Los Angeles Lakers · Franchise era 2 of 8
West, Baylor and Wilt: the Los Angeles Lakers story
The story in one sentence
Years of Finals frustration finally ended when the 1971–72 Lakers won 33 straight games and the championship.
Los Angeles stardom meets Boston heartbreak
Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and Gail Goodrich gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for showtime.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1960–61
What came before
The Lakers won five championships in six seasons around Mikan and established the NBA's first true dynasty.
1969
NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics
1970
NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks
1972
NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks
- 11TradeJune 16, 1975
June 16, 1975
The trade that brought Kareem home to Los Angeles
Abdul-Jabbar had requested a move to New York or Los Angeles. The Lakers exchanged four substantial rotation pieces for the league's premier center.
To LAL
To MILDraftPICKround asset+2 assetsKareem to the LakersLAL receives Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walt WesleyMIL receives Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Rights: Dave Meyers + 2 more7 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → After 1978–79
What came next
Magic's arrival unlocked a glamorous, devastating style that produced nine Finals trips and five titles.
The core