How Many NBA Titles Have the Lakers Won?

The Los Angeles Lakers have won a total of 16 NBA championships.

How Many Championships Have the Lakers Won?

The Lakers have won a total of 16 NBA championships, the second-most in NBA history behind the Boston Celtics. They have also made 31 appearances in the NBA Finals, the most of any NBA franchise.

When Did the Lakers Win Their First Championship?

The Lakers first won the NBA title in 1949, when they defeated the Washington Capitols in the NBA Finals. The Lakers would go on to win a total of five championships in their next six seasons, including three in a row from 2000 to 2002. They have also won titles in 2009, 2010, and 2020.

The Lakers’ Championship Dynasties

The Lakers have won a total of 16 NBA championships, the second-most in NBA history behind the Boston Celtics. Of those 16 championships, 11 were won while playing in Los Angeles and five while the team was based in Minneapolis. The Lakers also hold the record for having made the NBA Finals the most times with 31 appearances, winning 19 of those series. Below is a summary of each of the Lakers’ championship dynasties.

Minneapolis Era (1949-1957)
The Lakers began their existence as the Minneapolis Lakers, one of the NBA’s original franchises. They won five championships in nine seasons, including three consecutive titles from 1952 to 1954. George Mikan was the team’s star player during this era and is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Los Angeles Era (1958-present)
The Lakers relocated to Los Angeles prior to the 1958-59 season and promptly won their sixth championship led by stars Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. The team would go on to win five more championships over the next decade, led by such Hall of Famers as West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. The Lakers won back-to-back titles on three occasions during this decade (1972-74, 1980-82, 2009-10), and added two more championships in 2000 and 2001 with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant forming one of the most dominant duos in NBA history.

The Lakers’ Most Recent Championship

The Lakers most recent championship was won in 2010, when they beat the Boston Celtics in seven games. This was the Lakers’ sixteenth NBA title overall, and their first since 2000. Kobe Bryant was named Finals MVP for his performance throughout the series.

Other Notable Lakers’ Championships

The Los Angeles Lakers have won a total of 16 NBA Championships, the 2nd most in NBA history. They have appeared in the NBA Finals a total of 31 times, also the 2nd most in NBA history. Here is a detailed look at all of the Lakers’ Championship teams.

1949-50: The Lakers win their first NBA Championship, led by George Mikan who averages 22.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.

1972-73: The Lakers win their first Championship of the post-Mikan era, led by Wilt Chamberlain who averages 19.9 points and 23.2 rebounds per game.

1981-82: The Lakers win their first Championship of the Magic Johnson/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. Johnson is named Finals MVP after averaging 18 points, 10.5 assists, and 8 rebounds per game.

1985-86: The Lakers exact revenge on the Celtics, defeating them in six games to win their 8th Championship in franchise history. Johnson is once again named Finals MVP after averaging 19 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds per game.

1987-88: The Lakers make it back-to-back Championships for the second time in franchise history, defeating the Detroit Pistons in seven games. James Worthy is named Finals MVP after averaging 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.