The Los Angeles Lakers’ rise to a historic and iconic franchise has been shaped by championship successors, superstar players and worldwide support.
Few basketball franchises have created such a strong connection with the sporting culture, except for the Boston Celtics and their NBA best 18 championships including nine against the Lakers, as well as Michael Jordan’s Bulls, Isiah Thomas’ Pistons, Tim Duncan’s Spurs and Steph Curry’s Warriors.
The Lakers have 17 NBA Championships, second only to the Celtics, but the Lakers have beaten the Celtics just twice in 11 NBA Championship meetings.
A betting odds calculator can turn a price into the probability of an outcome and can be found on sites such as ProfitDuel, but the Lakers’ standing has been built on decades of results rather than chance.
The modern-day Lakers are a product of consistent evolution, with their history being part of what makes them so special.
The team's 65 years of success reflects the strength in its value. Forbes valued the Lakers at $12.5 billion in October 2026, ranking them third among NBA teams. The franchise's revenue, media presence, constant landing of superstars and an established fanbase contributed to its financial position.
The Early Foundation
The Lakers' story did not begin in Hollywood, with the franchise beginning its journey in Detroit. Shortly after their foundation in 1946, the Detroit Gems, as they were known at the time, moved to Minneapolis, renaming themselves the Minneapolis Lakers. In 1960, the franchise relocated once again, where they would find their everlasting home in Los Angeles.
The move to California brought new opportunities for the Lakers, opening the sport to a much wider audience, with such star players Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and later Wilt Chamberlain.
With California being renowned for its high status and celebrities, the public profiles associated with the Lakers only helped the franchise grow, with constant stars in attendance.
The Showtime Era Changes Everything
The Lakers reached another level during the 1980s with Magic Johnson becoming the central figure in a team built around fast attacks. Ditto for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which formed a fearsome duo of almost unprecedented proportions (the Celtics were the model franchise, winning 11 NBA titles in 13 years, and beating the Lakers eight times with Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens and many other Hall of Famers.
During this time, the Lakers developed an intense storyline with the Celtics. Meetings between the two teams had an extra edge, which helped build both teams' reputations as more eyes tuned in to watch.
Kobe Bryant Creates Another Golden Generation
The arrival of Bryant helped introduce the Lakers to another generation of young supporters. His talent, determination and competitive approach made him the best player in the world with Jordan.
His partnership with Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal helped the franchise win three consecutive NBA Championships, an incredible feat only accomplished by the Celtics and Bulls.
Their partnership was incredible, with Kobe’s fearless mentality and Shaq’s dominance combining to become one of the greatest pairings of all time.
Shaq's departure in 2004 marked the start of a new era for the Lakers, and after a few years of disappointment, the Lakers returned to greatness. Bryant found a new reliable big man, Pau Gasol, who brought home another two consecutive championships to California.
LeBron James Comes to L.A.
LeBron James joined the Lakers in 2018, bringing the most popular player to the most popular team.
The Lakers and James won the NBA championship in 2020 during the global pandemic. Because of global measures, the NBA could resume only in a controlled environment, where only players, coaching staff, and limited media were allowed inside. The title, therefore, was tainted.
That victory delivered another title and strengthened the franchise's modern reputation. It also demonstrated the Lakers' ability to rebuild around established sporting talent with James' dominant play, experience, leadership and commercial attention to the world.
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