James Worthy Buzzer Beater 1988 Finals Game 6

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, led by founder/owner C. King Boring and his business partner Maurice Winston, and played in the National Basketball League (NBL) during the 1946–47 season where it finished last in the league with only 4 wins in 44 games. The team was sold to Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen of Minnesota for $15,000 in June 1947. They relocated the team to Minneapolis, re-christened the 'Lakers' in reference to Minnesota's nickname, 'The Land of 10,000 Lakes'.

With the first pick in the 1947 Professional Basketball League of America dispersal draft, they selected George Mikan. With Mikan, new coach John Kundla, and an infusion of former University of Minnesota players, the Lakers won the NBL championship in their first season. The following season, the Lakers switched to the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and won the championship. The next year saw the merging of the NBL and the BAA to form the NBA, and the Lakers won the inaugural NBA championship.

The Lakers' three-year streak of championships came to an end in 1951, but they rebounded to capture the title for the next three consecutive years, becoming the NBA's first 'dynasty', having won six NBL/BAA/NBA championships in seven years. In 1958, the franchise moved to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season, becoming the NBA's first West Coast team.

Did You Know?

• George Mikan is described by the NBA's official website as the 'first superstar' in league history.
• The Lakers participated in the lowest-scoring game in NBA history on November 22, 1950, losing 19–18 to the Fort Wayne Pistons.
• Chick Hearn became the Lakers' play-by-play announcer in 1960 and held that post for 41 years.