The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles that competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since 1999, the Lakers have played their home games at Crypto.com Arena. [1] The franchise began in 1946 as the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). [2] After one season, a new ownership relocated the team to Minneapolis, Minnesota, [3] [2] [4] and renamed the team as the Minneapolis Lakers. [5] The Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America, where they won the 1949 BAA championship. Following the merger of the NBL and the BAA into the NBA in 1949, the Lakers won four of the next five NBA championships. [6] After struggling financially in the late 1950s, they relocated to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season. The Lakers went on to lose all of their six appearances in the NBA Finals in the 1960s, despite the presence of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. In 1972, the Lakers compiled a 33-game winning streak, the longest streak in U.S. professional team sports, and won their sixth title, under coach Bill Sharman. [7] The Lakers' popularity soared in the 1980s when they won five additional championships during a nine-year span with the help of Hall of Famers Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and coach Pat Riley, the franchise's all-time leader in both regular season and playoff games coached and wins. [8] [9] Two of those championships during that span were against their arch-rivals, the Boston Celtics. With the help of Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers played in seven NBA Finals between 2000 and 2010, winning three of them consecutively from 2000 to 2002, losing the next two in 2004 and 2008, and winning in 2009 and 2010; the last three appearances were without O'Neal.
The Lakers hold records for having (at the end of the 2014–15 NBA season) the most wins (3,125), the highest winning percentage (.620), the most NBA Finals appearances (32) of any NBA franchise, second-fewest non-playoff seasons with seven and are second NBA championships with 17, behind the Boston Celtics' 18. [10] They have won 60+ regular season games 11 times, trailing only the Boston Celtics in this category.
The team struggled during the mid to late 2010s, during which they suffered the longest playoff drought in franchise history, failing to qualify for the postseason for six seasons. Before that stretch, they had missed the playoffs only five times in their entire existence up to 2013.
The Lakers' fortunes turned around following the signing of LeBron James in the summer of 2018 and a trade for Anthony Davis in 2019. The team finished the 2020 regular season as the first seed in the Western Conference for the first time since 2010 and won the 2020 NBA Finals, their first championship since 2010.
ASG MVP | All-Star Game Most Valuable Player |
COY | Coach of the Year |
DPOY | Defensive Player of the Year |
Finish | Final position in league or division standings |
GB | Games behind first-place team in division [a] |
L | Number of regular season losses |
EOY | Executive of the Year |
FMVP | Finals Most Valuable Player |
JWKC | J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship |
MVP | Most Valuable Player |
ROY | Rookie of the Year |
SIX | Sixth Man of the Year |
W | Number of regular season wins |
Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2024–25 season.
NBL champions | NBA champions | Conference champions | Division champions | Playoff berth | Play-in berth |
Season | League | Conference | Finish | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Playoffs | Awards | Head coach | Ref. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Detroit Gems | ||||||||||||||
1946–47 | NBL | — | — | Western | 6th | 4 | 40 | .091 | 24 | — | — | Joel Mason Fred Campbell | [11] | |
Minneapolis Lakers | ||||||||||||||
1947–48 [b] | NBL | — | — | Western | 1st | 43 | 17 | .717 | — | Won opening round (All-Stars) 3–1 Won division semifinals (Blackhawks) 2–0 Won NBL championship (Royals) 3–1 | George Mikan (MVP) | John Kundla | [12] | |
1948–49 | BAA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 44 | 16 | .733 | 1 | Won division semifinals (Stags) 2–0 Won division finals (Royals) 2–0 Won BAA Finals (Capitols) 4–2 [13] | — | [14] | ||
