Los Angeles Lakers
Encyclopedia : L : LO : LOS : Los Angeles Lakers
- "Lakers" redirect here. For other uses, see Laker.
| Los Angeles Lakers | |
|
| |
| Conference | Western Conference |
| Division | Pacific Division |
| Founded | 1946 |
| History | Detroit Gems 1946-1947 Minneapolis Lakers 1947-1960 Los Angeles Lakers 1960-present |
| Arena | Staples Center |
| City | Los Angeles, California |
| Team Colors | Purple and Gold |
| Owner | Jerry Buss |
| Head Coach | Phil Jackson |
| Championships | |
| Conference Titles | |
| Division Titles | |
The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and are notable for having (at the end of the 2004–05 season) the most wins (2,621), the highest winning percentage (61.2%), the most finals appearances (28), and the second most championships (14), behind the Boston Celtics who have 16. They also have the record for most consecutive wins in a season (33). The Lakers are known to have had some of the best centers in NBA history with George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal, as well as featuring some of the greatest guards of the past and present in Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant.
Home arenas
- Minneapolis Auditorium (1947-1959)
- Minneapolis Armory (1959-60)
- (The Minneapolis Auditorium was the primary arena for the Lakers in their first 12 years, and the Armory was the primary arena their final year. However, because of scheduling conflicts, the Lakers often played in the Armory during the years their primary home was the Auditorium, and vice versa. They also played some games in the St. Paul Auditorium.)
- Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (1960-1967)
- The Forum (formerly Great Western Forum) (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 four 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, and Wilt Chamberlain, 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 championship contenders. During the 1996-1997 offseason, the Lakers acquired Shaquille O'Neal from the Orlando Magic and Kobe Bryant, the first pieces to the championship puzzle. In 1999, the team brought in Phil Jackson as the new head coach and the result was a run of three straight NBA championships.
The relationship between O'Neal and Bryant was frequently a contentious one, as was the relationship between Bryant and Jackson. The battles came to a head after the 2004 season, with the Lakers having failed to claim the championship for a second consecutive year. O'Neal was traded and Jackson retired, leaving Bryant as the team's unquestioned focal point.
A rough season ensued for the team, resulting in their missing the playoffs and prompting the return of Jackson to coach in the 2005-2006 season. The Lakers showed remarkable improvement and all visible signs of past difficulties between Bryant and Jackson were gone. The Lakers reclaimed a place in the Western Conference playoffs, losing in the first round to the Phoenix Suns. It was a disappointing finish for the team, as they became only the eighth NBA team ever to squander a 3-1 playoff lead and lose the series. Nevertheless, the team's progress over the previous season has restored fans' optimism regarding the Lakers' future.
Celebrity fanbase
The team is renowned for the fan base of celebrities, such as musicians and movie stars who attend its games. Without question, many are present only during successful times for the team. During such times, near-court seats at an important Laker game are a desirable place for entertainment figures to "be seen". Each network broadcast, and many local broadcasts, of Laker home games invariably includes a few moments taken out to show on camera the various celebrities present at that particular game.
There are a number of celebrities who appear to be genuine basketball fans and have supported the team with regular attendance over the years, in both good seasons and bad. The best known of this latter group are actors Denzel Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Edward Norton, Andy Garcia, Dyan Cannon, and most prominently Jack Nicholson, who maintains courtside seats next to the visitors' bench and has been a Lakers season ticket holder since 1967.
The California-based popular rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers also attend every game when not traveling themselves. The song "Magic Johnson", a tribute to the "Showtime"-era Lakers, can be found on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album Mother's Milk. As of the 2005-2006 season, Chili Pepper's bassist Flea, a self-proclaimed Lakers fanatic, writes a blog on the Lakers for NBA.com.
