Science Fair Project Encyclopedia

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Categories: Basketball teams | NBA teams | Los Angeles sports | Minnesota sports

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers is a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. They are notable for having the highest number of wins (2,621), the highest winning percentage (61.9%), the most number of finals appearances (28), and the second most championships (14). They also have the record for most number of consecutive wins in a season (33).

Contents

1 General information

2 Miscellaneous information

3 Players of note

3.1 Basketball Hall of Famers
3.2 Not to be forgotten:
3.3 Retired numbers:
3.4 Current Players

4 Coaches and others

5 External links

General information

Founded: 1947 in National Basketball League, joined NBA in 1948.
Formerly known as: Minneapolis Lakers 1947-60
Home Arena: STAPLES Center
Uniform colors: Purple and Gold
Logo design: A yellow basketball, the purple letters "LOS ANGELES LAKERS" superimposed
National Basketball League Championship: 1948
NBA Championships: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002

2004-05 Record: 34-48

Miscellaneous information

As the Minneapolis Lakers, the team holds the record for the lowest-scoring NBA game ever played along with the Fort Wayne Pistons. On November 22, 1950, the Lakers were leading until the fourth quarter, when the Pistons pulled ahead to win 19 to 18. This took place in a time before efforts were made to speed up gameplay, such as the addition of the shot clock.
Los Angeles is the only city to have two NBA teams (the other is the Los Angeles Clippers.)
The 2004-05 season marks only the fourth time the Laker franchise has failed qualifying for the post-season since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960.

Players of note

Basketball Hall of Famers

11 Bob McAdoo
13 Wilt Chamberlain
17 Jim Pollard (Minneapolis)
19 Vern Mikkelsen (Minneapolis)
22 Slater Martin (Minneapolis)
22 Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis-Los Angeles)
25 Gail Goodrich
32 Magic Johnson
33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
34 Clyde Lovellette (Minneapolis)
42 James Worthy
44 Jerry West
99 George Mikan (Minneapolis)
02 Christopher Barragan

Not to be forgotten:

Retired numbers:

Current Players

Starters:

Kobe Bryant - Shooting Guard, 6'6", 220
Lamar Odom - Power Forward, 6'10", 225
Caron Butler - Small Forward, 6'7", 215
Chucky Atkins - Point Guard, 5'11", 160
Chris Mihm - Center, 7'0", 265

Reserves:

Vlade Divac - Center, 7'1", 260
Brian Cook - Power Forward, 6'9", 235
Tierre Brown - Point Guard, 6'2", 190
Devean George - Small Forward, 6'8", 240
Brian Grant - Center, 6'9", 255
Jumaine Jones - Small Forward, 6'8", 220
Slava Medvedenko - Power Forward, 6'10", 250
Luke Walton - Small Forward, 6'8", 235

Rookies:

Sasha Vujacic - Shooting Guard, 6'7", 195
Tony Bobbitt - Guard, 6'4", 190

Draft Picks (June 2004):

Sasha Vujacic
Marcus Douthit

Coaches and others

Chick Hearn (broadcaster; Basketball Hall of Famer)
Bill Sharman (Basketball Hall of Famer; enshrined both for his playing career with the Boston Celtics and as a coach)
John Kundla (Hall of Fame coach during Minneapolis years)
Bud Grant played for team before playing and coach football
Jerry Buss owner since 1979. Purchased LA Lakers and Great Western Forum from Jack Kent Cooke.
Pat Riley Head Coach from 1981-91. The Lakers won 4 titles under his tenure and accumulated a 0.733 regular season win percentage.
Phil Jackson coached team 1999-2004, won 3 consecutive NBA titles
Rudy Tomjanovich 2004, resigned February 2 citing health concerns

External links