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The LA Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. The Lakers are tied with their rivals, the Boston Celtics, for the most NBA Championships with 17. Throughout the history of the NBA, the Lakers have presented some of the greatest players to ever grace the game.
With a long history of championship pedigree dating back to the early days of the NBA, the Lakers have produced championships in the modern era as well. Since 2000, the franchise has won six NBA titles.
No team can compete for a title without a solid roster. The chemistry between teammates and their ability to work together as a unit is a big factor in how well they can perform. The Lakers organization has produced some of the most outstanding teams with star players and role players that still came up short in their title run.
With the 2021-22 NBA season around the corner and an active offseason of trades and signings, the Lakers are looking to win another championship with a core of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.
Bearing in mind the importance of good chemistry, we take a look at the top five LA Lakers rosters of all time.
#5 2019-20 LA Lakers
The 2019-2020 LA Lakers had one of the most entertaining seasons in franchise history. With Frank Vogel at the helm, the Lakers went on to have a regular-season record of 52-19. With the best record in the West, the Purple and Gold went into the most peculiar offseason in league history.
Driven by the passing of Laker legend Kobe Bryant in early 2020, the team used this emotional event as a motivator going into the remainder of the season, dedicating it to him.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the NBA had to halt season proceedings. However, with the NBA restart taking place outside of Orlando in the NBA Bubbles, the title hopes for the team resurfaced.
Led by the perennial All-Star duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team had championship pedigrees in Danny Green, Rajon Rondo and Javale McGee, among others. A player who revived himself in LA, Dwight Howard played an important role too. The suffocating Lakers defense helped them contain offenses in the playoffs.
In the NBA Finals they faced off against LeBron's old team, the Miami Heat. Although Jimmy Butler put on a noteworthy display, the Lakers would win their 17th championship in franchise history. LeBron won his fourth Finals MVP.
#4 1971-72 LA Lakers
The 1971-72 Championship Lakers team was a special one. After acquiring Wilt Chamberlain in 1968, the franchise looked at an immediate title run. Faced against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, the odds would not favor the Lakers.
After a disappointing campaign in 1970-71, the team's core of Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Chamberlain were all on their last legs. Coming into the 1971-72 NBA season, Baylor announced retirement after nine games. The hopes of a title run were fading fast but new head coach Bill Sharman believes the team still have one last run in them.
With a backcourt consisting of Jerry West and scoring guard Gail Goodrich, the Lakers produced a season of records. The Lakers had a league-best 69-13 records in the regular season, a record that would only be broken by the Chicago Bulls 24 years later. They also had a 33 game winning streak, a record which still stands today.
The Lakers would face off against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. They would beat the Knicks in five games and emerge as champions. While this roster only won one title, the season that they had makes them one of the greatest teams in Laker history. They are also rated as one of the top 10 teams in NBA history.
#3 2009-10 LA Lakers
The 2008-09 Lakers had one of the most exciting teams of all time. Led by the duo of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, the rest of the roster consisted of talented players. With Andrew Bynum at center, Ron Artest playing perimeter defense and Derek Fisher playing point, there was serious depth in the team too.
LA had ended the regular season with a record of 57-25 record, the best record in the Western Conference. Coming off of a successful championship campaign the previous season, the Lakers had emerged as favorites to win it again.
The Purple and Gold would have to go through some tough competition in the postseason, facing a young Oklahoma City Thunder squad and the Utah Jazz led by Deron Williams. They faced Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals. After a gruelling six game series, they emerged victorious and faced the Celtics.
LA would beat the powerhouse Celtics led by Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo in seven games. The Lakers beating the Celtics for their 16th ring in franchise history was iconic.
The Celtics had beaten the Purple and Gold in the 2008 NBA Finals. The win was redemption for the loss they'd suffered. On an additional note, the championship was a back-to-back win for the Lakers, just making this team that much greater.
#2 1986-87 LA Lakers
The 1986-87 LA Lakers were a special team. Led by a core of Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson and James Worthy, the team would go on to have 65-17 season to top the Western Conference table.
The team had lost in previous years' Conference Finals to the Houston Rockets, however, they would avenge that loss by sweeping the Seattle Supersonics in the Western Conference Finals.
In the Finals, the Lakers would face the Boston Celtics led by Larry Bird. While Magic Johnson and Bird have one of the greatest rivalries of all time, the Celtics had beaten the Lakers on every occasion.
In the 1987 NBA Finals, the Lakers would finally beat the Boston Celtics ending years of misery and breaking a "curse".
The pivotal moment of the series was a shot taken by Magic Johnson. A sweeping skyhook from the free-throw line that won the game for the Lakers. Magic would also win his third finals MVP in this series.
In 1988, the Lakers repeated the title and won their fifth championship of the decade.
#1 2000-01 LA Lakers
The 2000-01 Lakers were probably the best team in franchise history. The team had one of the most lethal duos in NBA history in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant and under Phil Jackson's coaching, the team also repeated an NBA title.
The roster featured important role players such as Robert Horry, Ron Harper and Horace Grant. Shaquille O'Neal was at the peak of his powers and Kobe Bryant was on course to establish himself as one of the best players in the league.
The Lakers had a regular-season record of 56-26 which placed them at the second in the West. The greatness of this team came from it's record in the post season.
The Lakers asbolutely dominated the West. They swept Portland, Sacramento and San Antonio as Kobe and Shaq just overpowered all defenses. In the NBA finals, they would come up against Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers.
After a loss in Game One, the Lakers didn't let Philadelphia repeat the success they had. The Lakers would go on to win the series 4-1.
Going into the following season, the Lakers would win the title again, beating the New Jersey Nets in 4 games and performing a three-peat, a first since the 1954 championship as the Minneapolis Lakers.
Guess the Lakers players!
