Last Updated on July 18, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake

Here’s a brief timeline highlighting some notable events and matchups between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors:

  1. Early Years (1946-1960s):
    • The Lakers were originally based in Minneapolis and had early matchups with the Philadelphia Warriors, who later became the Golden State Warriors.
  2. 1970s-1980s:
    • The Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, had numerous matchups with the Warriors, including playoff series.
  3. 1990s:
    • Both teams experienced ups and downs during this decade, with the Lakers transitioning from the Showtime era to the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal era towards the end of the decade.
  4. 2000s:
    • The Lakers-Warriors rivalry intensified, especially with the emergence of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers’ return to championship contention. The Warriors, however, were not yet a dominant force.
  5. 2010s:
    • The rivalry took on a new dimension with the rise of the Golden State Warriors as a powerhouse in the NBA, led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The teams faced each other in significant regular-season games and playoff matchups.
  6. 2014-2016:
    • The Warriors won their first NBA Championship in 40 years in 2015, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers. They went on to set a new NBA record for most wins in a regular season (73-9) in 2016, surpassing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72-10.
  7. 2016-2019:
    • The teams continued to compete at a high level, meeting in the playoffs multiple times. The Warriors won two more championships in 2017 and 2018, with the Lakers rebuilding after Kobe Bryant’s retirement.
  8. 2020s:
    • The Lakers rebuilt quickly around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, winning the NBA Championship in the bubble in 2020. The Warriors dealt with injuries to key players but remained competitive.
  9. Recent Years:
    • Both teams have had ups and downs, with the Lakers aiming to build around their star players and the Warriors continuing to be a force in the Western Conference.

This timeline highlights the evolving nature of the rivalry between the Lakers and the Warriors, which has spanned decades and seen both teams achieve significant success in the NBA.