Lakers vs Jazz

Lore & Background

The team dedicated the season to retired Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. On March 6, 2020, the Lakers clinched their first playoff berth since the 2012–13 season. Five days later, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the season was suspended. On July 5, the NBA announced a return of the season in the NBA Bubble, with 22 teams playing eight seeding games followed by a full postseason.

Play resumed on July 30, with all games being played in Orlando, Florida. On August 3, the Lakers clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since the 2009–10 season. The Lakers finished the shortened season 52–19, with a winning percentage roughly equivalent to 60 wins in a full season. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets to advance to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Miami Heat (LeBron James' former team) in six games to earn the franchise's 17th NBA championship.

Reader's Guide

The Lakers also became the first and only team in NBA history to be undefeated in a season when leading entering the fourth quarter, going a combined 57–0 record in the regular season and playoffs.

Did You Know?

• The Lakers held one first-round draft pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the fourth overall pick, which they used to select De'Andre Hunter before trading his rights to the New Orleans Pelicans in a deal for Anthony Davis.
• On June 15, 2019, the Lakers agreed to acquire six-time NBA All-Star power forward Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, giving up Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and three first-round picks.
• During the offseason, the Lakers re-signed Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and JaVale McGee, and signed veteran free agents Danny Green, Avery Bradley, and Dwight Howard.