Los Angeles Lakers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Los Angeles Lakers
Conference	Western
Division	Pacific
Founded	1946
History	Detroit Gems 1946–1947 (NBL) Minneapolis Lakers 1947–1948 (NBL) 1948–1960 (NBA) Los Angeles Lakers 1960–present
Arena	Crypto.com Arena
Location	Los Angeles, California
Team colors	Purple, gold, black
Main sponsor	Bibigo
President	Jeanie Buss
General manager	Rob Pelinka
Head coach	JJ Redick
Ownership	Buss Family Trusts (majority) Jeanie Buss (controlling owner) Philip Anschutz, Edward P. Roski, and Patrick Soon-Shiong (minority)
Affiliation(s)	South Bay Lakers
Championships	18 NBL: 1 (1948) NBA: 17 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020)
Conference titles	19 (1972, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020)
NBA Cup titles	1 (2023)
Division titles	34 NBL: 1 (1948) NBA: 33 (1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2020)
Retired numbers	13 (8, 13, 16, 22, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34, 42, 44, 52, 99)
Association Icon Statement City Classic

The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team from Los Angeles, California. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Lakers are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. Their home games are played at Crypto.com Arena. They share this arena with the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) and the Los Angeles Kings (NHL). The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in NBA history. They have won 17 championships, which is tied for the most in the league with the Boston Celtics.

The team started in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the NBL. After one year, new owners moved the team to Minneapolis, Minnesota. They renamed the team the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship. Then, they joined the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and won the 1949 BAA championship. In 1949, the NBL and BAA merged to form the NBA. The Lakers won four more NBA championships in the next five years. Because of money problems in the late 1950s, the team moved to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season.

In the 1960s, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals six times. However, they lost every time to the Celtics. This started their famous rivalry. In 1968, the Lakers got Wilt Chamberlain, a four-time MVP. They won their sixth NBA title in 1972, led by coach Bill Sharman. After Chamberlain retired, the team traded for superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 1979, two big things happened. First, Jerry Buss bought the Lakers. He wanted basketball to be both a sport and entertainment. Second, the Lakers picked Magic Johnson first overall in the 1979 NBA draft. Johnson, a talented point guard, and Abdul-Jabbar, a strong center, became the team's stars.

When Pat Riley became head coach in 1981, and James Worthy joined in the 1982 draft, the Lakers became very strong. They won five championships in nine years during the 1980s. This included two wins against the Celtics in the Finals. The Lakers lost to Boston in the 1984 Finals. But they beat them in 1985 and 1987.

After Riley left and Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, and Worthy retired, the Lakers struggled in the early 1990s. In 1996, the team traded for Kobe Bryant and signed Shaquille O'Neal. This brought the Lakers back to the top in the early 2000s. This superstar duo, with Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson, won three championships in a row from 2000 to 2002. This was the franchise's second "three-peat". The "Shaq-and-Kobe" era ended when O'Neal was traded after the Lakers lost in the 2004 Finals. Bryant and Jackson returned to the Finals after the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol. They lost to the Celtics in 2008. But they won championships in 2009 and 2010. The 2010 Finals was the last time the Lakers and Celtics met. Los Angeles won its 16th title.

Jackson retired in 2011. The Lakers then had their longest time without making the playoffs. Gasol left in 2014, and Bryant retired in 2016. After rebuilding with young players, the Lakers signed superstar LeBron James in 2018. In 2019, they traded for star big man Anthony Davis. Led by James, Davis, and coach Frank Vogel, the Lakers won their 17th championship in 2020. This tied the Celtics for the most titles until 2024.

The Lakers hold the record for the NBA's longest winning streak. They won 33 games in a row in 1971–72. Many Hall of Fame players and coaches have been part of the Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, O'Neal, and Bryant won eight NBA MVP awards combined while playing for the team.

History of the Lakers

Early Years and Minneapolis Dynasty (1946–1954)

The team started in 1946 as the Detroit Gems. They played in the NBL. In their first season, they won only 4 out of 44 games. The owners then sold the team for $15,000 to Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen from Minnesota.

