When it comes to the NBA and the way the ‘GOAT’ debates are structured, championship rings almost always hold the heaviest weight. For instance, one of the biggest reasons why Michael Jordan is placed higher than LeBron James so readily, despite the latter having better longevity, ranking in the all-time scoring list and All-Star appearances, is because MJ boasts more titles, among other things.
Yet, when the conversation shifts to Robert Horry, who has won more championships than even Jordan, it is shocking to see that he wasn’t named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team or inducted into the Hall of Fame – and Jeff Teague believes that the reason for that lack of recognition is that Horry lacked any swagger.
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Teague on why Horry’s seven championship rings get overlooked
Horry captured his first two titles with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and ’95, averaging a combined 10 points in the regular season and 12.4 points in the playoffs during those seasons. Naturally, this established expectations that he was capable of logging heavy minutes and consistently scoring when the lights were at their brightest.
Then, when Horry featured on the Los Angeles Lakers’ team that won a three-peat at the turn of the century, he never even reached the seven points per game figure in either of the three regular season campaigns. Even in the playoffs, his scoring average was well under the double-digit figure. Thus, it accumulated the narrative that Horry added extensively to his resume because of the dominance of Shaq and Kobe’s unstoppable tandem.
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The same perception followed him during his last two championship triumphs with the San Antonio Spurs, where he failed to register points in double digits. Ultimately, despite Horry showing great adaptability, fans conveniently believed that with him, it was the case of being in the right place at the right time.
Even Teague emphasized that since Horry rarely had those iconic, reel-worthy moments during any of those championship runs, fans do not have much to remember him for. As a result, Horry fails to get the recognition for winning more championships than the GOAT frontrunners.
“I ain’t gonna lie, nobody cares about his championships. His championships are valid; it’s just that his swag was trash. He wasn’t swaggy. I ain’t sayin’ he was lame,” Teague said on his ‘Club 520’ podcast. “Who you know more? Him or Ty Lue?. Come on, man. I need something to remember you by. Robert Horry gonna go crazy.”
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Robert Horry deserves more credit
Still, the fact remains that winning seven championships in 16 seasons is no small feat. More importantly, in many of those postseason runs, Horry elevated his scoring averages compared to the regular season, showing that he was ready to embrace the big stage when it mattered most.
That being said, while he may not have had a distinctive playing style or highlight-reel moments that defined his career, Horry was the ideal role player who never questioned his role; if anything, he only embraced it, and was at his best when called upon in the most high-stakes moments.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.