Los Angeles Lakers: All-Time NBA Finals team
By Amaar Burton
On their way to 16 championships, the Los Angeles Lakers have suited up no shortage of stars who have shined in the NBA Finals.
No NBA franchise has been more successful in the 21st century than the Los Angeles Lakers. Five championships since the calendar turned to 2000 gives L.A. the edge over the San Antonio Spurs (four), Golden State Warriors (three) and Miami Heat (three).
The Lakers have 16 total championships as a franchise, dating back to 1949 when they were the Minneapolis Lakers and the league was called the Basketball Association of America, and most recently in 2010. They are second behind the Boston Celtics, who have 17 titles.
In 2019, however, the Lakers are in the unique position of being nowhere near a championship and right on the cusp of seriously contending at the same time.
As the Warriors and Toronto Raptors prepare for the NBA Finals to tip off Thursday, the Lakers are sitting at home — or wherever they are on vacation — engulfed in their own internal franchise drama while waiting for free agency and trading season to rebuild their roster.
By the end of the Warriors-Raptors series, a player or two could make themselves a Finals legend. The Lakers have suited up more than a few of those — enough to put together an all-time team.
Here are the Lakers’ best NBA Finals performers.