A sportswriter named Sid Hartman helped put the team together. The team was named the Lakers because Minnesota is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". Hartman helped them hire John Kundla as their first head coach.

Since the team had the worst record, they got the first pick in the 1947 draft. They used it to pick George Mikan. With Mikan, Jim Pollard, and Herm Schaefer, the Lakers were strong. In their first season, they won 43–17 and became NBL Champions.

In 1948, the Lakers moved to the Basketball Association of America (BAA). Mikan scored 28.3 points per game, a BAA record. They won the 1949 BAA Finals against the Washington Capitols. After this, the BAA and NBL merged to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Lakers won their third straight championship in the new league. In the 1950–51 season, Mikan won his third scoring title. The Lakers won their second division title. They lost in the playoffs to the Rochester Royals.

During the 1951–52 season, the Lakers won 40 games. They won the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks in seven games. In the 1952–53 season, Mikan led the NBA in rebounds. He was also named MVP of the 1953 NBA All-Star Game. The Lakers won their second straight championship by beating the Knicks. Even with knee problems, Mikan averaged 18 points per game. Clyde Lovellette helped the team win the Western Division. They won their third straight championship and fifth in six seasons by beating the Syracuse Nationals.

After Mikan and the Move to Los Angeles (1954–1968)

After Mikan retired in 1954, the Lakers struggled but still won 40 games. They lost in the semifinals. Mikan came back for part of the 1955–56 season but retired for good after that. The Lakers had a very bad season in 1957–58, winning only 19 games. Mikan was briefly coach but was fired.

The Lakers got the top pick in the 1958 NBA draft and chose Elgin Baylor. Baylor was named Rookie of the Year. He helped the Lakers improve, reaching the NBA Finals. They were swept by the Celtics, starting their long rivalry.

In their last year in Minneapolis, the Lakers went 25–50. Their plane crash-landed in a cornfield, but no one was hurt. They picked Jerry West in the 1960 NBA draft. In the 1960 off-season, the team moved to Los Angeles. They became the NBA's first West Coast team. Baylor scored 71 points in one game, a new NBA record. The Lakers made the playoffs but lost in game seven of their series.

With Baylor and West leading, the Lakers improved to 54–26 in 1961–62. They reached the finals. Baylor set an NBA Finals record with 61 points in one game. But the Lakers lost to the Celtics in overtime of game seven. Frank Selvy missed a shot that could have won the game.

Los Angeles won 53 games in 1962–63 but lost to the Celtics in the Finals again. They lost to Boston in the Finals in 1965 and 1966 as well. In 1967, Los Angeles moved to a new arena called The Forum. They lost to the Celtics in the Finals again in 1968.

Wilt Chamberlain Joins the Team (1968–1973)

On July 9, 1968, the Lakers got Wilt Chamberlain from the Philadelphia 76ers. In his first season, Chamberlain led the league in rebounds. West, Baylor, and Chamberlain all scored over 20 points per game. The Lakers won their division. They met the Celtics in the finals again. Los Angeles had home court advantage for the first time. They led 3–2 but Boston won the series in seven games. West was named the first-ever Finals MVP, even though his team lost. In 1970, West won his first scoring title. The team returned to the finals against the New York Knicks, losing 4–3. The next season, the Lakers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 1971–72 season brought big changes. Coach Bill Sharman joined and made the team more disciplined. Elgin Baylor retired early in the season. The Lakers won 33 games in a row, an NBA record. They won 69 games that season, which was an NBA record for 24 years. Chamberlain averaged 14.8 points and led the league in rebounding. West led the league in assists. Sharman was named Coach of the Year. The Lakers reached the finals and beat the New York Knicks 4 games to 1. Chamberlain won the NBA Finals MVP Award.

The Lakers won 60 games in the 1972–73 season. Wilt Chamberlain, in his last season, led the league in rebounding again. He also set an NBA record for field-goal percentage. The team reached the 1973 NBA Finals but lost to the New York Knicks in five games.

Building "Showtime" (1973–1979)

In the 1973–74 season, Jerry West played only 31 games due to injuries. The team still won their division. They made the playoffs but lost to Milwaukee. After the season, West retired.

