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"Lakers" redirects here. For other uses, see Laker. The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, who play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Lakers are notable for having (at the end of the 2005–06 season) the most wins (2,806), the highest winning percentage (61.5%), the most finals appearances (28), and the second most championships (14) of any franchise behind their chief rivals the Boston Celtics. They also hold the record for the longest consecutive win streak (33) in U.S. professional team sports. Notably, the franchise has only missed the playoffs 5 times. Home arenas Minneapolis Auditorium (1947-1959) Minneapolis Armory (1959-60) (Due to scheduling conflicts, the Lakers actually played in both the Auditorium and the Armory throughout the 1947-60 period. They also played some games in the St. Paul Auditorium.) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (1960-1967) The Forum (formerly Great Western Forum from 1988-2000) (1967-1999) Staples Center (1999-present) Team history The Lakers began in 1946 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 of players from the Professional Basketball League of America, 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 three 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. 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). After their move to Los Angeles in 1960, the team featured Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, 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. 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, appearing 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. Although they made another finals appearance in 1991, they spent most of the 1990s fielding teams that were not considered legitimate title contenders. However, during the 1996-1997 offseason, the Lakers acquired Shaquille O'Neal from the Orlando Magic and newly-drafted Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets. Following the hiring of Phil Jackson as head coach in 1999, the team returned to championship form; led by O'Neal, Bryant, and a talented supporting cast, the Lakers won three consecutive NBA Finals from 2000-02. Most recently, the Lakers endured a series of off-the-court problems, largely the result of friction among O'Neal, Bryant, and Jackson. In 2004, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat and Jackson temporarily retired. After the Lakers struggled in 2004-05, Jackson returned for the following season, and the Bryant-led team returned to the postseason, losing to the Phoenix Suns in the first round. Celebrity fans
Season-by-season records |- !colspan="6"|Detroit Gems (NBL) (Not included in W/L totals) |- |1946-47 || 4 || 40 || .091|| || |- !colspan="6"|Minneapolis Lakers (NBL) (Not included in W/L totals) |- |1947-48 || 43 || 17 || .717 || Won First Round Won NBL Semifinals Won NBL Championship || Minneapolis 3, Oshkosh 1 Minneapolis 2, Tri-Cities 0 Minneapolis 3, Rochester 1 |- !colspan="6"|Minneapolis Lakers (BAA) (Included in W/L totals) |- |1948-49 || 44 || 16 || .733 || Won First Round Won BAA Semifinals Won BAA Finals || Minneapolis 2, Chicago 0 Minneapolis 2, Rochester 0 Minneapolis 4, Syracuse 2 |- !colspan="6"|Minneapolis Lakers (NBA) |- |1949-50 || 51 || 17 || .750 || Won First-Place Game Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Won NBA Semifinals Won NBA Finals || Minneapolis over Rochester Minneapolis 2, Chicago 0 Minneapolis 2, Ft. Wayne 0 Minneapolis 2, Anderson 0 Minneapolis 4, Syracuse 2 |- |1950-51 || 44 || 24 || .647 || Won Division Semifinals Lost Division Finals || Minneapolis 2, Indianapolis 1 Rochester 3 Minneapolis 1 |- |1951-52 || 40 || 26 || .606 || Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals || Minneapolis 2, Indianapolis 0 Minneapolis 3, Rochester 1 Minneapolis 4, New York 3 |- |1952-53 || 48 || 22 || .686 || Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals || Minneapolis 2, Indianapolis 0 Minneapolis 3, Ft. Wayne 2 Minneapolis 4, New York 1 |- |1953-54 || 46 || 26 || .639 || Round-Robin Round-Robin Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals || Minneapolis 3-0 over Rochester and