The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team in the NBA.
They are considered to be a basketball dynasty and, as a team, hold a number of notable records that explain their fame.
As of the end of the 2004-05 season, they have more wins (2,621), a higher winning percentage (61.
9%), more finals appearances (28), and more championships (with the exception of the Boston Celtics, who beat them by two with 16) than any other team.
They also hold the record for most consecutive wins in a season (33).
The Lakers originate back to 1947, when the Detroit Gems were bought for a sum of $15,000 and moved to Minneapolis.
As a member of the National Basketball League, they had the worst record by far and were given the first pick in the 1947 dispersal draft, which they used to recruit George Mikan, who is revered as the best center of his time.
Between this pick and a new coach (John Kundla), the Lakers went on to win the NBL championship for the 1947-48 season and were bumped up to the Basketball Association of America (along with four other teams).
Here, they won the 1948-49 championship, after which the NBL and BAA merged to form the NBA.