History of the Los Angeles Lakers facts for kids

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most famous and successful teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They started way back in 1947, even before the NBA was officially formed! The Lakers hold many records, including the most wins and the most appearances in the NBA Finals. They are tied with the Boston Celtics for winning 17 NBA championships. Many basketball legends have played for the Lakers, like George Mikan, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.

Early Years: The Minneapolis Dynasty (1947–1958)

Hall of Famer George Mikan (#99) led the Lakers to their first five NBA championships. He was the league's first superstar!

The Lakers team started in 1947 in Minnesota. Two people, Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen, bought a team called the Detroit Gems for $15,000. They moved the team to Minneapolis and named them the "Lakers" because Minnesota is known as "The Land of 10,000 Lakes."

The Lakers picked George Mikan in the draft, who became one of the best players of his time. With Mikan and coach John Kundla, the Lakers won the NBL championship in their first year. The next year, they joined the BAA (which later became the NBA) and won that championship too! This 1949 win is counted as their first official NBA championship. They won five championships in six years, becoming the NBA's first "dynasty".

Mikan retired in 1954 due to injuries. The NBA also added new rules like the 24-second shot clock, which changed how the game was played. Without Mikan, the team struggled. Attendance dropped, and the team almost moved to Kansas City. A local businessman named Bob Short bought the team and kept them in Minneapolis for a while longer.

Moving to Los Angeles and the Celtics Rivalry (1958–1968)

Jerry West (#44) helped the Lakers reach nine NBA Finals. His silhouette is on the NBA's official logo!

In 1958, the Lakers picked Elgin Baylor in the draft. He was amazing, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Baylor led the team to the Finals in 1959, but they lost to the Boston Celtics. This was the start of a long and famous rivalry.

In 1960, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, becoming the first NBA team on the West Coast. They kept the "Lakers" name even though there aren't many natural lakes in Southern California. Another big change was adding point guard Jerry West, who became a huge star. A famous announcer, Chick Hearn, also joined the team and called their games for the next 41 years!

Baylor and West were a powerful duo. In 1962, Baylor set a record by scoring 61 points in a playoff game, which is still an NBA Finals record. The Lakers reached the NBA Finals many times in the 1960s, but they kept losing to the dominant Celtics.

In 1965, Jack Kent Cooke bought the team. Rookie Gail Goodrich also joined. The Lakers moved into Cooke's new arena, The Forum, in 1967. Still, they continued to lose to the Celtics in the Finals.

The Baylor, West, and Chamberlain Era (1968–1975)

Wilt Chamberlain played for Los Angeles for five seasons. He was a key part of their 1971–72 team, one of the best in NBA history.

To try and beat the Celtics' great center, Bill Russell, the Lakers got Wilt Chamberlain in 1968. With Chamberlain, the Lakers had a better record than the Celtics in 1969. They met in the Finals again, but the Celtics still won. Jerry West was named the first-ever Finals MVP, even though his team lost. This has only happened once!

In 1970, the Lakers reached the Finals again, this time against the New York Knicks. Jerry West made a famous 60-foot shot at the buzzer in Game 3, earning him the nickname "Mr. Clutch." But the Knicks won that game and eventually the series. It was the Lakers' seventh Finals loss in nine years.

The next season, Elgin Baylor retired due to injuries. But then, something amazing happened! Under new coach Bill Sharman, the Lakers went on a 33-game winning streak in 1971–72. This is still the longest winning streak in any major North American professional sport! They also won 69 games that season, a record that stood for nearly 25 years.

Finally, in the 1972 NBA Finals, the Lakers beat the Knicks to win their first NBA title since 1954, and their first since moving to Los Angeles! Chamberlain retired after the 1973 season, and West followed a year later. The team struggled in 1975, missing the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The Captain (1975–1979)

Los Angeles got Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975. He won three MVP awards and five championships with the Lakers.

The Lakers traded for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was a superstar. In his first year, he won his fourth NBA Most Valuable Player Award. The Lakers improved, but they were swept by the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals in 1977.

A very serious incident happened in 1977 when Lakers player Kermit Washington accidentally hit Rudy Tomjanovich of the Houston Rockets. Tomjanovich was badly hurt, and Washington was suspended. This event led to changes in how the league handled player safety.

Showtime Lakers: Magic and Championships (1979–1991)

Point guard Magic Johnson led the "Showtime" Lakers to five NBA titles in the 1980s.

In 1979, Dr. Jerry Buss bought the team. The Lakers also won a special coin toss to get the top draft pick, and they chose Magic Johnson, a future superstar.

The Lakers' coach, Jack McKinney, was injured in an accident, so assistant coach Paul Westhead took over. Pat Riley was hired as an assistant. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a great year, and the Lakers won the NBA championship in 1980, beating the Philadelphia 76ers. Magic Johnson, as a rookie, had an amazing Game 6 performance, playing center for an injured Abdul-Jabbar and winning his first Finals MVP award.

The next season, the Lakers struggled, and Magic Johnson even asked to be traded because he didn't like the new offense. Dr. Buss sided with Magic and fired Westhead, making Pat Riley the new head coach.

Head coach Pat Riley created the fast-paced "Showtime" offense for the Lakers, winning four championships.

Under Pat Riley, the Lakers returned to the Finals in 1982 and won another championship. They also got the first pick in the draft again and chose James Worthy. In 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the NBA's all-time leading scorer. The Lakers faced the Celtics in the Finals again, but Boston won a tough series.

The "Showtime" era was in full swing by 1985. This was a super-fast and exciting style of basketball with amazing passes and dunks. The Lakers finally beat the Celtics in the Finals, with 38-year-old Abdul-Jabbar leading the way. This was a huge win for the Lakers, as it was their first Finals victory over the Celtics, and they did it in Boston Garden!

In 1987, Pat Riley focused the offense more on Magic Johnson, who won his first MVP award. The Lakers won 65 games and beat the Celtics in the Finals again. Magic won his last Finals MVP award. At the victory celebration, Riley famously promised the Lakers would win again next year.

James Worthy won the Finals MVP trophy in 1988 after a great Game 7 performance.

The Lakers delivered on Riley's promise in 1988, winning another championship against the Detroit Pistons in a tough seven-game series. James Worthy had a "triple double" in Game 7 and won Finals MVP. This was the first time a team had won back-to-back titles since 1969.

In 1989, the Lakers reached the Finals again, but injuries to Magic Johnson and Byron Scott meant they lost to the Pistons. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired after this season at age 42.

The Lakers continued to be strong, winning their division in 1990, but lost in the playoffs. Pat Riley stepped down as coach, and Mike Dunleavy took over. In 1991, Magic Johnson became the NBA's all-time assist leader. The Lakers reached the Finals again, but lost to Michael Jordan and the rising Chicago Bulls.

Challenging Years (1991–1996)

On November 7, 1991, Magic Johnson made the sad announcement that he had been diagnosed with the HIV virus and was retiring from basketball.

The Lakers struggled after Magic's retirement, dealing with injuries to key players. They still made the playoffs for a record 16th time in 1992, but lost in the first round. The team continued to have tough seasons, missing the playoffs in 1994 for the first time in 17 years. Magic Johnson even tried coaching for a short time, but it wasn't for him.

In 1994–95, the Lakers improved a lot under new coach Del Harris. They made the playoffs and won a series before losing to the San Antonio Spurs. Harris was named Coach of the Year. In 1996, Magic Johnson made a brief return to play as a power forward, but the team lost in the first round of the playoffs, and Magic retired for good.

The Kobe Bryant Era: Shaq and Kobe (1996–2016)

Future Hall of Famers Shaquille O'Neal (left) and Kobe Bryant (right) led the Lakers to three NBA titles in a row.

O'Neal and Bryant Dynasty (1996–2004)

In 1996, the Lakers made two huge moves. They traded for 17-year-old Kobe Bryant and signed superstar center Shaquille O'Neal. These two players would change the team's future. The Lakers also drafted Derek Fisher.

The team improved, but they were swept in the Conference Finals by the Utah Jazz in 1998. In 1999, the Lakers moved to a new arena, Staples Center, and hired a new coach, Phil Jackson, famous for coaching the Chicago Bulls. Jackson brought in a new offensive system.

Phil Jackson coached the Lakers to five championships, three with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, and two more with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

The 1999–2000 season was incredible. The Lakers won 67 games and had three long winning streaks. They struggled a bit in the playoffs but eventually beat the Indiana Pacers to win their first NBA championship since 1988! Shaquille O'Neal won MVP and Finals MVP awards. Kobe Bryant became a defensive star.

The Lakers continued their dominance in 2001, sweeping through the first three playoff series. They lost only one game in the entire playoffs, beating the Philadelphia 76ers in the Finals to win their second straight championship. O'Neal won his second Finals MVP.

In 2002, the Lakers won 16 of their first 17 games. They faced the talented Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Finals in a very exciting series. The Lakers won Game 4 with a last-second three-pointer by Robert Horry, tying the series. They eventually won Game 7 in overtime and went on to sweep the New Jersey Nets in the Finals, winning their third straight NBA Championship! O'Neal won his third straight Finals MVP, and Phil Jackson won his ninth championship as a coach.

Kobe Bryant won two Finals MVP trophies in 2009 and 2010.

The Lakers aimed for a fourth straight title in 2003, but injuries slowed them down. Kobe Bryant had an amazing scoring streak, setting many records. In the playoffs, they faced the San Antonio Spurs. In a crucial Game 5, Robert Horry missed a last-second shot that would have won the game, and the Lakers lost the series.

