Team Founded: 1948-49 Team History: 1947-48 - Minneapolis Lakers (American Basketball Association) 1948-60 - Joined NBA 1960-Present - Los Angeles Lakers Team Colors: Royal Purple & Gold Arena Address: STAPLES Center 1111 S. Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA, 90015 (310) - 426-6001 Opened: October 20, 1999 First Official Game: November 3, 1999 vs. 103-98 win against the Vancouver Grizzlies Arena Capacity: 20,000 Owner: Dr. Jerry Buss Vice President of Basketball Operations: Mitch Kupchak General Manager: Mitch Kupchak Head Coach: Phil Jackson Championships (LA) (10): 2009 2002 2001 2000 1988 1987 1985 1982 1980 1972 Championships (Min) (5): 1954 1953 1952 1950 1949 Retired Numbers: (7) 13 - Wilt Chamberlain 22 - Elgin Baylor 25 - Gail Goodrich 32 - Magic Johnson 33 - Kareem Abdul Jabar 42 - James Worthy 44 - Jerry West Lakers in the Hall of Fame: (10) 1959 - George Mikan 1975 - Bill Sharman 1976 - Elgin Baylor 1977 - Jim Pollard 1978 - Wilt Chamberlain 1978 - Pete Newell 1979 - Jerry West 1981 - Slater Martin 1995 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1996 - Gail Goodrich 2003 - James Worthy Most Valuable Player (Maurice Podoloff Trophy) 1976 - Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1977 - Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1980 - Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1987 - Magic Johnson 1989 - Magic Johnson 1990 - Magic Johnson 2000 - Shaquille O'Neal 2008 - Kobe Bryant Rookie of the Year (Eddie Gotlieb Trophy) 1959 - Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis) Coach of the Year (Red Auerbach Trophy) 1972 - Bill Sharman 1990 - Pat Riley 1995 - Del Harris Executive of the Year 1995 - Jerry West
I forgot Del Harris won coach of the year in 95. If Kobe stays with the Lakers, anybody think he'll ever win MVP?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 30 standing ver:</div><div class="quote_post">I forgot Del Harris won coach of the year in 95. If Kobe stays with the Lakers, anybody think he'll ever win MVP?</div> Absolutely. He's always been in the running and will he might possibly even win it with Shaq still around. We've already seen Shaq's role get smaller during the regular season, and Kobe's game is expanding. He's become the closer for the Lakers and is their 1st option during the end of quarters. Shaq is still the post season MVP, but Kobe has a chance to be the regular season MVP in the next 2 or 3 seasons.
If Kobe is cleared of the charges, Payton leaves next year, he returns, he will win it. Next year will be his year to shine, He will be the number one option, Shaq will move down to number 2, and Malone 3. I think by the time his career is over he will have 2-4 MVP Awards.
He did put up MVP numbers last season. To bad the team record wasn't to good for them. I think if everything goes smoothly for him, he will win MVP next season too.
I didn't like Del Harris when he was here (I hated his substitution patterns) but I do agree with the idea that he got a bad wrap...people always say that he couldn't win a title with Kobe and Shaq, but many forget he had a teenage Kobe....It would have been interesting to see what kind of results he would have had with today's squad.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It would have been interesting to see what kind of results he would have had with today's squad.</div> Word, I can't make a decision if they would've won 3 championships before Phil came. Just don't know.
Kobe should have won the MVP in the 02'-03' season, arguably his finest...Averged 30ppg, had that 9 straight 40+pt game streak, and single handidly carried the lakers from below .500 at the break to playoffs while shaq was injured. Duncan robbed kobe of the MVP just like he robbed kidd the year before. Not to take anything away from timmy, but thats the way i see it. Lakers have been to more finals then any other NBA team ever. DMK
Wow I never realized there were only 3 different players in the Los Angeles Organization that ever won the MVP. I could've sworn Elgin Baylor won it one year. Nice write up
shape you need to put up the years that lakers won their conf. finals and the years they won it all, i mean if you really want to get laker'd out.
I love Lakers history, I wasn't around during the Showtime era, but I watch those games whenever they're on. They played the game the way it's supposed to be played. If anyone here hasn't watched an 80's Lakers game, it should be your new priority, lol. I'll let you borrow my Lakers Dynasty DVDs, heh.
When did the MVP begin getting distributed because i know mikan had to have won a few player of the year awards. Also i dont think his number is retired in minny (although he has a baller statue) why isnt it retired in LA?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">When did the MVP begin getting distributed because i know mikan had to have won a few player of the year awards. Also i dont think his number is retired in minny (although he has a baller statue) why isnt it retired in LA?</div> It's sorta retired, they have a seperate banner with names of the old Minny Lakers dynasty on it.
Added Kobe's MVP to Shape's original post. Actually this is a pretty decent idea and I'll try to update this thread later.