Los Angeles Lakers Wikipedia RSS Feed
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The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. They are notable for having (at the end of the 2004–05 season) 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), behind the Boston Celtics who have 16. They also have the record for most number of consecutive wins in a season (33).
Team history
The Lakers began in 1947 when Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen bought the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League for $15,000 and relocated it to Minneapolis. As the Gems had by far the worst record in the NBL, the Lakers had the first pick in the 1947 dispersal draft, which they used to select George Mikan, later to become, arguably, the greatest center of his time. With Mikan, new coach John Kundla and an infusion of former University of Minnesota players, the Lakers won the NBL championship in that 1947-48 season and joined four other NBL teams in jumping to the Basketball Association of America, where they promptly won the 1948-49 BBA championship. The NBL and BBA merged to become the NBA in 1949.
The Minneapolis Lakers were one of the dominant teams of the fledgling NBA. With Hall of Famers George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, and Clyde Lovellette, they were the NBA's first "dynasty", winning five championships in six years (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954).
After their move to Los Angeles in 1960, the team featured Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, and Wilt Chamberlain, but despite the wealth of talent, they were repeatedly foiled by the Boston Celtics, losing the championship to them six times in eight years. It wasn't until 1972 when they strung together a record 33-game win streak under Coach of the Year Bill Sharman that they were able to secure their first championship in Los Angeles.
However, even with the addition of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, they weren't able to win another championship until the arrival of Earvin "Magic" Johnson in 1979, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to an MVP performance by the rookie Magic, who, starting for the injured Kareem, had 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to clinch the series. Under coach Pat Riley, a former Laker player, the Lakers then went on to dominate the 1980s, appearing in the finals eight times in the decade and being crowned champions five times, including consecutive championships in 1987 and 1988, the first team to do so since Boston in 1969.
In a December 9, 1977 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets center Kevin Kunnert got into a fight with the Lakers' Kermit Washington. As Houston guard Rudy Tomjanovich ran over to the two, Washington turned and blindly swung his fist. The powerful blow landed squarely on the face of a running Tomjanovich, causing massive jaw, eye, and cheek injuries; Tomjanovich's skull was also fractured when his head hit the floor. That shocking scene became the defining moment of not only the Rockets' 1977-78 season (a conference finals team the previous year, collapsed into last place with a 28-54 record) but also of two basketball players' professional careers. Tomjanovich, displaying the "heart of a champion", spent the next five months in rehab returning to play as an NBA all-star.
Although they made another finals appearance in 1991, they spent most of the 1990s fielding teams that were not considered legitimate championship contenders. During the 1999-2000 season, however, they were able to make it back to the Finals when Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson proved to be the winning combination, taking three consecutive championships. After missing out in 2003, a retooled Lakers team featuring newcomers Karl Malone and Gary Payton roared into the 2004 finals heavily favored to win, only to lose to Detroit in five games.
The following summer, the team was ripped apart. Personality conflicts between Shaq and Kobe came to a head. Shaq demanded to be traded, and was sent to the Miami Heat. Malone retired, Payton was traded to the Boston Celtics, and Phil Jackson left, replaced by Rudy Tomjanovich, who left the team part way through his first season.
Kobe led the retooled young team but the results were anything but positive and the Lakers ended up missing the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, and the first time in Kobe's professional career. In the 2005-06 season, fans have reason to be optimistic, thanks to the return of Jackson, and are looking for the Lakers to make the playoffs.
The team is renowned for the fanbase of famous celebrities, such as musicians and movie stars who attend its games. However, its most avid fans are actor Jack Nicholson and the California-based popular funk-rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers who attend every game. There's even a rumor that singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea attend even the preseason games as a measure of their dedication to the team, and American Idol 4 winner Carrie Underwood has announced that she is an avid fan. The song "Magic Johnson", a tribute to the Showtime Lakers, can be found on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album Mother's Milk.
