An NBA championship, and an NBA championship ring, are the most sought after prizes by any NBA player. The pinnacle of basketball greatness, many NBA players play their entire basketball careers in the hopes of attaining one.
However, winning the NBA championship, and being awarded an NBA championship ring, is extremely difficult. Few players are able to secure either and many players play their entire careers without ever making it to the NBA Finals.
But for NBA players who are able to secure an NBA championship win and an NBA championship ring, does the NBA extend the same courtesy to the team coaches?
Below, we are going to look at just whether or not NBA coaches get a championship ring and just why, or why not, they are deserving of such a valuable prize.
What is an NBA Championship Ring?
The NBA championship ring is a ring awarded to members of the NBA team who win the yearly NBA Finals. Presented the following season, the rings are meant to commemorate the historic run and season of the winning team.
Currently, both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are tied for the most rings overall by any team, with each team having 17. In addition, former head coach Phil Jackson has the most NBA rings as a coach, with 11, and former player Bill Russell has the most rings for any NBA player, with 11.
Which Jeweler Manufactures the NBA Championship Ring?
Typically, the jeweler whom manufacturers the NBA championship ring has been either L.G. Balfour of Attleboro, Massachusetts or Jostens of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Both L.G. Balfour and Jostens have historically been contracted to create the championship rings of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, including the NFL, MLB, and NHL.
However, in recent years, Tiffany & Co. has been contracted by different leagues to manufacture, design, and create the championship rings of the four major sport leagues.
This is particularly true for the NFL, where Tiffany &. Co. was chosen to manufacture the championship rings for the Buccaneers XXXVII, Giants XLII, saints XLIV, Giants XLVI, and Seahawks XLVII rings.
Who Pays for the NBA Championship Ring?
Contrary to many other professional leagues, most notably the NFL, in the NBA, the owners of the championship team dole out the fee required to manufacture and create the championship rings.
While prices vary, in a typical year, the owner of the championship team can expect to pay between $15,000 to $20,000 per ring. And while the rings are costly to make, the cost is generally offset by the winning proceeds which the owners recoup from winning the championship.
However, and again contrary to popular belief, the individual players do not have to pay for their own championship rings. Rather, the full cost of the rings are the responsibility of the individual team owner.
Who Gets an NBA Championship Ring?
Similarly, when it comes to deciding on who gets a championship ring, the decision is left to the discretion of the individual team owners. As the team owners bear the cost of manufacturing the championship rings, they are also able to limit who is eligible to receive one.
However, contrary to popular belief, it is not just the individual players of the winning team who receive championship rings. Rather, for most winning teams, the entire front office, managers, trainers, and locker room staff will also receive championship rings.
Yes, this also includes the head coaches and assistant coaches of the team. As the head coach and assistant coaches are instrumental in the championship run, they are included in the list of individuals who receive a championship ring.
This is done as a means to support all the personnel who helped the team rise to the challenge of the season and to reward all individual contributors.
Similarly, providing all players, coaches, and staff with championship rings helps to boost team morale and motivation, especially as the new season rolls around.
In addition, some owners may opt to have championship rings manufactured for former players and players who were traded during the regular season.
This is particularly true for players who were instrumental in the success of the team and helped lead them to the NBA Finals.
In addition, some NBA owners may also opt to have championship rings created for player’s wives, girlfriends, and significant others.
While not a requirement, doing so is seen as a gesture of good will and is typically done as an act of appreciation for the time a player spends away from their family during the regular season.
However, due to the cost of the championship rings, some teams will opt to have ring tiers.
The first tier of rings will be more expensive and will be reserved for players and coaching staff. These rings are typically studded with diamonds and are made of precious metals, including platinum and gold.
The second tier will typically be less expensive and will be reserved for the team personnel. The second tier of NBA championship rings will still be valuable but won’t have the costly diamonds and metals embedded throughout.
So, Do NBA Coaches Get an NBA Ring?
Yes, NBA head coaches and assistant coaches will receive an NBA championship ring. As the coach of the team, they are instrumental in the team’s success and journey through both the regular season and the playoffs.
In addition, the head coach is paramount in ensuring proper team chemistry, play calling, and team building. As these factors all play an important role in the success of the team, it is only natural for them to receive an NBA championship ring.
NBA Coaches With the Most Championship Rings
While, for an NBA player, winning the NBA championship and securing an NBA championship ring is the pinnacle of their career, so too is winning one for an NBA head coach.
Below, we’ve listed the top NBA head coaches to win an NBA championship ring.
- Phil Jackson – Phil Jackson is a former basketball player and coach and is the current advisor to the Los Angeles Lakers. Having played the power forward position for 12 seasons in the NBA, Jackson won two NBA championships as a player with the New York Knicks in 1970 and 1973. He was also the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, coaching the great Michael Jordan, from 1989 to 1998 and leading them to six NBA championships. He then coached the Los Angeles Lakers, again coaching the great Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011, leading the team to an additional five championships.
- Arnold Auerbach – Arnold Auerbach was a basketball coach who most notably coached the Boston Celtics. As an NBA coach, he set an NBA record of 938 wins and nine NBA championships. After he retired from the head coaching position, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics. During his time as general manager and team president, he would win an additional seven NBA championships, for a total of 16 throughout his career.
- Pat Riley – Pat Riley is a former NBA player and head coach and the current team president of the Miami Heat. Regarded as one of the best head coaches in the history of the league, he won five NBA championships throughout his tenure. Pat Riley won four NBA championships as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and an additional one with the Miami Heat. In addition, he won an NBA championship as an assistant coach in 1980 and as a player in 1972.