Los Angeles Lakers Information

Anybody who has heard of Los Angeles and who loves sports knows about one of the greatest basketball franchises to be apart of the National Basketball Association. With record-breaking statistics including the highest number of wins (2,621), the highest winning percentage (61.9%), the most number of finals appearances (28), the most number of consecutive wins in a season (33), and the second most championships (14), (behind the Boston Celtics), Los Angeles Lakers tickets are hard to come by.

The Lakers began in 1947 when two businessmen, Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen, bought the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League for $15,000 and relocated it to Minneapolis and named them the Minneapolis Lakers. In 1949, the NBL and BBA merged to become the NBA. The Minneapolis Lakers dominate the NBA its first years of membership. The team consisted of players like George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, and Clyde Lovellette who would all later go down in basketball's Hall of Fame. As the NBA's first "dynasty", the team won five championships in six years (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954). In 1960, the team was relocated and became what we know today as the Los Angeles Lakers. The team grew with more future Hall of Famers like Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, and Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Unfortunately, a wealth of talent does not a championship team make and the Lakers had to learn that lesson repeatedly, losing six times in eight years to the irksome Boston Celtics. They finally won the NBA championship in 1972 and again in 1979, with the addition of rookie Earvin "Magic" Johnson who scored 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to clinch the series. The Lakers then went on to dominate the 1980s, appearing in the finals seven more times in the decade and being crowned champions four more times, including consecutive championships in 1987 and 1988, the first team to do so since Boston in 1969.

Throughout the years, the Los Angeles Lakers have been riddled with the best and the brightest men to ever touch a basketball. After a lackluster existence through the 1990s, the Lakers picked up speed again in the 2000s. The team returned to the Finals with a deadly combination including Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson. This trilogy took the Lakers to the championships three consecutive times. Unfortunately in 2005, the magic had to come to an end. Personality conflicts between Shaq and Kobe ripped the team apart. After demanding to be traded, Shaq was relocated to the Miami Heat. Kobe tried to lead the team but was not man enough to carry them to the playoffs.

Not to worry though, fans are optimistic that the future will bring success to their Los Angeles team. They will continue to support this legendary team by buying Los Angeles Lakers tickets and encourage the team to go for the championship once again.