Four Former NC State Players Have Won NBA Championships

The New York Knicks captured the 2026 NBA Championship on Saturday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs and ending one of the longest title droughts in professional sports.

While no former NC State players were represented in this year’s Finals, several Wolfpack alumni have experienced the thrill of hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

In total, four former NC State players have won NBA Championships, combining for five championship rings.

Former NC State Players Who Won NBA Championships

1) Josh Powell – 2 times (2009 & 2010)
2) Chuck Nevitt – 1 time (1985)
2) Chucky Brown – 1 time (1995)
2) John Richter – 1 time (1960)

Josh Powell

No former Wolfpack player owns more NBA championship rings than Josh Powell.

2009 NBA Champions

Powell was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers team that defeated the Orlando Magic in five games to capture the NBA title.

While serving in a reserve role, Powell appeared in two Finals games, contributing:

5 points
4 rebounds

2010 NBA Champions

One year later, Powell and the Lakers repeated as NBA champions, defeating the rival Boston Celtics in a memorable seven-game series.

Powell again appeared in two Finals games.

The championship marked one of only 13 instances of a team winning back-to-back NBA titles.

Powell’s championship résumé is especially notable because he played alongside Kobe Bryant and was coached by Hall of Famer Phil Jackson during one of the most successful eras in Lakers history.

Chuck Nevitt

Chuck Nevitt earned his championship ring with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1984-85 season.

The Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in six games, giving the franchise its first Finals victory over Boston.

Nevitt played 2 minutes in Game 3.

That championship is perhaps best remembered for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s historic Finals MVP performance. At 38 years old, Abdul-Jabbar became the oldest player ever to win NBA Finals MVP, a record that still stands today.

Chucky Brown

Chucky Brown captured his NBA title with the Houston Rockets in 1995.

Houston swept the Orlando Magic 4-0 in the Finals, securing the franchise’s second consecutive championship.

Unlike some reserve players who received limited opportunities, Brown contributed throughout the series.

• Played in all four games
• 12 points
• 11 rebounds
• 38 total minutes

The Rockets’ championship remains one of the most remarkable postseason runs in league history.

Houston entered the playoffs as the No. 6 seed, making them the lowest-seeded team ever to win an NBA Championship.

John Richter

The first former Wolfpack player to win an NBA Championship was John Richter.

Richter’s Boston Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks in seven games during the 1960 NBA Finals.

Although Richter spent only one season in the NBA, he remains the most productive former NC State player in NBA Finals history.

• Played in 4 games
• 15 points
• 12 rebounds
• 53 minutes

Among former Wolfpack players, Richter ranks first in:

• NBA Finals points
• NBA Finals rebounds
• NBA Finals minutes played

His Finals production remains unmatched by any NC State alum more than six decades later.