A Basic History of the Los Angeles Lakers Basketball Team

The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association. The Lakers play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.

The Los Angles Lakers are currently owned by Jerry Buss and coached by Phil Jackson. The official colors of the Lakers are gold, purple, and white.

The franchise was founded in 1946 in Detroit when the team was known as the Detroit Gems. In 1947, the franchise moved to Minneapolis and became the Lakers. The Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and have been there ever since.

During the franchise's time in Minneapolis, the team played its home games in the Minneapolis Auditorium and the Minneapolis Armory. From 1960-1967, the Lakers played in the Los Angles Memorial Sports Arena. In 1967, the team moved its home games to The Forum, known as the Great Western Forum from 1988-1999, where they played until 1999. In 1999, the Lakers moved their home games to their current location, The Staples Center, in downtown Los Angeles.

The Lakers franchise has been a winning franchise throughout its history. The franchise won its first division title in 1948 when the team was still in the NBL. The franchise has since won a total of 26 NBA division titles in 1951, 1953-1954, 1962-1963, 1965-1966, 1969, 1971-1974, 1977, 1980, 1982-1990, 2000, 2001, and 2004.

The franchise has also won a total of 28 conference titles in 1949-1950, 1952-1954, 1959, 1962-1963, 1965-1966, 1968-1970, 1972-1973, 1980, 1982-1985, 1987-1989, 1991, 2000-2002, and 2004.

The franchise won its first championship in 1948 in the NBL and has won a total of 14 in the NBA (including when it was known as the BAA). They won the NBA Championship in 1949-1950, 1952-1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987-1988, and 2000-2002.

Fourteen former players for the Lakers' franchise are currently in the National Basketball Hall of Fame. Those fourteen players are Kareem Abdul-Jabbr, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich, Connie Hawkins, Magic Johnson, Clyde Lovellette, Slater Martin, Bob McAdoo, George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Pollard, James Worthy, and Jerry West. John Kundla, Bill Sharman, and Phil Jackson are former and current coaches that are in the Hall of Fame.

Former Laker Shaquille O'Neal and current Laker Kobe Bryant are both likely to enter the Hall of Fame once they retire and become eligible.

The Lakers franchise has retired a total of seven numbers. The players whose jersey numbers have been retired are Wilt Chamberlain - 13, Elgin Baylor - 22, Gail Goodrich -25, Magic Johnson - 32, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 33, James Worthy - 42, and Jerry West - 44. Instead of a number, a picture of a microphone honors former Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn. A banner also hangs in the Staples Center honoring the players who played a large part in the franchise's success while still in Minneapolis. Those players are George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen, Slater Martin, and Clyde Lovellette. Former coach John Kundla is also on the banner.