Current roster
TRUE
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 Connie Hawkins
*42 James Worthy
*44 Jerry West
*99 George Mikan (Minneapolis)
*Coach John Kundla (Minneapolis)
Other notable players
*Elden Campbell
*Cedric Ceballos
*Michael Cooper
*Vlade Divac
*Derek Fisher
*Rick Fox
*Horace Grant
*A.C. Green
*Happy Hairston
*Ron Harper
*Robert Horry
*Eddie Jones
*Rudy LaRusso
*Byron Scott
*Karl Malone
*Norm Nixon
*Shaquille O'Neal
*Gary Payton
*Sam Perkins
*Kurt Rambis
*Glen Rice
*Dennis Rodman
*Brian Shaw
*Nick Van Exel
*Jamaal Wilkes
Retired numbers
*13 Wilt Chamberlain, C, 1968-73
*22 Elgin Baylor, F, 1958-71 (including team's last season in Minneapolis)
*25 Gail Goodrich, G, 1965-68 & 1970-76
*32 Magic Johnson, G, 1979-91 & 1995-96; Head Coach 1994
*33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, 1975-89
*42 James Worthy, F, 1982-94
*44 Jerry West, G, 1960-74; Head Coach, 1976-79; General Manager, 1981-2002
*MIKE Chick Hearn, The Greatest Broadcaster Ever, 1960-2002
Honored Minneapolis Lakers: Next to their retired numbers, the Lakers have hung a banner with the names of six Hall-of-Famers who were instrumental to the franchise's success during its days in Minneapolis:
* John Kundla, Coach, 1948-59
*99 George Mikan, C, 1948-56 (did not play in 1954-55)
*17 Jim Pollard, F, 1948-55
*19 Vern Mikkelsen, F, 1949-59
*22 Slater Martin, G, 1949-56
*34 Clyde Lovellette, F-C, 1953-57
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 Head Coach won three consecutive NBA titles on three different occasions, once with the Lakers
*Rudy Tomjanovich Head Coach in 2004, resigned February 2, 2005 citing health concerns
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.
*Los Angeles is the only city to have two NBA teams (the other is the Los Angeles Clippers).
*The 2004-05 season marks only the fourth time the Lakers have failed qualifying for the post-season since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960.
* Their rivalry with the Boston Celtics is among the most storied in sports history.
* The Los Angeles Lakers have, for most of their history, attracted stars both on and off the court. With their long line of Hall of Famers (and certain future Hall of Famers in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant) such as Magic Johnson, George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West, the Lakers have managed to carry a glorious history of exciting basketball that has attracted many celebrities to their games. The most notable of these celebrities are the likes of Jack Nicholson, Goldie Hawn, Andy Garcia, Dyan Cannon, and Anthony Kiedis, who are all long-time fans.
*Since 1976, KCAL-TV (previously KHJ-TV) Channel 9 and KLAC Radio have been the flagship broadcast homes of the Los Angeles Lakers. KCAL airs every Laker road game, while all home games can be seen on Fox Sports Net, the longtime cable television home of the Lakers. Prior to KCAL, KTLA televised Laker games for a time. KLAC airs all Laker games via radio. KWKWAM1330 provides a spanish simulcast of Laker games.
*The current TV announcers for the Lakers are Joel Meyers and former Laker Stu Lantz. Joel Meyers became the voice of the Lakers in 2005, replacing Paul Sunderland, who was the successor to the legendary Chick Hearn who passed away in 2002.
* They're the only NBA team whose primary home jersey color isn't white (gold). However since the 2002-03 season, the Lakers wear white jerseys on sunday home games and on special occassions, such as Christmas games and several playoff games.