After missing the playoffs in 1974–75, the Lakers got Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He had already won three MVP awards. Abdul-Jabbar wanted to leave Milwaukee. He was traded to the Lakers. In 1975–76, Abdul-Jabbar had his fourth MVP season. The Lakers missed the playoffs.

West became the team's coach. The Lakers got Jamaal Wilkes and signed Norm Nixon. In the 1976–77 season, Abdul-Jabbar won another MVP award. The Lakers finished with the best record in the league. They lost in the Western Conference Finals.

In the 1977–78 season, Abdul-Jabbar broke his hand in the first game. Later, Kermit Washington punched Rudy Tomjanovich during a fight. Tomjanovich was badly hurt, and his career ended. Washington was suspended and left the team. The Lakers still won 45 games but lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 1978–79, they lost in the semifinals.

The "Showtime" Era (1979–1991)

In the 1979 NBA draft, Los Angeles picked Magic Johnson first overall. Johnson's amazing "no-look" passes made the Lakers' offense exciting. They won 60 games in Johnson's first year. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals. Johnson won the Finals MVP award. He played center in game six because Abdul-Jabbar was hurt. He scored 42 points, had 15 rebounds, and seven assists. The team struggled in 1980–81 because Johnson was injured. They lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In 1981–82, Johnson complained about coach Paul Westhead. Westhead was fired, and Pat Riley became coach. The team became known as "Showtime" because of their fast-paced offense. They won the Pacific Division and swept two playoff series. They won the NBA Finals 4–2 against the 76ers. In the 1982 draft, the Lakers picked James Worthy. The Lakers won their division again. Worthy got injured, and they lost to Philadelphia in the 1983 NBA Finals.

In 1983–84, the Lakers played Boston in the Finals. This was their first Finals meeting since 1969. Boston won the series, making the Lakers' record 0–8 against the Celtics in the Finals.

The next season, the Lakers were motivated. They won their division and lost only two games in the Western Conference playoffs. In the NBA Finals, they faced the Celtics again. Los Angeles lost game one badly. But led by 38-year-old Abdul-Jabbar, they won the series in six games. They won the title in the Boston Garden, a first for a visiting team.

In 1985–86, the Lakers started strong and won 62 games. But the Rockets beat them in the Western Conference Finals.

Before the 1986–87 season, A.C. Green joined the starting lineup. Mychal Thompson was acquired. Johnson won his first MVP award. The Lakers won 65 games. They swept their way to the NBA Finals. They beat Boston in six games. Johnson's "baby hook" shot won game four. Johnson was named Finals MVP. Coach Riley promised the Lakers would win again next year.

In 1987–88, the Lakers won their seventh straight division title. They had tough seven-game series wins in the playoffs. They reached the NBA Finals for the seventh time in nine years. They beat the Detroit Pistons in seven games. James Worthy's triple-double in game seven earned him Finals MVP. This was their fifth title in nine years. It was also their last title until 2000.

In 1988–89, Los Angeles won 57 games. They swept through the playoffs. In their eighth trip to the NBA Finals in 10 years, they faced the Detroit Pistons again. With Byron Scott and Johnson injured, the Lakers were swept.

After the 1989 Finals, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired. The Lakers still won their ninth straight division title. But they lost in the second round of the playoffs. Riley stepped down as coach, and Mike Dunleavy took over.

The 1990–91 Lakers did not win their division. But they still made the NBA Finals, their ninth trip in 12 years. The Finals showed a change in power. The Lakers lost to the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan.

After "Showtime" (1991–1996)

On November 7, 1991, Magic Johnson announced he had HIV and would retire.

In their first season without Johnson, the team won 43 games. They lost in the first round of the playoffs. Coach Mike Dunleavy was fired.

The Lakers had their first losing season since 1976 in 1992–93. They still made the playoffs. They became the first eighth seed to win the first two road games against a number one seed. But they lost the series. In 1993–94, the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1976. Magic Johnson coached the last 16 games but did not stay permanently.

