Originally based in Minneapolis, the Lakers relocated to Los Angeles and came to embody Hollywood glamour in basketball form, with superstar players like Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Kobe Bryant leading them to the most NBA Finals appearances ever
FEATURED LISTS
Hollywood walk of fame: 31 greatest players in Lakers franchise history
In our continuing series counting down the greatest players for each team, we start with the legendary Lakers, from their Minneapolis days to Showtime to Kobe and Shaq and beyond
Foregone conclusion: 10 playoff series that were considered “virtual” NBA Finals
Itttttttt’s Showtime!: Ranking the 30 players who won a title as Magic Johnson’s Lakers teammate
Heading on down the highway: 14 current NBA franchises that have re-located
Swapping with the enemy: Three times the Celtics and Lakers have traded players to each other
index
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- All-time greatest players
- Drafting Jerry West #2 overall
- Effect of Jerry Buss’ ownership on franchise culture
- George Mikan tenure as coach
- In game four of the 1987 NBA Finals
- In game seven of the 1962 NBA Finals
- In game seven of the 1969 NBA Finals
- In game seven of the 1970 NBA Finals
- In the 1949 Western Conference Finals (“Virtual NBA Finals”) (as Minneapolis Lakers)
- In the 1972 Western Conference Finals (“Virtual NBA Finals”)
- In the 2000, 2001, 2002 Western Conference Finals (“Virtual NBA Finals”)
- Magic Johnson tenure as coach
- Magic Johnson’s debut game
- NBA Finals appearance to break playoff drought (2020)
- Overcoming 3-1 series deficit in 1970 Conference Semifinals
- Players rebelling against coach Paul Westhead
- Playing games in The Forum
- Postponing (and re-locating to Las Vegas) a playoff game due to the Rodney King riots
- Purchasing by Jerry Buss
- Re-location from Minneapolis to Los Angeles
- Rivalry with Celtics
- Rivalry with Clippers (one-sided)
- Rivalry with Clippers (geographical)
- Rivalry with Kings
- Struggling in the regular season of their ’87-’88 championship season
- Struggling to defend their title in ’80-’81
- Trading for Bob McAdoo from the Nets
- Trading with the Celtics
- Upset by the Celtics in the 1969 NBA Finals
- Upset by the Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals
- Upset by the Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals
- Upset by the Rockets in the 1981 playoffs first round
- Upset by the Rockets in the 1986 Western Conference Finals
- Upset by the Royals in the 1951 Western Conference Finals (as Minneapolis Lakers)
- Upset by the Trail Blazers in the 1977 Western Conference Finals
- Upsetting the Hawks in the 1959 Western Conference Finals (as Minneapolis Lakers)
