Los Angeles Lakers History - Lakers Universe

Los Angeles Lakers history, including name origin, Minneapolis Lakers, retired jerseys, stats year by year, and NBA titles.

Name Origin:

When the Detroit Gems moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, the new owners changed the name to Minneapolis Lakers. What does Lakers mean? There's not much solid data about the origin of the name. The NBA's website lately says it is in reference to the "The Land of 10,000 Lakes", the state's nickname, But another version indicates that it makes reference to the name of a type of cargo ship used on the Great Lakes and the Mississippi river.

Franchise History:

Season 1946-47 Detroit Gems (NBL)
Season 1947-48: Minneapolis Lakers (NBL)
Season 1948-49: Minneapolis Lakers (BAA)
From 1949-50 to 1959-60: Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
From 1960-61 to the present: Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

* Note: the BAA league is the origin of the NBA and its titles are officially considered as NBA titles.

NBA Titles:

A total of 17 championships: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010 and 2020.

Los Angeles Lakers appeared in 32 of the NBA's 76 finals (this data includes 2021-22) and are tied with the Celtics for most titles won among 20 teams with titles (complete list):

Championships NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 17 32
Boston Celtics 17 22
Golden State Warriors 7 12
Chicago Bulls 6 6
San Antonio Spurs 5 6

Most Valuable Players (MVP):

8 times Lakers players won the Season MVP award.
(complete list of Lakers MVPs...)
and 13 times the Finals MVP.
(complete list of Lakers finals MVPs...)

Coaches:

28 coaches have coached the Lakers, 6 of them won titles.
Phil Jackson and John Kundla won 5 each.
(complete list of coaches...)

Retired Jersey's Numbers:

(8) and (24) Kobe Bryant
(13) Wilt Chamberlain
(16) Pau Gasol
(22) Elgin Baylor
(25) Gail Goodrich
(32) Magic Johnson
(33) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
(34) Shaquille O'Neal
(42) James Worthy
(44) Jerry West (The NBA logo is his silhouette)
(52). Jamaal Wilkes
(99). George Mikan
- Two banners were raised at Staples Center in the 2001-02 season, one representing the Minneapolis Lakers players and coach in the Hall of Fame: players George Mikan, Slater Martin, Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen, Clyde Lovellette and coach John Kundla; the other banner is in recognition of the five championships they won before the team moved west to L.A. in 1960.

more details here...

Lakers NBA statistics year by year:

