Did These Superstars Ever Win an NBA Championship?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Did These Superstars Ever Win an NBA Championship?
Image: Wiki Commons by inboundpass

About This Quiz

What does it take for an NBA player to go from a star to a superstar? Is it their ability to put the ball in the hoop? Points are one of the most valuable aspects of basketball after all. Maybe it's a balanced player who is capable of doing everything on the court, from rebounding to shot blocking, or perhaps, it's how many All-Star appearances the player has. No matter what it takes to become a superstar in the NBA, there is one thing that separates even the greatest players who ever laced up, and that's an NBA championship. 

NBA superstars reach another level when they win a ring. A title pushes a superstar from being one of the greatest players of his generation to being one of the greatest players of all-time. It's what every player is ultimately working for, after all, because stats and individual awards can only go so far. 

How well do you know the superstars who have played in the NBA? Do you know which of them won a championship during their time in the league? Here's a quiz where you can test your NBA knowledge. If you're up for the challenge, get started and see if you can get a superstar score on this quiz! 

Kobe Bryant
Wiki Commons by Keith Allison
Kobe Bryant was so great he earned the nickname "Black Mamba." Did he ever win an NBA championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kobe Bryant played beside Shaquille O'Neal during the first part of his career. Though the two had success on the court, Bryant wanted to take over as the leader of the team and forced O'Neal out of town.

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Karl Malone
Wiki Commons by United States Forest Service
Karl Malone put the ball in the hoop enough to finish second in all-time scoring. Did he win an NBA title, though?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Karl Malone was never known as a great jump shooter. When he got the ball in the post, however, he was sure to deliver a bucket, earning the nickname, "The Mailman."

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Larry Bird
Wiki Commons
Larry Bird was one of the toughest defenders during his prime. Did it earn him a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Larry Bird won three straight NBA MVP awards from 1984 through 1986. During those years, Bird never averaged fewer than 24 points per game.

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Isiah Thomas - Cavaliers
National Basketball Association
Isiah Thomas had a fierce rivalry with the Bulls. Did he ever make it past them to win a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite being one of the best point guards in the league, Isiah Thomas was left off the 1992 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team. Michael Jordan played a part in keeping Thomas off the team because of their rivalry in the NBA.

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Charles Barkley
Wiki Commons by Ytoyoda
Charles Barkley was the "Round Mound of Rebound," but did he grab enough rebounds to win a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Charles Barkley played for three different teams throughout his NBA career. He played in the All-Star game with all three teams, earning a total of 11 All-Star appearances.

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Elgin Baylor
Wiki Commons
Elgin Baylor was one of the early stars for the Lakers throughout the '60s. Did he win an NBA title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Elgin Baylor joined the front office of the Los Angeles Clippers in 1986. He stayed in that position until 2008 and even won an NBA Executive of the Year award in 2006.

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Shaquille O'Neal
Wiki Commons by Keith Allison
Shaquille O'Neal dunked on people in several different jerseys throughout his NBA career. Did he win a championship with any of those teams?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From 2000 through 2002, Shaquille O'Neal won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers. O'Neal won one more title with the Miami Heat in 2006 before his career began to decline.

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Michael Jordan
YouTube by OfficialHoophall
Michael Jordan is widely recognized as the G.O.A.T. Did the greatest of all time win a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Michael Jordan left the NBA in the middle of his prime to play baseball. Had he not left the league, Jordan could have won eight straight NBA championships.

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Patrick Ewing
Wiki Commons by Mike
Patrick Ewing led a tough New York Knicks defense throughout the '90s. Did he lead them to a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Patrick Ewing was drafted out of Georgetown as the first pick in the 1985 NBA draft. Other notable players from that draft class include Chris Mullen, Charles Oakley, and Karl Malone.

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John Stockton
Wiki commons
John Stockton finished his NBA career as the all-time leader in assists. Did he have enough passes to win a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

John Stockton led the league in assists nine times throughout his NBA career. In the 1989-90 season, Stockton set the single-season record for assists when he averaged 14.5 assists per game.