Ft. Wayne Minneapolis 2, Rochester 1 Minneapolis 4, Syracuse 3 |- |1954-55 || 40 || 32 || .556 || Won Division Semifinals Lost Division Finals || Minneapolis 2, Rochester 1 Ft. Wayne 3, Minneapolis 1 |- |1955-56 || 33 || 39 || .458 || Won Second-Place Game Lost Division Semifinals || Minneapolis over St. Louis St. Louis 2, Minneapolis 1 |- |1956-57 || 34 || 38 || .472 || Lost Division Tiebreaker Won Division Semifinals Lost Division Finals || St. Louis over Minneapolis Minneapolis 2, Ft. Wayne 0 St. Louis 3, Minneapolis 0 |- |1957-58 || 19 || 53 || .264|| || |- |1958-59 || 33 || 39 || .458 || Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Lost NBA Finals || Minneapolis 2, Detroit 1 Minneapolis 4, St. Louis 2 Boston 4, Minneapolis 0 |- |1959-60 || 25 || 50 || .333 || Won Division Semifinals Lost Division Finals || Minneapolis 2, Detroit 0 St. Louis 4, Minneapolis 3 |- !colspan="6"| Los Angeles Lakers |- |1960-61 || 36 || 43 || .456 || Won Division Semifinals Lost Division Finals || Los Angeles 2, Detroit 0 St. Louis 4, Los Angeles 3 |- |1961-62 || 54 || 26 || .675 || Won Division Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 3, Detroit 2 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |- |1962-63 || 53 || 27 || .663 || Won Division Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, St. Louis 3 Boston 4, Los Angeles 2 |- |1963-64 || 42 || 38 || .525 || Lost Division Semifinals || St. Louis 3, Los Angeles 2 |- |1964-65 || 49 || 31 || .613 || Won Division Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, Baltimore 2 Boston 4, Los Angeles 1 |- |1965-66 || 45 || 35 || .563 || Won Division Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, St. Louis 3 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |- |1966-67 || 36 || 45 || .444 || Lost Division Semifinals || San Francisco 3, Los Angeles 0 |- |1967-68 || 52 || 30 || .634 || Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, Chicago 1 Los Angeles 4, San Francisco 0 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |- |1968-69 || 55 || 27 || .671 || Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, San Francisco 2 Los Angeles 4, Atlanta 1 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |- |1969-70 || 46 || 36 || .561 || Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, Phoenix 3 Los Angeles 4, Atlanta 0 New York 4, Los Angeles 3 |- |1970-71 || 48 || 34 || .585 || Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals || Los Angeles 4, Chicago 3 Milwaukee 4, Los Angeles 1 |- |1971-72 || 69 || 13 || .841 || Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, Chicago 0 Los Angeles 4, Milwaukee 2 Los Angeles 4, New York 1 |- |1972-73 || 60 || 22 || .732 || Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, Chicago 3 Los Angeles 4, Golden State 1 New York 4, Los Angeles 1 |- |1973-74 || 47 || 35 || .573 || Lost First Round || Milwaukee 4, Los Angeles 1 |- |1974-75 || 30 || 52 || .366|| || |- |1975-76 || 40 || 42 || .488|| || |- |1976-77 || 40 || 42 || .488 || Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals || Los Angeles 4, Golden State 3 Portland 4, Los Angeles 0 |- |1977-78 || 45 || 37 || .549 || Lost First Round || Seattle 2, Los Angeles 1 |- |1978-79 || 47 || 35 || .573 || Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals || Los Angeles 2, Denver 1 Seattle 4, Los Angeles 1 |- |1979-80 || 60 || 22 || .732 || Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, Phoenix 1 Los Angeles 4, Seattle 1 Los Angeles 4, Philadelphia 2 |- |1980-81 || 54 || 28 || .659 || Lost First Round || Houston 2, Los Angeles 1 |- |1981-82 || 57 || 25 || .695 || Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, Phoenix 0 Los Angeles 4, San Antonio 0 Los Angeles 4, Philadelphia 2 |- |1982-83 || 58 || 24 || .707 || Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 4, Portland 1 Los Angeles 4, San Antonio 2 Philadelphia 4, Los Angeles 0 |- |1983-84 || 54 || 28 || .659 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals || Los Angeles 3, Kansas City 0 Los Angeles 4, Dallas 1 Los Angeles 4, Phoenix 2 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |- |1984-85 || 62 || 20 || .756 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || LA Lakers 