Lakers Nation

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The team dedicated the season to retired Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. On March 6, 2020, the Lakers clinched their first playoff berth since the 2012–13 season. Five days later, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the season was suspended. On July 5, the NBA announced a return of the season in the NBA Bubble, with 22 teams playing eight seeding games followed by a full postseason. Play resumed on July 30, with all games being played in Orlando, Florida. On August 3, the Lakers clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since the 2009–10 season. The Lakers finished the shortened season 52–19, with a winning percentage roughly equivalent to 60 wins in a full season. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets to advance to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Miami Heat (LeBron James' former team) in six games to earn the franchise's 17th NBA championship. The Lakers also went a combined 57–0 in the regular season and playoffs when leading entering the fourth quarter, though multiple teams have achieved undefeated records in that scenario.

In Their Own Story

The path to the 17th championship was marked by specific turning points and historic milestones. The team started fast, achieving a franchise-best 17–2 record by November's end. On March 6, they clinched their first playoff berth since 2012–13 with a 113–103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Play resumed on July 30 in Orlando, where the Lakers dominated the seeding games and playoffs. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets to reach the Finals. In the championship series against the Miami Heat, LeBron James secured his fourth Finals MVP award, becoming the first player to win the title with three different franchises. The victory tied the Boston Celtics for the most NBA championships in history at 17, making Jeanie Buss the first female controlling owner to guide a team to a title.

Reader's Guide

The Lakers got off to a fast start to the season, amassing a franchise best 17–2 record by the end of November. Four months later, they were able to clinch their first playoff berth since the 2012–13 season with a 113–103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on March 6, 2020. Five days after the Lakers clinched their playoff berth, the NBA season was abruptly suspended by league officials after it was reported that Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19. Two unidentified players of the Lakers would later test positive for COVID-19 on March 19. When the season resumed, Avery Bradley declined to play because his oldest child had a history of struggling to recover from respiratory illnesses. The Lakers replaced Bradley on the roster with J. R. Smith, who was James' teammate on the NBA championship-winning 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Did You Know?

• The Lakers dedicated the 2019–20 season to Kobe Bryant after his death in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.
• The Lakers clinched their first playoff berth since the 2012–13 season on March 6, 2020.
• The Lakers went 57–0 in the regular season and playoffs when leading entering the fourth quarter, though multiple NBA teams have achieved undefeated records in that scenario.
• The Lakers tied the Boston Celtics for the highest-ever number of NBA championship wins with 17.