The 1980s Lakers were nicknamed "Showtime" due to their fast break-offense led by Magic Johnson. The team won five championships during the 80's and boasted future Hall of Famers Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy.

Initially a member of the National Basketball League (NBL), the Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America, where they would win five of the next six BAA/NBA championships--for a total of six championships in their first seven seasons.