Legacy: The True Story Of The La Lakers Episodes
The LA Lakers is one of the most successful franchises in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team has won 17 NBA championships, tied with the Boston Celtics for the most in the league. The Lakers have had many great players throughout their history, including Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The Beginning of the Lakers
The Lakers were originally founded in 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They were called the Minneapolis Lakers and played in the National Basketball League (NBL). In 1949, the NBL merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) to form the NBA. The Lakers were one of the teams that joined the NBA.
The Move to Los Angeles
In 1960, the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. The team struggled in their first few years in LA. However, in 1968, they drafted a young center named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar would become one of the greatest players in NBA history and would help lead the Lakers to many championships.
The Magic Johnson Era
In 1979, the Lakers drafted a young point guard named Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Johnson would quickly become one of the best players in the league and would help lead the Lakers to five championships in the 1980s. Johnson's rivalry with Boston Celtics' Larry Bird became one of the most famous in sports history.
The Shaq and Kobe Era
In 1996, the Lakers drafted a young shooting guard named Kobe Bryant. A few years later, they signed center Shaquille O'Neal. The two players would form one of the most dominant duos in NBA history, winning three championships together. However, their relationship would eventually deteriorate, leading to O'Neal being traded to the Miami Heat in 2004.
The Kobe Bryant Era
After Shaq's departure, the Lakers became Kobe Bryant's team. Bryant would go on to win two more championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. He also became one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, scoring 81 points in a single game in 2006. Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
The Future of the Lakers
The Lakers are currently led by superstar LeBron James. James joined the team in 2018 and led the Lakers to a championship in 2020. The Lakers have a talented team and look to continue their winning ways in the future.