Whether you bleed purple and gold or you have to hold back your last meal at the sound of their name, the Lakers are unquestionably one of the most successful NBA franchises of all-time, and it’s humanly impossible to deny that fact.
- They have won more games than any other team in the league’s history (3,027)
- They have done more efficiently than any other team (61.9% winning percentage)
- They have made 31 finals appearances, more than any other team in the league’s history
- Oh yeah, they have won 16 championships since 1949; and that is only the tip of their Shaq-sized iceberg.
While it would take more pages than Bill Simmons’ bullet-stopping Book of Basketball to recognize every Laker statistic, it’s even more important to understand how they were able to achieve those numbers. Was it the result of having great players and stellar coaching? Of course, but how has the City of Angels’ favorite team been able to consistently put a winning lineup on the floor? Although the villainous Boston Celtics have the edge over the forum blue and gold in terms of total titles, the Lake Show is, bias aside, the better of the two storied rivals.
Here are the top 10 moves that put them in the position to become the greatest franchise in the history of the NBA.
Next: The Big Dipper
When LeBron James peaced out on the city of Cleveland this summer, he became only the second player ever to change uniforms after an MVP season. Who was the first? Hall-of-famer and former Laker great, Wilt Chamberlain, who was dealt to the Lakers in 1968 for Darrall Imhoff, Archie Clark and Jerry Chambers. Fresh off yet another record-setting season, where he became the first center to lead the league in assists (he still holds that record to this day) and won his fourth Most Valuable Player award, Wilt brought a Hollywood-sized personality to the biggest stage in the world.
The man called “Stilt” carried with him a 1-6 record in playoff series against the Lakers’ storied nemesis Boston Celtics, however, he also provided LA with a dominating presence down low to compliment the hall-of-fame play of Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Although the Lakers would go on to win only one title in four finals appearances during Wilt’s five seasons with the team, they were able to establish arguably the greatest record in sports history during their lone championship season.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLrMw3vvhQw
Nine games into the 1971-72 NBA season, Baylor, a future hall-of-famer and team captain, ruptured his achilles tendon and announced his retirement. The night of his announcement, the Lakers, led by Wilt, the team’s new team captain, and Jerry West, earned the first victory of what would end up being a 33-game win streak–the longest in American professional sports history. The Lakers would finish the 1972 season with an all-time league best, 69-13 record, which would remain untouched until Jordan’s 72-win Bulls topped it 24 years later.
While Wilt may not have posted the scoring numbers that he did in Philadelphia and San Francisco, his dominance on the glass and presence down low allowed him to cement his name next to the other Laker legends while helping the Purple and Gold win first title since moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles; a feat that any Laker fan can respect. It may have been overdue, but with Wilt anchoring the team from down low, it was finally time for a tradition of winning to begin in Los Angeles.
Next: The Shaq Trade
The Summer of 2004 was a tough one to swallow for Laker fans. LA was coming off of an embarrassing 4-1 NBA Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons, despite having four future hall-of-famers on their roster (technically, only three were active, but that’s another story). Additionally, Phil Jackson announced his retirement from coaching, the Lakers were inches away from losing Kobe Bryant to their locker-room “rival” Clippers and oh yeah, Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in what seemed like the most lopsided trade in NBA history. Although I still think we could have gotten a CONSIDERABLY better deal than we did for the Big Fella, one would be hard pressed to look down on what has eventually become of the Shaq trade.
Call me crazy but I’m glad we traded Shaq. Did it hurt like a gunshot wound to see the end of a dynasty? Yes, it was unbelievably painful. Did it seem that the Lakers got the short end of the stick in the trade? Of course, that was inevitable. However, if you look at what the trade has translated to, it’s hard not to agree that it was the best decision for the franchise moving forward.
Lamar Odom, who was the focal point of Miami’s package for Shaq, is the only player remaining from the deal that went down six summers ago, and he is now the team’s stud sixth man as opposed to the sidekick he was expected to be. The other players acquired in the deal have long gone; Caron Butler was traded to Washington after one season in LA and Brian Grant was released from the team after an injury plagued year with the team. The Lakers also received a 2006 first round draft pick from Miami, which they used on Jordan Farmar, who was a key spark plug off of the bench during his four seasons as a Laker. However, Farmar is also considered an ex-Laker now, as he signed with the New Jersey Nets this summer. Though it may seem as if the Lakers received a sixth man and a backup point guard for Shaq, that is hardly the case.
