Los Angeles Lakers - Definition and Overview

The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. They are notable for having the highest number of wins (2,621), the highest winning percentage (61.9%), the most number of finals appearances (28), and the second most championships (14). They also have the record for most number of consecutive wins in a season (33).

General information

• Founded: 1947 in National Basketball League, joined NBA in 1948.
• Formerly known as: Minneapolis Lakers 1947-60
• Home Arena: STAPLES Center
• Uniform colors: Purple and Gold
• Logo design: A yellow basketball, the purple letters "LOS ANGELES LAKERS" superimposed
• National Basketball League Championship: 1948
• NBA Championships: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002

Miscellaneous information

• As the Minneapolis Lakers, the team holds the record for the lowest-scoring NBA game ever played along with the Fort Wayne Pistons. On November 22, 1950, the Lakers were leading until the fourth quarter, when the Pistons pulled ahead to win 19 to 18. This took place in a time before efforts were made to speed up gameplay, such as the addition of the shot clock.

Players of note

Basketball Hall of Famers

• 11 Bob McAdoo
• 13 Wilt Chamberlain
• 17 Jim Pollard (Minneapolis)
• 19 Vern Mikkelsen (Minneapolis)
• 22 Slater Martin (Minneapolis)
• 22 Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis-Los Angeles)
• 25 Gail Goodrich
• 32 Magic Johnson
• 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
• 34 Clyde Lovellette (Minneapolis)
• 42 James Worthy
• 44 Jerry West
• 99 George Mikan (Minneapolis)
• 02 Christopher Barragan

Not to be forgotten:

• Happy Hairston
• Jamaal Wilkes
• Norm Nixon
• Michael Cooper
• Byron Scott
• A.C. Green
• Shaquille O'Neal
• Robert Horry
• Derek Fisher
• Karl Malone
• Gary Payton

Retired numbers:

• 13 Wilt Chamberlain
• 22 Elgin Baylor
• 25 Gail Goodrich
• 32 Magic Johnson
• 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
• 42 James Worthy
• 44 Jerry West
• Microphone Chick Hearn

Current Players

Starters:

• Kobe Bryant - Shooting Guard, 6'6", 220
• Lamar Odom - Power Forward, 6'10", 225
• Caron Butler - Small Forward, 6'7", 215
• Chucky Atkins - Point Guard, 5'11", 160
• Chris Mihm - Center, 7'0", 265

Reserves:

• Vlade Divac - Center, 7'1", 260
• Brian Cook - Power Forward, 6'9", 235
• Tierre Brown - Point Guard, 6'2", 190
• Devean George - Small Forward, 6'8", 240
• Brian Grant - Center, 6'9", 255
• Jumaine Jones - Small Forward, 6'8", 220
• Slava Medvedenko - Power Forward, 6'10", 250
• Luke Walton - Small Forward, 6'8", 235

Rookies:

• Sasha Vujacic - Shooting Guard, 6'7", 195
• Tony Bobbitt - Guard, 6'4", 190

Draft Picks (June 2004):

• Sasha Vujacic
• Marcus Douthit

Coaches and others

• Chick Hearn (broadcaster; Basketball Hall of Famer)
• Bill Sharman (Basketball Hall of Famer; enshrined both for his playing career with the Boston Celtics and as a coach)
• John Kundla (Hall of Fame coach during Minneapolis years)
• Bud Grant played for team before playing and coach football
• Jerry Buss owner since 1979. Purchased LA Lakers and Great Western Forum from Jack Kent Cooke.
• Pat Riley Head Coach from 1981-91. The Lakers won 4 titles under his tenure and accumulated a 0.733 regular season win percentage.
• Phil Jackson coached team 1999-2004, won 3 consecutive NBA titles
• Rudy Tomjanovich 2004, resigned February 2 citing health concerns

External links

• Los Angeles Lakers official web site (http://www.nba.com/lakers/)
• LakerStats.com - Stats, News, Discussion (http://www.lakerstats.com)
  • Lakersground.net - Online Fan Community (http://www.lakersground.nett)
• LakersTalk - Laker's Online Forum (http://lakerstalk.net)
• KobeBryant8.net: The #1 Unofficial Kobe Bryant Site on the net! (http://www.kobebryant8.net)
• Los Angeles Lakers Tickets (http://www.ticketsus.com/nba/Los_Angeles_Lakers_Tickets.htm)
• Where the Los Angeles Lakers Play in the Summer (http://www.summerproleague.com)
• Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant Case central (http://www.kobe-case.com)