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Who would be the most decorated players if the NBA gave medals instead of rings?

It’s all about the rings, as we’re reminded over and over again online every day. But what if the NBA operated like FIBA with National Team tournaments and gave medals to the squads in the Top 3 instead of just championship rings to the players on the winning team? Who would have the most medals in NBA history if that were the case?

To explore this scenario, we awarded gold medals to each player on a championship team, silver to those losing in the Finals, and bronze to members of the franchise with the best regular-season record eliminated in the Conference Finals.

With this system, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would be the all-time leader with 14 medals, followed by a host of Celtic and Laker legends, including LeBron James.

Check the full ranking below:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 14 medals

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Gold: Six (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Silver: Four (1974, 1983, 1984, 1989)
Bronze: Four (1970, 1972, 1977, 1986)

Bill Russell: 13 medals

Bill Russell, Boston Celtics
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Gold: 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
Silver: One (1958)
Bronze: One (1967)

Sam Jones: 12 medals

Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Gold: 10 (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
Silver: One (1958)
Bronze: One (1967)

John Havlicek: 11 medals

Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Gold: Eight (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)
Bronze: Three (1967, 1973, 1975)

LeBron James: 11 medals

LeBron James Anthony Davis Top Three Playoff Duo NBA History Statistics
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Gold: Four (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
Silver: Six (2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018)
Bronze: One (2009)

Tom 'Satch' Sanders: 10 medals

Tom Sanders
Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images

Gold: Eight (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
Bronze: Two (1967, 1973)

Magic Johnson: 10 medals

Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Gold: Five (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Silver: Four (1983, 1984, 1989, 1991)
Bronze: One (1986)

Derek Fisher: 10 medals

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Gold: Five (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
Silver: Three (2004, 2008, 2012)
Bronze: Two (1998, 2014)

Slater Martin: 10 medals

Wilt Chamberlain: 10 medals

Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images
Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images

Gold: Two (1967, 1972)
Silver: Four (1964, 1969, 1970, 1973)
Bronze: Four (1961, 1965, 1966, 1968)

Tommy Heinsohn: Nine medals

Gazette-USA TODAY NETWORK
Gazette-USA TODAY NETWORK

Gold: Eight (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965)
Silver: One (1958)

KC Jones: Nine medals

KC Jones
Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Gold: Eight (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966)
Silver:
Bronze: One (1967)

Michael Cooper: Nine medals

Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers
Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Gold: Five (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Silver: Three (1983, 1984, 1989)
Bronze: One (1986)

Don Nelson: Nine medals

Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Gold: Five (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)
Silver: One (1965)
Bronze: Three (1967, 1973, 1975)

Danny Ainge: Nine medals

Getty Images
Getty Images

Gold: Two (1984, 1986)
Silver: Four (1985, 1987, 1992, 1993)
Bronze: Three (1982, 1988, 1991)

Jerry West: Nine medals

Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Gold: One (1972)
Silver: Eight (1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970)

Frank Ramsey: Eight medals

NBA Photo Library/ NBAE via Getty Images
NBA Photo Library/ NBAE via Getty Images

Gold: Seven (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
Silver: One (1958)

Jim Loscutoff: Eight medals

Jim Loscutoff
NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images

Gold: Seven (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
Silver: One (1958)

Robert Horry: Eight medals

Robert Horry, Lakers champion
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Gold: Seven (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007)
Bronze: One (1998)

Bob Cousy: Eight medals

NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images
NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images

Gold: Six (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963)
Silver: One (1958)
Bronze: One (1953)

Kobe Bryant: Eight medals

David McNew/Getty Images
David McNew/Getty Images

Gold: Five (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
Silver: Two (2004, 2008)
Bronze: One (1998)

Dennis Rodman: Eight medals

Dennis Rodman, San Antonio Spurs
USA TODAY Sports

Gold: Five (1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Silver: One (1988)
Bronze: Two (1987, 1995)

Tim Duncan: Eight medals

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Gold: Five (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
Silver: One (2013)
Bronze: Two (2001, 2012)

Steve Kerr: Eight medals

Steve Kerr, San Antonio Spurs
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Gold: Five (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003)
Bronze: Three (1989, 1992, 2001)

Kurt Rambis: Eight medals

Kurt Rambis, Los Angeles Lakers
Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Gold: Four (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Silver: Two (1983, 1984)
Bronze: Two (1986, 1990)

Robert Parish: Eight medals

Gold: Four (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997)
Silver: Two (1985, 1987)
Bronze: Two (1982, 1988)

Shaquille O'Neal: Eight medals

Shaquille O'Neal, Finals MVP, 2001
STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images

Gold: Four (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006)
Silver: Two (1995, 2004)
Bronze: Two (1996, 1998)

James Jones: Eight medals

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Gold: Three (2012, 2013, 2016)
Silver: Four (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017)
Bronze: One (2004)

James Worthy: Eight medals

Gregg Forwerck/NBAE via Getty Images
Gregg Forwerck/NBAE via Getty Images

Gold: Three (1985, 1987, 1988)
Silver: Four (1983, 1984, 1989, 1991)
Bronze: One (1986)

Udonis Haslem: Eight medals

Getty Images
Getty Images

Gold: Three (2006, 2012, 2013)
Silver: Four (2011, 2014, 2020, 2023)
Bronze: One (2022)

Larry Bird: Eight medals

Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images
Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images

Gold: Three (1981, 1984, 1986)
Silver: Two (1985, 1987)
Bronze: Three (1980, 1982, 1988)

Dick Barnett: Eight medals

Gold: Two (1970, 1973)
Silver: Three (1963, 1965, 1972)
Bronze: Three (1961, 1969, 1971)

Elgin Baylor: Eight medals

Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

Silver: Eight (1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970)

Story originally appeared on HoopsHype