Season-by-season records
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win-Loss % {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! Season !! W !! L !! % !! Playoffs !! Results |- |Detroit Gems (NBL)(Not included in W/L totals) |- |1946-47 || 4 || 40 || .091 |- |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 |- |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 |- |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 |- | 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 First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals || Los Angeles 4, Chicago 3
Golden State 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 |- !Totals || 2793 || 1772 || .612 |- !Playoffs || 382 || 254 || .601 || 14 Championships
Current roster
| Los Angeles Lakers Current Roster
| ||||
| Head Coach: Phil Jackson | [Edit]
| |||
| F/C | 54 |
| Kwame Brown | Brunswick, Georgia>Brunswick, GA) |
| C | 17 |
| Andrew Bynum | Metuchen, New Jersey>Metuchen, NJ) |
| C | 31 |
| Chris Mihm | Texas)
|
| PF | 43 |
| Brian Cook | Illinois)
|
| PF | 10 |
| Vladimir Radmanović | (Serbia)
|
| PF | 21 |
| Ronny Turiaf | Gonzaga)
|
| SF | 7 |
| Lamar Odom Co-captain | Rhode Island)
|
| SF | 4 |
| Luke Walton | Arizona)
|
| SG | 24 |
| Kobe Bryant Captain | Lower Merion HS, Lower Merion, PA)
|
| SG | 6 |
| Maurice Evans | Texas)
|
| PG | 5 |
| Jordan Farmar | (UCLA)
|
| PG | 1 |
| Smush Parker | Fordham)
|
| PG | 18 |
| Sasha Vujačić | (Slovenia)
|
| PG | 11 |
| Shammond Williams | North Carolina)
|
| (FA) - Free Agent | Los Angeles Lakers
| |||
Franchise Leaders
- Career
- *Games: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,560)
- *Minutes Played: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (57,446)
- *Field Goals Made: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837)
- *Field Goal Attempts: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28,307)
- *3-Point Field Goals Made: Kobe Bryant (799)
- *3-Point Field Goal Attempts: Kobe Bryant (2,379)
- *Free Throws Made: Kobe Bryant (7,160)
- *Free Throw Attempts: Kobe Bryant (8,801)
- *Offensive Rebounds: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2,494)
- *Defensive Rebounds: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7,785)
- *Total Rebounds: Elgin Baylor (11,463)
- *Assists: Magic Johnson (10,141)
- *Steals: Magic Johnson (1,724)
- *Blocked Shots: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2,694)
- *Turnovers: Magic Johnson (3,506)
- *Personal Fouls: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3,224)
- *Points: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387)
Players of note
Connie Hawkins
Other notable players
- Elden Campbell
- Michael Cooper
- Vlade Divac
- Derek Fisher
- Rick Fox
- Devean George
- Karl Malone
- Gary Payton
- A.C. Green
- Happy Hairston
- Robert Horry
- Eddie Jones
- Rudy LaRusso
- Norm Nixon
- Shaquille O'Neal
- Kurt Rambis
- Byron Scott
- Elmore Smith
- Nick Van Exel
- Jamaal Wilkes
- Kobe Bryant
- Glen Rice
- Lamar Odom
Retired numbers
- 13 Wilt Chamberlain, C, 1968-73
- 22 Elgin Baylor, F, 1958-71 (including team's last season in Minneapolis)
- 25 Gail Goodrich, G, 1965-68 & 1970-76
- 32 Magic Johnson, G, 1979-91 & 1995-96; Head Coach 1994
- 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, 1975-89
- 42 James Worthy, F, 1982-94
- 44 Jerry West, G, 1960-74; Head Coach, 1976-79; General Manager, 1981-2002
- MIC Chick Hearn,Broadcaster, 1960-2002
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:
- John Kundla, Coach, 1948-59
- 99 George Mikan, C, 1948-56 (did not play in 1954-55)
- 17 Jim Pollard, F, 1948-55
- 19 Vern Mikkelsen, F, 1949-59
- 22 Slater Martin, G, 1949-56
- 34 Clyde Lovellette, F-C, 1953-57
Coaches
- Mike Dunleavy Head Coach 1990-92; Win-Loss record: 101-63 in regular season, 13-10 in playoffs.
- Del Harris Head Coach 1994–1999; 1998 NBA Pacific Division Champion. Win-Loss record: 224-116 in regular season, 17-19 in playoffs.
