Notable NBA Champions: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes, Jrue Holliday

With Jrue Holliday helping the Boston Celtics to an NBA Championship, UCLA broke a tie with North Carolina and pushed itself to the top of this list. Six past Bruins have guided their teams to an NBA title at least twice: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Jamaal Wilkes (four), Kevon Looney (three), Willie Naulls (three), Jordan Farmar (two) and Bill Walton (two). At least one former UCLA player has been on an NBA Finals roster 70 times.

#3:  North Carolina Tar Heels (17)

Notable NBA Champions: Michael Jordan, Rasheed Wallace, James Worthy, Danny Green, Bob McAdoo

North Carolina ranks No. 2 in individual NBA Finals champions (17) and total titles won by alumni (37). James Worthy became the first Tar Heel to win a championship at both the college and professional  level in 1985 and was soon followed by Michael Jordan. Danny Green is one of three players to win an NBA Championship with three different franchises (LeBron James, Robert Horry).

#4: Villanova Wildcats (16)

A total of 16 players from Villanova history have won at least one NBA/BAA championship.The complete list of Villanova Wildcats who have won an NBA title includes:
Mikal Bridges - 2026 (New York Knicks)
Jalen Brunson - 2026 (New York Knicks)
Josh Hart - 2026 (New York Knicks)
Kyle Lowry - 2019 (Toronto Raptors)
Donte DiVincenzo - 2021 (Milwaukee Bucks)
Collin Gillespie - 2023 (Denver Nuggets)Chris Ford - 1981 (Boston Celtics)
John Celestand - 2000 (Los Angeles Lakers)
Wali Jones - 1967 (Philadelphia 76ers)
Bill Melchionni - 1967 (Philadelphia 76ers)
Paul Arizin - 1956 (Philadelphia Warriors)
Larry Hennessy - 1956 (Philadelphia Warriors)
Herman “Red” Klotz - 1948 (Baltimore Bullets)
Joe Graboski - 1956 (Philadelphia Warriors)
George Dempsey - 1956 (Philadelphia Warriors)
Tom Gola - 1956 (Philadelphia Warriors)

#5: Kansas Jayhawks (13)

Notable NBA Champions: Andrew Wiggins, Mario Chalmers, Paul Pierce, Wilt Chamberlain

Kansas alumni combined to win nine NBA championships from 1954 to 1975. A former Jayhawk wouldn't win another until Wayne Simien snapped a 31-year streak in 2006 with the Miami Heat. Andrew Wiggins and Markieff Morris are the only Kansas alums to win rings in the 2020s. Clyde Lovellette, the 1952 National Player of the Year, is the only Jayhawk with three or more NBA Finals rings.

#6: Ohio State Buckeyes (11)

Ohio State hasn't had much NBA success over the last decade but can always count on the legend of Jon Havlicek. The 13-time All-Star won a whopping eight titles as a key member of the Boston Celtics dynasty. His eight rings are tied for the third-most all-time. Havlicek's former Ohio State teammate Jerry Lucas went on to be a seven-time All-Star and win an NBA Finals with the New York Knicks in 1972-73.

#6: T6: Arizona Wildcats: (11)
Notable NBA Champions: Aaron Gordon, Steve Kerr, Andre Iguodala

Steve Kerr is the only NBA player after 1969 to win four straight NBA titles and won five total. He's won four more rings as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. Fellow Wildcat Andre Iguodala was on all four of those title-winning Warriors teams. Arizona jumped into a tie for No. 5 in these rankings after the Denver Nuggets won it all in 2023. The Nuggets rostered two former Wildcats that year: Aaron Gordon and Zeke Nnaji.

#7: Oregon State: (9)

Notable NBA Champions: Gary Payton, Gary Payton II, A.C. Green

Oregon State legend Gary Payton and his son Gary Payton II are one of the few father-son pairs to win an NBA championship. "The Glove" won his first with the Miami Heat in 2006, his 16th season as a pro. His son won his lone title with the Golden State Warriors in 2022. A.C. Green (three) and Mel Counts (two) are the only Beavers to win multiple NBA Finals.

T7. Florida Gators (9)

(Photo: Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Notable NBA Champions: Al Horford, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Corey Brewer

Florida jumped Louisville, Michigan State and Louisville to join a tie for seventh on this list after former Gators great Al Horford helped the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship this season. He's the first Florida alum to win an NBA Finals since David Lee and Marreese Speights won it all with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. Three former Florida players have won multiple NBA titles: Udonis Haslem (three), Vernon Maxwell (two), Matt Bonner (two) and Mike Miller (two).

T7. Minnesota Golden Gophers (9)

(Photo: Minnesota Athletics)
Notable NBA Champions: Kevin McHale, Jim Brewer, Mychal Thompson

You can't write the story of professional basketball without a chapter on Kevin McHale. The Boston Celtics legend is considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time and won three NBA championships during his 13-year career in Boston. He's one of two former Gophers in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Lou Hudson is the other. Whitey Skoog won three NBA championships in just six years as a pro in the 1950s.

T7. Oregon State Beavers (9)

(Photo: Oregon State Men's Baskteball)
Notable NBA Champions: Gary Payton, Gary Payton II, A.C. Green

Oregon State legend Gary Payton and his son Gary Payton II are one of the few father-son pairs to win an NBA championship. "The Glove" won his first with the Miami Heat in 2006, his 16th season as a pro. His son won his lone title with the Golden State Warriors in 2022. A.C. Green (three) and Mel Counts (two) are the only Beavers to win multiple NBA Finals.