History
Los
Angeles Lakers World Championships
The
Los Angeles Lakers have captured nine World Championships of professional
basketball with victories in 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000,
2001, and 2002.
1972
Coach of the year, Bill Sharman led the Lakers to their first
championship beating the New York Knicks four games to one.
1980
Magic Johnson took over in Game 6 with Kareem Abdul Jabbar
unable to play because of a sprained ankle and led the Lakers over
the Philadelphia 76ers four games to two.
1982
With a playoff record of 12-2, the Lakers beat the Philadelphia
76ers in the Finals four games to two to win their second championship
in three years.
1985
Led
by 38-year-old series MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers beat the
Boston Celtics four games to two. This series marked the ninth time
that Los Angeles and Boston had met in the NBA Finals but the first
time that the Lakers won the championship.
1987
MVP and Finals MVP, Magic Johnson led the 65-17 Lakers to the championship
beating the Boston Celtics four games to two.
1988
The
series between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons went a grueling
seven games. James Worthy had a triple-double in Game 7 to lead the
Lakers to a 108-105 victory. Worthy was named Finals MVP, and Los
Angeles became the first club to repeat as NBA champions since the
Boston Celtics in 1968-69.
2000
Trailing by 13 points entering the fourth quarter of Game Seven, the
Lakers fought back to beat the Portland Trailblazers and win the Western
Conference Championship. In the Finals, the Lakers beat the Indiana
Pacers in six games to win their first championship since 1988.
2001
It only took the Lakers five games to beat the Philadelphia 76ers
and win their eighth championship. Shaquille O'Neal was named Finals
MVP after averaging 33.0 points and 15.8 rebounds.
2002
Los Angeles faced the New Jersey Nets in the 2002 NBA Finals and won
the series in four games. Shaquille O'Neal averaged 36.3 points and
12.3 rebounds, and was named NBA Finals MVP for the third consecutive
season.
