Magic Johnson and Bill Russell won NBA championships as rookies, but the road to victory in the NBA Finals normally takes years. Some of the best players in NBA history have played many seasons before winning an NBA Finals. New Jersey's Jason Kidd, who will make his first appearance in the NBA Finals, hopes to emerge an NBA champion in his eighth season. Following is a look at the number of seasons it took some all-time great players to win the NBA Finals:
TWELVE
Jerry West (1972)
ELEVEN
Nate Archibald (1981)
Oscar Robertson (1971)
TEN
David Robinson (1999)
Hakeem Olajuwon (1994)
Elvin Hayes (1978)
Wes Unseld (1978)
Jerry Lucas (1974)
EIGHT
Shaquille O'Neal (2000)
Isiah Thomas (1989)
Dave DeBusschere (1970)
Wilt Chamberlain (1967)
SEVEN
Michael Jordan (1991)
Bob Cousy (1957)
Bill Sharman (1957)
Dolph Schayes (1955)
