The Los Angeles Lakers have compiled a resume full of success since the team’s establishment in 1947. Since 1947 the Lakers have printed the blueprint on how to succeed in the game of professional basketball, on and off the court.
The Lakers impressive resume includes 16 world championships, the most NBA Finals appearances with 31, the most wins all time and the best overall winning percentage in the NBA.
Of course this caliber of success doesn’t come easy and it certainly wasn’t given to the Lakers on a silver platter. Front office decisions directly influence and dictate the performances on the court.
There is no doubt that the Lakers’ front office is partly responsible for what happens on the court and why the dedicated fans in Los Angeles and throughout the world love the Lakers.
There have been a handful of crucial decisions that have made a tremendous impact on the team, the organization and the fans. However, there is one decision that stands out against the rest and is directly accountable for the Lakers’ long history of success and triumph.
First, here are a few runner-ups in no particular order:
- Drafting Jerry West
- Trading for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Drafting Magic Johnson
- Hiring Pat Riley
- Drafting Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher in 1996
- Trading for Shaquille O’Neal
- Hiring Phil Jackson (twice)
- Choosing Kobe over Shaq
- Acquiring Pau Gasol