Where does the number of Los Angeles Lakers championships rank amongst NBA teams?
The Los Angeles Lakers are arguably the premier franchises in the NBA, as they have won 17 total championships. They are currently tied with their hated rival, the Boston Celtics, for the most titles in NBA history. The Lakers and Celtics have combined to win 34 titles, while the rest of the NBA has combined to win just four more championships, as no other team comes within 10 titles of the Lakers.
The Lakers have been dominant throughout NBA history, as their longest drought without a championship is just 18 years. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, the organization won five titles as the Minneapolis Lakers as they were champions in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954.
While they made several trips to the NBA Finals in the 1960s, the Lakers were unable to win the title until 1972, snapping the longest drought in franchise history. The Lakers did not win another championship until 1980, but they dominated the decade, adding titles in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
After a 12-year drought, the Lakers were able to three-peat to kick off the new millennium as they won titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002. They have added three more rings since then as they were champions in 2009, 2010, and 2020.
Watch footage from the Los Angeles Lakers 2002 championship parade below:
Players who have won the most championships as members of the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have had a plethora of legends wear the Purple and Gold at one point in their careers. While most of these legends were able to win at least one title as a member of the iconic franchise, several of their stars stand out as they have contributed multiple titles.
Magic Johnson and Kareem-Abdul Jabbar teamed up to lead the Lakers to five titles in the 1980s, while Michael Cooper was also a member of each of those title-winning teams. Kurt Rambis was a part of four of those championships, while James Worthy and Jamaal Wilkes were members of three.
The late great Kobe Bryant followed suit at the turn of the century, as he also helped lead the Lakers to five titles. Derek Fisher was a member of all five of Bryant's title-winning teams. Shaquille O'Neal, Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Brian Shaw, and Devean George were all members of the first three of those titles. A.C. Green, who won two rings with Magic and Kareem in the 1980s, won one ring with Kobe and Shaq in 2000.
Hall of Famers George Mikan and Jim Pollard both also won five titles as members of the Lakers. However, their championships came when the franchise was still located in Minneapolis. Fellow Hall of Famers Slater Martin and Vern Mikkelsen were members of four of those early title teams.
Watch footage from the Los Angeles Lakers 2009 championship parade below: