Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. They are notable for having (at the end of the 2004–05 season) the most wins (2,621), the highest winning percentage (61.9%), the most finals appearances (28), and the second most championships (14), behind the Boston Celtics who have 16. They also have the record for most consecutive wins in a season (33).

Home arenas

Minneapolis Auditorium (1948-1960)

Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (1960-1967)

The Forum (formerly Great Western Forum) (1967-1999)

Staples Center (1999-present)

Team History

Main article: History of the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers began in 1947 when Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen bought the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League for $15,000 and relocated it to Minneapolis. As the Gems had by far the worst record in the NBL, the Lakers had the first pick in the 1947 dispersal draft, which they used to select George Mikan, later to become, arguably, the greatest center of his time. With Mikan, new coach John Kundla and an infusion of former University of Minnesota players, the Lakers won the NBL championship in that 1947-48 season and joined four other NBL teams in jumping to the Basketball Association of America, where they promptly won the 1948-49 BAA championship. The NBL and BAA merged to become the NBA in 1949.

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Elgin Baylor and Bob Cousy

The Minneapolis Lakers were one of the dominant teams of the fledgling NBA. With Hall of Famers George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, and Clyde Lovellette, they were the NBA's first "dynasty", winning five championships in six years (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954).

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Jerry West with the Los Angeles Lakers

After their move to Los Angeles in 1960, the team featured Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, and Wilt Chamberlain, but despite the wealth of talent, they were repeatedly foiled by the Boston Celtics, losing the championship to them six times in eight years. It wasn't until 1972 when they strung together a record 33-game win streak under Coach of the Year Bill Sharman that they were able to secure their first championship in Los Angeles.

In a December 9, 1977 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets center Kevin Kunnert got into a fight with the Lakers' Kermit Washington. As Houston guard Rudy Tomjanovich ran over to the two, Washington turned and blindly swung his fist. The powerful blow landed squarely on the face of a running Tomjanovich, causing massive jaw, eye, and cheek injuries; Tomjanovich's skull was also fractured when his head hit the floor. That shocking scene became the defining moment of not only the Rockets' 1977-78 season (a conference finals team the previous year, collapsed into last place with a 28-54 record) but also of two basketball players' professional careers. Tomjanovich, displaying the "heart of a champion", spent the next five months in rehab returning to play as an NBA all-star.

Showtime Begins

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Showtime

However, even with the addition of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, they weren't able to win another championship until the arrival of Earvin "Magic" Johnson in 1979, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to an MVP performance by the rookie Johnson, who, starting for the injured Abdul-Jabbar, had 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to clinch the series. Under coach Pat Riley, a former Laker player, the Lakers then went on to dominate the 1980s, starting a new style of basketball later referred to as the Showtime Era. Lakers appeared in the finals eight times in the decade and being crowned champions five times, including consecutive championships in 1987 and 1988, the first team to do so since Boston in 1969. Highlights include the many rivalries including the Celtics, Sixers, and Pistons respectively.

Showtime Ends, Kobe-Shaq Era Begins

Although they made another finals appearance in 1991, they spent most of the 1990s fielding teams that were not considered legitimate championship contenders. During the 1996-1997 offseason, the Lakers acquired Shaquille O'Neal from the Orlando Magic and Kobe Bryant from the Hornets(trade which sent Vlade Divac for 13th Draft Pick. With Shaq, the compiled a 56-26 record and beat Portland but lost to Karl Malone's Utah Jazz. The Lakers compiled a 61-21 record in 1998. In the playoffs they beat Portland 3-0, and Seattle 4-1. The Utah Jazz proved to be too much in the Western Conference Finals when they won 4-0. The 1998-99 season was shortened by lockout and the Lakers compiled a 37-13 record. In the playoffs, they beat Houston 3-0, then lost to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs 4-0. The underachieving Lakers needed to re-tool its staff.

Destiny Fulfilled 3-Peat

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O'Neal and Bryant, the "dynamic duo", after winning their third straight NBA title in 2002.

