Winning an NCAA tournament championship is no easy feat. The tournament's elimination format guarantees that only the most exceptional teams advance to the end, and to win, you must either represent one of the powerhouse college basketball programs or defeat them along the way to claim the title.

The likes of Duke, UCLA and Kentucky are some of the most successful programs in NCAA history, and they’ve each been near untouchable at times. Some of those schools have produced superb NBA talents, but even some of those great pro players were unable to win both an NCAA title and an NBA Championship. For example, Kyrie Irving is one of just six Duke players to win an NBA Championship, despite the prestigious university producing one of the highest volumes of NBA players out of any school in the country.

Any player who can win it all in college and in the NBA deserves recognition for such a feat, so it’s no surprise that some of the only players to ever achieve it are some of the most talented basketball players the game has ever seen.

When diving into this prestigious category, it's probably not surprising to see names like Jordan, Russell and Magic appear. In fact, the majority of those who have achieved titles both in college and in the NBA are now members of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

How many players have won NCAA and NBA Championships?

In 2020, there had been 46 athletes who won titles both as NCAA basketball players and as professionals in the NBA.

That list includes the likes of Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Russell and Michael Jordan, who all dominated both in the NCAA and in the NBA as professionals.

Anthony Davis is the most recent superstar to win both an NCAA title and an NBA championship. The Lakers forward won the 2020 NBA championship in the bubble, pairing it with his 2012 NCAA title at Kentucky.

Current Basketball Players who won both NCAA and NBA Championships

Quinn Cook

College Team: Duke
Professional Team: Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Lokomotiv Kuban, Stockton Kings
Current Team: Zhejiang Lions
Awards: Two-time NBA Champion (2018, 2020), NCAA Champion (2015)

Quinn Cook went to Duke University because he wanted to play for Coach K. In his fourth and final year at the university, he managed the best season of his college career and helped the Blue Devils to yet another national title.

The former Duke point guard contributed 15.3 points per game with 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists that season as the Blue Devils advanced to the Final Four for the 16th time in school history.

Cook played alongside Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor, who was named ACC Player of the Year and the National Freshman of the Year that season. The Blue Devils would defeat the Wisconsin Badgers in the final, winning Coach K’s fifth and final NCAA tournament title.

As a pro, Cook spent time with the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, and won NBA championships with both Golden State and the Lakers.

Cook played an average of 22 minutes per game for the Warriors in 2018, including 17 playoff games where he provided 10 minutes per game coming off the bench. During the 2017-18 regular season, he started 18 games and maintained an average of 9.5 PPG. His valuable contributions helped a Warriors franchise led by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson secure its championship ring, marking Cook's first ring as a significant contributor to the team's success.

The former Blue Devils guard won a second ring in 2020 during the bubble postseason in Orlando Fla., as a member of the Lakers team led by LeBron James. Cook played in 50 games as a minor role player, including six appearances during the playoff run.

Danny Green

College Team: North Carolina
Professional Team: Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, LA Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies
Current Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Awards: Three-time NBA Champion (2014, 2019, 2020), NCAA Champion (2009), NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2016-17)

Danny Green played for four seasons at the University of North Carolina and helped the Tar Heels to an NCAA tournament title in his fourth and final year. He had originally declared for the 2008 NBA draft but elected to return for his senior year at North Carolina.

In that fourth year, Green averaged college career highs in minutes (27.4), 3-point percentage (42 percent), points per game (13.1) and assists (2.7). He was named to the All-ACC Third Team and the ACC’s All-Defensive Team, making a key contribution as a 3-point and defensive player for the university as the Tar Heels won their fifth title in school history.

Danny Green carried his 3-and-D play style into the NBA, winning titles with three teams throughout his career. He became a favorable player under Greg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs, playing there between 2010 and 2018, and winning his first ring in the 2014 season. Now in the twilight of his career, Green is a part of the elite list of current NBA champions who had also won an NCAA championship.

He became a popular veteran on challenging teams for his ability to hit 3-pointers at a high percentage and contribute heavily on the defensive end of the floor. His game won him another two rings -- with the Toronto Raptors during their Kawhi Leonard era and with the Lakers in 2020 when Anthony Davis won his first NBA championship.

