History of Los Angeles Lakers in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 13, 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most iconic and successful franchises in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Founded in 1947 and based in Los Angeles, the team has secured 17 NBA championships, tied for the most in league history. The franchise is renowned for its star-studded rosters and legendary players, including Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. Famous for their 'Showtime' era in the 1980s, the Lakers have consistently been a premier force in professional basketball. They play their home games at the Crypto.com Arena, where they maintain a massive, dedicated global fanbase. Their success is defined by a winning culture, high-profile rivalries—most notably with the Boston Celtics—and a consistent presence in the championship conversation, solidifying their status as a cornerstone of sports culture.

1946: Founding of the Detroit Gems

In 1946, the basketball franchise was established as the Detroit Gems, competing in the National Basketball League (NBL).

1947: Lakers Select George Mikan and Win NBL Championship

In 1947, following a poor performance in the previous season, the franchise utilized the first overall pick in the Professional Basketball League of America dispersal draft to acquire George Mikan. Alongside teammates Jim Pollard and Herm Schaefer, the team achieved a league-best 43–17 record during the 1947 season and successfully captured the NBL championship.

1948: Minneapolis Lakers Win NBL Championship

During the 1948 season, the Minneapolis Lakers achieved victory by winning the NBL championship.

1948: Lakers Join BAA and Mikan Sets Record

In 1948, the Lakers transitioned from the NBL to the Basketball Association of America (BAA), during which George Mikan achieved a league record scoring average of 28.3 points per game.

1949: Lakers Win 1949 BAA Championship

In 1949, the Lakers secured the BAA championship title by defeating the Washington Capitols in a series that ended four games to two.

1949: BAA Championship and NBA Merger

In 1949, the team secured the BAA championship before the NBL and BAA merged to form the NBA, leading to a decade of dominant success for the Lakers.

1950: Formation of the NBA and Lakers Championship Success

Following the 1949 season, the BAA and NBL merged to form the NBA. In 1950, the Lakers excelled in the newly established league, finishing with a 51–17 record and clinching their third consecutive professional championship.

1951: 1951-52 Lakers Season Performance

During the 1951-52 season, the Los Angeles Lakers secured 40 regular-season victories, finishing in second place within their division, and ultimately defeated the New York Knicks in a seven-game NBA Finals series.

1952: Clyde Lovellette Drafted

In 1952, the Lakers drafted Clyde Lovellette, who subsequently played a key role in helping the team secure the Western Division title during the 1953-54 season.

1953: George Mikan 1953 All-Star Success

During the 1952-53 season, George Mikan led the NBA in rebounding with 14.4 rebounds per game and was honored as the MVP of the 1953 NBA All-Star Game.

1954: George Mikan Retires

Following the 1954 off-season, legendary player George Mikan retired, leading to a period of struggle for the Lakers where they won 40 games and were eliminated in the semifinals by the Fort Wayne Pistons.

1955: Lakers Playoff Appearance

During the 1955 season, the Lakers maintained a losing record but still managed to qualify for the playoffs.

1956: Mikan's Brief Return and Final Retirement

In 1956, George Mikan attempted a comeback for the second half of the season, but after struggling on the court, he chose to retire permanently at the end of the season.

1957: Conference Finals Appearance

In the 1956–57 season, the Lakers reached the Conference Finals, largely fueled by the performance of Clyde Lovellette, who averaged 20.6 points and 13.5 rebounds.

1958: Lakers Select Elgin Baylor in NBA Draft

In 1958, the Los Angeles Lakers secured the first overall selection in the NBA draft and utilized the pick to sign Elgin Baylor, a move that significantly bolstered the team's roster.

1959: Elgin Baylor Named Rookie of the Year and All-Star Co-MVP

During the 1959 season, Elgin Baylor achieved major individual success by being named the NBA Rookie of the Year and sharing the MVP honors at the 1959 NBA All-Star Game, while helping the Lakers reach the NBA Finals.

January 18, 1960: Minneapolis Lakers Plane Emergency Landing

On January 18, 1960, while the Minneapolis Lakers were traveling to St. Louis following a game, the team's plane was forced to make an emergency crash-landing in a cornfield after severe snowstorms pushed the aircraft 150 miles off course. Fortunately, all passengers and crew members survived the incident without injuries.

1960: Relocation to Los Angeles

Following financial difficulties in the late 1950s, the franchise relocated from Minneapolis to Los Angeles prior to the 1960–61 season.

1961: Lakers 1961-62 Season and Finals Appearance

During the 1961 season, the Los Angeles Lakers improved their record to 54–26 behind strong performances from Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. The team reached the NBA Finals, where Elgin Baylor set a record of 61 points in a single game; however, the Lakers ultimately lost to the Boston Celtics in game seven of the series.

1962: 1962-63 Lakers Season and NBA Finals Loss

During the 1962-63 season, the Los Angeles Lakers secured 53 regular-season wins led by the scoring performances of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, but the team ultimately fell to the Boston Celtics in six games during the 1962 NBA Finals.

