Los Angeles Lakers

First known as the Minneapolis Lakers after the state's slogan, "Land of ten thousand lakes", the Lakers joined the National Basketball League (NBL) in the 1947-48 basketball season. John Kundla coached the team that brought in players like Herm Schaefer, Jim Pollard and George Mikan. That year the Lakers basketball team won the NBL crown.

George Mikan held the biggest name when the team joined the Basketball Association of America (BAA) during the 1948-49 season. The Lakers came up against teams based in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Mikan broke his wrist during the forth game against the Washington Capitols. He returned with a cast on to play the fifth game. Washington won the game though Mikan scored well. The Lakers history shows that they triumphed in the sixth game earning the BAA Championship.

In 1949, the NBL and BAA merged together in basketball and the Lakers joined sixteen other teams to compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This put them in the Central Division. They won the first NBA finals.

After a while fan attendance lowered and this prompted Bob Short, the Lakers owner, to move the team to Los Angeles, California before the 1960-61 season. The Los Angeles Lakers, also known as the LA Lakers, played through to the finals and lost the NBA Championship ten to seven.

At present the LA Lakers are one of seven teams to hold position in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the NBA. The L.A. Lakers uniform colors are royal purple and gold. The current Lakers logo is of their name in purple speeding across an orange and black basketball. This Los Angeles Lakers logo was created in 1992.

The Lakers cheerleaders are known as Laker Girls. Fans remember and recognize Paula Abdul as the most famous of the Laker Girls. A photo on the NBA site shows the current Laker girls in bikini.

The L.A. Lakers continue to make headlines with players like Ervin (Magic) Johnson, Shaquille (Shaq) Rashaun O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. When accusations of sexual assault came out against Bryant, fans wanted to know is Kobe going to be out of the Lakers. Current headlines prove that the combination of basketball and Lakers and heat fail to dissuade the team from pushing forward.

The Los Angeles Lakers continuing success make them one the most powerful and highly celebrated NBA basketball team franchises in professional sports. For more information on Lakers tickets visit the NBA website, or Ticketmaster.