| known for and which the state is nicknamed - Land of | | | | the Hall of Fame also. |
| the 10,000 Lakes. The infamous team won 5 different | | | | Even with this success the Lakers they always |
| league championships before the were than moved to | | | | seemed to be thwarted by one team - the Boston |
| Los Angeles. | | | | Celtics. They went up against this team six times and |
| The Lakers team was first created back in 1944 | | | | each time they lost the championship. It wasn't until the |
| when Morris Chalfen and Ben Berger decided that | | | | late 1970's, early 1980's that they would finally take the |
| they were going to purchase the Detroit Gems (a part | | | | championship away from the Boston Celtics and |
| of the National Basketball League) for a total of $15. | | | | become the most dominant team in the NBA. |
| Because the Gems had the worst record of all the | | | | Fans were sure that the Lakers would finally secure |
| teams in the NBL - the Lakers were able to be the | | | | their win against the Celtics in 1972 when Bill Sharman |
| first to pick out the players they needed from the 1947 | | | | had taken charge of the team. Sharman was one of |
| dispersal draft from the Professional Basketball | | | | the best coach (he won Coach of the Year award) |
| League of America. From this draft they chose | | | | and together with his best player - Kareem |
| George Mikan who later in life became one of the | | | | Abdul-Jabbar - the team seemed unstoppable. Yet, the |
| basketball's greatest center. With the help of coach | | | | Lakers were still unable to win a championship. That is |
| John Kundla the Lakers team was able to the NBL | | | | until Earvin "Magic" Johnson joined the team. In 1979 |
| championship during the '47-'48 season. It was during | | | | Johnson (who at the time was only a rookie) had to |
| this time that they were selected along with three | | | | take over for the injured Abdul-Jabbar and made an |
| other teams to compete in the Basketball Association | | | | amazing 42 points, 7 assists, and 15 rebounds to |
| of America. From this they won the '48-'49 BAA | | | | secure the championship. |
| championship. | | | | Under Coach Pat Riley the Lakers were able to head |
| George Mikan wasn't the only player that would help | | | | to the championship finals eight times during the 1980's. |
| to bring greatness to the Lakers. Vern Mikkelsen, | | | | They won 5 of those championships out of 8. |
| Slater Martin, Jim Pollard, and Clyde Lovellette all | | | | Even though they were able to make it once again to |
| played big roles and together with George Mikan they | | | | the championship finals in 1991 they spent most of the |
| all reached the NBA Hall of Fame during the years of | | | | 1990's playing against teams that most did not consider |
| 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954. When the team | | | | to be legitimate title contenders. Things started to look |
| moved to Los Angeles in 1960 their game only got | | | | up for them in 1996 when they signed on the rookie |
| better. It was than that Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt | | | | from the Charlotte Hornets - Kobe Bryant and |
| Chamberlain, and Gail Goodrich all made their way into | | | | Shaquille O'Neal. |