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LeBron James
WikiCommons by Tim Shelby
Lebron James was surrounded with hype coming into the NBA. Has he won a title yet?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lebron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers out of Akron, Ohio. However, unable to win in his home state, Lebron left the Cavs in 2010 to join the Miami Heat.

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Wilt Chamberlain
Wiki Commons via Fred Palumbo, World Telegram staff photographer
Wilt Chamberlain once scored 100 points in a game. Did he ever score enough to win an NBA championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wilt Chamberlain finished his NBA career as the all-time leader in rebounds. No player in the modern era has come within 5,000 rebounds of tying his record.

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Allen Iverson
NBC
No one could cross you over like Allen Iverson. Was he able to get a title while he played?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Allen Iverson guided the 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals. Overmatched, they lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Magic Johnson
Wiki Commons
Earvin "Magic" Johnson led the Lakers throughout the '80s. Did he lead them to a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Earvin "Magic" Johnson won his first Finals MVP in his rookie season in 1980. He's still the only player to win the Finals MVP as a rookie.

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Bill Russell
Wiki Commons
Bill Russell was the first African-American coach in the league. Did he win a title before becoming a coach?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships throughout his 13-year​ career in the NBA. Russell retired after winning a championship in 1969 when he served as a player-coach.

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Dominique WIlkins
Youtube via NBA on TNT
Dominique Wilkins twice won the Slam Dunk Contest, but did he win an NBA title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dominique Wilkins is one of only five players to win the Slam Dunk Contest twice. He defeated Michael Jordan in 1985 in one of the closest contests in NBA history.

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George Gervin
Wiki Commons by Kevin Fitzgerald
George Gervin averaged more than 26 points per game throughout his NBA career. Was he able to win an NBA championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

George Gervin played for the Spurs when the ABA and NBA merged in 1976. Gervin would continue to play for the Spurs in the NBA until 1985.

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Moses Malone
Youtube via TheCrunchySopa
Moses Malone played for several teams throughout his NBA career. Did he bring a championship to any of them?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Moses Malone led the 76ers past the Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals. Averaging 18 rebounds and more than 25 points per game, Malone was named the Finals MVP.

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Jerry West
Wiki Commons by Rob Poetsch
Jerry West is the figure for the NBA logo, but did he earn it by winning a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jerry West became an NBA executive after leaving the NBA. He's credited with helping build the Golden State roster that won NBA championships in 2015 and 2017.

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Tracy McGrady
Wiki Commons by Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA
Tracy McGrady was one of the greatest offensive players during his prime. Did his offense ever lead him to an NBA title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After leaving the NBA, Tracy McGrady had a very short baseball career where he played in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. McGrady played only a few months as a pitcher for the Sugar Land Skeeters.

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Hakeem Olajuwon
Wiki Commons by University of Houston Digital Library
Hakeem Olajuwon was nicknamed "The Dream." Did he dream his way to an NBA championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hakeem Olajuwon was a Nigerian-born player who spent his entire career, except for one season, with the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon played college basketball for the Houston Cougars.

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Reggie Miller
Wiki Commons by Reggie_Miller_TNT.jpg: Keith Allison from Baltimore, USAderivative work: Lpdrew
Reggie Miller knew how to talk trash, but was he good enough on the court to win a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Reggie Miller was famous for his back and forth banner with Knicks' super fan Spike Lee. Miller played for the Pacers and forged a rivalry with the Knicks throughout the '90s.

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David Robinson
Wiki Commons by LBJ Library
David Robinson was one half of "The Twin Towers" in the late '90s and early '00s. Did he finish his career as an NBA champion?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

David Robinson had one of the most accomplished careers of any NBA player. Not only was he an NBA champion, but he also led the league in points, blocks, and rebounds at different points in his career.

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Steve Nash
Wiki Commons by scott mecum
Steve Nash was a floor general during his time in the NBA. Did he ever command a championship winning team?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Steve Nash spent his last few seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers where he hoped to win a title alongside Kobe Bryant. However, injuries took their toll on Nash, and he barely played during those years.

