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Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers is a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. They are notable for having the highest number of wins (2,621), the highest winning percentage (61.9%), the most number of finals appearances (28), and the second most championships (14). They also have the record for most number of consecutive wins in a season (33).

General information

Founded: 1946 in National Basketball League, joined NBA in 1948.
Formerly known as: Detroit Gems (1946-1947), Minneapolis Lakers (1947-60)
Home Arena: Staples Center
Former Arena: Great Western Forum
Official Colors: Purple (Pantone 526) and Gold (Pantone 123) (Alternate Color: Laker Blue)
Logo Design: A gold basketball, with purple text "LOS ANGELES LAKERS" superimposed
National Basketball League Championship: 1948
NBA Championships: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002

2004-05 Record: 34-48

Miscellaneous information

As the Minneapolis Lakers, the team holds the record for the lowest-scoring NBA game ever played along with the Fort Wayne Pistons. On November 22, 1950, the Lakers were leading until the fourth quarter, when the Pistons pulled ahead to win 19 to 18. This took place in a time before efforts were made to speed up gameplay, such as the addition of the shot clock.
Los Angeles is the only city to have two NBA teams (the other is the Los Angeles Clippers.)
The 2004-05 season marks only the fourth time the Laker franchise has failed qualifying for the post-season since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960.
Their most bitter rivals are the Boston Celtics who have more Championship than them.

Players of note

Basketball Hall of Famers

11 Bob McAdoo
13 Wilt Chamberlain
17 Jim Pollard (Minneapolis)
19 Vern Mikkelsen (Minneapolis)
22 Slater Martin (Minneapolis)
22 Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis-Los Angeles)
25 Gail Goodrich
32 Magic Johnson
33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
34 Clyde Lovellette (Minneapolis)
42 James Worthy
44 Jerry West
99 George Mikan (Minneapolis)

Not to be forgotten:

Happy Hairston
Jamaal Wilkes
Norm Nixon
Michael Cooper
Byron Scott
A.C. Green
Shaquille O'Neal
Robert Horry
Derek Fisher
Karl Malone
Gary Payton

Retired numbers:

13 Wilt Chamberlain
22 Elgin Baylor
25 Gail Goodrich
32 Magic Johnson
33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
42 James Worthy
44 Jerry West
Microphone Chick Hearn

Current Players

Starters:

Kobe Bryant - Shooting Guard, 6'6", 220
Lamar Odom - Power Forward, 6'10", 225
Caron Butler - Small Forward, 6'7", 217
Chucky Atkins - Point Guard, 5'11", 160
Chris Mihm - Center, 7'0", 265

Reserves:

Vlade Divac - Center, 7'1", 260
Brian Cook - Power Forward, 6'9", 235
Tierre Brown - Point Guard, 6'2", 190
Devean George - Small Forward, 6'8", 240
Brian Grant - Center, 6'9", 255
Jumaine Jones - Small Forward, 6'8", 220
Slava Medvedenko - Power Forward, 6'10", 250
Luke Walton - Small Forward, 6'8", 235

Rookies:

Sasha Vujacic - Shooting Guard, 6'7", 195
Tony Bobbitt - Guard, 6'4", 190

Draft Picks (June 2004):

Sasha Vujacic
Marcus Douthit

Coaches and others

Chick Hearn (broadcaster; Basketball Hall of Famer)
Bill Sharman (Basketball Hall of Famer; enshrined both for his playing career with the Boston Celtics and as a coach)
John Kundla (Hall of Fame coach during Minneapolis years)
Bud Grant played for team before playing and coach football
Jerry Buss owner since 1979. Purchased LA Lakers and Great Western Forum from Jack Kent Cooke.
Pat Riley Head Coach from 1981-91. The Lakers won 4 titles under his tenure and accumulated a 0.733 regular season win percentage.
Phil Jackson Head Coach from 1999-2004 and 2005-Present, won three consecutive NBA titles on three different occasions, once with the Lakers
Rudy Tomjanovich Head Coach in 2004, resigned February 2 citing health concerns

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Lakers-Celtics Rivalry. They are in the Central Division of the National League. Draft Picks (June 2004):. The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team based in Houston, Texas. Rookies:. Greeneville Astros. Reserves:. Salem Avalanche
Lexington Legends
Tri-City Valley Cats.

Starters:. Corpus Christi Hooks.
. Round Rock Express. They also have the record for most number of consecutive wins in a season (33). National League
. They are notable for having the highest number of wins (2,621), the highest winning percentage (61.9%), the most number of finals appearances (28), and the second most championships (14). Richard (313, 1979).

The Los Angeles Lakers is a National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. Pitching strikeouts: J.R. Rudy Tomjanovich Head Coach in 2004, resigned February 2 citing health concerns. Pitching wins: Mike Hampton (22, 1999). Phil Jackson Head Coach from 1999-2004 and 2005-Present, won three consecutive NBA titles on three different occasions, once with the Lakers. Hitting Streak: Art Howe and Luis Gonzalez (23 games, 1981/1997). The Lakers won 4 titles under his tenure and accumulated a 0.733 regular season win percentage. Hit by pitch: Craig Biggio (34, 1997).

Pat Riley Head Coach from 1981-91. Walks: 149 Jeff Bagwell (149, 1999). Purchased LA Lakers and Great Western Forum from Jack Kent Cooke. Stolen bases: Gerald Young (65, 1988). Jerry Buss owner since 1979. Triples: Roger Metzger (14, 1973). Bud Grant played for team before playing and coach football. Doubles: Craig Biggio (56, 1999).