Anthony Davis

College Team: Kentucky
Professional Team: New Orleans Pelicans, LA Lakers
Current Team: LA Lakers
Awards: NBA Champion (2020), Eight-time NBA All-Star (all seasons from 2013-14 to 2020-21), Four-time All NBA First-Team (2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2019-20), Two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (2017-18, 2019-20), Three-time NBA blocks leader (2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18), NCAA Champion (2012), NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2012)

After an exceptional college basketball season, Anthony Davis declared for the NBA Draft and was subsequently chosen as the first overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2012. As a key player for the Kentucky Wildcats, Davis led his team to victory in the NCAA championship game, earning several accolades along the way. These included Final Four Most Outstanding Player, National College Player of the Year, Consensus First-Team All American, and SEC Player of the Year.

Davis, considered one of the most promising college prospects in a generation, played for the Pelicans for seven seasons. While he has been an NBA All-Star every year since the 2014 season, the Pelicans only made the playoffs twice while Davis was around. He would have to move on to the L.A. Lakers to win his first championship, which he accomplished as a teammate of LeBron James in 2020.

Anthony Davis averaged 27.7 points per game in the Lakers playoff run that year, along with 9.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He was named a member of both the All NBA First-Team and First-Defensive Team for the 2019-20 season.

Davis is one of the best current NBA players that won an NCAA championship prior to starting their pro careers.

Top 10 All-time Basketball Players who won both NCAA and NBA Championships

10. Frank Ramsey

College Team: Kentucky
Professional Team: Boston Celtics
Awards: NBA Champion (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964), NCAA Champion (1951), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

Frank Ramsey was a local boy who grew up in Kentucky, and eventually played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was a multi-sport athlete who excelled in both baseball and basketball, and in his sophomore season he helped the Wildcats win the NCAA championship for the third time in four years.

Ramsey was selected by the Boston Celtics with the fifth pick in the 1953 NBA Draft, and he would spend his entire nine-year career with the franchise. He was part of the Celtics dynasty that dominated the NBA in the 1950s and 1960s, winning seven NBA Championships in the nine years that he played professional basketball. 

9. K.C. Jones

College Team: San Francisco
Professional Team: Boston Celtics
Awards: Eight-time NBA Champion (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966), Two-time NCAA Champion (1955, 1956), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

K.C. Jones played point guard on the same team as Bill Russell for the entirety of his competitive basketball career. The pair came together for the San Francisco Dons to lead them to back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956, which remain the only two titles in the university’s history.

After being drafted by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the same draft in which the Celtics selected Bill Russell, the two were reunited. Jones went on to play point guard for the Celtics for 10 seasons, winning eight NBA Championships.

The former Celtics point guard won throughout his pro career, with championships as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, as well as his two NCAA championships.

8. Bill Walton

College Team: UCLA
Professional Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/LA Clippers, Boston Celtics
Awards: Two-time NBA Champion (1977, 1986), Two-time NCAA Champion (1972, 1973), NBA MVP (1976-77), Two-time NBA All-Star (1976-77, 1977-78), All-NBA First Team (1977-78), NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1985-86), NBA Rebounding Leader (1976-77), Two-time NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1972, 1973), Three-time National College Player of the Year (1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

Bill Walton was one of the most dominant players in college basketball history during his playing career. He played at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden, winning two national championships in 1972 and 1973. Walton was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player in both of those tournaments.

Walton’s college stats averaged over 20 points per game with a massive 15.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists. During his remarkable stint with the Bruins, he earned the title of National College Player of the Year three times and was subsequently chosen as the No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1974 NBA draft.

The big man helped bring a championship to the Blazers organization in 1977 before winning a second as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1986, capping off a season iin which he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award.

7. Jerry Lucas

College Team: Ohio State
Professional Teams: Cincinnati Royals, San Francisco Warriors, New York Knicks
Awards: NBA Champion (1973), NCAA Champion (1960), Seven-time NBA All-Star (1963-64, 1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1970-71), Three-time All-NBA First Team (1964-65, 1965-66, 1967-68), NBA Rookie of the Year (1963-64), Two-time NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1960, 1961), 2-time Consensus National College Player of the Year (1960-61, 1961-62), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

Jerry Lucas dominated for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the early 1960s, leading them to three straight NCAA tournament finals, and winning the national championship in 1960. He is the only player to be named the Big Ten Player of the Year on three occasions, and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player of the tournament twice despite only winning the tournament once.

