Last Updated on July 17, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake

Here’s a timeline of the key events in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Stags:

Chicago Stags (1946-1950):

1. 1946: The Chicago Stags were an original team in the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The Basketball Association of America later merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).

2. 1949: The Stags reach the West Division Semifinals where they played against the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won the series 2–0.

3. 1950: The Stags reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year and face off against the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won again 2–0. Despite the successful playoff birth, the Stags suffer financial issues and are forced to disband. The 1950 playoff loss to the Lakers is their last game in the league.

Los Angeles Lakers (1947-present):

1. 1947: The Minneapolis Lakers are founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2. 1948: The Minneapolis Lakers join the NBA after the merger between the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL).

3. 1949: The Minneapolis Lakers led by George Mikan win the BAA Championship. They finished the regular season second in the BAA Western Division.

4. 1960: The Minneapolis Lakers move to Los Angeles and become the Los Angeles Lakers.

5. 1972: The Los Angeles Lakers win their first championship after relocating to LA. The Lakers finished the regular season 1st in the NBA Pacific Division with a 69-13 record. It was an extremely strong Lakers team featuring Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Pat Riley, and Jerry West.

6. The 1980s: The Lakers draft Earvin Magic Johnson in 1979-1980. Johnson joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who had been with the Lakers since 1975-1976 to form a formidable duo that would help propel the Lakers to one of the most successful eras in NBA history for a franchise. Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar won five NBA championships together in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.

7. 2000s: The Lakers already had Kobe Bryant since 1996 and paired him with the most dominant player to play the game, Shaquille O’Neal. It led to another dynastic era where the Lakers would win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Kobe Bryant remained with the Lakers for the rest of his career and won two more NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.

8. 2020: The Lakers win a championship while playing in the Covid-19 pandemic-induced Orlando bubble where all teams played in Orlando for the season. Some suggested this championship meant less than the rest due to no crowds attending the games, though the records remain the same.

In conclusion, the Stags had success in the BAA before the team was disbanded and the Lakers have one of the more storied histories in any basketball league.