1949–50 | NBA | — | — | Central | 1st [c] | 51 | 17 | .750 | — | Won division semifinals (Stags) 2–0 Won division finals (Pistons) 2–0 Won NBA semifinals (Packers) 2–0 Won NBA Finals (Nationals) 4–2 [16] | — | [17] | ||
1950–51 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 44 | 24 | .647 | — | Won division semifinals (Olympians) 2–1 Lost division finals (Royals) 3–1 [18] | — | [19] | ||
1951–52 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 40 | 26 | .606 | 1 | Won division semifinals (Olympians) 2–0 Won division finals (Royals) 3–1 Won NBA Finals (Knicks) 4–3 [20] | — | [21] | ||
1952–53 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 48 | 22 | .686 | — | Won division semifinals (Olympians) 2–0 Won division finals (Pistons) 3–2 Won NBA Finals (Knicks) 4–1 [22] | George Mikan ( ASG MVP ) | [23] | ||
1953–54 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 46 | 26 | .639 | — | Advanced divisional semifinals 3–0 Won division finals (Royals) 2–1 Won NBA Finals (Nationals) 4–3 [24] | — | [25] | ||
1954–55 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 40 | 32 | .556 | 3 | Won division semifinals (Royals) 2–1 Lost division finals (Pistons) 3–1 [26] | — | [27] | ||
1955–56 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd [d] | 33 | 39 | .458 | 4 | Lost division semifinals (Hawks) 2–1 [29] | — | [30] | ||
1956–57 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd [e] | 34 | 38 | .472 | — | Won division semifinals (Pistons) 2–0 Lost division finals (Hawks) 3–0 [32] | — | [33] | ||
1957–58 | NBA | — | — | Western | 4th | 19 | 53 | .264 | 22 | — | — | George Mikan John Kundla | [34] | |
1958–59 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 33 | 39 | .458 | 16 | Won division semifinals (Pistons) 2–1 Won division finals (Hawks) 4–2 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–0 [35] | Elgin Baylor [f] ( ROY, ASG MVP ) | John Kundla | [37] | |
1959–60 | NBA | — | — | Western | 3rd | 25 | 50 | .333 | 21 | Won division semifinals (Pistons) 2–0 Lost division finals (Hawks) 4–3 [38] | — | John Castellani Jim Pollard | [39] | |
Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||
1960–61 [g] | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 36 | 43 | .456 | 15 | Won division semifinals (Pistons) 3–2 Lost division finals (Hawks) 4–3 [40] | — | Fred Schaus | [41] | |
1961–62 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 54 | 26 | .675 | — | Won division finals (Pistons) 4–2 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–3 [42] | — | [43] | ||
1962–63 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 53 | 27 | .663 | — | Won division finals (Hawks) 4–3 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–2 [44] | — | [45] | ||
1963–64 | NBA | — | — | Western | 3rd | 42 | 38 | .525 | 6 | Lost division semifinals (Hawks) 3–2 [46] | — | [47] | ||
1964–65 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 49 | 31 | .613 | — | Won division finals (Bullets) 4–2 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–1 [48] | — | [49] | ||
1965–66 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 45 | 35 | .563 | — | Won division finals (Hawks) 4–3 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–3 [50] | — | [51] | ||
1966–67 | NBA | — | — | Western | 3rd | 36 | 45 | .444 | 8 | Lost division semifinals (Warriors) 3–0 [52] | — | [53] | ||
1967–68 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 52 | 30 | .634 | 4 | Won division semifinals (Bulls) 4–1 Won division finals (Warriors) 4–0 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–2 [54] | — | Butch van Breda Kolff | [55] | |
1968–69 | NBA | — | — | Western | 1st | 55 | 27 | .671 | — | Won division semifinals (Warriors) 4–2 Won division finals (Hawks) 4–1 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–3 [56] | Jerry West ( FMVP ) | [57] | ||
1969–70 | NBA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2 | Won division semifinals (Suns) 4–3 Won division finals (Hawks) 4–0 Lost NBA Finals (Knicks) 4–3 [58] | — | Joe Mullaney | [59] | |
1970–71 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific [h] | 1st | 48 | 34 | .585 | — | Won conference semifinals (Bulls) 4–3 Lost conference finals (Bucks) 4–1 [60] | — | [61] | ||