Lucas is one of the greatest Buckeyes of all time, having been named the National College Player of the Year twice during his playing days at Ohio State between 1958 and 1962. The Ohio native was selected by the Cincinnati Royals with a territorial pick in the 1962 NBA draft but had to wait until late in his NBA career to win an NBA championship.

In the penultimate year of his professional career, Lucas won his lone NBA title with the New York Knicks, the third and final NBA team. The achievement capped off a Hall of Fame career, and earned Jerry Lucas a spot on this exclusive list.

6. James Worthy

College Team: North Carolina
Professional Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Awards: Three-time NBA Champion (1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88), NCAA Champion (1982), Seven-time NBA All-Star (every season from 1995-96 through 1991-92), NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1982), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

James Worthy was a key piece of one of the most talented North Carolina basketball teams in school history. He played alongside Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins on the UNC team that won the NCAA championship in 1982.

Worthy was the leading scorer on that team, and the big power forward was recognized as the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament in the 1982 winning season.

The former Tar Heels forward was selected first overall in the 1982 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would spend the entirety of his NBA career. Worthy went on to win three NBA Championships in four years -- 1985, 1987, and 1988 -- during one of the most dominant eras of Lakers basketball in history. “Big Game James” averaged over 17 points per game throughout his 12-year career in L.A., and he averaged over 20 points per game in the playoffs during all three seasons in which the Lakers won the title.

5. John Havlicek

College Team: Ohio State
Professional Team: Boston Celtics
Awards: Eight-time NBA Champion (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976), NCAA Champion (1960), 13-time NBA All-Star (every season from 1965-66 through 1977-78), Four-time All-NBA First Team (1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73,1973-74), Five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

John Havlicek played alongside Jerry Lucas at Ohio State, where the duo won a national championship in 1960. He was drafted seventh overall in the 1962 draft, the same year Lucas was picked by the Cincinnati Royals. 

Havlicek is one of the NBA’s most successful basketball players of all time, and yet another member of the Boston Celtics dynasty to appear on this list. He is one of just three players to win at least eight NBA championships, as the only others were two of his teammates in Boston, Bill Russell and Sam Jones.

John Havlicek earned NBA All-Star honors 13 times in a row during his career and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times.

4. Magic Johnson

College Team: Michigan State
Professional Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Awards: Five-time NBA Champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), NCAA Champion (1979), Three-time NBA MVP (1986-97, 1988-89, 1989-90), 12-time NBA All-Star (1979-80 and every season from 1981-82 through 1991-92), Nine-time All-NBA First Team (every season from 1982-83 through 1990-91), Four-time NBA Assists Leader (1982-83, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1986-87), Two-time NBA Steals Leader (1980-81, 1981-82), NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1979), Consensus First Team All American (1978-79), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

Michigan-born Magic Johnson decided to play college basketball at Michigan State despite receiving multiple offers from big schools around the country. His decision paid off in 1979 when he led the Spartans to the NCAA tournament championship game, where Michigan State beat an Indiana State team that featured Larry Bird.

Magic Johnson was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament and subsequently entered the NBA Draft, where he was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.

The former college hoops player and star point guard went on to win five NBA Championships with the Lakers. He is one of the best passing point guards in the history of the game, boasting some of the fastest hands in the NBA. Magic was named the MVP of the NBA three times, scoring 17,707 points in his career with 10,141 assists and 6,559 rebounds.

3. Michael Jordan

College Team: North Carolina
Professional Teams: Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
Awards: Six-time NBA Champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998), 6-time NBA Finals MVP (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998), NCAA Champion (1982), Five-time NBA MVP (1987-88, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98), 14-time NBA All-Star (every season from 1984-85 through 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03), 10-time All-NBA First Team (every season from 1986-87 through 1992-93 and from 1995-96 through 1997-98), 9-time All-NBA Defensive First Team (every season from 1987-88 through 1992-93 and from 1995-96 through 1997-98), NBA Rookie of the Year (1984-85), 10-time NBA Scoring Champion (every season from 1986-87 through 1992-93 and from 1995-96 through 1997-98), Three-time NBA Steals Leader (1987-88, 1989-90. 1992-93), National College Player of the Year (1983-84), Two-time Consensus First Team All American (1982-83, 1983-84), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

Michael Jordan hit the game-winning jump shot in the 1982 national-championship game that brought home the title for UNC. He played alongside Sam Perkins and James Worthy on that impressive Tar Heels roster, and went on to be named the National College Player of the Year in 1984.