Under new coach Del Harris, Los Angeles made the playoffs for two seasons. They were led by young guards Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones. Johnson came out of retirement to play in 1995–96. He helped the team finish strong. After some issues and a first-round loss, Johnson retired for the final time.

O'Neal and Bryant Dynasty (1996–2004)

In 1996, the Lakers got 17-year-old Kobe Bryant in a trade. They also signed free agent Shaquille O'Neal. Jerry West was key in getting both players. The Lakers also drafted Derek Fisher. O'Neal led the team to a 56–26 record. They beat the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. O'Neal scored 46 points in one game. But they lost to the Utah Jazz in the next round.

In 1997–98, the Lakers had their best start ever, 11–0. O'Neal missed games due to injury. They finished 61–21. They beat Portland and Seattle in the playoffs. But they were swept by the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals.

In 1998–99, Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell were traded. Glen Rice joined the team. Coach Del Harris was fired and replaced by Kurt Rambis. The team finished 31–19 in the short season. They beat Houston but were swept by San Antonio. This was the last game at the Great Western Forum.

Before 1999–2000, Los Angeles hired Phil Jackson, who had coached the Chicago Bulls to six championships. He brought his "triangle offense". The Lakers signed veterans like Ron Harper and A.C. Green. The team moved to the new Staples Center.

Led by league MVP O'Neal, the Lakers won 67 games. They beat Sacramento and Phoenix in the playoffs. In the Western Conference Finals, they trailed Portland 3–1. But they came back to win game seven and advance to the NBA Finals. In their first Finals since 1991, the Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers 4–2. They won their first title since 1988. After the season, Jackson gained more control of the team.

The next season, the Lakers won fewer regular season games. But they swept the first three rounds of the playoffs. They beat Portland, Sacramento, and San Antonio. They met Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals. The Sixers won game one, but the Lakers won the next four games. They won their second straight title. Their 15–1 playoff record was the best in NBA history.

The Lakers won 58 games in 2001–02. In the playoffs, they swept Portland and beat San Antonio. They faced the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Finals. This series is known as one of the greatest playoff matchups. The Lakers won game one. The Kings won the next two. In game four, Robert Horry hit a game-winning three-pointer. The Kings won game five on a buzzer-beater. The Lakers won game six in a controversial game. They won game seven in overtime. The Lakers then achieved a three-peat by sweeping the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. O'Neal won Finals MVP for all three series.

The Lakers tried for a four-peat the next year. They started slowly but finished strong. They beat Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. But they lost to San Antonio in six games.

Before the 2003–04 season, the Lakers signed Karl Malone and Gary Payton. They formed a ""superteam"". But injuries affected O'Neal, Malone, and Bryant. The Lakers won their division and reached the NBA Finals. They lost to Detroit in five games.

The Kobe Bryant Era (2004–2016)

Rebuilding the Team (2004–2007)

In 2004, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat. This started a rebuilding phase. Bryant and O'Neal had argued in the past. Phil Jackson did not return as coach. He wrote a book criticizing Bryant. The Lakers traded Rick Fox and Gary Payton. Derek Fisher left. The team hired Rudy Tomjanovich as coach. He resigned due to health problems. The Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

The Lakers drafted Andrew Bynum in 2005. They traded for Kwame Brown. Jackson returned to coach the team. On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points against Toronto. This is the second-highest total in NBA history. The Lakers made the playoffs. They led Phoenix 3–1 in the first round but lost the series in seven games.

In the next season, the Lakers struggled. They lost in the first round to Phoenix again. Bryant was frustrated and asked to be traded.

Bryant and Gasol Win Championships (2007–2011)

After getting Derek Fisher back, the Lakers started 2007–08 well. Their center, Andrew Bynum, got injured. In February, they acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. This trade was very important. The Lakers finished with the best record in the Western Conference. Bryant won the league's MVP award. In the playoffs, they beat the Nuggets, Jazz, and Spurs. But they lost to the Celtics in six games in the NBA Finals.

In the 2008–09 season, the Lakers finished with the best record in the Western Conference. They beat the Jazz, Rockets, and Nuggets in the playoffs. They won their 15th NBA championship by beating the Orlando Magic in five games in the NBA finals. Bryant was named the NBA Finals MVP for the first time.