3, Phoenix 0 LA Lakers 4, Portland 1 LA Lakers 4, Denver 1 LA Lakers 4, Boston 2 |- |1985-86 || 62 || 20 || .756 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals || LA Lakers 3, San Antonio 0 LA Lakers 4, Dallas 2 Houston 4, LA Lakers 1 |- |1986-87 || 65 || 17 || .793 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || LA Lakers 3, Denver 0 LA Lakers 4, Golden State 1 LA Lakers 4, Seattle 0 LA Lakers 4, Boston 2 |- |1987-88 || 62 || 20 || .756 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || LA Lakers 3, San Antonio 0 LA Lakers 4, Utah 3 LA Lakers 4, Dallas 3 LA Lakers 4, Detroit 3 |- |1988-89 || 57 || 25 || .695 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals || LA Lakers 3, Portland 0 LA Lakers 4, Seattle 0 LA Lakers 4, Phoenix 0 Detroit 4, LA Lakers 0 |- |1989-90 || 63 || 19 || .768 || Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals || LA Lakers 3, Houston 1 Phoenix 4, LA Lakers 1 |- |1990-91 || 58 || 24 || .707 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals || LA Lakers 3, Houston 0 LA Lakers 4, Golden State 1 LA Lakers 4, Portland 2 Chicago 4, LA Lakers 1 |- |1991-92 || 43 || 39 || .524 || Lost First Round || Portland 3, LA Lakers 1 |- |1992-93 || 39 || 43 || .476 || Lost First Round || Phoenix 3, LA Lakers 2 |- |1993-94 || 33 || 49 || .402|| || |- |1994-95 || 48 || 34 || .585 || Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals || LA Lakers 3, Seattle 1 San Antonio 4, LA Lakers 2 |- |1995-96 || 53 || 29 || .646 || Lost First Round || Houston 3, LA Lakers 1 |- |1996-97 || 56 || 26 || .683 || Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals || LA Lakers 3, Portland 1 Utah 4, LA Lakers 1 |- |1997-98 || 61 || 21 || .744 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals || LA Lakers 3, Portland 1 LA Lakers 4, Seattle 1 Utah 4, LA Lakers 0 |- |1998-99 || 31 || 19 || .620 || Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals || LA Lakers 3, Houston 1 San Antonio 4, LA Lakers 0 |- |1999-2000 || 67 || 15 || .817 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || LA Lakers 3, Sacramento 2 LA Lakers 4, Phoenix 1 LA Lakers 4, Portland 3 LA Lakers 4, Indiana 2 |- |2000-01 || 56 || 26 || .683 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || LA Lakers 3, Portland 0 LA Lakers 4, Sacramento 0 LA Lakers 4, San Antonio 0 LA Lakers 4, Philadelphia 1 |- |2001-02 || 58 || 24 || .707 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals || LA Lakers 3, Portland 0 LA Lakers 4, San Antonio 1 LA Lakers 4, Sacramento 3 LA Lakers 4, New Jersey 0 |- |2002-03 || 50 || 32 || .610 || Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals || LA Lakers 4, Minnesota 2 San Antonio 4, LA Lakers 2 |- |2003-04 || 56 || 26 || .683 || Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals || LA Lakers 4, Houston 1 LA Lakers 4, San Antonio 2 LA Lakers 4, Minnesota 2 Detroit 4, LA Lakers 1 |- |2004-05 || 34 || 48 || .415|| || |- |2005-06 || 45 || 37 || .549 || Lost First Round || Phoenix 4, LA Lakers 3 |- |2006-07 || 3 || 0 || 1.0 || TBD || N/A |- !Totals || 2795 || 1773 || .635 |- !Playoffs || 382 || 254 || .601 || 14 Championships Current roster Franchise leaders Players of note In 1997, the NBA announced a list of the 50 best players in its history, and of them, eight played all or significant portions of their careers with the Lakers: centers George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O'Neal; guards Jerry West and Magic Johnson; and forwards Elgin Baylor and James Worthy. Basketball Hall of Famers Other notable players Retired numbers 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: Notable Head Coaches Chick Hearn The Lakers are also known for their long-time play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn, who called their games on local radio and television from March, 1961 through the end of the 2002 season, including a record streak of 3,338 consecutive games beginning November 21, 1965. A 1991 Hall of Fame inductee, Hearn was known for his many catch phrases, some of which became part of the standard lexicon of basketball (e.g. "slam dunk", "dribble drive", "triple double"). Miscellaneous information
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