1971–72 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 69 | 13 | .841 | — | Won conference semifinals (Bulls) 4–0 Won conference finals (Bucks) 4–2 Won NBA Finals (Knicks) 4–1 [62] | Wilt Chamberlain ( FMVP ) Bill Sharman ( COY ) Jerry West ( ASG MVP ) | Bill Sharman | [63] | |
1972–73 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific | 1st | 60 | 22 | .732 | — | Won conference semifinals (Bulls) 4–3 Won conference finals (Warriors) 4–1 Lost NBA Finals (Knicks) 4–1 [64] | — | [65] | ||
1973–74 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific | 1st | 47 | 35 | .573 | — | Lost conference semifinals (Bucks) 4–1 [66] | — | [67] | ||
1974–75 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 5th | 30 | 52 | .366 | 18 | — | — | [68] | ||
1975–76 | NBA | Western | 6th | Pacific | 4th | 40 | 42 | .488 | 19 | — | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ( MVP ) | [69] | ||
1976–77 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 53 | 29 | .646 | — | Won conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–3 Lost conference finals (Trail Blazers) 4–0 [70] | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ( MVP ) | Jerry West | [71] | |
1977–78 | NBA | Western | 5th | Pacific | 4th | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 | Lost first round (SuperSonics) 2–1 [72] | — | [73] | ||
1978–79 | NBA | Western | 5th | Pacific | 3rd | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 | Won first round (Nuggets) 2–1 Lost conference semifinals (SuperSonics) 4–1 [74] | — | [75] | ||
1979–80 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 60 | 22 | .732 | — | Won conference semifinals (Suns) 4–1 Won conference finals (SuperSonics) 4–1 Won NBA Finals (76ers) 4–2 [76] | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ( MVP ) Magic Johnson ( FMVP ) | Jack McKinney Paul Westhead | [77] | |
1980–81 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 2nd | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 | Lost first round (Rockets) 2–1 [78] | — | Paul Westhead | [79] | |
1981–82 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 57 | 25 | .695 | — | Won conference semifinals (Suns) 4–0 Won conference finals (Spurs) 4–0 Won NBA Finals (76ers) 4–2 [80] | Magic Johnson ( FMVP ) | Paul Westhead Pat Riley | [81] | |
1982–83 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 58 | 24 | .707 | — | Won conference semifinals (Trail Blazers) 4–1 Won conference finals (Spurs) 4–2 Lost NBA Finals (76ers) 4–0 [82] | — | Pat Riley | [83] | |
1983–84 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 54 | 28 | .659 | — | Won first round (Kings) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4–1 Won conference finals (Suns) 4–2 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–3 [84] | — | [85] | ||
1984–85 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 62 | 20 | .756 | — | Won first round (Suns) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Trail Blazers) 4–1 Won conference finals (Nuggets) 4–1 Won NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–2 [86] | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ( FMVP ) | [87] | ||
1985–86 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 62 | 20 | .756 | — | Won first round (Spurs) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4–2 Lost conference finals (Rockets) 4–1 [88] | Michael Cooper ( JWKC ) | [89] | ||
1986–87 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 65 | 17 | .793 | — | Won first round (Nuggets) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–1 Won conference finals (SuperSonics) 4–0 Won NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–2 [90] | Magic Johnson ( MVP, FMVP ) Michael Cooper ( DPOY ) | [91] | ||
1987–88 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 62 | 20 | .756 | — | Won first round (Spurs) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Jazz) 4–3 Won conference finals (Mavericks) 4–3 Won NBA Finals (Pistons) 4–3 [92] | James Worthy ( FMVP ) | [93] | ||
1988–89 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 57 | 25 | .695 | — | Won first round (Trail Blazers) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (SuperSonics) 4–0 Won conference finals (Suns) 4–0 Lost NBA Finals (Pistons) 4–0 [94] | Magic Johnson ( MVP ) | [95] | ||
