When people ask what year did lakers win championship history, they usually want a quick list. But honestly? The Lakers’ history is messy, glorious, and spread across two different cities. They've won 17 NBA titles. Some people count 18 if you include the 1948 NBL title, but the league record books stick to 17.
If you just want the dates, here they are: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, and 2020.
But that's just a bunch of numbers. Each one of those years represents a completely different era of basketball. You've got the George Mikan days in the freezing cold of Minnesota, the "Showtime" era where Hollywood elite sat courtside, and the modern era defined by Kobe, Shaq, and LeBron.
The Minneapolis Dynasty (1949–1954)
Before they were the Purple and Gold, they were just a team in Minnesota. They played in a different league at first. In 1949, they won the BAA (Basketball Association of America) title. A year later, the BAA merged with the NBL to form the NBA we know today.
George Mikan was the star. He was the first real "big man" dominant force. They won in:
- 1949 against the Washington Capitols.
- 1950 against the Syracuse Nationals.
- 1952 and 1953 back-to-back against the New York Knicks.
- 1954 against the Syracuse Nationals again.
Five rings in six years. That’s a dynasty. People forget that. They moved to Los Angeles in 1960 because of financial struggles, and then the real drama started.
The Heartbreak and the 1972 Breakthrough
The 1960s were brutal for L.A. Fans. They made the Finals six times and lost every single time to the Boston Celtics. It was a curse. Jerry West—the man on the NBA logo—was the star, but he couldn’t get past Bill Russell.
Then 1972 happened.
The Lakers won 33 games in a row that season. It’s still a record. They finally beat the New York Knicks in five games. Wilt Chamberlain was there. Jerry West finally got his ring. It was the only title they won between 1954 and 1980. Think about that. Nearly 30 years with only one trophy.
Showtime: The Magic and Kareem Years
Everything changed in 1979 when they drafted Magic Johnson. The 80s were basically a Lakers highlight reel. They played fast. They played pretty. And they won. A lot.
1980 and 1982
Magic won a title as a rookie in 1980. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got hurt in Game 5, so Magic—a point guard—played center in Game 6. He had 42 points and 15 rebounds. Absolute insanity. They beat the Sixers. Two years later, in 1982, they beat the Sixers again.
1985: The Celtics Curse Ends
This is the one Lakers fans of a certain age talk about the most. They finally beat Boston. It happened in the Boston Garden. No road team had ever won the title there before. Kareem was 38 years old and still the Finals MVP.
1987 and 1988: Back-to-Back
Pat Riley, their coach, famously promised a repeat during the victory parade. He was right. They beat the Celtics in 1987 and then took down the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons in 1988.
The Shaq and Kobe Three-Peat (2000–2002)
The 90s were a dry spell. Michael Jordan owned the league. The Lakers didn’t win a single championship during that decade. But then they hired Phil Jackson and paired a young Kobe Bryant with a prime Shaquille O'Neal.
It was dominant. It was also toxic. They hated each other, but they couldn't be stopped on the court.
- 2000: Beat the Indiana Pacers.
- 2001: Beat the Sixers (only lost one game in the entire playoffs).
- 2002: Swept the New Jersey Nets.
Three years. Three rings. Nobody has "three-peated" since then.
Kobe’s Redemption and the 2020 Bubble
After Shaq left, people said Kobe couldn't win without him. It took a few years and a trade for Pau Gasol, but Kobe proved them wrong. They lost to Boston in 2008, which hurt. But they bounced back.
They beat the Orlando Magic in 2009. Then came 2010.
Game 7 against the Celtics. Staples Center. It was a rock fight. Nobody could shoot. Kobe went 6-for-24. But they won. It was Kobe's fifth ring and his most important one.
The 2020 Bubble Championship
The most recent answer to what year did lakers win championship is 2020. It was the weirdest season ever. Because of COVID-19, the playoffs were held in a "bubble" at Disney World. No fans. Just basketball.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis led them to the title against the Miami Heat. It was emotional because Kobe Bryant had passed away in a helicopter crash earlier that year. The team played for him. They won it on October 11, 2020.
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Why These Dates Matter Now
If you're a fan, these dates aren't just trivia. They are the benchmark. The Lakers are currently tied with the Celtics for the most titles (though the Celtics took the lead again in 2024 with their 18th).
Every season in L.A. that doesn't end in a parade is considered a failure. That's the pressure of the franchise. Right now, the team is in a weird spot. They have LeBron, but they’re struggling to find that 18th ring.
What you should do next:
If you're looking to dive deeper, check out the 1972 season stats. That 33-game win streak is the most underrated feat in sports history. Also, if you can find the footage of Game 6 of the 1980 Finals, watch it. Seeing a 20-year-old Magic Johnson jump center is something every basketball fan needs to see. Keep an eye on the 2025-26 season—with the roster shifting, they’re either building for 18 or heading for another rebuild.