When it comes to the ugly duckling in a family, there is nothing truer than the relationship between two of the NBA teams from Los Angeles, California.
The Lakers have over 80 years of championship history, filled with Hall of Famers leaving their mark on the game of basketball, and the Clippers have what is pretty much the latest and greatest basketball stadium, built by their filthy-rich owner, Microsoft founder Steve Ballmer.
Detroit Gems-Minneapolis Lakers
Many people may not realize that the name ‘Lakers’ has little to do with Los Angeles itself but rather traces back to the team’s original roots. The franchise began in Detroit, Michigan, as the Gems of the National Basketball League.
After just one year, the management made a strategic move to Minneapolis, Minnesota, known as the ‘land of 10,000 lakes.’
The team was then fittingly renamed the Los Angeles Lakers, inspired by Minnesota’s numerous lakes as well as the Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.
First Superstar from the team
After having the worst record in their first year in the league, the team drafted the number 1 pick in the draft, taking a bold gamble on the future hall of famer, the 6’10 center from Joliet, Illinois, George (Mr. Basketball) Mikan.
At that time, selecting a center as the cornerstone for a team’s rebuilding was unconventional, making Mikan’s selection a franchise-altering risk. The management bet on his towering presence to revolutionize the team’s fortunes, and Mikan rose to the challenge, leading them to their first championship just a year later.
His successful career saw him boast 5x BAA/NBA champion (1949, 1950, 1952–1954) and 2x NBL champion (1947, 1948) accolades. His number 99 was retired by the Lakers on October 30, 2022. While Mikan was the first to put a championship stamp on the franchise, the Lakers were poised for an even more dazzling future.
Fans would soon witness the magic of rising stars like Magic Johnson, who transformed the game with his exceptional playmaking skills, and Kobe Bryant, whose relentless work ethic would eventually make him one of basketball’s all-time greats.
Following Mikan’s retirement and the team struggling mightily, they earned the #1 pick from the 1958 NBA draft. The team hit another homerun with the 6’5 small forwarder from Washington D.C, the future hall of famer Elgin (rabbit) Baylor.
In 1960, the franchise decided to move to Los Angeles, California, due to financial issues, and drafted Jerry West (nicknamed “logo” because his shadow inspired the actual NBA logo).
Even though Baylor did not win a championship with the Lakers, his accolades include 11× NBA All-Star (1959–1965, 1967–1970), NBA All-Star Game co-MVP (1959),10× All-NBA First Team (1959–1965, 1967–1969), NBA Rookie of the Year (1959), NBA anniversary team (35th, 50th, 75th).
Wilt the Stilt and his dominance.
The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals 6 times in the ’60s but ultimately lost them all to the Bill Russell-led Celtics. Russell continues to hold the record for the most championships with 11 rings.
In 1967, hometown legend Wilt Chamberlain brought an NBA ring to the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. In a surprising move, the MVP of the previous season would be traded, giving them the most physically gifted athlete the league had ever seen: Wilt Chamberlain.
Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke gave Chamberlain an unprecedented contract, paying him $250,000 after taxes—about $2.3 million in real value; in comparison, the Lakers’ previous top earner, Jerry West, was paid $100,000 before taxes—about $900,000 in real value.
The “stilt” would join Baylor and West in “Lala land”. During his time, he would bring another banner in the 1972 season.
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Fun fact: Wilt Chamberlain played with the Harlem Globetrotters a year before joining the league. His towering 7’1″ frame wasn’t just built for basketball—it was made for breaking barriers.
Imagine this giant of the court as a sprinter, his long strides covering ground with unmatched speed, leaving guards struggling to keep pace. His track and field achievements sound almost mythical: soaring 6 feet, 6 inches in the high jump, running the 440 yards in 49.0 seconds, and the 880 yards in 1:58.3.
His ability to put the shot 53 feet, 4 inches and leap 22 feet in the long jump set him apart from the rest, showcasing a rare blend of power and agility. The “big dipper” still holds the record for scoring 100 points in a single game, a feat unmatched to this day.
The trade for “the Captain.”