The Lakers added Ron Artest (Metta World Peace). They finished the 2009–10 season with the best record in the Western Conference again. They beat the Thunder, Jazz, and Suns in the playoffs. In the finals, the Lakers played the Boston Celtics for the 12th time. They came back from being down 3–2 in the series. They won game seven to beat the Celtics. This gave them their 16th NBA title. Bryant was named Finals MVP again.

Phil Jackson returned for the 2010–11 season. The Lakers beat the New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the playoffs. But they were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round. Jackson announced he would not return as coach.

After Jackson (2011–2016)

Mike Brown was hired as head coach in 2011. The Lakers traded Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher. They finished the 2011–12 season as the third seed. They beat the Nuggets but lost to the Thunder in the second round.

In 2012, the Lakers acquired Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. Many people called them a ""superteam"". Mike Brown was fired after a 1–4 start. Mike D'Antoni was hired as head coach. On February 18, 2013, Lakers owner Jerry Buss died. D'Antoni coached the Lakers to a playoff spot. But Kobe Bryant suffered a serious leg injury and missed the rest of the season. The Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs.

Bryant returned in December 2013 but got another injury. The Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Mike D'Antoni resigned.

Byron Scott was hired as the new head coach. In 2014–15, rookie Julius Randle broke his leg. Kobe Bryant also tore his rotator cuff. The Lakers finished with their worst record in franchise history at the time.

The next season, the Lakers drafted D'Angelo Russell and Larry Nance Jr.. On November 30, 2015, Bryant announced he would retire. In Bryant's last season, the team missed the playoffs again. They had their worst record ever at 17–65.

After Bryant (2016–2018)

In 2016, the Lakers did not keep Byron Scott as coach. Luke Walton became the new head coach. The Lakers drafted Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac.

In 2017, Magic Johnson became president of basketball operations. Rob Pelinka was hired as general manager. The Lakers drafted Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma. They also got Brook Lopez. In 2018, Nance Jr. and Clarkson were traded.

The LeBron James Era (2018–Present)

James and Davis Era (2019–Present)

On July 9, 2018, the Lakers signed LeBron James. The team started well but James got injured. Other players like Ball and Ingram also got hurt.

In April 2019, Magic Johnson stepped down. Luke Walton was no longer head coach. On May 13, Frank Vogel was named head coach. On July 6, the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans. This trade ended the "young core" era, with only Kuzma remaining.

After the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, the Lakers played in the NBA Bubble. They finished with a 52–19 record, making the playoffs as the top seed. They reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. They beat the Miami Heat 4–2 to win the 2020 NBA Finals. James was named Finals MVP. This was Los Angeles' 17th championship, tying the Boston Celtics. Jeanie Buss became the first female owner to win the NBA Finals.

In 2021, the Lakers added many veterans like Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony. Kyle Kuzma was traded away.

The Lakers made a surprising run in the 2023 Playoffs. They reached the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Denver Nuggets.

On December 10, 2023, the Lakers won the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament. James was named tournament MVP. They made the playoffs as the seventh seed in 2024.

On June 27, 2024, the Lakers drafted Bronny James, LeBron's son. This made them the first father-son duo in NBA history. JJ Redick was hired as head coach. On October 23, 2024, LeBron and Bronny James played together for the first time.

Team Rivalries

Boston Celtics

The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Lakers is one of the best in the NBA. These two teams have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals. They dominated the league in the 1960s and 1980s.

The rivalry became less intense after Magic Johnson and Larry Bird retired. But in 2008, it was renewed when they met in the Finals again. The Celtics won that series. They faced off again in the 2010 NBA Finals, which the Lakers won in 7 games.

The two teams were tied with 17 championships each until 2024. Together, their 35 championships are almost half of all NBA titles. The Celtics have a better overall record against the Lakers.

Detroit Pistons

The rivalry between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons grew in the late 1980s. They played each other in back-to-back finals. The Lakers won in 1988, and the Pistons won in 1989.

