The Los Angeles Lakers are arguably the NBA’s most storied franchise by virtue of their 17 world championships. They’ve been so successful over the decades that even when they haven’t won it all, they have had some impressive squads that were memorable, not to mention talented, star-studded and very competitive.
After three and a half years of purgatory in the mid-2000s, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals three straight seasons starting in 2008. They won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. The 2010 title came against their bitter rivals, the Boston Celtics, and it cemented the legacy of the late great Kobe Bryant.
The following season, Los Angeles went after a second three-peat after securing one in the early 2000s behind Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. It was the legendary Phil Jackson’s last season as head coach, and Bryant and crew wanted to send him into retirement with yet another ring.