The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful organizations in NBA history. In the last 78 seasons of the NBA’s existence, the Lakers have won the most NBA championships (tied with the Boston Celtics) with 17. Of these 17 championship teams, some have stood out more than others regarding how they performed during these championship runs.
Based on regular season record, playoff record, and overall team performance, we have ranked these various Lakers teams 1-10. Led by NBA legends such as Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and a whole list of others, these are undoubtedly the greatest teams in Los Angeles Lakers history.
1. 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 65-17
Playoff Record: 15-3
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. Celtics 4-2)
By a slim margin, the 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers are the greatest team in Lakers history and one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Point guard Magic Johnson would be MVP of the 1986-87 season, averaging 23.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 12.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game to lead the Lakers to a 65-27 regular season record.
In the NBA playoffs, the Lakers’ dominance didn’t stop. Magic Johnson and James Worthy remained 20.0 point per game scorers for the duration of the playoffs as the Lakers swept the Nuggets in the first round, defeated the Warriors in five games in the second round, and swept the Seattle SuperSonics in the Western Conference Finals.
This set us up for another matchup between the Lakers and Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Despite 20.0 points per game from Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Dennis Johnson, the Lakers were too much for Boston. Magic Johnson was named Finals MVP with 26.2 points, 13.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per game as the Lakers defeated the Celtics in six games. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy also contributed over 20.0 points per game for the series.
2. 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 69-13
Playoff Record: 12-3
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. Knicks 4-1)
The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers have a legitimate argument to be the greatest team in franchise history. Led by Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, and Wilt Chamberlain, the Lakers would win a franchise-record 69 games. Chamberlain would finish fourth in MVP voting with 13.2 points and 18.6 rebounds per game while West finished sixth with 22.8 points and 8.8 assists per game on 47.9% shooting.
After winning 69 games, the Lakers headed to the NBA playoffs with one goal on their mind, to win the NBA championship. In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers made easy work of the Chicago Bulls in a four-game sweep. In the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers would take down MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks in six games led by Jim McMillan’s 22.8 points per game.
This set up a rematch of the 1970 NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Knicks. The Lakers were determined to exact that revenge and would do just that, defeating the Knicks in five games. Wilt Chamberlain was named Finals MVP with 19.4 points and 23.2 rebounds per game. Gail Goodrich led all scorers with 25.6 points per game while West added 19.8 points and 8.8 assists per game.
3. 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 56-26
Playoff Record: 15-1
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. 76ers 4-1)
The Los Angeles Lakers from the 2000-01 season were just coming off the organization’s first NBA title since the 1987-88 season. Led by Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal and rising superstar Kobe Bryant, the Lakers were dominant once again, winning 56 games during the regular season led by 28.7 points per game from Shaq and 28.5 points per game from Bryant.
In the NBA playoffs, the Lakers would find another gear. In the first three rounds against the Trail Blazers, Kings, and Spurs, the Lakers would not lose a single game. The team went 11-0 in 11 straight games with O’Neal leading the way with 30.4 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. Bryant would also add 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.
In the NBA Finals, Bryant and O’Neal would lead the Lakers to a showdown with MVP Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers. After Iverson led the 76ers to a spirited win in Game 1, the Lakers would go on to win four straight games led by the dominance of O’Neal. He would win Finals MVP with 33.0 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. Bryant contributed to the win as well with 24.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
4. 1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 62-20
Playoff Record: 15-4
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. Celtics 4-2)
Coming in at No. 4 on our list of the greatest teams in Lakers history is the squad from 1984-85. The Lakers had one of the best offenses in the game that season, averaging 118.2 points per game with a 114.1 offensive rating. On their way to 62 wins, Magic Johnson was named runner-up for the MVP award with 18.3 points, 12.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finished fourth in the voting with 22.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
The NBA playoffs began simply for Los Angeles as they picked up a three-game sweep of the Suns in the first round. In both the Semifinals and Western Conference Finals, the Lakers would dismiss both the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets in five games apiece. Once again, the Lakers and Celtics found themselves in a battle in the NBA Finals.
In the series, the Celtics and Lakers would be all tied up 2-2 after Game 4. The Lakers would win games in Los Angeles and Boston in Game 5 and 6 to clinch the series in six games. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named Finals MVP with 25.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. James Worthy would also add 23.7 points per game while Magic Johnson averaged 18.3 points and 14.0 assists per game.
5. 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 65-17
Playoff Record: 16-7
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. Magic 4-1)
In 2008-09, the Los Angeles Lakers sought revenge and redemption after falling to the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals. Leading the way was reigning MVP Kobe Bryant along with Pau Gasol and a cast of elite role players at his side. Behind Bryant’s 26.8 points per game as well as Gasol’s 18.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, the Lakers would win 65 games and find themselves right on track for another chance at an NBA title.
In the playoffs, the Lakers would be tested but prevail. In the first round, the Lakers would get past the Utah Jazz fairly easily in five games. They would be pushed to seven games by the Rockets in round two but 21 points and 18 rebounds in Game 7 by Gasol saved the season. The Lakers would get by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals in six games, setting up a date with the Orlando Magic led by Dwight Howard in the Finals.