1964: 1964 NBA Playoffs First Round Loss

In 1964, the Lakers finished the season with a 42-38 record and were defeated in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Atlanta Hawks.

1966: 1966 NBA Finals Loss

In 1966, the Los Angeles Lakers were defeated by the Boston Celtics in a seven-game NBA Finals series, losing by a margin of only two points after a late-game rally fell just short.

1967: Move to The Forum and Playoff Exit

During 1967, the Lakers concluded their time at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and relocated to their new home, The Forum, while also experiencing a first-round exit during the 1967 NBA playoffs following a 36-win season.

July 9, 1968: Acquisition of Wilt Chamberlain

On July 9, 1968, the Los Angeles Lakers completed a trade to acquire star center Wilt Chamberlain from the Philadelphia 76ers, sending players Darrell Imhoff, Archie Clark, and Jerry Chambers to Philadelphia in exchange.

1968: Acquisition of Wilt Chamberlain

In 1968, the Los Angeles Lakers strengthened their roster significantly by acquiring four-time NBA Most Valuable Player Wilt Chamberlain.

1968: 1968 NBA Finals Defeat

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered another championship loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1968 NBA Finals.

1970: Jerry West Scoring Title and NBA Finals Appearance

During the 1970 season, Jerry West secured his first career scoring title with an average of 31.2 points per game, and the Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals where they were defeated 4–3 by the New York Knicks.

1971: NBA Longest Winning Streak Commencement

During the 1971–72 NBA season, which began in 1971, the Los Angeles Lakers embarked on an historic run that resulted in the league's longest winning streak of 33 consecutive games.

1972: Sixth NBA Championship Victory

Led by head coach Bill Sharman, the Los Angeles Lakers achieved their sixth NBA championship title in 1972.

1979: New Ownership and Draft Success

The year 1979 marked a transformational period as Jerry Buss purchased the team with a vision for basketball as entertainment, and the Lakers selected Magic Johnson first overall in the 1979 NBA draft.

1981: Promotion of Pat Riley

In 1981, the Lakers organization promoted Pat Riley to the position of head coach, setting the stage for the team's dominance in the 1980s.

1982: Drafting of James Worthy

The Los Angeles Lakers added forward James Worthy to their roster during the 1982 NBA draft, further cementing their status as an NBA powerhouse.

1984: 1984 NBA Finals Loss

The Lakers faced their rivals, the Boston Celtics, in the 1984 NBA Finals, ultimately suffering a defeat in the series.

1985: 1985 NBA Finals Victory

In 1985, the Lakers successfully triumphed over their archrivals, the Boston Celtics, in the NBA Finals.

1987: 1987 NBA Finals Victory

The Los Angeles Lakers secured another championship victory over the Boston Celtics during the 1987 NBA Finals.

1996: Lakers acquire Bryant and O'Neal

In 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers significantly reshaped their roster by trading with the Charlotte Hornets to secure the draft rights for Kobe Bryant and signing free agent center Shaquille O'Neal, marking the beginning of a new era.

2000: First Championship of Three-Peat

Led by superstar duo Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant and coached by Phil Jackson, the Lakers won the NBA championship in 2000, initiating a streak of three consecutive titles.

2002: Completion of the Three-Peat

The Los Angeles Lakers secured their third consecutive NBA championship in 2002, successfully completing the franchise's second historic 'three-peat'.

2004: End of the Shaq-and-Kobe Era

Following a loss to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, the Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal, effectively ending the dominant 'Shaq-and-Kobe' era.

2008: NBA Finals Appearance

After acquiring Pau Gasol, the Lakers returned to the NBA Finals in 2008 but were defeated by the Boston Celtics.

2009: 2009 NBA Championship Win

The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from their previous loss to capture the NBA championship title in 2009.

June 2010: Frank Selvy's Reflections on the 1962 Finals

In June 2010, Frank Selvy reflected on his missed 18-foot jump shot during the 1962 NBA Finals, noting that the miss which prevented a potential Lakers victory continued to haunt him more than 40 years later.

2010: 2010 NBA Championship Win

In 2010, the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics to win their second consecutive NBA title, marking the most recent Finals matchup between these two historic rivals.

2011: Phil Jackson Retirement

In 2011, head coach Phil Jackson officially retired from the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the beginning of the team's longest period without a playoff appearance.

2014: Departure of Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol left the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014, signaling further transition for the franchise during a period of roster turnover.

2016: Kobe Bryant Retirement

In 2016, legendary Lakers player Kobe Bryant concluded his storied career by officially retiring from professional basketball.

2018: Signing of LeBron James

Following several seasons of rebuilding with young prospects, the Los Angeles Lakers successfully signed superstar LeBron James in 2018.

2019: Trade for Anthony Davis

During 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers executed a major roster trade, sending several of their young prospects to another team in exchange for star player Anthony Davis.

2020: 17th NBA Championship

Led by the duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis along with coach Frank Vogel, the Los Angeles Lakers secured their 17th NBA championship in 2020, tying the Boston Celtics for the most titles in league history.