Los Angeles Lakers are popular in the history of the NBA as one of the most successful franchises. They are also considered a legend in the world of modern basketball. The team is always full of gems from the very beginning. Starting with Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West, the excellent journey continues with Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson to Shaq and Kobe Bryant. Now players like LeBron James are enhancing the glory of the Lakers.
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How many championships have the Lakers won?
Till now Lakers have won 17 championships. Los Angeles Lakers have started their journey in 1947 in the basketball world. They are lucky for not only having such extraordinary players but also getting support from some excellent coaches also. Masterminds of the game of basketball like Phil Jackson and Pat Riley contributed a lot to the success of the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers have the glory to win the championship trophy, not one, two, or three times, but with their mesmerizing teamwork, they have achieved the championship seventeen times. They started showing their magic in basket from 1949, and continues to gain success in 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, and 2020 also.
1949
Just after two years of starting the journey, the Lakers won the first championship in 1949. In the BAA finals, they successfully beat the Washington Capitols four games to two.
1950
Under the same coach named John Kundla, Los Angeles Lakers had won their second championship title in NBA final against Syracuse (future 76ers). This year, they won four matches out of six.
1952
Though they could able to get success in 1951, they came back with their excellence in 1952 and restored their championship title. Against the opposition New York 3, they won four-match out of six.
1953
Under the same coach, the Lakers have won the championship of 1953 also. Having an average score of 14.4 rebounds per game (RPG), Mikan took the lead of the tournament in the finals. Thus, he was announced as MVP of the 1953 NBA All-Star Game.
1954
Mikan took retirement from the team with the gift of their 5th championship. The faceoff was between the Lakers and Syracuse once again, and as a result, history repeats itself, and the Lakers won the NBA championship again.
1972
Though having back-to-back success in the early ’50s, for a long period, the Lakers did not win any finals. They restored their championship title in 1972 against New York Knicks. They had won four matches out of five.
1980
They achieved their 7th championship title in 1980. In the whole championship, they won almost 60 games. In the final, the Philadelphia 76ers lost in six games match, which made Laker’s winner.
1982
After the 50s, the Lakers came back to their best form in the 80s when Magic Johnson joined their franchise. Johnson, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (from 1982) and James Worthy, achieved the 8th championship trophy for the franchise. The whole decade was popularly known as “ShowTime.”
1985
Under the coaching of Pat Riley, 1985, the Lakers got their championship against the franchisee Boston Celtics. They won four matches in the final out of six.
1987
Like the previous year, 1985, the history of the NBA repeated itself, and again, the Lakers got the championship title against Boston Celtics. With this title, now they had their own for the 10th time.
1988
The pick time of the Los Angeles Lakers resumed in the late 80s with their 11th championship. A lot of changes come in the future, and the Lakers had to face a break from the championship title once again.
2000
The legend players of Lakers Abdul-Jabbar got retire in 1989, and Johnson got to retire in 1991. It brought another black period for the franchise. Finally, in 2000, after 11 years Lakers got another championship title. Phil Jackson was hired as a coach that year, which helped the team a lot to improve their gaming skills and strategies.
2001
Under the guidance of Phil Jackson, the Lakers got their 13th championship against the Philadelphia 76ers.
2002
Following the glory, the Lakers got another championship title in 2002 against New Jersey Nets. In the final, they own all the matches.
2009
In 2009, the Lakers defeated Orlando Magic in the finals, and thus they grab their 15th championship title.
2010
The finals of 2010 were a bit dramatic, where Los Angeles Lakers defeated their greatest rival Boston Celtics in a series of seven matches by 4-3.
2020
The last time when Lakers got the championship title was in the July of 2020. The glorious winning against Miami Heat was because of the stellar play of James. He was announced as the MVP in the final.
Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most iconic franchises in the history of the NBA, with 17 championships. With excellent players and coaches, there are many more to witness in this franchise in the upcoming times also.