How NBA championship rings have evolved in the last 25 years (PHOTOS)
In the sporting world, there isn’t just one ring that rules them all.
It’s been a long-standing tradition in the world of North American sports for the winning organization to issue rings to the players and coaches of its championship team.
It began with hockey back in 1893 and is now commonplace for not just the NHL, but also the MLB, NFL and NBA.
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In the tradition’s humble beginnings, the rings handed out were not much more than the size of a wedding band with a simple design specific to each sport, but over the years that has changed.
Boy, has it ever.
Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets 1994 champ rings vs. Kyle Lowry and the Raptors 2019 champ rings…
Apparently size does matter. #WeTheNorth #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/cKICCS4EA8
— Graham Cox (@vanislandgee) October 25, 2019
In all four leagues, rings have gotten larger, fancier, and flashier with each ring seeming to one-up its predecessor in an attempt to make more of a statement. With more money in professional sports, there is more spending on things like rings to the point where these things are now worth the same as a down payment on a house.
The Toronto Raptors, who just received their rings for the franchise’s first-ever championship last season, continued this trend with a ring that has set records for size and number of diamonds.
With the Raptors’ historical ring unveiled, let’s take a look back at how it got here with an evolution of NBA championship rings over the past 25 years.
1994 & 1995 – Houston Rockets
Real Handmade 18K Gold plated Houston Rockets 1995 NBA Finals National Basketball World Championship Ring with sparkling clear cubic zirconias and red blue enamel. https://t.co/RRMK822sFw #championshiprings #NBA pic.twitter.com/9ZZZl82sgj
— thechampionrings.com (@susanjessica9) November 9, 2018
1996 – Chicago Bulls
Like and Share if you love the Chicago Bulls!!
Tag a friend who would like a replica 1996 NBA Champions … pic.twitter.com/OLVekXckKO— The Big Game Rings (@biggamerings) October 20, 2019
1997 – Chicago Bulls
LAKONE Champions ring, 1997 Bulls Chicago Championship ring, sports fans ring, men ring
https://t.co/3rC1L0FUtp
(from AliExpress Android) pic.twitter.com/CjXDWLkgzw— jiangyili (@jiangyili1) July 10, 2017
1998 – Chicago Bulls
1998 NBA Championship Ring Chicago Bulls – https://t.co/qXXgs95Npl … https://t.co/P1BTxrlkgO pic.twitter.com/K0uXXmR1zL
— The Big Game Rings (@biggamerings) October 23, 2019
1999 – San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs 1999 NBA Finals National Basketball World Championship Ring
More Infoš https://t.co/N0JFVboDM9
Coupon Code: 5OFF#SanAntonioSpurs #ChampionshipRing pic.twitter.com/TSHJ8Rj5Qh— thechampionrings (@thechampionring) June 22, 2019
2000 –Ā Los Angeles Lakers
I'm a lakers championship ring collector. This is a real ring given to the players in 2000. What y'all think? #rings pic.twitter.com/quTe2k43sm
— NBA all day (@Kobeforlife2481) January 22, 2014
2001 – Los Angeles Lakers
Custom 2001 Los Angeles Lakers NBA Basketball World Championship Ring Manufacturers & Suppliers China – Wholesale Factory – DAIHE https://t.co/cLGXM1wF16 pic.twitter.com/jt2mL3nWZS
— David Chow (@David_Chow1983) December 12, 2017
2002 – Los Angeles Lakers
We can all imagine what it would be like to play alongside Kobe & Shaq but few had the opportunity. However, on 2/24 one bidder will win the spoils of that partnership and take home this 2002 #Lakers Championship ring, previously owned by PF Samaki Walkerhttps://t.co/XImGX6wvL6 pic.twitter.com/ix3vOiWY1u
— Heritage Auctions Sports (@Heritage_Sport) February 7, 2018
2003 – San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs 2003 NBA Finals National Basketball World Championship Ring
More Infoš https://t.co/toGbVXOIOL#SanAntonioSpurs #ChampionshipRing pic.twitter.com/IbJC3YoWxq— thechampionrings (@thechampionring) May 29, 2019
2004 – Detroit Pistons
Like and Share if you love the Detroit Pistons!!
Tag a friend who would like a replica 2004 NBA Champio … pic.twitter.com/hxhxKNqlVI— The Big Game Rings (@biggamerings) October 24, 2019
2005 – San Antonio Spurs
2005 NBA Championship Ring San Antonio Spurs – https://t.co/MI39Vxenyl … https://t.co/HaIaK2HvL5 pic.twitter.com/ubr2k6KKjF
— The Big Game Rings (@biggamerings) October 21, 2019
2006 – Miami Heat
#heat #heats #heatnation #heatgame #NBA #basketball 2006 Miami Heat National Basketball World Championship Ring:https://t.co/aIfdgYQFko pic.twitter.com/6GCSmF3t2d
— HonorlDotCom (@honorldotcom) October 24, 2016
2007 – San Antonio Spurs
Like and Share if you love the San Antonio Spurs!!
Tag a friend who would like a replica 2007 NBA Champ … pic.twitter.com/svMC7cGc80— The Big Game Rings (@biggamerings) October 25, 2019
2008 – Boston Celtics
2008 Boston The Celtics basketball championship ring Fans Gift Size 11#basketball #Ring
——> https://t.co/PqKIWhpDiO pic.twitter.com/RnmxfCtLHY— GooShope Store (@MohcineEl10) October 17, 2017
2009 – Los Angeles Lakers
2009 Lakers Championship Ring. Designed by the one and only @JasonofBH. pic.twitter.com/Pqk0tbXjON
— Christine (@christinelu) April 11, 2014
2010 – Los Angeles Lakers
Lakers 2010 Championship Ring #LakerNation #lakers #Champions #kobe #shaq pic.twitter.com/Kr3RrV5GEp
— OfficialFantasyRingsšš (@TheFantasyRings) June 12, 2018
2011 – Dallas Mavericks
Cool to hold a Dallas Mavericks NBA Championship ring. pic.twitter.com/M9DJ4yy3
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) September 26, 2012
2012 – Miami Heat
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Everything you need to know about the 2012 Miami HEAT Championship Ring. 1/2
2013 – Miami Heat
2012-2013 NBA CHAMPIONS @MiamiHEAT ring pic.twitter.com/zSESMTEbal
— Mike AKA NOT Pitbull (@iRepTeamHEAT) October 29, 2013
2014 – San Antonio Spurs
Take a look at the Spurs' 2014 NBA Championship ring: http://t.co/j8hrUKhJeL @spurs pic.twitter.com/Sbu6c1Snby
— San Antonio Current (@SAcurrent) October 29, 2014
2015 – Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors 2015 NBA Championship Ring is too dope! š„š pic.twitter.com/Hu43DaCTjU
— NBA SKITS (@NBA_Skits) October 28, 2015
2016 – Cleveland Cavaliers
Really big rings. š #WonForAll pic.twitter.com/QWlcbU07wC
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 25, 2016
2017 – Golden State Warriors
ICYMI: A look at how the Warriors & Jason of Beverly Hills put together the 2017 NBA championship ring https://t.co/otthcIU3WL pic.twitter.com/CmAqgtppZJ
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 19, 2017
2018 – Golden State Warriors
Check out the ring @warriors players received for their work in the 2017-2018 season! #Warriors #NBA https://t.co/pzzH2h8gcs pic.twitter.com/oMp3Sq0fhO
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) October 17, 2018
2019 – Toronto Raptors
A historic ring for a historic accomplishment. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/IZdkXQTj4B
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 22, 2019
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