To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NBA, renowned basketball photographer Nathanial Butler snapped an image that is perhaps the most famous in the league’s history. It’s not a Michael Jordan dunk or a LeBron James game-winner, but rather Bill Russell smiling ear to ear, wearing 11 championship rings on both hands.

The image of the trail-blazing Russell, who won 11 championships with the Boston Celtics, a record for a single player, is iconic not just for the joyful grin, but for what it stands for — getting that basketball championship ring. 

Among fans and players, perhaps no other sport is debated more than basketball in regards to the importance of winning a ring. A championship trophy honors the team; a championship ring cements a player’s legacy. 

Rings matter so much that Michael Jordan later took a photo for a Nike ad campaign with his six NBA championship rings on one hand, and Maya Moore released a photo, an homage to the Jordan image, wearing 12 women’s basketball championship rings on two hands. 

In basketball, the ring is ultimate clout status. And, what’s especially cool with Moore’s photo is that the 12 rings represent her entire basketball journey — three high school state titles, two NCAA championships, four WNBA championships, and two Olympic gold medals. 

Club teams, high school, junior college, NCAA Division I, wherever a player wins a championship ring, that gift lasts a lifetime. Most basketball players play for a ring, even if it’s just to hold up one finger and smile. 

Our passion is to deliver those championship ring smiles.

Russell, Jordan, and Moore are icons, but it’s the everyday player that we aim to commemorate

through our dynamic custom championship rings. We know the history of the ring when it comes to basketball, and we deliver those smiles for players, coaches, staff, and family. 

Here are some recent favorite basketball championship rings and what the teams had to say about them:

Henderson State University — Women’s Basketball

Testimonial: “Great Experience! Rings turned out amazing and their customer service and price was above and beyond any other company.” 

Ring design: Henderson State University is a small school in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, an NCAA

Division II program that developed a ring for winning the Great American Conference. The ring is also a great example of a program designing on a budget. Standout features include the bright red Henderson State “H” along with their unique name, the “Reddies.” Inside the ring, a team slogan, “As One,” is engraved, and the ring nicely leverages red accents and has every player’s name on the ring. 

North Carolina A&T State University — Women’s Basketball

Testimonial: “Ordered our championship rings through Michael and the entire process was really smooth! We made a lot of changes on the design and he was very helpful and patient through it all. They arrived in a timely manner and all labeled really clearly. Great experience!” 

Ring design: A loaded and vibrant fully customized championship ring, North Carolina A&T went big for their conference championship ring, piling it up with stones and creating a beautiful blue basketball silhouette on the top of the ring. The mix of materials jumps off the ring, while details such as an image of the trophy and the “We over Me” and “Commit to Grit” team slogans help create a one-of-a-kind feel. The team also created a pendant to go with the ring.

Jeannette Senior High School — Men’s Basketball

Testimonial: “Awesome experience… so easy to work with and the rings look fabulous. Thank You!”

Ring design: Celebrating a major state title, the Jeannette program honored players and more with an eye-popping ring fit for champions. The ring prioritizes a glittery top for a more “iced out” appearance and then adds in exciting details like a basketball swishing through a net. Players with their numbers in the school’s blue color also pop off the side of the ring.

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Rings

Like the rest of the country, we go nuts for basketball in March, filling out brackets and watching Cinderella schools take on the titans. Final four rings, conference tournament champions, and more make for stunning rings that we’ve detailed here. 

Two recent favorites, however, are: 

• Creighton University — Honoring many achievements, Creighton celebrated a historic year with a sleek silver ring that made sure to note several key claims on the year. Creighton’s custom championship ring celebrates the team’s monumental appearance in the second round of the NCAA March Madness tournament, but it also touts the team finishing ranked 24th in the NCAA Coaches Poll, earning a 25-11 record, and a 15-5 Big East Conference record. The ring nicely includes both the NCAA March Madness and Big East Conference logos and leverages the basketball silhouette design to back the Creighton Bluejays logo. 

• Gonzaga University — The “Zags” have become a perennial winner and are a great example of a team finding new ways to keep rings feeling exciting and new. In this ring, the darker metal and stones give it a powerful look for the blue accents and “Zags” name and trophy detail to pop off the top of the ring. In the surrounding areas of the ring. Gonzaga made sure to highlight its perennial nature, calling out 27 NCAA March Madness tournament appearances in a row. The ring also includes its 26-9 overall record and its conference tournament victory. Especially heartfelt is an outline of the state of Washington and a marking of where Gonzaga sits. The school has pride in its state and its legacy. 

Come Smile With Us

Signature Championship Rings is sitting on decades of experience in designing basketball championship rings for schools and teams of all sizes. Contact us and we’ll walk you through the process to ensure every detail meets your desires.

We’ll answer any questions you have, provide robust catalogs with examples of championship rings, and we’ll help you tell a story that honors your banner year.

We love the smile on Bill Russell’s face. We know the smile that basketball championship rings bring to players and coaches. Let’s make it happen for you too! Get started today. 

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