In 2004, the Lakers brought in veteran stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton. They started strong, but injuries and personal issues for Kobe Bryant caused distractions. Despite this, they won their division. In the playoffs, Derek Fisher made a miraculous game-winning shot with just 0.4 seconds left against the Spurs, helping the Lakers win that series. They reached the Finals but were surprisingly beaten by the Detroit Pistons in five games.

Rebuilding and Kobe's Final Years (2004–2016)

After the 2004 season, many changes happened. Phil Jackson left, and Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat. Kobe Bryant decided to stay with the Lakers. The team struggled, missing the playoffs in 2005 for the first time in 11 years.

In 2005, Phil Jackson returned as coach. The team, with Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, made the playoffs in 2006. They took a 3-1 lead against the Phoenix Suns but then lost three straight games and were eliminated.

Kobe Bryant's future with the Lakers was uncertain in 2007 when he asked to be traded. However, the team worked to improve.

Bryant and Gasol Years (2007–2014)

Kobe Bryant (left) and Pau Gasol (right) led the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals, winning two of them.

The Lakers started the 2007–08 season well, thanks to young center Andrew Bynum. But Bynum got injured. Then, in a big trade, the Lakers acquired Spanish all-star forward Pau Gasol in February 2008. With Gasol and Bynum (when healthy), the Lakers had a strong frontcourt.

Kobe Bryant had an MVP-caliber season, and the Lakers finished as the top team in the Western Conference. Bryant was named the 2007–2008 NBA Most Valuable Player. They reached the 2008 NBA Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics.

In 2009, the Lakers were determined to win. They had a great regular season with 65 wins. In the playoffs, they beat the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets. In the Finals, they defeated the Orlando Magic in five games, winning their first NBA championship in seven years. Kobe Bryant was named Finals MVP.

Five championship banners were added to the rafters of Staples Center during Phil Jackson's time as coach.

In 2010, the Lakers signed Ron Artest. They reached the Finals again, facing the Boston Celtics in a rematch. It was a very close series, going to a Game 7. The Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter, led by Bryant and Gasol, and won their 16th NBA championship. Bryant earned his second straight Finals MVP award.

In 2011, the Lakers were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs, which was Phil Jackson's last season as coach.

After Jackson retired, Mike Brown became the new head coach. The Lakers tried to trade for superstar Chris Paul, but the league stopped the trade. The team made other trades, including sending Lamar Odom to Dallas. In the 2012 playoffs, they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For the 2012–13 season, the Lakers made big trades, acquiring two-time MVP Steve Nash and defensive star Dwight Howard. However, the team started poorly, and Mike Brown was fired. The Lakers then hired Mike D'Antoni as head coach, hoping for a fast-paced offense.

In February 2013, Dr. Jerry Buss, the team owner, passed away at age 80. He was one of the most successful owners in sports history. Despite struggles and injuries, the Lakers made the playoffs as the 7th seed but were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. The 2013–14 season was tough, and the Lakers missed the playoffs again.

Bryant's Final Years and Retirement (2014–2016)

The Lakers continued to rebuild, drafting young players like Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell. Pau Gasol left the team in 2014. The 2014–15 season was the worst in franchise history, with only 21 wins.

In the 2015–16 season, Kobe Bryant announced he would retire at the end of the year. In his final game, he scored an incredible 60 points! The Lakers finished with their worst record ever, 17 wins and 65 losses, missing the playoffs for the third straight season. Kobe Bryant played 20 seasons with the Lakers, the longest career with a single team in NBA history at that time.

Post-Bryant Era (2016–2018)

After Bryant's retirement, the Lakers hired former player Luke Walton as coach. They drafted young talents like Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball. In 2017, Magic Johnson became the president of basketball operations, and Rob Pelinka was hired as general manager. The team slowly started to improve their record.

The LeBron James Era (2018–Present)

LeBron James's Arrival (2018–2019)

On July 9, 2018, the Lakers signed superstar LeBron James to a big contract. This was a huge moment for the team. However, the Lakers faced many injuries during the 2018–19 season and missed the playoffs for the sixth year in a row. Magic Johnson stepped down from his role, and Luke Walton also left as coach.

James and Davis Era: Back to Championships (2019–Present)

In May 2019, the Lakers hired Frank Vogel as head coach. On July 6, they made another massive trade, acquiring superstar Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans.

During the 2019–20 season, the Lakers made the playoffs for the first time since 2013. The season was paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it later resumed in a special "bubble" in Disney World, Florida. The Lakers finished as the top team in the Western Conference.

In the 2020 playoffs, the Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets. They reached their first NBA Finals in a decade! In the 2020 NBA Finals, the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in six games, winning the franchise's 17th NBA title. This tied them with the Boston Celtics for the most championships in league history.

The next season, injuries to James and Davis caused the Lakers to struggle, and they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

See also

In Spanish: Historia de Los Angeles Lakers para niños