The departure of Shaq made the 2004-2005 season quite the struggle for the Purple and Gold, forcing the Lakers into the lottery for the first time since 1994, where they used the 10th pick in the draft to select Andrew Bynum, who has become one of the better centers in the league when healthy. Additionally, Butler was flipped to Washington for Kwame Brown, who the Lakers used in the heist of Pau Gasol from Memphis during the 2008 NBA season. Although it was done indirectly, Lakers General Manager, Mitch Kupchak was able to turn Shaq into Gasol, Bynum and Odom, who have all become apart of the Lakes championship core. If that would have been the original deal, I would have said goodbye to Shaq without even blinking.
If the Lakers would have kept O’Neal, there is not a chance in this world this team would be anywhere close to the position it is in now. At the time of the trade, Shaq was 32 years old, out of shape and had about two or three more years before his career began to hit rock bottom. Keeping him would have meant the likely departure of Kobe Bryant, who was waiting to take complete control of the reigns to the team. The Lakers might not have been as bad as they were during the 2004-2005 season, but they surely would not have been anywhere close to two titles deep by 2010. While the Lakers did have to suffer three years of mediocracy and disappointment, it was wall worth it, considering the Lakers are the two-time defending champs and are favored to three-peat.
Next: More of Shaq Now here’s a bit of irony: what was better than trading Shaq? Signing him! For those who remember, the 1996 offseason was where the Lakers dynasty of the 2000’s began, as former Lakers GM and Laker great, Jerry West was able to sign a 24 year old Shaquille O’Neal to a massive seven year, 120 million dollar contract and acquire the draft rights to Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac. During his inaugural four years with Orlando, Shaq had already become one of the best players in the league–taking Orlando to the NBA finals in only his second year in the league and accomplished enough to be named one of the 50 Greatest Players of All-Time at the start of the 1996-97 NBA season. Although his eight year stint with the Lakers didn’t start with an immediate championship, it didn’t take long for Shaq to lead the Lakers to the promise land, which he did in a dominating fashion…multiple times.
After three years of early exits in the playoffs due to immaturity, inexperience and lack of quality coaching, Shaq and the Lakers finally made it to the top in 2000. After a dominating regular season, where they went 67-15 behind Shaq’s MVP season, the Lakers ousted the Indiana Pacers in the NBA finals four games to two, Shaq was named the finals MVP and the Lakers were able to begin what would be the first dynasty of the new decade.
Even though 2000 would be the Big Fella’s lone MVP regular season, it did not stop him or the Lakers from continuing their success. Led by Shaq, the Lakers went on to experience the best playoff record, 15-1, in NBA history, during the 2001 postseason. After plowing through the first three rounds of the playoffs, the Lakers reached the NBA finals for a second consecutive season and were able to overcome league MVP Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in five games. Once again, Shaq was crowned MVP of the NBA Finals.
The 2001-02 NBA season would solidify the Lakers as a true dynasty and Shaq would once again be behind their success. Although Kobe Bryant was much improved and well on his way to becoming the best player in the league, it was Shaq who crushed the competition in the Lakers four game sweep of the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. Taking home his third Finals MVP trophy in as many seasons, The Big Aristotle had established himself among the great Laker centers, putting him in the same company as hall-of-famers George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
His tenure with the Lakers may not have ended on the highest note, however, it does not take away the fact, that during his time wearing the forum blue and gold, he was the biggest, baddest monster to ever own the paint.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMX1FGwyr38&feature=related
Next: Say Hello to Hollywood! It’s quite often overlooked how different this franchise would be if it had never left the Twin Cities for Los Angeles in 1960. Would Laker greats such as Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kobe Bryant ever have fully reached their full superstar potential while playing in Minnesota? Would Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal have even wanted to play for the Lakers if they had stayed? Would USC alumni, Jerry Buss, still have been interested in buying a team from Minnesota?
This is no knock on Minnesota either. Los Angeles is simply the place to be to become a star. If you’re a Los Angeles Laker, you are a celebrity. Not everyone on the roster may be an A-lister, but being anything associated with the Lakers organization is as good as gold if you’re living in Los Angeles. All the big named celebrities, you see them at Laker games because that’s where they want to be seen. This may not influence the superstardom of individual players, but as a team, it definitely boosts the teams celebrity status.