= Season in progress
Lakers
Champion
Regular Season Playoffs
Year
W L % W L % Champion
2023-24 36 32 .529 - - -
2022-23 43 39 .524 8 8 .500 Denver Nuggets
2021-22 33 49 .402 - - - Golden State Warriors
2020-21 42 30 .583 2 4 .333 Milwaukee Bucks
NBA 2019-20 52 19 .732 16 5 .762 Los Angeles Lakers
2018-19 37 45 .451 - - - Toronto Raptors
2017-18 35 47 .427 - - - Golden State Warriors
2016-17 26 56 .317 - - - Golden State Warriors
2015-16 17 65 .207 - - - Cleveland Cavaliers
2014-15 21 61 .256 - - - Golden State Warriors
2013-14 27 55 .329 - - - San Antonio Spurs
2012-13 45 37 .549 0 4 .000 Miami Heat
2011-12 41 25 .621 5 7 .417 Miami Heat
2010-11 57 25 .695 4 6 .400 Dallas Mavericks
NBA 2009-10 57 25 .695 16 7 .696 Los Angeles Lakers
NBA 2008-09 65 17 .793 16 7 .696 Los Angeles Lakers
Western Conference 2007-08 57 25 .695 14 7 .667 Boston Celtics
2006-07 42 40 .512 1 4 .200 San Antonio Spurs
2005-06 45 37 .549 3 4 .429 Miami Heat
2004-05 34 48 .415 - - - San Antonio Spurs
Western Conference 2003-04 56 26 .683 13 9 .591 Detroit Pistons
2002-03 50 32 .610 6 6 .500 San Antonio Spurs
NBA 2001-02 58 24 .707 15 4 .789 Los Angeles Lakers
NBA 2000-01 56 26 .683 15 1 .938 Los Angeles Lakers
NBA 1999-00 67 15 .817 15 8 .652 Los Angeles Lakers
1998-99 31 19 .620 3 5 .375 San Antonio Spurs
1997-98 61 21 .744 7 6 .538 Chicago Bulls
1996-97 56 26 .683 4 5 .444 Chicago Bulls
1995-96 53 29 .646 1 3 .250 Chicago Bulls
1994-95 48 34 .585 5 5 .500 Houston Rockets
1993-94 33 49 .402 - - - Houston Rockets
1992-93 39 43 .476 2 3 .400 Chicago Bulls
1991-92 43 39 .524 1 3 .250 Chicago Bulls
Western Conference 1990-91 58 24 .707 12 7 .632 Chicago Bulls
1989-90 63 19 .768 4 5 .444 Detroit Pistons
Western Conference 1988-89 57 25 .695 11 4 .733 Detroit Pistons
NBA 1987-88 62 20 .756 15 9 .625 Los Angeles Lakers
NBA 1986-87 65 17 .793 15 3 .833 Los Angeles Lakers
1985-86 62 20 .756 8 6 .571 Boston Celtics
NBA 1984-85 62 20 .756 15 4 .789 Los Angeles Lakers
Western Conference 1983-84 54 28 .659 14 7 .667 Boston Celtics
Western Conference 1982-83 58 24 .707 8 7 .533 Philadelphia 76ers
NBA 1981-82 57 25 .695 12 2 .857 Los Angeles Lakers
1980-81 54 28 .659 1 2 .333 Boston Celtics
NBA 1979-80 60 22 .732 12 4 .750 Los Angeles Lakers
1978-79 47 35 .573 3 5 .375 Seattle Supersonics
1977-78 45 37 .549 1 2 .333 Washington Bullets
1976-77 53 29 .646 4 7 .364 Portland Trail Blazers
1975-76 40 42 .488 - - - Boston Celtics
1974-75 30 52 .366 - - - Golden State Warriors
1973-74 47 35 .573 1 4 .200 Boston Celtics
Western Conference 1972-73 60 22 .732 9 8 .529 New York Knicks
NBA 1971-72 69 13 .841 12 3 .800 Los Angeles Lakers
1970-71 48 34 .585 5 7 .417 Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference 1969-70 46 36 .561 11 7 .611 New York Knicks
Western Conference 1968-69 55 27 .671 11 7 .611 Boston Celtics
Western Conference 1967-68 52 30 .634 10 5 .667 Boston Celtics
1966-67 36 45 .444 0 3 .000 Philadelphia 76ers
Western Conference 1965-66 45 35 .563 7 7 .500 Boston Celtics
Western Conference 1964-65 49 31 .613 5 6 .455 Boston Celtics
1963-64 42 38 .525 2 3 .400 Boston Celtics
Western Conference 1962-63 53 27 .663 6 7 .462 Boston Celtics
Western Conference 1961-62 54 26 .675 7 6 .538 Boston Celtics
1960-61 36 43 .456 6 6 .500 Boston Celtics
1959-60 25 50 .333 5 4 .556 Boston Celtics
Western Conference 1958-59 33 39 .458 6 7 .462 Boston Celtics
1957-58 19 53 .264 - - - St. Louis Hawks
1956-57 34 38 .472 2 3 .400 Boston Celtics
1955-56 33 39 .458 1 2 .333 Philadelphia Warriors
1954-55 40 32 .556 3 4 .429 Syracuse Nationals
NBA 1953-54 46 26 .639 9 4 .692 Minneapolis Lakers
NBA 1952-53 48 22 .686 9 3 .750 Minneapolis Lakers
NBA 1951-52 40 26 .606 9 4 .692 Minneapolis Lakers
1950-51 44 24 .647 3 4 .429 Rochester Royals
NBA 1949-50 51 17 .750 10 2 .833 Minneapolis Lakers
NBA 1948-49 44 16 .733 8 2 .800 Minneapolis Lakers
W L % W L %
TOTAL 3,539 2,451 .591 464 313 .597

more details: Lakers Yearly Records...