By: Kailee Shimabukuro L.A. Lakers By: Kailee Shimabukuro

Before They Were Lakers The Lakers started in 1946 but they weren’t the “Lakers” Originally the Lakers were the Detroit Gems and they had the worst record in NBL (National Basketball League) history

The Minneapolis Lakers In 1947 Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen bought the Detroit Gems for $15,000 Berger and Chalfen relocated them to the Minneapolis where they were renamed They became the “Lakers” because they moved to the “Land of 1000 Lakes”

1960 Lakers Move to L.A. In 1957, Bob Short and a group of local interests purchased the Minneapolis Lakers Hoping to improve their financial ills, Short moved the team to L.A. in 1960 This made them the NBA’s 1st team on the West coast

Champions! The Lakers went on to win 16 championship titles, 5 of them with Minneapolis They have the 2nd highest record behind the Boston Celtics who have 17 championships

The Current Lakers Ron Artest (#15) Matt Barns (#9) Steve Blake (#5) Shannon Brown (#12) Kobe Bryant (#24) Andrew Bynum (#17) Derrick Caracter (#45) Devin Ebanks (#3) Derek Fisher (#2) Pau Gasol (#16) Trey Johnson (#1) Drew Naymick (#41) Lamar Odom (#7) Theo Ratliff (#50) Sasha Vujacic (#18) Luke Walton (#4)

Kobe Bryant, the “Black Mamba” Kobe Bryant is the currently the best player on the Lakers, his original number was #8 Kobe Bryant (#24) was originally drafted to the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 but was traded to the Lakers before the season began and has been with them since He joined the NBA at age 18

Kobe Bryant (Cont’d) He’s won 5 championships, and was awarded MVP in 2008, and once scored 81 points in a single game His nickname, The Black Mamba, is named after the fastest snake in the world. The Black Mamba is also highly venomous and the longest snake in Africa Now the Lakers are going for a three-peat!