1989–90 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 63 | 19 | .768 | — | Won first round (Rockets) 3–1 Lost conference semifinals (Suns) 4–1 [96] | Magic Johnson ( MVP, ASG MVP ) Pat Riley ( COY ) | [97] | ||
1990–91 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 2nd | 58 | 24 | .707 | 5 | Won first round (Rockets) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–1 Won conference finals (Trail Blazers) 4–2 Lost NBA Finals (Bulls) 4–1 [98] | — | Mike Dunleavy | [99] | |
1991–92 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 6th | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 | Lost first round (Trail Blazers) 3–1 [100] | Magic Johnson ( ASG MVP, JWKC ) | [101] | ||
1992–93 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 5th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 | Lost first round (Suns) 3–2 [102] | — | Randy Pfund | [103] | |
1993–94 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 5th | 33 | 49 | .402 | 30 | — | — | Randy Pfund Bill Bertka Magic Johnson | [104] | |
1994–95 | NBA | Western | 5th | Pacific | 3rd | 48 | 34 | .585 | 11 | Won first round (SuperSonics) 3–1 Lost conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–2 [105] | Del Harris ( COY ) Jerry West ( EOY ) | Del Harris | [106] | |
1995–96 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 2nd | 53 | 29 | .646 | 11 | Lost first round (Rockets) 3–1 [107] | — | [108] | ||
1996–97 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 2nd | 56 | 26 | .683 | 1 | Won first round (Trail Blazers) 3–1 Lost conference semifinals (Jazz) 4–1 [109] | — | [110] | ||
1997–98 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 2nd [i] | 61 | 21 | .744 | — | Won first round (Trail Blazers) 3–1 Won conference semifinals (SuperSonics) 4–1 Lost conference finals (Jazz) 4–0 [112] | — | [113] | ||
1998–99 [j] | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 2nd | 31 | 19 | .620 | 4 | Won first round (Rockets) 3–1 Lost conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–0 [115] | — | Del Harris Bill Bertka Kurt Rambis | [116] | |
1999–00 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 67 | 15 | .817 | — | Won first round (Kings) 3–2 Won conference semifinals (Suns) 4–1 Won conference finals (Trail Blazers) 4–3 Won NBA Finals (Pacers) 4–2 [117] | Shaquille O'Neal [k] ( MVP, FMVP, ASG MVP ) | Phil Jackson | [118] | |
2000–01 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific | 1st | 56 | 26 | .683 | — | Won first round (Trail Blazers) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Kings) 4–0 Won conference finals (Spurs) 4–0 Won NBA Finals (76ers) 4–1 [119] | Shaquille O'Neal ( FMVP ) | [120] | ||
2001–02 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 2nd | 58 | 24 | .707 | 3 | Won first round (Trail Blazers) 3–0 Won conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–1 Won conference finals (Kings) 4–3 Won NBA Finals (Nets) 4–0 [121] | Shaquille O'Neal ( FMVP ) Kobe Bryant ( ASG MVP ) | [122] | ||
2002–03 | NBA | Western | 5th | Pacific | 2nd [l] | 50 | 32 | .610 | 9 | Won first round (Timberwolves) 4–2 Lost conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–2 [124] | — | [125] | ||
2003–04 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific | 1st | 56 | 26 | .683 | — | Won first round (Rockets) 4–1 Won conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–2 Won conference finals (Timberwolves) 4–2 Lost NBA Finals (Pistons) 4–1 [126] | Shaquille O'Neal ( ASG MVP ) | [127] | ||
2004–05 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 4th [m] | 34 | 48 | .415 | 28 | — | — | Rudy Tomjanovich Frank Hamblen | [129] | |
2005–06 | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 3rd | 45 | 37 | .549 | 9 | Lost first round (Suns) 4–3 [130] | — | Phil Jackson | [131] | |
2006–07 | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 2nd [n] | 42 | 40 | .512 | 19 | Lost first round (Suns) 4–1 [133] | Kobe Bryant ( ASG MVP ) | [134] | ||
2007–08 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 57 | 25 | .695 | — | Won first round (Nuggets) 4–0 Won conference semifinals (Jazz) 4–2 Won conference finals (Spurs) 4–1 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–2 [135] | Kobe Bryant ( MVP ) | [136] | ||
