The Lakers: Pinas’ favourite NBA team
Kabayan, walk into any barangay court and you’ll see purple and gold. The Los Angeles Lakers are the most followed NBA team in the Philippines. The franchise has 17 championships according to the NBA’s historical list: 5 from the Minneapolis years and 12 in Los Angeles. For the current team, use the official Lakers roster page; this guide covers history and how to follow the club from Pinas.
Lakers championship years
| Era | Title years | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954 | 5 |
| Los Angeles, first title | 1972 | 1 |
| Showtime 1980s | 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988 | 5 |
| Shaq and Kobe | 2000, 2001, 2002 | 3 |
| Kobe’s back-to-back | 2009, 2010 | 2 |
| Bubble title | 2020 | 1 |
Magic, Shaq and Kobe
In 1980, rookie Magic Johnson scored 42 points to clinch the Finals against Philadelphia with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar unavailable. From 2000 to 2002, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant won three straight titles under Phil Jackson, with O’Neal Finals MVP all three years, against Indiana, Philadelphia and New Jersey. Bryant then led the 2009 title (4-1 over Orlando) and 2010 (4-3 over Boston), winning Finals MVP both times. The 2020 title, won against Miami, belongs to the 2019–20 season.
The 2023 NBA Cup
In 2023 the Lakers won the first NBA in-season tournament, now the NBA Cup. It’s a separate trophy from the NBA championship, so it isn’t counted in the 17 titles.
NBA news Lakers: following the team
For NBA news Lakers fans can trust, use the team’s official announcements and the NBA transactions page; rumors move fast at the trade deadline (see NBA trade news). For the next games in PHT, open the NBA schedule. The NBA roster 2026 for any team, including the Lakers, is on its official roster page, which changes with every signing and trade.
How many NBA teams are there?
There are 30 NBA teams, 15 in each conference. Here’s the list of NBA teams:
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference |
|---|---|
| Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Utah | Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Miami, Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington |
All NBA teams have official roster pages on NBA.com. For the conference tables, see NBA Western Conference standings.
NBA Warriors, Spurs and Suns
Besides the Lakers, Pinoy fans follow the NBA Warriors (GSW NBA fans), the Spurs and the Suns NBA fans closely. For NBA Spurs news or any team, the same rule applies: check the team’s official site for NBA rosters and announcements, then the NBA standings to see where the team stands.
Lakers and odds (21+)
Fan loyalty and odds are different things. If you’re 21 or older, our NBA odds guide explains how prices work. Set a budget and read our responsible gambling page.
Quick answers
How many championships do the Lakers have?
17: five in Minneapolis and twelve in Los Angeles.
How many NBA teams are there?
30, split into two conferences of 15.
Tara, Lakers fan! Laban, purple and gold!
Sources
- Los Angeles Lakers: season records and history
- NBA: historical championship list
- Los Angeles Lakers: 2025–26 media guide
- Los Angeles Lakers: 2020 season capsule
- Los Angeles Lakers: official roster
- NBA: Magic Johnson’s 1980 Finals clincher
- Basketball Hall of Fame: Shaquille O’Neal
- Basketball Hall of Fame: Kobe Bryant
- Lakers: 2009–10 season review