What’s new with the Los Angeles Lakers? That’s what this page is all about.
The Team Spirit FAST BREAK website begins where the Team Spirit books end.
That’s because basketball never stands still … And I can never squeeze everything I want into 48 pages!
Take a look at some of the Lakers collectibles I have in my home.
Enjoy this site, check back whenever you like, and contact me with any questions or comments.
Updates
2022-23 Season
February 07, 2023: LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kareem had held the record with 38,387 points.
January 24, 2023: LeBron James became the first player to score 40 or more points against all 30 NBA teams when he scored 46 against the Clippers.
January 10, 2023: LeBron James started the new year off by winning Player of the Week honors. In three victories he averaged 35.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.
Season Preview: There are a lot of new names and faces on the team’s roister following an extremely disappointing 2021–22 season, but three names are very familiar: Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and LeBron James—three of the NBA’s great stars. New coach Darvin Ham will encourage more ball-sharing and tighter defense, but none of that will matter of Davis can’t stay on the court. Davis has missed more games than he has played the past two seasons.
2021-22 Season
Season Recap: Many experts picked the Lakers to go deep into the 2022 playoffs, but instead they ended up missing the postseason entirely. LeBron James did all he could to lead the club with his best scoring season in more than 10 years, but age and injuries slowed the team down in the second half and, at times, they were unable to keep opponents from running up big scores. The disappointing year cost coach Frank Vogel his job just two seasons after winning a championship—and left Los Angeles fans wondering where the team was headed in 2022–23.
March 05, 2022: LeBron James scored 56 points to become the second player to score 50 points in three different decades. The first was Michael Jordan. Six days later, LeBron became the oldest player to score 50 points twice in the same season and, on March 19th, he passed Karl Malone to become the second-highest scorer in NBA history.
January 07, 2022: At the age of 37, LeBron James became the oldest player to score 25 or more points 10 games in a row.
December 9, 2021: LeBron James had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in a game against the Grizzlies. He became the fifth player in NBA history with 100 triple-doubles in his career.
Season Preview: Lakers fans are looking forward to healthy seasons from LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In 2021–22 the two future Hall of Famers are joined by a third, Russell Westbrook. A weakness last year was the role players around LA’s star talent. That appears to have improved, with newcomers Kendrick Nunn and Joel Ayayi joining a bench loaded with experienced players. Any team with LeBron, AD, and Westbrook has a chance to win on any night and take the Lakers all the way back to the NBA Finals.
2020-21 Season
Season Recap: The Lakers returned from a short off-season and played well early, but age and injuries slowed them in the final weeks and hurt their chances in the playoffs. LeBron James missed several weeks with a sprained ankle and Anthony Davis sat out 30 games with a sore leg. The Lakers needed to win a play-in game to make the playoffs, which they did, but when Davis reinjured his leg in the first round against the Phoenix Suns, LA did not survive the series.
Season Preview: Most championship teams spend the off-season resting, but the Lakers were one of the busiest clubs in the NBA. They signed LeBron James and Anthony Davis to long-term deals and replaced departing team members with quality players. Newcomers Wesley Matthews, Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schroder, and Marc Gasol all play key roles in what LA fans hope will be another run to the NBA Finals.
2019-20 Season
December 26, 2020: LeBron James became the first player in history to score in double-figures 1,000 games in a row.
Season Recap: The Lakers were favored by most experts to win the NBA Championship and they did just that, defeating the Miami Heat in the Finals, 4 games to 2. Anthony Davis led the team in scoring and rebounding in 2019–20, while LeBron James led the entire NBA with 10.2 assists per game. James and Davis had a solid supporting cast that included Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. It was the first NBA title for LA since 2010, and it provided a fitting tribute to the star of that 2010 team, Kobe Bryant, who perished in a helicopter crash earlier in the season. James was named MVP of the 2020 Finals.
September 9, 2020: When the Lakers defeated the Rockets in Game 3 of their playoff series, it marked the 162nd postseason victory of LeBron James—which set a new record for an individual player. Derek Fisher (161), Tim Duncan (157), Robert Horry (155), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (154) are the only other players with more than 150.
January 25, 2020: LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for third place on the all-time NBA scoring list. The next day, Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash.
December 18, 2019: Anthony Davis scored 50 points in a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He and LeBron James, who scored 28, were the first Lakers to team up for 70-plus points since 2003.
November 19, 2019: LeBron James recorded a triple-double against the Thunder. He became the first player in history with a triple-double against all 30 NBA teams.
Season Preview: LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Anthony Davis on the floor at the same time? That could be a nightmare for LA’s opponents this season. The three veterans are joined by Rajon Rondo and Danny Green give the Lakers championship-caliber support players. They have the talent to win 50-plus games, and LeBron might end up as the team’s point guard. It should be an interesting season for Lakers fans.
2018-19 Season
Season Recap: Los Angeles fans expected big things from the young Lakers after LeBron James joined the team, but not even King James could turn the Lakers into a playoff team. Injuries and inexperienced slowed the team all year. James led the Lakers in scoring, assists and rebounds, but missed more than 25 games. Young guns Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram missed even more. The good news is that Los Angeles has the makings of a winning team as long as those three players are able to stay on the court.
February 15, 2018: Kyle Kuzma led all scorers with 35 points in the 2019 Rising Stars Challenge.
December 15, 2018: LeBron James and Lonzo Ball recorded triple-doubles in a win over the Hornets. It was the first time since 2007 that teammates had triple-doubles in the same game. The last time two Lakers had triple-doubles in the same game was in 1982 (Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar).