The next season, the Lakers hired Phil Jackson as head coach with this team the Lakers compiled a 67-15 record. Shaquille got All-Star MVP, season MVP, then Finals MVP. In the playoffs they beat the Sacramento Kings 3-2 and the Phoenix Suns 4-1. In the Western Conference Finals the Portland Trailblazers gave the Lakers all they could handle but LA won 4-3. The Lakers were able to make it back to the Finals when Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson proved to be the winning combination, stopping the Indiana Pacers 4-2. The next season, the Lakers compiled a 56-26 record. In the playoffs they defeated Portland 3-0, Sacramento 4-0, San Antonio 4-0. In the Finals, Philadelphia ended their playoff win streak. After a game 1 loss, LA stormed back to win the series 4-1. In 2002 the Lakers compiled a 58-24 record. In the playoffs the Lakers beat Portland 3-0, San Antonio 4-1. In the Western Conference Finals, they narrowly beat the Sacramento Kings 4-3. In the Finals they swept the New Jersey Nets 4-0. The next season the Lakers compiled a 50-32 record. In the playoffs they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2, then lost to San Antonio 4-2. After missing out in 2003, a retooled Lakers team featuring newcomers Karl Malone and Gary Payton roared into the 2003-2004 NBA season compiling a 56-26. In the playoffs, the Lakers beat Houston 4-1, then San Antonio 4-2. In the Western Conference Finals they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2. In the Finals they were heavily favored to win, only to lose to Detroit in five games.

Rebuilding Stage 2004-2005

The following summer, the team was ripped apart. Personality conflicts between O'Neal and Bryant came to a head. O'Neal demanded to be traded, and was sent to the Miami Heat. Malone retired, Payton was traded to the Boston Celtics, and Phil Jackson left, replaced by Rudy Tomjanovich, who left the team part way through his first season. This season went down as a "disaster" and held one of the Lakers worst records garnering only 34 wins and 48 losses. Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom were lost to injury for a while. Fans knew a change was needed in the summer of 2005.

The Zen Master Returns

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Kobe Bryant Captain holding his own

Lamar Odom Co-Captain

Kobe Bryant led the retooled young team but the results were anything but positive and the Lakers ended up missing the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, and the first time in Kobe's professional career. In the 2005-06 season, fans have reason to be optimistic, thanks to the return of Jackson, and the Lakers have clinched a playoff spot, the seventh seed matched with Phoenix Suns, in the Western Conference. This "new" Laker team is modeled after the 90s Chicago Bulls which won 6 NBA Championships. Bryant and Odom modeling Jordan and Pippen. So far the results have been nothing under the fans expectations.

Celebrity Fanbase

The team is renowned for the fanbase of famous celebrities, such as musicians and movie stars who attend its games. However, its most avid fans are actor Jack Nicholson and the California-based popular funk-rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers who attend every game. Another Laker fan is model and actress Pamela Anderson. There's even a rumor that singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea attend even the preseason games as a measure of their dedication to the team. The song "Magic Johnson", a tribute to the Showtime Lakers, can be found on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album Mother's Milk.

Players of note

Basketball Hall of Famers

• 11 Bob McAdoo
• 13 Wilt Chamberlain
• 17 Jim Pollard (Minneapolis)
• 19 Vern Mikkelsen (Minneapolis)
• 22 Slater Martin (Minneapolis)
• 22 Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis-Los Angeles)
• 25 Gail Goodrich
• 32 Magic Johnson
• 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
• 34 Clyde Lovellette (Minneapolis)
• 42 Connie Hawkins
• 42 James Worthy
• 44 Jerry West
• 99 George Mikan (Minneapolis)
• Coach John Kundla (Minneapolis)

Other notable players

• Elden Campbell
• Cedric Ceballos
• Michael Cooper
• Vlade Divac
• Derek Fisher
• Rick Fox
• Horace Grant
• A.C. Green
• Happy Hairston
• Ron Harper
• Robert Horry
• Eddie Jones
• Rudy LaRusso
• Byron Scott
• Karl Malone
• Norm Nixon
• Shaquille O'Neal
• Gary Payton
• Sam Perkins
• Kurt Rambis
• Glen Rice
• Mitch Richmond
• Dennis Rodman
• Brian Shaw
• Sedale Threatt
• Nick Van Exel
• Jamaal Wilkes

