1954 NBA Championship
5-time BAA/NBA champions (as of 1954), second most valuable NBA franchise.
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Lakers have played their home games at Crypto.com Arena since 1999, when it opened as Staples Center (renamed in 2021).
Quick Facts
- Champion
- Minneapolis Lakers
- Head coach
- John Kundla
- Mvp performance
- George Mikan (Dominant Center)
- Opponent defeated
- New York Knicks
- Series result
- 4 games to 3
- Era significance
- Fourth title in five years
Lore & Background
The franchise took its official name from Minnesota's nickname, the Land of 10,000 Lakes. At the time the name was revealed, the Lakers were in Minneapolis. As of the 1954 championship, the Lakers had won 5 BAA/NBA championships (including the 1954 title); the franchise's current total of 17 includes championships won after 1954.
Reader's Guide
The franchise has had 31 head coaches, including 29 since joining the NBA. The franchise's first head coach was Joel Mason, while its first coach in the NBA was John Kundla. Phil Jackson is the franchise's all-time leader for the most regular-season games coached (902), most playoff games coached (181), most regular-season game wins (610), and most playoff wins (118).
Did You Know?
- The Lakers were originally the Detroit Gems, a separate franchise that moved to Minneapolis and adopted the Lakers name in 1947.
- According to Forbes magazine, the Lakers are the second most valuable basketball franchise in the NBA, valued at approximately US$4.4 billion.
- The Lakers are controlled by Jerry Buss's children, with Jeanie Buss as the controlling owner and team president.
- George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, and Luke Walton have all played and coached for the Lakers.
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