When you walk into the lobby of the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo, the first thing that hits you isn't the smell of expensive floor wax or the muffled squeak of sneakers. It’s the gold. Rows and rows of Larry O’Brien trophies sitting behind glass, looking exactly like the dynasty they represent.
But if you ask a die-hard fan in a Magic Johnson jersey and then ask a cynical historian in Boston how many championships the Lakers have, you might get two different vibes.
The short answer is 17.
That number puts them in a neck-and-neck race with the Boston Celtics for the most titles in NBA history. Honestly, it's the greatest rivalry in American sports, and it isn't even close. While the Celtics took the lead with their 18th banner in 2024, the Lakers’ 17 championships tell a much more sprawling, coast-to-coast story that started in a place where it actually snows.
The Minneapolis Era: The 5 Titles People Forget
Before they were the glitzy, Hollywood powerhouse we know today, they were the Minneapolis Lakers. They played in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, which—shocker—is why they’re called the Lakers.
George Mikan was the guy back then. He was the league's first true superstar, a 6-foot-10 giant who wore thick glasses and basically forced the NBA to change its rules because he was too dominant. Under coach John Kundla, the Minneapolis crew ripped off five titles in six years: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, and 1954.
Some people try to put an asterisk next to these. Don't listen to them.
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Even though the league was smaller and the shoes were basically canvas high-tops with zero arch support, those five rings are officially recognized by the NBA. They count. When the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960, they brought that winning DNA with them, even if it took a while to find the winner's circle again.
The Showtime 80s: When Basketball Became Entertainment
The 1960s were rough for LA. They kept making the Finals only to get their hearts ripped out by Bill Russell and the Celtics. It was a decade of "almost."
Then came 1972. Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West finally broke the curse, winning a title and setting a then-record 33-game winning streak. But the real explosion—the era that defined the "Laker Way"—happened in 1979 when a kid named Earvin "Magic" Johnson showed up with a smile that could light up the Forum.
Showtime was born.
- 1980: Magic starts at center as a rookie in Game 6 of the Finals. He drops 42 points. They win.
- 1982: Another one.
- 1985: This was the big one. They finally beat the Celtics in the Finals. At the Garden. It was the first time the Lakers had ever beaten Boston in a championship series.
- 1987: Magic vs. Bird. The "junior, junior, junior sky-hook."
- 1988: Pat Riley guaranteed a repeat. They actually did it.
By the time the 80s ended, the Lakers had five more trophies and had officially turned basketball into a global spectacle. They weren't just a team; they were a brand. Jack Nicholson was courtside, the Laker Girls were a thing, and the fast break was an art form.
The Shaq and Kobe Three-Peat
After a bit of a drought in the 90s (thanks, Michael Jordan), the Lakers did something ridiculous. They paired the most dominant physical force in history, Shaquille O’Neal, with a teenage prodigy named Kobe Bryant.
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It was combustible. It was chaotic. And it was unstoppable.
They won three straight championships from 2000 to 2002. Watching them was sorta like watching a hurricane hit a beach house. Shaq would just go through people. Kobe would go over them. Phil Jackson, the "Zen Master," somehow kept them from killing each other long enough to secure the first "three-peat" since the 60s Celtics.
Kobe’s Solo Act and the Bubble
People wondered if Kobe could win without Shaq. He took that personally.
In 2009 and 2010, Kobe proved everyone wrong. With Pau Gasol as his right-hand man, the Lakers climbed back to the top. The 2010 win against the Celtics was particularly sweet—a gritty, ugly Game 7 that felt more like a street fight than a basketball game. That brought the total to 16.
Then came LeBron James.
The 17th championship happened in 2020, inside the "Bubble" in Orlando during the pandemic. It was a weird, silent atmosphere, but the trophy was just as heavy. LeBron and Anthony Davis dominated, dedicating the win to Kobe Bryant, who had tragically passed away earlier that year. It was emotional, it was hard-earned, and it tied them with Boston for the most titles ever (at the time).
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Why the Number Matters in 2026
So, where do we stand now? As of early 2026, the Lakers are still sitting on 17.
The rivalry with Boston is at a fever pitch. With the Celtics winning their 18th in 2024, the Lakers are officially in "chase mode" again. The roster has changed—the trade for Luka Dončić in early 2025 sent shockwaves through the league—but the goal in LA never changes. If you aren't winning a championship, the season is a failure.
That’s the pressure of playing in the purple and gold.
Actionable Steps for the True Fan
If you’re trying to keep all these dates straight or settling a bet at a bar, here is the quick-fire reality check:
- Verify the Minneapolis Count: Always remember those first 5 titles (49, 50, 52, 53, 54). If someone says the Lakers only have 12, they're ignoring the George Mikan era.
- Check the Opponents: The Lakers have beaten the Celtics 3 times in the Finals (1985, 1987, 2010). They've lost to them 9 times. Knowing this nuance makes you look like a pro.
- Watch the Hall of Famers: To really understand these 17 titles, go back and watch film of the "Showtime" fast break. It explains why the Lakers play the way they do today.
- Track the Current Race: Follow the 2025-26 standings closely. With the new Dončić-LeBron pairing, the quest for number 18 is the most watched storyline in the NBA right now.
The history of how many championships the Lakers have isn't just a list of years. It’s a timeline of how basketball evolved from a regional sport in cold gyms to the global, superstar-driven entertainment machine it is today. 17 is the number. For now.