Last Updated on June 20, 2025 by Mat Diekhake
Sam Jones played in 11 NBA Finals — the second most in NBA history — all with the Boston Celtics from 1958 to 1969. He won 10 championships, only losing once (1958).
Here’s a complete breakdown of the teams Sam Jones faced in the NBA Finals and the outcomes:
Sam Jones’s NBA Finals Opponents
| Year | Opponent | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | St. Louis Hawks | Lost (2–4) | Sam’s first Finals appearance |
| 1959 | Minneapolis Lakers | Won (4–0) | Celtics’ first title with Sam |
| 1960 | St. Louis Hawks | Won (4–3) | |
| 1961 | St. Louis Hawks | Won (4–1) | |
| 1962 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–3) | Overtime Game 7 thriller |
| 1963 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–2) | |
| 1964 | San Francisco Warriors | Won (4–1) | Faced Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1965 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–1) | |
| 1966 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–3) | |
| 1968 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–2) | |
| 1969 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–3) | Sam’s final game, went out as champion |
Summary of Teams Faced by Sam Jones in the Finals:
| Opponent | Finals Matchups | Record vs Team |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Hawks | 3 (1958, 1960, 1961) | 2–1 |
| Minneapolis Lakers | 1 (1959) | 1–0 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 6 (1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) | 6–0 |
| San Francisco Warriors | 1 (1964) | 1–0 |
Fun Fact: Sam Jones is undefeated (6–0) in Finals series against the Lakers franchise, and he hit numerous clutch shots throughout the Celtics dynasty years.