The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in NBA history. But for a long time, it seemed like the franchise would never make it to that point.
After winning five championships while in Minneapolis, the Lakers would move to Los Angeles in 1960. The Lakers would make the NBA Finals seven times during the 1960s, and lost seven times, with six coming at the hands of the Boston Celtics.
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But 1972 was a different year. A team considered by many as one of the greatest of all-time would reel off an NBA-record 33 game win streak and this time, they would finally finish the job.
On May 7, 1972 the Lakers would defeat the New York Knicks 114-100 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the franchise’s first championship in the city of Los Angeles.
The Lakers would be led by one of the greatest trios ever put together as Gail Goodrich, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West scored 25, 24, and 23 points respectively. The championship that had eluded West throughout his illustrious career was finally captured.
The Lakers would build on this triumphant moment and win ten more championships on their way to becoming the premier franchise of the NBA. But it may have never happened had it not been for the dominance of the 1972 Lakers.
This team was an amazing collection of talent, with a win streak that has still yet to be matched more than 40 years later. For the first time in the city of Los Angeles, they were finally able to finish an exceptional regular season with a championship.
This week, we remember the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers who brought the first NBA Championship to the city of L.A. on May 7, 1972.
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