Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an NBA basketball team based at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The club originated in Minneapolis in 1947.
Contents27 sections
Key facts
1947Minneapolis origins
On July 6, Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen bought the Detroit Gems franchise for $15,000 and rebuilt it in Minneapolis. They brought Max Winter into management and hired John Kundla as coach. Their first NBL game, on November 1, was a 49–47 win over Oshkosh; George Mikan joined that month.[1]
1948–1954Early championships
Mikan led the club to the 1948 NBL title, followed by league championships in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954.[2]
The club moved from the NBL to the BAA in 1948.[1]
1960Moving to Los Angeles
Bob Short moved the club to Los Angeles.[3]
1960sBaylor and West
Elgin Baylor and Jerry West formed the leading scoring partnership. On November 15, 1960, Baylor scored 71 against the Knicks, becoming the league’s first player to pass 70 in a game. Known for driving and aerial offense, he earned ten All-NBA First Team selections.[4]
1971–1972Streak and title
The Lakers won 33 straight games and the championship.[5]
1975Abdul-Jabbar arrives
The team acquired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from Milwaukee.[2]
1979Jerry Buss takes over
Buss bought the Lakers and combined star players, coaching, management and entertainment marketing. During his ownership, the team reached eight Finals and won five titles in the 1980s. He also helped launch Prime Ticket, which televised Lakers home games.[6]
1980sShowtime
At six-foot-nine, Magic Johnson played point guard, with his passing and playmaking defining Showtime. He helped the Lakers win five titles.[7]
The championship years were 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988.[2]
1980s–2000sWest in management
After retiring, Jerry West served as coach, scout and general manager. He helped build the Showtime roster and laid the foundations for the Shaquille O’NealShaquille O’NealShaquille O’Neal (born March 6, 1972), known as Shaq, is an American former professional basketball player, sports analyst, entrepreneur and musician. A center and four-time NBA champion, he later pursued television, brand licensing and restaurant businesses. He serves as president of Reebok Basketball and commissioner of DUNKMAN.Open the full entry–Kobe Bryant partnership that won three consecutive titles in the early 2000s.[8]
1996–2002O’Neal and Bryant
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal joined forces with the Lakers in 1996, followed by consecutive championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.[9]
1999A new home arena opens
The venue later named Crypto.com Arena opened on October 17. Owned and operated by AEG, it became the Lakers’ home.[10]
2000–2010Five titles under Jackson
Phil Jackson installed the triangle offense with the Lakers, winning consecutive titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and two more in 2009 and 2010. Added to his six championships with Chicago, these made him the NBA’s most successful championship-winning coach.[11]
2006–201081 points and another repeat
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 against Toronto. Consecutive Lakers titles in 2009 and 2010 brought his championship total to five.[9]
2013Jerry Buss dies
Buss died on February 18, ending his 34-year ownership era.[6]
2018–2019James and Davis arrive
LeBron James joined as a free agent in 2018; Anthony Davis arrived by trade in 2019.[2]
2020Title number 17
The Lakers beat Miami in the Finals.[12]
James and Davis helped end a ten-year championship drought.[2]
2021Arena renamed
Staples Center became Crypto.com Arena.[13]
2023The first NBA Cup
The Lakers won the inaugural In-Season Tournament.[14]
2024A new coach
The Lakers hired JJ Redick as head coach.[15]
February 2025Dončić arrives
Luka Dončić joined the Lakers.[16]
October 2025Walter takeover
Mark Walter completed his majority acquisition.[17]
2026Western semifinals
The Thunder swept the Lakers.[18]
August 2026A new sale agreement
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger announced an agreement to buy the team. AP reported a $12.5 billion valuation, citing a person familiar with the terms; NBA Board of Governors approval was still required.[19]
August 2026A Buss family ownership dispute
AP reported that Jeanie Buss opposed her siblings’ plan to sell the family trust’s remaining 17.8% stake. Her lawyer said approval from the current co-trustees was required.[20]
Home arena
Crypto.com Arena is in downtown Los Angeles and also hosts the NHLNHLThe National Hockey League (NHL) is a men’s professional ice hockey league with clubs in the United States and Canada. Founded in Montreal in 1917, it comprises 32 teams and awards the Stanley Cup to its playoff champion.Open the full entry’s Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings, also known as the LA Kings, are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) and play at Crypto.com Arena.Open the full entry and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.[10]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
Los Angeles Lakers: Official website: https://www.nba.com/lakers/ (opens in a new window).[21]
Los Angeles Lakers: X: https://x.com/Lakers (opens in a new window).[22]
Los Angeles Lakers: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakers/ (opens in a new window).[23]
Los Angeles Lakers: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losangeleslakers (opens in a new window).[24]
Los Angeles Lakers: YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: https://www.youtube.com/@lakers (opens in a new window).[25]
Sources
- Minneapolis Lakers 1957–58 Media Guide (opens in a new window)
- Los Angeles Lakers 2025–26 Media Guide (opens in a new window)
- Lakers Season Capsules (opens in a new window)
- Elgin Baylor (opens in a new window)
- Streaking: 1971–72 Lakers (opens in a new window)
- Jerry Buss (opens in a new window)
- Magic Johnson (opens in a new window)
- Jerry West — Contributor (opens in a new window)
- Kobe Bryant (opens in a new window)
- About Us (opens in a new window)
- Phil Jackson (opens in a new window)
- Los Angeles Lakers win17th NBA title (opens in a new window)
- Staples Center to be renamed Crypto.com Arena beginning December25 (opens in a new window)
- 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament (opens in a new window)
- Lakers introduce JJ Redick as team’s new coach (opens in a new window)
- Luka Dončić Is a Laker (opens in a new window)
- Mark Walter Acquires Majority Stake in Los Angeles Lakers (opens in a new window)
- 2026 West Semifinals: Thunder vs Lakers (opens in a new window)
- A blockbuster $12.5B deal as Josh Kushner and Bob Iger agree to buy the Lakers, AP source says (opens in a new window)
- Jeanie Buss to contest siblings’ plan to sell their Lakers minority ownership stake to Kushner, Iger (opens in a new window)
- Los Angeles Lakers official website (opens in a new window)
- Los Angeles Lakers — x (opens in a new window)
- Los Angeles Lakers — instagram (opens in a new window)
- Los Angeles Lakers — facebook (opens in a new window)
- Los Angeles Lakers — youtube (opens in a new window)