The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most glamorous franchises in world sports, with a long list of championships and legendary players. They're also one of the most popular teams with casual fans, which matters when reading their odds. Here's the guide.
Who the Los Angeles Lakers are
City and arena
The franchise began as the Minneapolis Lakers (named for Minnesota's "Land of 10,000 Lakes") and moved to Los Angeles in 1960. For decades they played at the Forum in Inglewood. Since 1999 they've played in downtown LA at the arena originally known as Staples Center, now Crypto.com Arena, which they share with other teams.
Famous eras
- Minneapolis dynasty: led by center George Mikan, the Lakers won five titles between 1949 and 1954.
- Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain: the 1971-72 Lakers won 33 straight games and the championship.
- Showtime: in the 1980s, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led a fast-breaking team to five titles.
- Shaq and Kobe: three straight titles from 2000 to 2002.
- Kobe's later titles: back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.
- The bubble title: the Lakers won the 2020 championship in the NBA's Florida "bubble."
The Lakers rank among the two most decorated franchises in NBA history, alongside the Boston Celtics.
Rivalries
The Boston Celtics rivalry is the most famous in basketball, with many NBA Finals meetings, especially in the 1960s and 1980s. Other notable rivalries include the LA Clippers (shared building), the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors in the West, and the Detroit Pistons from late-1980s Finals.
How to read odds on Lakers games
Favorite or underdog
Lakers -5.5 (-110), moneyline -220: implied 220 ÷ 320 = 68.8%. Lakers +4 (-110), moneyline +150: implied 100 ÷ 250 = 40.0%.
The popularity factor
The Lakers have one of the largest fan bases in the world. When a huge share of casual opinion lands on one team, prices can be shaded slightly toward it, especially in futures and big national TV games. That's not a reason to always pick against them; it's a reason to check the number carefully. See favorites vs underdogs.
Star-driven lines
NBA lines are extremely sensitive to star availability, and Lakers teams have often been built around a few stars. When a star is listed as questionable, the line may not settle until close to tip-off. A single star's absence can move an NBA spread by several points. See reading injury reports.
Worked example: line move on star news
A Lakers home game opens at Lakers -6. Two hours before tip-off, a star is ruled out. The line moves to Lakers -1.5.
- The market values that player at about 4.5 points against this opponent.
- Moneyline might move from around -240 (70.6%) to about -125 (55.6%).
If you made a pick before the news, your price is fixed. If you're picking after, you get the new number. This is why many people wait for injury news in the NBA.
Back-to-backs and rest
NBA teams sometimes play on consecutive nights. Veteran stars may sit out one game of a back-to-back. Check the schedule and any announced rest plans. See basketball odds explained.
What to check before picking Lakers games
- Star availability, confirmed as close to tip-off as possible.
- Back-to-backs and travel.
- Pace matchup for totals.
- Public sentiment in national TV games.
- Home and away. NBA home advantage is usually worth a couple of points.
- The price. See implied probability.
Futures and season-long markets
Lakers championship and win-total prices attract heavy interest every year. If the Lakers are +1200 to win the title, the implied chance is 100 ÷ 1300 = 7.7%. Futures margins are large, and popular teams can be priced shorter than their true chances. See championship odds explained and the live championship odds.
Practice with play money
Lakers games are a great way to learn how fast NBA lines react to news. On MockSport you can make free play-money picks on Lakers spreads, moneylines and totals and see how pre- and post-news prices compare. Visit the odds page.
FAQ
Why are they called the Lakers if they're in Los Angeles?
The franchise started in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," and kept the name after moving to Los Angeles in 1960.
Who are the Lakers' biggest rivals?
The Boston Celtics, in the most famous rivalry in NBA history, along with Western Conference rivals and the crosstown Clippers.
Why do NBA lines move so much before tip-off?
Star availability is often confirmed late, and one star can be worth several points on the spread.