Kings–Lakers rivalry
A historic California NBA rivalry renewed in the early 2000s.
The Kings–Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers. The two teams have a history of intense playoff meetings, starting in the early days of the NBA’s predecessor leagues and continuing with hard-fought series in the early 2000s. They have shared California as a home state since the Kings moved to Sacramento in 1985.
The Kings began as an independent franchise in 1923, operating under names like the Rochester Seagrams, Rochester Eber Seagrams, and Rochester Pros before joining the National Basketball League in 1945 as the Rochester Royals. That first season, they won the NBL championship by beating the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons and sweeping the Sheboygan Red Skins. The Lakers entered the NBL the next season as the Detroit Gems, posting a 4–40 record, the worst in the league. The franchise then moved to Minneapolis, becoming the Minneapolis Lakers. In the 1947–48 NBL season, the Royals and Lakers were the top teams in their divisions and met in the championship, where the Lakers won 3–1, fueled by new center George Mikan. Both teams joined the BAA in 1948, and in their only BAA season, the Lakers swept the Royals 2–0 in the Western Division Finals, later winning the final BAA championship. The Lakers won five of these early playoff series and five NBA titles in Minneapolis; the Royals won the 1951 series and their sole NBA championship that year.
The Royals later moved to Cincinnati in 1957, had playoff runs from 1962 to 1967 led by Oscar Robertson, relocated to Kansas City in 1972 (with part-time games in Omaha until 1975), and changed their name to the Kings to avoid confusion with the baseball team. They finally settled in Sacramento in 1985. The Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and won six more championships between 1972 and 1988, led by Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, coach Pat Riley, owner Jerry Buss, and general manager Jerry West. The two teams met in the 1984 playoffs while the Kings were still in Kansas City, with the Lakers sweeping the series 3–0.
In 1996, the Lakers signed Shaquille O’Neal and drafted Kobe Bryant. Phil Jackson became head coach in 2000.
Quick Facts
- First Meeting
- November 14, 1948 / Royals 92, Lakers 75
- Latest Meeting
- March 1, 2026 / Kings 104, Lakers 128
- Next Meeting
- November 4, 2026
- Total Meetings
- 493
- Current Win Streak
- LAL W1
- Longest Win Streak
- LAL W24 (1983–1988)
- All Time Series
- 313–180 (LAL)
- Regular Season
- 287–169 (LAL)
- Postseason
- 26–11 (LAL)
- Section Header
- Postseason history
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The 2002 Western Conference Finals became the most contentious chapter. The Kings had the NBA's best record (61–21) and took a 2–1 series lead. Game 4 featured a controversial Robert Horry buzzer-beating three-pointer after a Vlade Divac deflection. The Kings won Game 5 on a Mike Bibby jumper. Game 6 is considered one of the most controversial games in NBA history, with numerous questionable calls against the Kings in the fourth quarter; the Lakers won 106–102. The Lakers won Game 7, advancing to the NBA Finals. Allegations that Game 6 was affected by improper officiating have persisted.
Reader's Guide
The Kings–Lakers rivalry is significant for its longevity, stretching from the NBL in the 1940s through the early 2000s NBA. It represents one of the few rivalries that predate the NBA itself, with both franchises originating in the NBL and BAA before the leagues merged. The rivalry's intensity peaked in the early 2000s, when the Kings and Lakers met in three consecutive playoff series (2000–2002), culminating in the bitterly contested 2002 Western Conference Finals. That series is remembered for Game 6's controversial officiating, which has been the subject of ongoing debate and allegations. The rivalry also highlights the geographic connection of two California teams sharing a home state since 1985. While the Lakers have historically dominated the playoff series (5 wins to 1), the Kings' sole series win came in 1951, when they won the NBA championship. The rivalry's legacy includes some of the most memorable playoff moments of the early 2000s, including Robert Horry's Game 4 buzzer-beater and Mike Bibby's Game 5 game-winner.
Did You Know?
- The Kings were originally the Rochester Seagrams, an independent franchise founded in 1923.
- The Lakers franchise began as the Detroit Gems in the NBL, posting a 4–40 record before moving to Minneapolis.
- The 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 6 is considered one of the most controversial games in North American professional sports history.
- The Kings and Lakers have shared the state of California since the Kings relocated to Sacramento in 1985.
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