While Minnesota didn’t receive anything in return for the Lakers and the move doesn’t actually qualify as a true transaction, the relocation was nonetheless monumental in the Lakers becoming the league’s greatest franchise. For better or worse, moving to Los Angeles allowed the Lakers to be in the spotlight. The city acts as an attractive location to prospective free-agent signees and coaches.
Although Minnesota has been out of the picture for quite, as the state is now inhabited by a new club, the state will never be fully removed from the franchise. For every true Laker fan, whether they know it or not, a piece of Minnesota is attached to their love of the Lakers. The Twin Cities is where it all began; with George Mikan and Jim Pollard headlining the team, It’s where the greatest franchise in sports was born. For the younger generation of today’s Laker fans, it probably seems impossible to imagine this team playing in any other city than LA. The Lakers were meant for Los Angeles and Los Angeles was meant for the Lakers.
Next: The Great Dr. Buss
As Laker fans, we are spoiled to have our favorite team be ran by an owner as incredible as Dr. Jerry Buss. He may not have the youth and personality of Mark Cuban or Mikhail Prokhorov, but he holds down the job better than most of America’s professional sport club owners.
When Buss purchased the franchise from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, it was the beginning of a special era. Buss introduced the sports world to “Showtime” in the 80’s, as the Lake Show won five titles from 1980 to 1988. Although the team experienced quite a dry spell in the 90’s, they made up for it in the 00’s, as the Lakers had five championship teams between 2000 and 2010. Buss continues to display a commitment to winning and a willingness to spend the money to always keep the team in contention. He has proven that when an owner is the team’s biggest fan, anything is possible.
As a long time Laker fan that appreciates everything Buss does for this franchise and its fans, it’s sad to think that he won’t be the owner forever. Luckily, he has been keeping his children closely in the fold for years, and the Buss family will continue staying committed to putting a winning team on the floor. When Dr. Buss purchased this franchise so many years ago, it was one of the best moves possible for this franchise. He doesn’t treat it as a side job as some owners do, he displays a dedication to putting together a fantastic team for the world to watch
Next: The Zen Master The 1990’s were nowhere near as successful for the Lakers as were its surrounding years. Between the 1990 and 1999 NBA seasons, the Lakers went through six different head coaches. It wasn’t until the summer before the 1999-2000 season that they found the gem they had been searching for.
The man called upon was none other than Phil Jackson. The former player and current Zen Master, had found his niche as a coach with the Chicago Bulls during the 90’s and had led them to six championships in eight years, as well as the historic 72-win season that has yet to be touched.
With the talent and skill of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant already in place, as well as a strong supporting cast of proven veterans, Jackson was viewed as the final piece to the teams championship puzzle. Despite being ladened with high expectations, Jackson was once again able to come through victorious, guiding the Lakers to three titles in as many seasons through his usage of the Triangle Offense.
However, after two unforeseen seasons of early playoff exits, the Lakers and Phil Jackson severed ties, and went there separate ways. The Lakers brought in Rudy Tomjanovich, a coach with championship rings to show, but for some reason, seeing him on the sidelines just didn’t feel right. He was running a run and gun offense, which was quite different from the Triangle and 43 games into the 2004-2005 NBA season (his first with the Lakers), he resigned from his post as head coach, and assistant coach, Frank Hamblen finished out the season (with the team running the triangle offense of course).
Hamblen made it known he did not want to be the head coach of a team and was content with being an assistant. After only one year away from the game, Phil Jackson agreed to come back and signed on with the team, despite it’s below average roster. After two years of first round exits, the Lakers slowly started to make their way back on top. By the end of the 2008 season, the Lakers were finally atop the Western Conference and the favorites to reach the NBA Finals. However, their long-time rival Boston Celtics would send them home in embarrassing fashion, winning the deciding game by 39 points.