The rivalry came back in the early 2000s. They met in the 2004 NBA Finals, which the Pistons won.

Golden State Warriors

The Lakers and Golden State Warriors have a long history. Both teams moved to California in the early 1960s. There is a lot of respect between these teams and their fans. The rivalry grew stronger when LeBron James joined the Lakers. He had faced the Warriors in four straight finals before. The teams have met seven times in the playoffs. The Lakers lead the all-time regular season and playoff series.

Los Angeles Clippers

The rivalry between the Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers is special. They were the only two NBA teams to share an arena, the Crypto.com Arena. This is one of only two intra-city rivalries in the NBA.

Lakers fans have historically preferred their team. Some say it wasn't a true rivalry until the Clippers became more successful.

Phoenix Suns

The Lakers and the Phoenix Suns rivalry became important in the 2000s. This was when the teams were led by Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers developed a rivalry in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Since 1999, they have met in the NBA Playoffs five times. The teams combined to appear in seven straight NBA Finals from 1999 to 2005. They also won five NBA championships during this time. From 1999 to 2004, their games were often seen as the top rivalry in the NBA. The winner of their playoff series usually went on to the NBA Finals.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings and the Lakers have played each other in the playoffs nine times. This was between 1949 and 2002. Both teams are based in California. The 2002 Western Conference Finals was a very close series. Many calls in game 6 were controversial. The Lakers won the series in game 7.

Team Ownership and Fanbase

Berger and Chalfen bought the Detroit Gems for $15,000 in 1947. They renamed the team the Lakers and moved them to Minnesota. The team struggled financially after Mikan retired. They were put up for sale in 1957. Bob Short led a group of investors who bought the team. They agreed to keep the team in Minnesota. But the team continued to lose money. Short had to move the team to Los Angeles in 1960.

The team's finances improved in Los Angeles. Short sold the team to Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke in 1965 for $5.175 million. Cooke built The Forum in 1967. He owned the team until 1979. He sold it, the Los Angeles Kings, and The Forum to Jerry Buss for $67 million. Buss was a wealthy real estate investor. Philip Anschutz bought a share of the team in 1998. Buss started the trend of selling naming rights to stadiums.

In 2013, Buss died at age 80. His ownership of the team went to his six children. His daughter, Jeanie Buss, became the Lakers' main owner.

Because the team is in Hollywood, many celebrities are Lakers fans. Jack Nicholson has had season tickets since the 1970s. Directors sometimes plan filming around Lakers home games. The team has always had high attendance. In 2010, the Lakers had the most popular team merchandise in the NBA. Kobe Bryant's jersey was the most popular.

Team Name, Logo, and Uniforms

The nickname "Lakers" comes from Minnesota being the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". The team's colors are purple, gold, and white. The Lakers logo shows the team name, "Los Angeles Lakers," in purple on a gold basketball. The team usually wears white jerseys for Sunday and holiday home games.

Season-by-Season Record

This lists the Lakers' last five seasons. For the full history, see List of Los Angeles Lakers seasons.

The Lakers have won 17 NBA titles. They have also been in the NBA Finals 15 other times. This includes eight NBA Finals appearances in the 1980s. The team's best record was 69–13 in 1972. Their worst record was 17–65 in 2016.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Season	GP	W	L	W–L%	Finish	Playoffs
2019–20	71	52	19	.732	1st, Pacific	NBA champions, 4–2 (Heat)
2020–21	72	42	30	.583	3rd, Pacific	Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Suns)
2021–22	82	33	49	.402	4th, Pacific	Did not qualify
2022–23	82	43	39	.524	5th, Pacific	Lost in Conference Finals, 0–4 (Nuggets)
2023–24	82	47	35	.573	3rd, Pacific	Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Nuggets)

Team and NBA Records

Kobe Bryant holds most team records for playing the most games (1,333) and minutes (48,298). Magic Johnson holds all major assist records. This includes career assists (10,141) and assists in a game (24). Johnson also has the most triple-doubles (138). Elmore Smith holds team records for blocks in a game (17). Scoring records are mostly held by Elgin Baylor and Bryant. Baylor has the highest career scoring average (27.4). Bryant has the most points in a single game (81).