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Russell Westbrook
Shutterstock
Russell Westbrook is only the second player to ever to average a triple-double in a season. Has he been able to win an NBA championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Russell Westbrook is undoubtedly one of the most explosive players to ever play in the NBA. However, he's often accused by analysts of being too ball-dominant and overly aggressive.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Wiki Commons by By U.S. Department of State from United States
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in the NBA. Did his ability lead him to a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with six NBA MVP awards. That's one more than the next closest player in all time awards.

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Carmelo Anthony - Thunder
National Basketball Association
Often criticized for his defense and selfish offense, has Carmelo Anthony been able to win a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Carmelo Anthony spent the 2017-18 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Statistically, it was the worse season of his career, so the team parted ways with Anthony at the end of the season.

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Oscar Robertson
Wiki Commons by Vernon J. Biever
Oscar Robertson was the first player to ever average a triple-double throughout a season. Did his balanced ability lead him to a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oscar Robertson spent his first 10 NBA seasons with the Cincinnati Royals. However, Robertson never won a title until he joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 1970.

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Tim Duncan
Wiki Commons by Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA
Tim Duncan was the ultimate professional in the NBA. Did he carry himself well enough to win a ring?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Every player for the Spurs knows that Tim Duncan was the leader in the locker room throughout his NBA career, which began in 1997. While other stars had farewell tours during their final year in the league, Tim Duncan quietly retired at the end of the 2015-16 season.

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Vince Carter
Wiki Commons by Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA
Vince Carter could dunk on anyone in his prime. Did he ever dunk his way to a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In his prime, Vince Carter easily averaged more than 20 points per game. Injuries eventually slowed the athlete down, but he continues to play into his early 40s.

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Dirk Nowitzki
Wiki commons
Dirk Nowitzki is one of the greatest foreign players in the history of the NBA. Was he able to come to the United States and win a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dirk Nowitzki set an NBA record in the 2011 NBA Playoffs when he hit 24 straight free throws. The record came in Game 1 of the Western Conference​ Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Kevin Garnett
Wiki commons
Kevin Garnett spent 21 seasons in the NBA. Did he win a title in any of those seasons?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kevin Garnett made nine NBA All-Defensive First Teams throughout his career. In 2008, he was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

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Stephen Curry
WikiCommons
Stephen Curry is the single-season leader in three-pointers. Has he shot enough to win a title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stephen Curry set the NBA single-season record for three pointers in the 2014-15 season. Curry broke his own record the following season.

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Bernard King
YouTube/Andy Hoops
The scoring champion in 1985, Bernard King was an offensive mastermind. Was he able to win a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Much of Bernard King's career was spent injured. However, when he was on the court, King averaged 22.5 points per game.

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Dwyane Wade
WIki Commons by Erik Drost
A legend for the Miami Heat, has Dwyane Wade ever won an NBA title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dwyane Wade was drafted fifth overall in the 2003 NBA draft. Players like Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh were drafted in front of Wade.

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Walt Frazier
Wiki Commons by scott mecum
Walt Frazier was elected to the All-Star Game seven times during his career. Did his success lead to a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Walt Frazier spent most of his NBA career with the New York Knicks. After he left the NBA, the Knicks retired Frazier's No. 10 jersey.

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Chris Webber
Wiki Commons by inboundpass
Chris Webber was the first overall pick in 1993. Did his skills translate into a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chris Webber played college basketball at Michigan where he was part of the Fab Five. He famously called a timeout during the NCAA Championship Game even though the team didn't have any left, costing Michigan the title.

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Julius Erving
Wiki Commons
Nicknamed "Dr. J.," Julius Erving had some ridiculous moves on the court. Was he able to win an NBA title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Julius Erving helped popularize the dunk in the NBA. Before he came along, dunks were usually reserved for big men who were only a few steps away from the basket.

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Dikembe Mutombo
Wiki Commons by Doha Stadium Plus Qatar
No one could get a shot off over Dikembe Mutombo. Did his defense lead to a championship?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dikembe Mutombo finished his career in the NBA as the second all-time in shot blocks. The only player ahead of him is Hakeem Olajuwon.

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Alex English
Wiki Commons by Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Uruguay
Alex English could score with the best of them. Did his offense result in an NBA title?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alex English was named the NBA scoring champion in 1982-83 after averaging 28.4 points per game. English finished his career averaging 21.5 points per game.

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Wiki Commons by inboundpass