1954 NBA Championship
17-time BAA/NBA champions, 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 the Crypto.com Arena since 1999.
- 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. The Lakers have won 17 BAA/NBA championships.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Minneapolis Auditorium is thick with sweat and anticipation as the clock winds down on Game 7. The scoreboard reads a razor-thin margin, and the crowd is a deafening roar of purple and gold. George Mikan receives an inbound pass near the baseline, his eyes locked on the rim. With a defender clinging to him, he executes a signature drop-step, rising above the contest with effortless power. As the ball arcs through the air, time seems to suspend; when it swishes through the net, the arena erupts. It is not just a basket; it is the final punctuation mark on a season of grit, securing the banner for Minneapolis.
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 formerly known as the Detroit Gems from 1947 to 1948 and the Minneapolis Lakers from 1948 to 1960.
- 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 majority-owned by Jerry Buss's family trust, while Rob Pelinka is the general manager.
- George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Jerry West, Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, and Luke Walton have all played and coached for the Lakers.
More in Championships & Records
Elsewhere in the Los Angeles Lakers universe
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