October 14, 2018: LeBron James scored 44 points against the Trail Blazers to pass Wilt Chamberlain for #5 on the all-time scoring list. Four days later James had his forst 50-point game as a Laker.
Season Preview: The Lakers should be fun to watch in 2018-19, even of they don’t have the talent to win a championship. Newcomer LeBron James leads a group of fast, young kids and wily veterans into battle. Will he do so as a power forward? A shooting guard? A center? There are a lot of pieces for coach Luke Walton to sort out. Point guard Lonzo Ball knows how to get the ball into the right hands. Will Lonzo and LeBron click? That could make the difference between a .500 season and a trip to the conference finals!
2017-18 Season
Season Recap: The Lakers finished third in their division but 11th overall in the Western Conference, which meant they did not make the playoffs again. Rookie Lonzo Ball had good games and bad games, but was always exciting. However, it was another 20-year-old, Brandon Ingram, who often stole the show. The Duke forward led the club with 16.1 points per game.
December 18, 2017: The team held a halftime ceremony to officially retire the two numbers Kobe Bryant wore during his career, 8 and 24.
November 11, 2017: Lonzo Ball had 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds to become the youngest player in NBA history to complete a triple-double.
Season Preview: Los Angeles scored three first-round picks last spring, including #2 Lonzo Ball. They will join center Brook Lopez in a lineup that includes Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Julius Randle. That adds up to great offensive potential, but not much defense. The Lakers may not win more than half their games, but they should be fun to watch.
2016-17 Season
Season Recap: The Lakers took the floor without Kobe Bryant for the first time since the 1990s and struggled mightily at times. Even so, they improved by 15 victories! Teenage rookie Brandon Ingram showed signs he could be a big star, while second-year guard D’Angelo Russell was L.A.’s most consistent player.
2015-16 Season
January 7, 2016: Kobe Bryant joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone as the only NBA players to score 33,000 points. All three have worn Los Angeles uniforms.
Season Preview: As the Kobe Bryant era draws to a close, the Lakers find themselves short on talent at several positions. Roy Hibbert is solid at center, but the team needs its youth movement—featuring Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and D’Angelo Russell—to grow up fast.
2014-15 Season
Season Recap: The Lakers spent the year rebuilding and paid the price, with a 21–61 record—the worst in team history. Kobe Bryant missed more than half the year with an injury, leaving Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer, and Jordan Hill to pick up the pieces.
January 14, 2015: Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Season Preview: Injuries destroyed the Lakers in 2013–14, so this season will help the team better understand its strengths and weaknesses. Kobe Bryant will lead the team in scoring, but behind him are several question marks, including center Jordan Hill and guard Jeremy Lin. The Lakers hope first-round pick Julius Randle can become one of the best young power forwards in the NBA. He will learn the game watching Carlos Boozer, who came o L.A. after four seasons with the Bulls.
2013-14 Season
Season Recap: Age and injuries slowed the Lakers down for much of the season. Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant were unable to stay in the lineup, and their teammates could not pick up the slack. In a February game against the Timberwolves, three Lakers went down with injuries! Pau Gasol stayed healthy and led the team in scoring and rebounding.
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More Fun Facts
League Leaders
Playing for the Championship
LAKERS in the FINALS
National Basketball League
SEASON | OPPONENT | SCORE |
---|---|---|
1947–48 | Rochester Royals | Won 3–1* |
Basketball Association of America
SEASON | OPPONENT | SCORE |
---|---|---|
1948–49 | Washington Capitols | Won 4–2* |
National Basketball Association
SEASON | OPPONENT | SCORE |
---|---|---|
1949–50 | Syracuse Nationals | Won 4–2* |
1951–52 | New York Knicks | Won 4–3* |
1952–53 | New York Knicks | Won 4–1* |
1953–54 | Syracuse Nationals | Won 4–3* |
1958–59 | Boston Celtics | Lost 0–4* |
1961–62 | Boston Celtics | Lost 3–4 |
1962–63 | Boston Celtics | LostL 2–4 |
1964–65 | Boston Celtics | Lost 1–4 |
1965–66 | Boston Celtics | Lost 3–4 |
1967–68 | Boston Celtics | Lost 2–4 |
1968–69 | Boston Celtics | Lost 3–4 |
1969–70 | New York Knicks | Lost 3–4 |
1971–72 | New York Knicks | Won 4–1 |
1972–73 | New York Knicks | Lost 4–1 |
1979–80 | Philadelphia 76ers | Won 4–2 |
1981–82 | Philadelphia 76ers | Won 4–2 |
1982–83 | Philadelphia 76ers | Lost 0–4 |
1983–84 | Boston Celtics | Lost 3–4 |
1984–85 | Boston Celtics | Won 4–2 |
1986–87 | Boston Celtics | Won 4–2 |
1987–88 | Detroit Pistons | Won 4–3 |
1988–89 | Detroit Pistons | Lost 0–4 |
1990–91 | Chicago Bulls | Lost 1–4 |
1999–2000 | Indiana Pacers | Won 4–2 |
2000–01 | Philadelphia 76ers | Won 4–1 |
2001–02 | New Jersey Nets | Won 4–0 |
2003–04 | New York Nets | Lost 1–4 |
2007–08 | Boston Celtics | Lost 2–4 |
2008–09 | Orlando Magic | Won 4–1 |
2009–10 | Boston Celtics | Won 4–3 |
* Played in Minneapolis