Los Angeles Lakers Research Papers

This historic franchise began in 1947 as the Minneapolis Lakers where they played for 13 years as part of the National Basketball League (Los Angeles Lakers). Their name came from playing in Minneapolis due to the large number of cargo ships that traversed the 10,000 lakes in Minnesota (Los Angeles Lakers). It was not until 1960 that they made their move out west to form the famous Los Angeles Lakers. It was in L.A. where the Lakers cemented themselves as one of sports’ greatest teams, winning 16 championships, their last one being in 2010. Their 16 championship rings are the second most in basketball next to the Boston Celtics who have 17. When the Lakers moved to L.A. they became the first NBA team on the West Coast (Los Angeles Lakers). Despite their being no lakes anywhere in L.A., the Lakers decided to retain their name (Los Angeles Lakers). Their very first season in L.A., the Lakers finished in second place with a 36-43 record, beating the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, but losing to the St. Louis Hawks in the Western Finals (Los Angeles Lakers). The Lakers have housed some of basketballs greatest players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, Dennis Rodman and Jerry West, all of whom are just a few of the Lakers 23 Hall of Famers (Los Angeles Lakers).

The team record holders include most games played to Kobe Bryant with 1,346, most blocks to Kareem Abdul-Jabar with 2,694, most career points with 33,643 to Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers Career Leaders). Kobe Bryant also holds the team record for most points scored in a game by a single player with 81 along with most points scored in a half by a single player with 55 (Los Angeles Lakers