The Lakers hold several NBA team records. This includes the most consecutive games won (33) in 1971–72. They also have the highest field-goal percentage for a season (54.5% in 1984–85). They have the most wins (3,027) and the most NBA Finals appearances (31). The 2000–01 team set an NBA record for the best playoff record at 15–1. The 1971–72 team holds franchise records for wins (69) and largest win margin.

Home Arenas

The Lakers play their home games at Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles. The arena opened in 1999 and seats nearly 19,000 fans. It is also home to the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Sparks, and Los Angeles Kings. Before Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers played at The Forum from 1967 to 1999.

In their first seven years in Los Angeles, the team played at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. When the team was in Minneapolis, they played at the Minneapolis Auditorium and the Minneapolis Armory.

Team Personnel

Current Roster

Draft Picks

The Lakers have had three first overall picks: Elgin Baylor (1958), Magic Johnson (1979), and James Worthy (1982). They have also had six lottery picks. Other notable draft picks include Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Michael Cooper, Norm Nixon, A.C. Green, Vlade Divac, Derek Fisher, and Luke Walton.

Head Coaches

The Lakers franchise has had 29 head coaches. John Kundla coached the team in Minneapolis to their first five championships. Pat Riley is second in franchise history for games coached and wins. Phil Jackson holds the record for most regular-season and playoff wins. Jackson, Riley, Kundla, and Bill Sharman are all in the Basketball Hall of Fame for their coaching. Several former Lakers players have also coached the team.

Mike Brown coached after Jackson. He was fired in 2012. Mike D'Antoni then became head coach. He resigned in 2014. Byron Scott was hired next and was fired in 2016. Former Lakers player Luke Walton became coach until 2019. Frank Vogel was named his successor in 2019. Vogel was fired in 2022. Darvin Ham was hired next but was fired in 2024. On June 24, 2024, former NBA player JJ Redick was hired as the 29th coach.

Hall of Famers and Retired Numbers

The Lakers have 39 people in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This includes players, coaches, and others who helped the team.

Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted	No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
99	George Mikan 1	C	1948–1954 1955–1956	1959	22	Elgin Baylor	F	1958–1971	1977
17	Jim Pollard 2	F	1948–1955	1978	13	Wilt Chamberlain	C	1968–1973	1979
44	Jerry West 3 5	G	1960–1974	1980	22	Slater Martin	G	1949–1956	1982
34 89	Clyde Lovellette	F/C	1953–1957	1988	42	Connie Hawkins	F/C	1973–1975	1992
19	Vern Mikkelsen	F	1949–1959	1995	33	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	C	1975–1989	1995
11 25	Gail Goodrich	G	1965–1968 1970–1976	1996	11	Bob McAdoo	F/C	1981–1985	2000
32	Magic Johnson 4 6	G	1979–1991 1996	2002	00 42	James Worthy	F	1982–1994	2003
4	Adrian Dantley	F	1977–1979	2008	11	Karl Malone 7	F	2003–2004	2010
73	Dennis Rodman	F	1999	2011	52	Jamaal Wilkes	F	1977–1985	2012
20	Gary Payton	G	2003–2004	2013	23	Mitch Richmond	G	2001–2002	2014
31	Spencer Haywood	F	1979–1980	2015	31	Zelmo Beaty	C	1974–1975	2016
34	Shaquille O'Neal	C	1996–2004	2016	11	Charlie Scott	G	1977–1978	2018
10	Steve Nash	G	2012–2015	2018	12	Vlade Divac	C	1989–1996 2004–2005	2019
8 24	Kobe Bryant	G	1996–2016	2020	23	Lou Hudson	G/F	1977–1979	2022
16	Pau Gasol	F/C	2008–2014	2023	5	Dick Barnett	G	1962–1965	2024
21	Michael Cooper	G	1978–1990	2024
Coaches
Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted	Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted
John Kundla		Head coach	1948–1957 1958–1959	1995	Bill Sharman		Head coach	1971–1976	2004
Phil Jackson		Head coach	1999–2004 2005–2011	2007	12	Pat Riley 8	Assistant coach Head coach	1979–1981 1981–1990	2008
Tex Winter		Assistant coach	1999–2008	2011	Rudy Tomjanovich		Head coach	2004–2005	2020
Contributors
Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted	Name		Position	Tenure	Inducted
Pete Newell9		General manager	1972–1976	1979		Chick Hearn	Broadcaster	1961–2002	2003
Jerry Buss		Owner	1979–2013	2010	Del Harris		Head coach	1994–1999	2022
Jerry West		General manager	1982–2000	2024

