17 NBA Championships
17-time NBA champions with a dynasty spanning Minneapolis and Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Lakers franchise has a long and storied history, having played and won championships in both the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) prior to the 1949 merger which formed the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise traces its roots to the NBL's Detroit Gems which was launched in 1946 and relocated to Minneapolis in 1947 to become the Lakers.
Quick Facts
- Longest gap between titles
- 1954–1972 (18 years)
Lore & Background
The Lakers are one of the NBA's most famous and successful franchises. As of August 2024, the Lakers are second in the NBA's all-time records for wins (3,550) and winning percentage (.591), and hold the all-time record for most NBA Finals appearances (32). They are second in NBA championship wins with 17, just behind the Boston Celtics with 18 NBA titles, and with nine more Finals appearances than the Celtics, their biggest rival. Their team has had many NBA legends, including George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Clyde Lovellette, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.
Reader's Guide
The franchise was founded in 1946 as the Detroit Gems, played in the NBL during the 1946–47 season, and relocated to Minneapolis in 1947 to become the Lakers. The Lakers won the NBL championship in their first season in Minneapolis, then switched to the BAA and won that championship, and won the inaugural NBA championship after the merger. They became the NBA's first dynasty, winning six NBL/BAA/NBA championships in seven years. The team moved to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season, becoming the NBA's first West Coast team.
Did You Know?
- The Lakers' longest gap between NBA championships is 19 years, from 1953 to 1972.
- The Lakers participated in the lowest-scoring game in NBA history on November 22, 1950, losing 19–18 to the Fort Wayne Pistons.
- The Lakers' name comes from Minnesota's nickname, 'The Land of 10,000 Lakes'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What significance do 17 NBA Championships hold for the Lakers?
This record ties them with the Boston Celtics for the most titles in league history, representing nearly eighty years of sustained excellence. It serves as a testament to the franchise's enduring culture of winning across multiple generations of talent.
Which players have won the most rings while on the Lakers?
Both Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant hold the team record with five championships each during their careers in Los Angeles. Their contributions anchor the identity of two distinct golden eras within the franchise's history.
When did the Lakers win their first and most recent titles?
The organization secured its inaugural championship in 1949 while still based in Minneapolis before moving to California. They claimed their seventeenth ring in 2020, completing a modern dynasty under LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
What are the key dynasties that contributed to this total?
Success spans from George Mikan's early dominance through the Showtime era and into the Kobe-Shaq and Kobe-Pau partnerships. These periods highlight strategic innovation and an unbroken lineage of transcendent talent throughout the decades.
Was there ever a long drought between championships for the Lakers?
Yes, the team experienced its longest gap between titles from 1989 to 2000, lasting eleven years before breaking through again. This period underscores the competitive challenges faced even by one of basketball's most storied franchises.
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