John Kundla (Hall of Fame coach during Minneapolis years). Hits: Craig Biggio (210, 1998). Bill Sharman (Basketball Hall of Famer; enshrined both for his playing career with the Boston Celtics and as a coach). Runs: Jeff Bagwell (152, 2000). Chick Hearn (broadcaster; Basketball Hall of Famer). Runs batted In: Jeff Bagwell (135, 1997). Marcus Douthit. Home runs: Jeff Bagwell (47, 2000).

Sasha Vujacic. Batting average: Jeff Bagwell (.368, 1994). Tony Bobbitt - Guard, 6'4", 190. 49 Larry Dierker. Sasha Vujacic - Shooting Guard, 6'7", 195. 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball). Luke Walton - Small Forward, 6'8", 235. 40 Don Wilson.

Slava Medvedenko - Power Forward, 6'10", 250. 34 Nolan Ryan. Jumaine Jones - Small Forward, 6'8", 220. 33 Mike Scott. Brian Grant - Center, 6'9", 255. 32 Jim Umbricht. Devean George - Small Forward, 6'8", 240. 25 José Cruz.

Tierre Brown - Point Guard, 6'2", 190. 24 Jimmy Wynn (number to be retired this season). Brian Cook - Power Forward, 6'9", 235. 29 Doug Mansolino (third base). Vlade Divac - Center, 7'1", 260. 48 Jim Hickey (pitching). Chris Mihm - Center, 7'0", 265. 8 Gary Gaetti (hitting).

Chucky Atkins - Point Guard, 5'11", 160. 25 José Cruz (first base). Caron Butler - Small Forward, 6'7", 217. 15 Cecil Cooper (bench). Lamar Odom - Power Forward, 6'10", 225. 6 Mark Bailey (bullpen). Kobe Bryant - Shooting Guard, 6'6", 220. Coaches

Microphone Chick Hearn. 3 Phil Garner. 44 Jerry West. Manager

. 42 James Worthy. Don Sutton. 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Nolan Ryan.

32 Magic Johnson. Robin Roberts. 25 Gail Goodrich. Joe Morgan. 22 Elgin Baylor. The Astros' 2004 success had much to do with the cancelled retirement of star pitcher Roger Clemens (a Houston resident), who ended 2004 with a record 7th Cy Young Award (his first in the NL), and the mid-season addition of Carlos Beltrán in a trade with the Kansas City Royals (on January 9, 2005, Beltrán accepted a better offer and signed with the New York Mets). 13 Wilt Chamberlain. Louis Cardinals in 7 games.

Gary Payton. In 2004 the Astros took the National League wild card title and finally got past the first round of the playoffs, beating the Braves in five games of the National League Division Series to advance to the National League Championship Series for the third time (they were previously in the NLCS in 1980 & 1986), where they lost to the St. Karl Malone. The Astros won another NL Central title in 2001, and were again eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Braves. Derek Fisher. 2000s

. Robert Horry. Each of these titles was followed by a first round playoff ejection, twice at the hands of the Atlanta Braves.

Shaquille O'Neal. After finishing second in their division in 1994, 1995, and 1996, the Astros won consecutive division titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999. Green. 1990s

. A.C. After pitching one for Houston, Ryan would pitch two more no-hitters for the Rangers in the early 90s to achieve a grand total of 7. This is three more than anyone else in major league history. Byron Scott. Nolan Ryan is sent to the Texas Rangers in 1989, considered too old by then-owner John McMullen.

Michael Cooper. The Astros make the playoffs in 1981, and again in 1986, culminating in a wild 16-inning loss in Game 6 to the eventual champion New York Mets. Norm Nixon. 1980s

. Jamaal Wilkes. Nolan Ryan joins the team in 1979. Happy Hairston. The Astros first don the "rainbow uniforms" that stay with them with some variation through 1992.

99 George Mikan (Minneapolis). 1970s

. 44 Jerry West. The franchise's first decade displayed some great hitters (Joe Morgan, Jimmy Wynn) and many great pitchers (Bob Bruce, Ken Johnson, Mike Cuellar, Don Wilson, Larry Dierker, Dave Giusti, Denny LeMaster). 42 James Worthy. On April 9, 1965, the Houston Colt .45s become the Houston Astros and inaugurate indoor baseball in the Astrodome. 34 Clyde Lovellette (Minneapolis). On October 17th, 1960, Judge Roy Hofheinz and the ownership group from Houston is awarded a franchise in the ten-team National League, called the Houston Colt .45s who begin play on April 10, 1962.

33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 1960s

. 32 Magic Johnson. 25 Gail Goodrich. 22 Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis-Los Angeles).

22 Slater Martin (Minneapolis). 19 Vern Mikkelsen (Minneapolis). 17 Jim Pollard (Minneapolis). 13 Wilt Chamberlain.

11 Bob McAdoo. Their most bitter rivals are the Boston Celtics who have more Championship than them. The 2004-05 season marks only the fourth time the Laker franchise has failed qualifying for the post-season since the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960. Los Angeles is the only city to have two NBA teams (the other is the Los Angeles Clippers.).

This took place in a time before efforts were made to speed up gameplay, such as the addition of the shot clock. On November 22, 1950, the Lakers were leading until the fourth quarter, when the Pistons pulled ahead to win 19 to 18. As the Minneapolis Lakers, the team holds the record for the lowest-scoring NBA game ever played along with the Fort Wayne Pistons. 2004-05 Record: 34-48.

NBA Championships: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002. National Basketball League Championship: 1948. Logo Design: A gold basketball, with purple text "LOS ANGELES LAKERS" superimposed. Official Colors: Purple (Pantone 526) and Gold (Pantone 123) (Alternate Color: Laker Blue).

Former Arena: Great Western Forum. Home Arena: Staples Center. Formerly known as: Detroit Gems (1946-1947), Minneapolis Lakers (1947-60). Founded: 1946 in National Basketball League, joined NBA in 1948.