In a town full of stars, the Los Angeles Lakers shine the brightest. With 17 championships, 31 conference titles and a long history of showcasing the best and brightest in the NBA, the Lakers are one of the biggest sports brands in the world. A trip to Staples Center in the heart of revitalized downtown Los Angeles is an absolute must for any self-respecting sports fan. Seriously. Get there. A History of Basketball Excellence Though the list of accomplishments and accolades is long, one of the more staggering individual metrics that defines the history of the Lakers is this: in nearly seven decades of NBA competition, the Lakers have failed to qualify for the post-season just FIVE TIMES! Founded in Minneapolis (where “lakes” are an actual thing) in 1947, the Lakers won 5 championships thanks in large part to NBA all-timer George Mikan before making the move to Los Angeles in 1960. Since their arrival in Southern California, the Lakers have dominated the sporting scene and they have ALWAYS had the league’s biggest stars. In the 60s it was Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. In the 70s it was Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the 80s, “Showtime” was born with Jabbar, Magic Johnson and James Worthy under coach Pat Riley. And in the 90s and 2000s, it was Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant leading the way with Zen Master Phil Jackson calling plays. The Stormy Present Coming off a rocky season filled with injuries (Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant) and headaches (Dwight Howard), the Lakers look forward to a quieter and more productive 2013-14. With a returning core of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash, GM Mitch Kupchak rounded out the roster with athletes who should fit well within Mike D’Antoni’s explosive offensive system. Chris Kaman, Wesley Johnson, Jordan Farmar and USC product Nick Young should quickly help the Lakers move on from an uncharacteristically challenging season. At the end of the day, the Lakers season will depend upon the health of Kobe Bryant. Already one of the greatest to ever play the game, Kobe’s dogged pursuit of a sixth ring should help push the Lakers into playoff contention. Though some pundits may question his ability to recover, Kobe is one of the greatest competitors in sports history. Through sheer force of will (plus, obviously, an insane amount of hard work and rehabilitation) Kobe will be back. Without the burden of expectation, there’s no telling what Kobe and the Lakers may accomplish once they get there. Save on Los Angeles Lakers Tickets with ScoreBig! Sharing beautiful Staples Center with the Los Angeles Clippers and Kings, the Lakers enjoy an enormous home-court advantage. In a building teeming with celebrities and business moguls, it’s like a Hollywood premiere every time the Lakers take the court. Don’t miss a chance to see the Lakers at Staples with guaranteed savings from ScoreBig.