Determined to win Phil his 10th NBA championship, which would give him more championship rings than any other coach in the game’s history, the Lakers came back in 2009 on a mission, and didn’t stop until they were celebrating on Orlando’s home court after capturing the franchise’s 15th title. In 2010, it was the same story, but with a different wrinkle. Ron Artest, a league-wide known enigma replaced Trevor Ariza on the roster, and everyone was looking at Phil to do with Artest what he had previously done with former head-case, Dennis Rodman. Although he had his share of speed bumps, Artest came up big in the Lakers 2010 playoff run, and was a key contributor in the Lakers game 7 finals win over Boston. Once again, Phil had succeeded. Coming back for his 21st and final season, Phil is looking to capture his 12th title. If he does so, I think it’s safe to making him apart of Lakers culture has been one of the greatest moves this franchise has ever made, as it has resulted in five banners hanging in Staples Center.
Next: The Captain A hall-of-fame big man and the Lakers go together like Craig Sager and an excessively colorful suit (corny, I know, but I’m trying to avoid clichés people!). Every Lakers championship team has had at least an all-star big man, if not one that was bound for the hall of fame. That’s what makes it so hard to determine the best of all of the Laker bigs. Is it George Mikan, the OBG (Original Big Guy)? Or Wilt Chamberlain, who helped bring the first title to LA? Is it Shaquille O’Neal, who re-defined the center position and nearly rewrote the NBA rulebook? No, while all of the aforementioned big men have been above and beyond amazing, none of them come close to what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar brought to the table for the Lake Show.
Kareem came to LA already a celebrity in his own right; he was a three-time MVP, one-time NBA champion and finals MVP prior to the trade that sent Walt Wesley, Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman to the Bucks in exchange for the 7’2 giant. They couldn’t have made a better deal, Kareem returned to the City of Angels, as he had played his college ball at UCLA and the Lakers found a big man to supplant the hole left by the departure of The Big Dipper a few years prior. Kareem began his career with Los Angeles with a hot start, winning his first of three MVP awards that he would go on to register with Los Angeles during his first season with the team. Although he couldn’t get the Lakers over the hump from very good team to championship team, he knew that day would come, and it finally did in the 1979 draft when the Lakers selected Magic Johnson #1 overall. Although he had to wait four years before the arrival of Magic, it proved to be well worth his time, as the duo would go on to dominate throughout the 80’s winning five titles in eight finals appearances.
To this day, Kareem remains the league’s all-time leading scorer with over 38 thousand points scored and is arguably the greatest center of all-time. Beginning in 2005, Kareem became a special assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, devoting his time to the progression of young center Andrew Bynum, who, with the right training, could end up as the next great Laker center. httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM2HIUR15s0
Next: Bringing the Magic
Is Magic Johnson the all-time greatest Laker? He was a walking triple-double, who could play every position on the floor, and play it well. He is arguably the greatest passer of all-time and had an electrifying personality that could force a smile from on even the greenest of Celtic fans. He was a three time MVP and five time champion who loved the game as much as humanly possible. Although his career was cut short by quite a few years due to his tragic contraction of HIV, Magic was not only one of the greatest Lakers of all time, but he was one of the greatest individuals to ever step foot on the hardwood.
A 6’9 point guard, Magic was unlike any other player we have ever seen. He could rebound like a center, pass like a guard, score the ball, play defense–whatever it was, Magic could do it. His electrifying personality seemed to electrify his game, which was very compatible with the Lakers Showtime offense of the 80’s. He’d catch an outlet pass from Kareem, push the ball up court and find a streaking Worthy, Cooper or Scott for the easiest basket of their lives. If he had to score he would, but he found just as much enjoyment (if not more) in seeing his teammates score a bucket off a beautiful Magic Johnson pass (that term should be trademarked).
When he came into the league as a rookie in 1980, Magic hit the ground running as he, along with regular season MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, led the Lakers to the NBA Finals and eventually an NBA championship. What was even more remarkable, was that prior to game six of the finals, Kareem injured his ankle and had to sit out what could possibly be the deciding game. Magic stood in at center and had one of the best games of his career, totaling 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists in the Lakers 123-107 championship-deciding victory. He was named the Finals MVP of the series and is the only rookie in NBA history to ever record that feat. From then on is history, as the era known as Showtime was begun and no player could have fit the bill of point guard better than the electrifying 6’9 point guard out of Michigan State.