2008–09 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 65 | 17 | .793 | — | Won first round (Jazz) 4–1 Won conference semifinals (Rockets) 4–3 Won conference finals (Nuggets) 4–2 Won NBA Finals (Magic) 4–1 [137] | Kobe Bryant [o] ( FMVP, ASG MVP ) | [138] | ||
2009–10 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 57 | 25 | .695 | — | Won first round (Thunder) 4–2 Won conference semifinals (Jazz) 4–0 Won conference finals (Suns) 4–2 Won NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–3 [139] | Kobe Bryant ( FMVP ) | [140] | ||
2010–11 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific | 1st | 57 | 25 | .695 | — | Won first round (Hornets) 4–2 Lost conference semifinals (Mavericks) 4–0 [141] | Kobe Bryant ( ASG MVP ) Lamar Odom ( SIX ) Ron Artest ( JWKC ) | [142] | ||
2011–12 [p] | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 1st | 41 | 25 | .621 | — | Won first round (Nuggets) 4–3 Lost conference semifinals (Thunder) 4–1 [145] | Pau Gasol ( JWKC ) | Mike Brown | [146] | |
2012–13 | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 3rd | 45 | 37 | .549 | 11 | Lost first round (Spurs) 4–0 [147] | — | Mike Brown Bernie Bickerstaff Mike D'Antoni | [148] | |
2013–14 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 5th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 | — | — | Mike D'Antoni | [149] | |
2014–15 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 5th | 21 | 61 | .256 | 46 | — | — | Byron Scott | [150] | |
2015–16 | NBA | Western | 15th | Pacific | 5th | 17 | 65 | .207 | 56 | — | — | [151] | ||
2016–17 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 4th | 26 | 56 | .317 | 41 | — | — | Luke Walton | [152] | |
2017–18 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 3rd | 35 | 47 | .427 | 23 | — | — | [153] | ||
2018–19 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 4th | 37 | 45 | .451 | 20 | — | — | [154] | ||
2019–20 | NBA | Western | 1st | Pacific | 1st | 52 | 19 | .732 | — | Won first round (Trail Blazers) 4–1 Won conference semifinals (Rockets) 4–1 Won conference finals (Nuggets) 4–1 Won NBA Finals (Heat) 4–2 [155] | LeBron James ( FMVP ) | Frank Vogel | [156] | |
2020–21 | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 3rd | 42 | 30 | .583 | 10 | Lost first round (Suns) 4–2 [157] | — | [158] | ||
2021–22 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 4th | 33 | 49 | .402 | 31 | — | — | [159] | ||
2022–23 | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 5th | 43 | 39 | .524 | 5 | Won first round (Grizzlies) 4–2 Won conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–2 Lost conference finals (Nuggets) 4–0 [160] | — | Darvin Ham | [161] | |
2023–24 | NBA | Western | 7th [q] | Pacific | 3rd | 47 | 35 | .573 | 4 | Lost first round (Nuggets) 4–1 [163] | — | [164] | ||
2024–25 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 1st | 50 | 32 | .610 | — | Lost first round (Timberwolves) 4–1 | — | J. J. Redick | [165] |
Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2024–25 NBA season.
Statistic | Wins | Losses | Win% |
---|---|---|---|
Minneapolis Lakers regular season record (1948–1960) | 457 | 382 | .545 |
Los Angeles Lakers regular season record (1960–present) | 3,143 | 2,104 | .599 |
All-time regular season record (1948–present) | 3,600 | 2,486 | .592 |
Minneapolis Lakers post-season record (1948–1960) | 67 | 40 | .626 |
Los Angeles Lakers post-season record (1960–present) | 399 | 281 | .587 |
All-time post-season record (1948–present) | 466 | 321 | .592 |
All-time regular and postseason record | 4,066 | 2,807 | .592 |
Statistic | Wins | Losses | Win% |
---|---|---|---|
Minneapolis Lakers regular season record (1947–1948) | 43 | 17 | .717 |
Minneapolis Lakers postseason record (1947–1948) | 8 | 2 | .800 |
All-time regular and postseason record | 51 | 19 | .729 |
A truly terrible N.B.L. team was the Detroit Gems, which played for only one season, going 4-40 in 1946-1947. Benny Berger, a Minneapolis businessman, purchased the Gems and relocated the franchise to Minneapolis. He renamed them the Lakers.
Morris Winston, Dearborn merchant who backed the Gems last season, has sold the franchise to Benny Berger of Minneapolis. The club will operate as a Twin Cities entry next season.
When the Detroit Gems were moved to Minneapolis before the 1947-48 season, they settled on Lakers because of Minnesota's thousands of lakes.