See also
*Los Angeles Lakers players
*Lakers-Celtics rivalry
*Lakers-Kings rivalry
*The Curse of the Shaq
*Los Angeles Lakers official web site
*Los Angeles Times Lakers Blog
*ClubLakers.com - Lakers fansite
*LakersGround.net - Fan Forum
*Basketballboards.net Lakers forum
*LD2k.com - Lakers moments captured in all their glory through stunning visual media
*The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight That Changed Basketball Forever by John Feinstein
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Los Angeles Lakers Wikipedia
shared by wikipedia on Sep 09, 2005 10:00 am via Source URL
| colspan=2| Los Angeles Lakers |
| colspan=2| |
| | Founded | 1946 |
| | Team History | Detroit Gems (1946-1947) Minneapolis Lakers (1947-1960) Los Angeles Lakers (1960-present) |
| | Arena | Staples Center |
| | Team Colors | Purple and Gold |
| | NBA Championships | 14 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002) |
| | Owner | Jerry Buss |
| | Head Coach | Phil Jackson |
|
The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. They are notable for having (at the end of the 2004 --- 05 season) 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), behind the Boston Celtics who have 16. They also have the record for most number of consecutive wins in a season (33).
Team History
The original Minneapolis Lakers were one of the dominant teams of the fledgling NBA, as well as its predecessors the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America. With Hall of Famers George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen, and Clyde Lovellette, they were the NBA's first "dynasty", winning six championships in seven years (1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954).
After their move to Los Angeles in 1960, the team featured Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, and Wilt Chamberlain, but despite the wealth of talent, they were repeatedly foiled by the Boston Celtics, losing to the championship to them six times in eight years. It wasn't until 1972 when they strung together a record 33-game win streak under Coach of the Year Bill Sharman that they were able to secure their first championship in Los Angeles.
However, even with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, they weren't able to win another championship until the arrival of Earvin "Magic" Johnson in 1979, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers thanks to an MVP performance by the rookie Magic, who, starting for the injured Kareem, had 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to clinch series. The Lakers then went on to dominate the 1980s, appearing in the finals seven more times in the decade and being crowned champions four times, including consecutive championships in 1987 and 1988, the first team to do so since Boston in 1969.
Although they made another finals appearance in 1991, they were unable to make it back again until 2000, when Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson proved to be the winning combination, taking three consecutive championships. After missing out in 2003, a retooled Lakers team featuring newcomers Karl Malone and Gary Payton roared into the 2004 finals, only to lose to Detroit in five games.
The following summer, the team broke apart as O'Neal and Payton were traded, Malone retired, and Jackson left. Kobe led a young team but the results were anything but positive and the Lakers ended up missing the playoffs. As the 2005 season nears, fans have reason to be optimistic, thanks to the return of Jackson, and are looking for the Lakers to do better.
Current roster
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 Connie Hawkins
*42 James Worthy
*44 Jerry West
*99 George Mikan (Minneapolis)
Other notable players
*Happy Hairston
*Jamaal Wilkes
*Norm Nixon
*Michael Cooper
*Byron Scott
*A.C. Green
*Shaquille O'Neal
*Karl Malone
*Gary Payton
*Robert Horry
*Derek Fisher
*Rick Fox
*Vlade Divac
*Dennis Rodman
*Glen Rice
*Eddie Jones
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
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 Head Coach won three consecutive NBA titles on three different occasions, once with the Lakers
*Rudy Tomjanovich Head Coach in 2004, resigned February 2 citing health concerns
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.
*Los Angeles is the only city to have two NBA teams (the other is the Los Angeles Clippers).
*The 2004-05 season marks only the fourth time the Lakers have failed qualifying for the post-season since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960.
* Their rivals are the Sacramento Kings, and the Boston Celtics.
* The Los Angeles Lakers have, for most of their history, attracted stars both on and off the court. With their long line of Hall of Famers (and certain future Hall of Famers in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant) such as Magic Johnson, George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West, the Lakers have managed to carry a glorious history of exciting basketball that has attracted many celebrities to their games. The most notable of these celebrities are the likes of Jack Nicholson, Goldie Hawn, Andy Garcia, and Dyan Cannon, who are all long-time fans.
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