Retired numbers

• 13 Wilt Chamberlain, C, 1968-73
• 22 Elgin Baylor, F, 1958-71 (including team's last season in Minneapolis)
• 25 Gail Goodrich, G, 1965-68 & 1970-76
• 32 Magic Johnson, G, 1979-91 & 1995-96; Head Coach 1994
• 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, 1975-89
• 42 James Worthy, F, 1982-94
• 44 Jerry West, G, 1960-74; Head Coach, 1976-79; General Manager, 1981-2002
• MIKE Chick Hearn, The Greatest Broadcaster Ever, 1960-2002

Honored Minneapolis Lakers: Next to their retired numbers, the Lakers have hung a banner with the names of six Hall-of-Famers who were instrumental to the franchise's success during its days in Minneapolis:

• John Kundla, Coach, 1948-59
• 99 George Mikan, C, 1948-56 (did not play in 1954-55)
• 17 Jim Pollard, F, 1948-55
• 19 Vern Mikkelsen, F, 1949-59
• 22 Slater Martin, G, 1949-56
• 34 Clyde Lovellette, F-C, 1953-57

Coaches and others

• Chick Hearn (broadcaster; Basketball Hall of Famer)
• Bill Sharman (Basketball Hall of Famer; enshrined both for his playing career with the Boston Celtics and as a coach)
• John Kundla (Hall of Fame coach during Minneapolis years)
• Bud Grant played for team before playing and coach football
• Jerry Buss owner since 1979. Purchased the Lakers, along with The Forum and the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, from Jack Kent Cooke.
• Pat Riley Head Coach from 1981-91. The Lakers won 4 titles under his tenure and accumulated a 0.733 regular season win percentage.
• Phil Jackson Head Coach won three consecutive NBA titles on three different occasions, once with the Lakers. The current coach of the Lakers.
• Tex Winter Assistant Coach and consultant of the Lakers. Mentor to Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. Joined the Laker coaching staff in 1999. Innovator of the Triangle Offense or Triple-Post offense
• Rudy Tomjanovich Head Coach in 2004, resigned February 2, 2005 citing health concerns, now the scout for the Lakers

Miscellaneous information

Los Angeles Lakers Wordmark

• As the Minneapolis Lakers, the team holds the record for the lowest-scoring NBA game ever played along with the Fort Wayne Pistons. On November 22, 1950, the Lakers were leading until the fourth quarter, when the Pistons pulled ahead to win 19 to 18. This took place in a time before efforts were made to speed up gameplay, such as the addition of the shot clock.
• Los Angeles is the only city to have two NBA teams (the other is the Los Angeles Clippers).
• The 2004-05 season marks only the fourth time the Lakers have failed qualifying for the post-season since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960.
• Their rivalry with the Boston Celtics is among the most storied in sports history.
• The Los Angeles Lakers have, for most of their history, attracted stars both on and off the court. With their long line of Hall of Famers (and certain future Hall of Famers in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant) such as Magic Johnson, George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West, the Lakers have managed to carry a glorious history of exciting basketball that has attracted many celebrities to their games. The most notable of these celebrities are the likes of Jack Nicholson, Goldie Hawn, Andy Garcia, Dyan Cannon, and Anthony Kiedis, who are all long-time fans.
• Since 1976, KCAL-TV (previously KHJ-TV) Channel 9 and KLAC Radio have been the flagship broadcast homes of the Los Angeles Lakers. KCAL airs every Laker road game, while all home games can be seen on Fox Sports Net, the longtime cable television home of the Lakers. Prior to KCAL, KTLA televised Laker games for a time. KLAC/AM570 airs all Laker games via radio. KWKWAM1330 provides a Spanish simulcast of Laker games.
• The current TV announcers for the Lakers are Joel Meyers and former Laker Stu Lantz. Joel Meyers became the voice of the Lakers in 2005, replacing Paul Sunderland, who was the successor to the legendary Chick Hearn who passed away in 2002.
• They're the only NBA team whose primary home jersey color isn't white (gold). However since the 2002-03 season, the Lakers wear white jerseys on Sunday home games and on special occasions, such as Christmas games and several playoff games.
• Roland Lazenby wrote a complete history/biography of the Lakers in his published book (2006), The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It

See also

• Los Angeles Lakers players
• Lakers-Celtics rivalry
• Lakers-Kings rivalry

External links

• Los Angeles Lakers official web site
• Los Angeles Times Lakers Blog
• ClubLakers.com - Lakers fansite
• LakersTalk.net - Lakers discussion
• Basketballboards.net Lakers forum