In what was supposed to be a six or seven-game slugfest, the 2009 NBA Finals ended up being a five-game blowout win by the Lakers. Kobe Bryant was sensational in capturing his first Finals MVP with 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game on 43.0% shooting. Pau Gasol finished the series with 18.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, and Derek Fisher all finished as double-digit scorers as well.
6. 1981-82 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 57-25
Playoff Record: 12-2
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. 76ers 4-2)
Two years after setting the basketball world ablaze with a wild championship run, the Lakers were looking to get back to their winning ways in 1981-82. In a complete team effort, the 1982 team, led by eight-place MVP candidate Magic Johnson, would win 57 games, claiming the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
In the playoffs, the Lakers looked unstoppable in their first two series. They started with a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns, followed by the same over the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. This set up another meeting between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals, just as it had been two seasons earlier.
The 76ers gave the Lakers all they could handle in Games 1 and 2, splitting the first two games 1-1. Back-to-back wins by the Lakers in Games 3 and 4 put the series out of reach as they wrapped things up in Game 6, 114-104. Magic Johnson earned his second MVP award with 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game in the series. Jamaal Wilkes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Norm Nixon, and Bob McAdoo all poured in over 15.0 points per game in the series as well.
7. 1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 60-22
Playoff Record: 12-4
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. 76ers 4-2)
The 1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers team holds a special place in any real basketball fan’s heart. It was the birth of Showtime basketball in L.A. and the debut of Magic Johnson as the Lakers’ No. 1 overall pick in 1979. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also had an MVP season that saw him average 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game, leading the team to 60 wins.
When the NBA playoffs rolled around, the Lakers were met with little challenges in the first two rounds. They started off the championship run with a five-game series win over the Suns followed by a five-game series win over the Seattle SuperSonics in the Western Conference Finals. It marked the first time we would see Julius Erving and Magic Johnson face off in the NBA Finals, something that would become a regular occurrence in the early 1980s.
In the series, the Lakers and 76ers split the first two games, 2-2 as Erving and Kareem led their teams to momentum-shifting wins. In Game 6, Kareem would lead the Lakers to victory with a 40-point game. However, an injury would see him sidelined for Game 6, setting the stage for a rookie to step up. Magic Johnson would start Game 7 at center in place of Kareem and seal the series and Finals MVP honors with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists.
8. 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 67-15
Playoff Record: 15-8
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. Pacers 4-2)
The 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers are another team that holds a special place in many fans’ hearts. This is the first year of the Shaq and Kobe era that resulted in a three-year run of pure dominance. Shaq would have a ridiculous season, winning MVP with 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. Kobe Bryant was the perfect sidekick as usual, with 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game as the Lakers went 65-17 on the year.
In the playoffs, the Lakers saw some difficulties on their way to the NBA Finals. They were forced to five games in the first round by the Kings, needing 32 points and 18 rebounds from Shaq to save their season. They were then pushed to seven games in the Conference Finals by Portland, where they got 25 points and 11 rebounds from Bryant in Game 7 to advance to the Finals.
It would be there that the Lakers met the Indiana Pacers led by Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose. Despite Indiana’s star duo going for 47.3 combined points per game in the Finals, it was not enough to slow down O’Neal and the Lakers. Los Angeles went on to win the NBA title in six games led by Finals MVP O’Neal who averaged 38.0 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game.
9. 1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 62-20
Playoff Record: 15-9
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. Pistons 4-3)
If there were only one word to describe the 1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers, it would be resilience. During the regular season, the Lakers dominated the Western Conference with 62 wins and just 20 losses. Point guard Magic Johnson was right in the thick of the MVP race once again, finishing third with 19.6 points and 11.9 assists per game.
As the Lakers marched toward the NBA playoffs, they were met with little resistance from the Spurs in the first round, sweeping them in three straight games. The next two rounds would be a different story. They were pushed to seven games by both the Jazz and Mavericks in the Conference Semifinals and Finals, prevailing both times to make their eighth Finals appearance of the decade.
In the NBA Finals, the Lakers were met by the dangerous Bad Boy Detroit Pistons. As expected, the series went back and forth with the two teams needing a seventh game to decide things. In Game 7, an unlikely hero stepped up and earned a Finals MVP win for the ages for the Lakers. James Worthy would lead L.A. to victory with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists to win 108-105 and capture their fifth NBA championship in nine seasons.
10. 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 52-19
Playoff Record: 16-5
NBA Champions (Lakers vs. Heat 4-2)
After missing the playoffs in the first year of the LeBron James era in 2018-19, the Lakers went out and made a bold move heading into 2019-20. They acquired Anthony Davis from the Pelicans in exchange for a variety of young talent in hopes that the pairing of him and James could lead the Lakers to an NBA championship.
It looked that way as the Lakers finished 52-19 on the season before play was cut to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the league restarted in the Bubble at Disney World, the Lakers were poised to compete for an NBA championship with every other playoff team in the league, and they did just that.
James and Davis looked unstoppable as they led the Lakers to five-game series wins over the Trail Blazers, Rockets, and Nuggets to advance to the NBA Finals. Jimmy Butler had led James’ former team, the Miami Heat, to the NBA Finals for the first time since James left town in 2014. In the series, Miami would fight valiantly, but the Lakers’ depth and talent were just way too much. LeBron would win his fourth Finals MVP award with 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game, while Davis put in 25.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.
