There’s no franchise like the Lakers. The team’s journey is filled with Lakers history highlights that showcase their legendary status in basketball.
The banners. The legends. The drama. The greatness. And then there are those moments—the unforgettable, goosebump-inducing Lakers history highlights—that made it all feel bigger than basketball.
These are the ones every real fan should know. These are the ones that still echo in Staples. Or as some of us still call it—the Forum.
Magic’s Baby Hook in Boston (1987)
Game 4. NBA Finals. Boston Garden.
The crowd was hostile. The rivalry was peaking. And with the clock melting away, Magic Johnson floated a baby hook over Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
Buckets.
It wasn’t just a game-winner. It was a middle finger to Celtics pride. Showtime wasn’t just style—it was substance. And Magic had just buried Boston on their home floor.
Kobe to Shaq Alley-Oop (2000 WCF Game 7)
Down 15 to the Blazers. Season slipping away. And then the run happened.
Kobe sliced through Portland’s defense like a scalpel. The lob. Shaq pointing skyward like he’d just called down the basketball gods.
That alley-oop? That was the rebirth of a dynasty. The moment the Lakers reminded everyone who runs this city.
Jerry West’s Halfcourt Prayer (1970 NBA Finals)
No three-point line. No time left. Just Jerry West launching a halfcourt prayer in Game 3 against the Knicks.
They still lost in overtime. But that shot? It turned The Logo into a myth. You don’t talk Lakers history highlights without whispering that one.
Kobe’s 81-Point Night (2006 vs. Raptors)
It wasn’t just 81 points. It was 81 that felt angry. Vengeful.
Every pull-up, every fadeaway, every layup through traffic—it was personal. The Raptors were just witnesses.
And when it ended, we didn’t cheer. We just stared at the screen. Like we’d seen something not meant for mortals.
Magic Starts at Center (1980 NBA Finals Game 6)
Rookie. No Kareem. So Magic Johnson starts at center… then plays every other position on the floor.
42 points. 15 rebounds. 7 assists. A 20-year-old kid from Michigan clinching the NBA title on the road, smiling the whole way.
Still one of the most iconic Lakers history highlights ever.
Robert Horry’s Game-Winner (2002 vs. Kings)
Down 2-1 in the series. Bibby was balling. Peja was hitting from everywhere.
But then came the scramble. Vlade tapped it. And Big Shot Rob caught it. Swish.
That ball floated forever. And when it dropped, so did Sacramento’s soul.
The Mamba Finale (2016 vs. Jazz)
60 points. On 50 shots. Like he always wanted.
Kobe Bryant walked off his way. Not quietly. Not gently. He emptied the clip. And dropped the mic.
Wilt’s 100… in a Lakers Uniform?
No, not the 100-point game. That was Philly. But Wilt’s 1969-70 season with the Lakers? Averaged 18.4 rebounds while playing on one leg.
The man was a tower. A legend. And he helped drag that team through the Finals with sheer will.
LeBron Breaks the Scoring Record (2023)
A fadeaway. Smooth. And with that, Kareem’s 38,387 became history.
LeBron did it in purple and gold. No matter where he started, he chose to make history in L.A.
The Bubble Title (2020)
No fans. No homecourt. Just heart. AD’s buzzer-beater against Denver. LeBron’s takeover in the Finals.
And a team playing for something bigger than basketball—for Kobe. The 2020 championship was the weirdest year. And the most human title the Lakers ever won.