Of course, Michael Jordan went on to become one of the greatest NBA basketball players of all time, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and boasting a 6-0 record in the NBA Finals. Throughout his career, MJ earned the title of Finals MVP in all six Championship series he played, was selected 14 times as an All-Star, and became a nine-time All-NBA Defensive First Team member. Additionally, he received the title of regular-season MVP five times.

Jordan retired with 32,292 points, 6.672 rebounds, 5,633 assists, and a legacy as one of the greatest -- if not the greatest -- players in NBA history.

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

College Team: UCLA
Professional Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers
Awards: Six-time NBA Champion (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1971, 1985),  Three-time NCAA Champion (1967, 1968, 1969), Six-time NBA MVP (1970-71, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1979-80), 19-time NBA All-Star (every season from 1969-70 through 1976-77 and from 1978-79 through 1988-89), 10-time All-NBA First Team (1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73,1973-74 , 1975-76, 1976-77, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1983-84, 1985-86), 5-time All-NBA Defensive First Team (1973-74, 1974-75, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81), NBA Rookie of the Year (1969-70), Two-time NBA Scoring Champion (1970-71, 1971-72), NBA Rebounding Leader (1975-76), 4-time NBA Blocks Leader (1974-75, 1975-76, 1978-79, 1979-80), Three-time National College Player of the Year (1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69), 3-time NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1967, 1968, 1969), 3-time Consensus First Team All American(1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

Lew Alcindor won everything he could possibly win during his college career at UCLA. He dominated the game in every aspect, earning honors as the three-time National College Player of the Year, three-time Consensus First Team All-American, and three-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player. During each of Alcindor’s three years with the Bruins’ varsity team, UCLA won the national championship.

This dominant player emerged from John Wooden's UCLA program and entered the NBA with three NCAA championships and several individual accolades already achieved.

When he got to the NBA, Lew Alcindor (who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) won six championships. The first came as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971, and he would win another five titles after moving to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975. The six-time MVP stood as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader until the record was broken by Lebron James in 2023 and he remains one of the winningest basketball players in the history of the game.

1. Bill Russell

College Team: San Francisco
Professional Team: Boston Celtics
Awards: 11-time NBA Champion (1957, every year from 1959 through 1966, 1968, 1969), Two-time NCAA Champion (1955, 1956), Five-time NBA MVP (1957-58, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1964-65), 12-Time NBA All-Star (every season from 1957-58 through 1968-69), Three-time All-NBA First Team (1958-59, 1962-63, 1964-65), All-NBA Defensive First Team (1968-69), Four-time NBA Rebounding Leader (1957-58, 1958-59, 1963-64, 1964-65), NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1955), Two-time Consensus First Team All American (1954-55, 1955-56), Basketball Hall of Fame, College Basketball Hall of Fame

Bill Russell landing at No. 1 on this list should come as no surprise, with the late legend being the clear front-runner when it comes to winning basketball championship hardware.

Russell won 11 NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics and was the key ingredient of their long-running dynasty in the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the other great NBA players on this list played alongside Russell during that era, including his teammate K.C. Jones, who was Russell’s teammate throughout both his collegiate and pro career.

The former San Francisco Dons legend helped the school to back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956 before moving on to the NBA to win an immediate championship with the Celtics in 1957. The feat makes him a rare breed of players to win NCAA and NBA Championships in consecutive years.

As it turned out, that first title in Boston was merely the first of 11, and the five-time MVP lands at atop this list because of his unmatched consistency in winning at the very highest level.

Parameters for Ranking

This prestigious list of players who won both NCAA and NBA championships have been ranked based on their contributions at both the collegiate and pro basketball level. Championships in college and as a pro have been combined to create this list, with added appreciation for individual accolades such as MVPs and scoring titles.

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