Establishment of Purple and Gold Identity

Lore & Background

The Lakers had already established their purple and gold identity years before the Kings were formed. When Jack Kent Cooke brought an NHL expansion team to Los Angeles, he named them the Kings and selected purple and gold to match the Lakers' existing royal theme. The Kings' original colors were indeed purple (often called 'Forum Blue') and gold, but they were inspired by the Lakers, not the other way around.

In Their Own Story

It was late 1960. Jerry West adjusted his warm-up suit under the relentless California sun, staring out at the empty hardwood of a new city. The jersey felt heavier on his shoulders than it ever had in Minneapolis, burdened by the weight of expectation. But as he stepped onto the court, the purple shimmered against the gold trim, catching the light with an electric intensity. This wasn't just a uniform; it was a contract signed in color, promising the new crowd that miracles were not just possible—they were mandatory.

Reader's Guide

The Lakers' original home arena in Los Angeles was the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, not the Forum.

Did You Know?

• The Lakers adopted purple and gold in the 1960s, several years before the Los Angeles Kings were founded in 1967.
• Jack Kent Cooke, who owned both teams, chose the Kings' name and purple-and-gold colors to complement the Lakers' existing royal identity.
• The Lakers originally played at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena before moving to the Forum, which Cooke built for both teams.