Whether or not Magic and his five NBA championships and three MVP’s has translated him as the greatest Laker player ever is up in the air. With Kobe Bryant moving at his current pace, it’ll be tough to decide who truly is the better Laker great. Nonetheless, Magic has remained a part of this franchise since his early retirement in 1991, acting as a coach and now a part-owner of the Lakers organization. Drafting him, although an easy choice, was one of the best moves this franchise has ever made, as his sparky personality ignited Showtime in LA. httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxBM3dTPc_k
Next: The Black Mamba
When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired the draft rights to Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets for Vlade Divac, I don’t think anyone besides the man behind the trade, former Lakers GM, Jerry West, realized what the Hornets were giving up. However, it was 1996, not 2006 and drafting high schoolers was nowhere near as popular as it would soon become. So, at the time, it appeared that the Lakers were the ones giving up more than they were taking back. Unfortunately for the Hornets (and the 12 teams that passed on the 17-year old phenom from Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia, PA), that would not be the case, as a long time Laker fan would begin chasing his dream of becoming the next Laker great.
While he hit quite a few rough patches during his first three years in the league, Kobe did not stop working hard. He went into each summer with a specific goal, and every time, would come out a considerably improved player. At 21 years of age entering his fourth season in the league, Kobe was steadily becoming one of the best players in the game. With Shaquille O’Neal down low and Kobe on the perimeter, the pair would form one of the greatest one-two punches of all-time and it would result in a dynasty footed by three consecutive titles.
Although Kobe’s immense talent and unparalleled work ethic drew comparisons to Michael Jordan, questions about his maturity would often come up, and it soon became nearly impossible for the duo of Kobe and Shaq to coexist. Following a public feud that was Perez Hilton worthy, Shaq was traded and a 26-year old Kobe was handed the reigns to the team. After experiencing a few years of struggles and a little growing up, Kobe was ready to become the player he had so desperately wanted to become. Five rings and one MVP award later, it’s official that the 13th pick of the 1996 draft is one of the greatest players of all-time.
Nearing the end of his prime, Kobe has the opportunity to end his career with more titles than most thought possible. As long as he stays healthy, I don’t see why that isn’t in the realm of possibility. He may not be Jordan, but he’s the closest thing we have seen since, and Kobe has done more than help continue the Lakers tradition of winning and greatness during his time as a Laker. httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyKgaeAoa-g
Next: The Logo
If there is one person who has helped make the Los Angeles Lakers the greatest franchise in NBA history, it has to be Jerry West. From 1960 until 2002 (42 years!!!), no single person has influenced Laker success more than “The Logo” himself.
Drafted number two overall out of West Virginia in the 1960 NBA Draft, West was clearly going to be a star in this league, having totaled 2,309 points during his collegiate career. Although he would only win one title during his tenure with the Lakers, his career is by no means a failure because of that. In the Lakers 1969 Finals loss to the Celtics, West was crowned the Finals MVP, and is the only player in history to accomplish that feat from a losing team.
With career averages of 27 points per game on 47% shooting, West was truly an NBA warrior. At 6’2, he was a great rebounder for his diminutive size, averaging almost six per game for his career, and despite his high scoring numbers, he was able to find his teammates as well, averaging 6.7 assists per game over the course of his career.
Apart of the Lakers team that won 33-games in a row and won the first title while in Los Angeles, West enjoyed a more than successful career as a player, however, he continued to have a hand in the team’s success, even after his retirement in 1974.
Three years after his retirement, West was named head coach of the Lakers. Although he never was able to coach the Lakers to a title, he finished his coaching stint with a 141-101 record and made the playoffs in each of the three years he was on the sidelines.
Following his time as head coach, West worked as a scout for the Lakers for three seasons until he was named the team’s General Manager prior to the 1982-83 season. In the 19 years that he held the post, West helped build the Showtime team of the 80’s and in the summer of 1996, he made his final mark as the Lakers GM by signing Shaquille O’Neal and trading for Kobe Bryant. Along with a few other moves, which included the hiring of Phil Jackson in 1999, West had set a rock solid foundation for the franchise, which would go on to win five championships in 11 seasons.
After the Lakers capped off their historic three-peat in 2002, West left the Lakers organization to manage the Memphis Grizzlies in attempt to build a winning franchise from the bottom up.
Drafting Jerry West was the best move the Lakers could have made, but keeping him around is what has made this franchise the greatest in NBA history.