- Phil Jackson Head Coach 1999-2004 and 2005-present; 2000-02 NBA Champions and 2004 Western Conference Champion. Win-Loss record: 332-160 in regular season, 64-28 in playoffs.
- John Kundla 1st Head Coach of the Lakers 1948-58 and 1959; 1949 BAA Champion, 1950 and 1952-54 NBA Champions and 1951 and 1957 NBA Western Division Champions. Win-Loss record: 423-302 in regular season, 60-35 in playoffs
- Joe Mullaney Head Coach 1969-71; 1971 NBA Pacific Division Champion. Win-Loss record: 94-70 in regular season, 16-14 in playoffs
- Randy Pfund Head Coach 1992-94; Win-Loss record: 66-80 in regular season, 2-3 in playoffs.
- Pat Riley Head Coach 1981-90; 1982, 1985 and 1987-88 NBA Champions and 1983-84 and 1989 Western Conference Champions and 1986 and 1990 NBA Pacific Division Champions. Win-Loss record: 613-194 in regular season, 102-47 in playoffs.
- Fred Schaus Head Coach 1960-67; 1962-63 and 1965-66 NBA Western Division Champions. Win-Loss record: 315-245 in regular season, 33-38 in playoffs
- Bill Sharman Head Coach 1971-76; 1972 NBA Champions and 1973 Western Conference Champion and 1974 NBA Pacific Division Champion. Win-Loss record: 246-164 in regular season, 22-15 in playoffs.
- Rudy Tomjanovich Head Coach 2004-05; Win-Loss record: 24-19.
- Butch Van Breda Kolff Head Coach 1967-69; 1969 NBA Western Division Champion. Win-Loss record: 107-57 in regular season, 21-12 in playoffs.
- Paul Westhead Head Coach 1979-81; 1980 and 1982 NBA Champions. Win-Loss record: 111-50 in regular season, 13-6 in playoffs.
Miscellaneous information
- As the Minneapolis Lakers, the team holds the record for the lowest-scoring NBA game ever played along with the Fort Wayne Pistons. On November 22, 1950, the Lakers were leading until the fourth quarter, when the Pistons pulled ahead to win 19 to 18. This took place in a time before efforts were made to speed up gameplay, such as the addition of the shot clock.
- Poker Legend Doyle Brunson claims in his book Super/System that the (then) Minneapolis Lakers had been making offers to sign him while he was playing college Basketball, until he broke his leg hauling sheet rock.
- Los Angeles is the only city to have two NBA teams (the other team being the Los Angeles Clippers).
- The 2004-05 season marks only the fourth time the Lakers have failed qualifying for the post-season since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960.
- Their rivalry with the Boston Celtics is among the most storied in sports history.
- Since 1976, KCAL-TV (previously KHJ-TV) Channel 9 and KLAC Radio have been the flagship broadcast homes of the Los Angeles Lakers. KCAL airs every Laker road game, while all home games can be seen on Fox Sports Net, the longtime cable television home of the Lakers. Prior to KCAL, KTLA televised Laker games for a time. KLAC/AM570 airs all Laker games via radio. KWKW/AM1330 provides a Spanish simulcast of Laker games.
- The current TV announcers for the Lakers are Joel Meyers and former Laker Stu Lantz. Joel Meyers became the voice of the Lakers in 2005, replacing Paul Sunderland, who was the successor to the legendary Chick Hearn who died in 2002.
- They're the only NBA team whose primary home jersey color isn't white (it's gold). However, since the 2002-03 season the Lakers have worn white jerseys on Sunday and holiday home games.
- Former owner Jack Kent Cooke liked the color purple but disliked the term purple. As a result, during the era of his ownership, the colors he had chosen for his team were referred to as "Forum blue" and gold, rather than purple and gold. Even after Cooke sold the team, announcer Chick Hearn still sometimes used the description when describing the uniforms.
See also
External links
- [Los Angeles Lakers official web site]
- [Los Angeles Times Lakers Blog]
- [ClubLakers.com - Lakers fansite]
- [LakersGround.net - Lakers fansite]
- [LakersTalk.net - Lakers discussion]
- [Basketballboards.net Lakers forum]
- [Minneapolis Lakers web site]
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