Los Angeles Lakers History

The franchise for the Lakers was initial began in Detroit prior to it was moved to Minneapolis. That is when the team received the popular title that they are known for and which the state is nicknamed - Land of the 10,000 Lakes. The infamous team won five different league championships ahead of the were than moved to Los Angeles.

The Lakers group was 1st created back in 1944 when Morris Chalfen and Ben Berger decided that they were going to buy the Detroit Gems (a component of the National Basketball League) for a total of $15. Due to the fact the Gems had the worst record of all the teams in the NBL - the Lakers were in a position to be the 1st to pick out the players they necessary from the 1947 dispersal draft from the Skilled Basketball League of America. From this draft they chose George Mikan who later in life became one of the basketballs greatest center. With the aid of coach John Kundla the Lakers group was able to the NBL championship during the 47-48 season. It was for the duration of this time that they had been selected along with three other teams to compete acting coach los angeles in the Basketball Association of America. From this they won the 48-49 BAA championship.

George Mikan wasnt the only player that would assist to bring greatness to the Lakers. Vern Mikkelsen, Slater Martin, Jim Pollard, and Clyde Lovellette all played massive roles and with each other with George Mikan they all reached the NBA Hall of Fame in the course of the years of 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954. When the group moved to Los Angeles in 1960 their game only got far better. It was than that Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Gail Goodrich all made their way into the Hall of Fame also.

Even with this achievement the Lakers they usually seemed to be thwarted by a single team - the Boston Celtics. They went up against this group six instances and every time they lost the championship. It wasnt until the late 1970s, early 1980s that they would lastly take the championship away from the Boston Celtics and become the most dominant team in the NBA.

Fans had been confident that the Lakers would lastly secure their win against the Celtics in 1972 when Bill Sharman had taken charge of the group. Sharman was one of the best coach (he won Coach of the Year award) and together with his best player - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - the group seemed unstoppable. Yet, the Lakers were still unable to acting coach la win a championship. That is until Earvin Magic Johnson joined the team. In 1979 Johnson (who at the time was only a rookie) had to take over for the injured Abdul-Jabbar and created an wonderful 42 points, 7 assists, and 15 rebounds to secure the championship.

Beneath Coach Pat Riley the Lakers had been able to head to the championship finals eight instances for the duration of the 1980's. They won 5 of those championships out of 8.

Even though they were able to make it as soon as yet again to the championship finals in 1991 they spent most of the 1990s playing acting coach in los angeles against teams that most did not take into account to be legitimate title contenders. Things started to appear up for them in 1996 when they signed on the rookie from the Charlotte Hornets - Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal.