Los Angeles Lakers

Lore & Background

The franchise began in 1946 as the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). After one season, a new owner moved the team to Minneapolis, and renamed it the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America, where they won the 1949 BAA championship. After the merger of the NBL and the BAA into the NBA in 1949, the Lakers won four of the next five NBA championships. After struggling financially in the late 1950s, they moved to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season. The Lakers made the NBA Finals six times in the 1960s, but lost every series to the Celtics. In 1968, the Lakers acquired Wilt Chamberlain, and won their sixth NBA title in 1972. After Chamberlain retired, the team traded for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 1979, Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers and the Lakers drafted Magic Johnson first overall. The franchise won five championships in nine years in the 1980s, including two of three Finals matchups against the Celtics. In 1996, the Lakers traded for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant and signed Shaquille O'Neal, leading to three consecutive championships between 2000 and 2002. After trading O'Neal, the Lakers returned to the NBA Finals after trading for Pau Gasol, winning championships in 2009 and 2010. After Jackson retired in 2011, the Lakers endured their longest playoff drought. The Lakers signed LeBron James in 2018, and in 2019 traded for Anthony Davis, winning their 17th championship in 2020. In February 2025, the team traded Davis to acquire Luka Dončić.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with electricity during Game 5 of the 2012 Finals. The hardwood gleamed under the harsh lights of American Airlines Arena. On one side stood Kobe Bryant, eyes locked on the rim, embodying a decade of Los Angeles dominance. Opposing him was LeBron James, surveying the defense like a general. The crowd roared as the ball crossed half-court, a moment suspended in time where two eras collided. It wasn't just about points; it was about who would define the next chapter of basketball history.

Reader's Guide

The Lakers hold the record for the NBA's longest winning streak, 33 straight games, set in 1971–72. 26 Hall of Famers have played for Los Angeles, while four have coached the team. Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, O'Neal, and Bryant won a combined eight NBA MVP awards with the Lakers.

Did You Know?

• The Lakers are one of only eight teams from the NBA's first decade that are still operating today.
• The franchise began as the Detroit Gems in 1946.
• The Lakers' 33-game winning streak in 1971–72 is the longest in NBA history.
• The Lakers have won 17 NBA championships, second only to the Boston Celtics.