With Wilt’s retirement, the Lakers would continue making strategic moves cementing their future as one of the most successful franchises in the league. Previously known as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor J, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had already won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972 at the age of 24.
In 1975, the Lakers acquired Abdul-Jabbar and reserve center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters, blue-chip rookies Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman, and cash.
This pivotal trade birthed the ‘Showtime’ Lakers, laying the foundation for one of the most dominant teams in NBA history.
The Lakers drafted in 1979 what is probably the best point guard in NBA history. A 6’9 genius with the ball and floor general from Lancing, Michigan, Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. The team earned the nickname “showtime” due to Magic’s ability to run the floor on fast breaks, creating an up-tempo offense not seen before in the league.
This duo would finish up with 5× NBA Baners (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988).
The purple and gold bring the diesel to LA.
During the late 80s and early 90s, the league saw the dominance of arguably the best player of all time, Michael Jordan, and his 6 rings with the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers were left in a rebuild process after “Magic’s” early retirement due to being positive for AIDS.
A monster in the paint was making a name for himself after a season in LSU and being drafted by Orlando Magic. Standing at a whopping 7’1 and weighing over 300 lbs., and nimble, Shaquille O’Neal brought physicality back to the center position in the league.
After being swept by Hakeem’s (The Dream) Houston Rockets, the purple and gold signed the “big Aristotle” in 1996 for a seven-year, $121 million contract. Jerry West, now the team’s general manager, told Shaq that the team had traded for a young guard straight out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant, and that he saw future championships for the team.
One standout moment that encapsulated Shaq’s dominance was during the 2000 NBA Finals. In Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, Shaq recorded a jaw-dropping 43 points, 19 rebounds, and 3 blocks, showcasing his ability to overpower any opposition.
The “Black Mamba” and “Shaq” would bring three banners in consecutive seasons from 2000 to 2002.
The Mamba and Pau Gasol’s connection
After a fallout between Kobe and Shaq, the center would end up playing in Miami, where he would win the 4th and final ring of his career. The aftermath of this break would make the LA team non-competitive for various seasons.
Kobe would continue to put up some of the best numbers of his career, but with no Robin to play the second fiddle his goal to get to his idol Jordan’s 6 rings would have to wait.
On February 1, 2008, Memphis traded the Spanish center Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers along with a 2010 second-round draft pick for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol (Pau’s younger brother), and 2008 and 2010 first-round draft picks.
This trade would be just what the doctor ordered for the Black Mamba, winning two more chips in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
“The King” brings the Lakers their most recent championship.
LeBron James will go down as one of the top 2 players in the league, breaking countless records, including Kareem’s scoring record. After his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, James would take his talents to the purple and gold.
The Lakers would continue their masterful moves and trade one of the best players in the league at the time, the Center/Power Forward Anthony Davis, from the New Orleans Pelicans. This tandem would bring the latest banner during the season, called “Covid and bubble,” since the playoffs were played without fans due to the pandemic.
This unique scenario offered an unprecedented experience where games were played in almost eerie silence, creating a level playing field that highlighted athleticism and strategy, placing this championship in a distinct place in NBA history. The NBA line ups continue to favor the lakers with the addition of the newest superstar to the team of LA Luka Doncic.
The Clippers
The original team was founded as the Buffalo Braves for the 1970 expansion season. In 1978, the team relocated to San Diego.
In 1984, owner Donald Sterling controversially relocated the franchise to Los Angeles without the NBA’s approval, which was permitted following legal action by the league against Sterling.
The team has never reached the NBA finals, even though it has had some great teams, including the 2010s “Lob City” era featuring future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, power forward Blake Griffin, and center DeAndre Jordan.
Final Thoughts
Comparing these teams is not a fair fight, and the ugly duckling comparison hits the nail on the head. The Clippers will always be in the Lakers’ shadow, even after playing in their new state-of-the-art stadium.
And instead of trying to be better than the big brother, maybe focus on reaching the NBA finals for once in their career to hang a divisional banner in that spanking new stadium, as in the Staples Center now known as Crypto Arena, as Kobe once said, “the Lakers don’t have up divisional banners, they hang up NBA championships.”