Notes:

• ¹ He also coached the team in 1957–1958.
• ² He also coached the team in 1960.
• ³ He also coached the team in 1976–1979.
• ⁴ He also coached the team in 1994.
• ⁵ West was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: as a player and as a member of the 1960 Olympic team.
• ⁶ Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: as a player and as a member of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ⁷ Malone was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: as a player and as a member of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ⁸ He also played for the team from 1970–1975.
• ⁹ Newell was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: as a contributor and as a member of the 1960 Olympic team.

FIBA Hall of Famers

Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
12	Vlade Divac	C	1989–1996 2004–2005	2010
34	Shaquille O'Neal	C	1996–2004	2017
10	Steve Nash	G	2012–2015	2020

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Lakers have retired thirteen jersey numbers. They also have an honorary microphone for their famous broadcaster. On January 13, 2025, Michael Cooper will have his #21 jersey retired.

Los Angeles Lakers Retired Numbers
No.	Player	Position	Tenure	Ceremony date
8	Kobe Bryant	G	1996–2006	December 18, 2017
13	Wilt Chamberlain	C	1968–1973	November 9, 1983
16	Pau Gasol	F	2008–2014	March 7, 2023
22	Elgin Baylor	F	1958–1971	November 9, 1983
24	Kobe Bryant	G	2006–2016	December 18, 2017
25	Gail Goodrich	G	1965–1968 1970–1976	November 20, 1996
32	Magic Johnson	G	1979–1991 1996	February 16, 1992
33	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	C	1975–1989	March 20, 1990
34	Shaquille O'Neal	C	1996–2004	April 2, 2013
42	James Worthy	F	1982–1994	December 10, 1995
44	Jerry West	G	1960–1974	November 19, 1983
52	Jamaal Wilkes	F	1977–1985	December 28, 2012
99	George Mikan	C	1948–1954 1956	October 30, 2022
	Chick Hearn	Broadcaster	1961–2002	December 2, 2002

• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all its teams on August 11, 2022.

The Lakers also honor several players and coaches from their Minneapolis days. These players have banners as Hall of Fame members, but their jersey numbers are not retired by the team:

Minneapolis Lakers Honored Numbers
No.	Player	Position	Tenure
17	Jim Pollard	F	1948–1955
19	Vern Mikkelsen	F	1949–1959
22	Slater Martin	G	1949–1956
34	Clyde Lovellette	F/C	1953–1957
John Kundla		Head coach	1948–1957 1958–1959

Team Media

For 41 years, Chick Hearn was the team's broadcaster. He called 3,338 games in a row until his death in 2002. Hearn gave Jerry West his "Mr. Clutch" nickname.

After Hearn, Paul Sunderland became the main announcer. Stu Lantz was the color commentator. Later, Joel Meyers joined Lantz for TV games. Spero Dedes and former Laker Mychal Thompson called games on the radio.

For the 2011–12 season, Bill Macdonald became the new TV play-by-play announcer. He joined Lantz. John Ireland joined Mychal Thompson on the radio.

Since 2009, Lakers radio broadcasts have been on KSPN (ESPN Radio) in English and KWKW in Spanish. Before that, KLAC had the radio rights. TV broadcasts used to be split between KCAL-TV and Fox Sports West. KCAL had been the Lakers' TV station since 1977.

In 2011, Time Warner Cable and the Lakers announced new sports networks. These networks would show the team's games exclusively for 20 years. These networks are now called Spectrum SportsNet.

See also

In Spanish: Los Angeles Lakers para niños