Los Angeles Lakers Quiz
Kobe, Magic, Kareem and 17 banners: how well do you know purple and gold?
How many NBA championships have the Lakers won in franchise history?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
17
The Lakers have won 17 titles, five before the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and 12 since, the latest coming in the 2020 Orlando bubble.
Only one franchise has more titles, and the Lakers needed a record 32 Finals appearances to collect their 17, more trips than any other team.
Which Lakers legend is known as "The Black Mamba"?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant gave himself the nickname Black Mamba around 2003, inspired by the deadly snake in the film Kill Bill, to describe his ruthless on-court persona.
The phrase Mamba Mentality became the title of his 2018 book and the name of the youth sports academy he founded in Thousand Oaks.
What is the Lakers' home arena called?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Crypto.com Arena
The downtown Los Angeles building opened in 1999 as Staples Center and became Crypto.com Arena in December 2021 under a 20-year naming deal worth 700 million dollars.
The Lakers share the arena with the NHL's Kings and the WNBA's Sparks, while the Clippers moved out in 2024 to the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Which former Lakers star broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time NBA scoring record in February 2023?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
LeBron James
LeBron James passed Kareem's 38,387 points on February 7, 2023 against Oklahoma City and has since pushed the record beyond 42,000 points.
James left the Lakers as a free agent in the summer of 2026 and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026/27 season.
What era of Lakers basketball was led by Magic Johnson in the 1980s?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Showtime
Showtime was the name for the fast-break, no-look-pass style Magic Johnson ran at the Forum, a brand owner Jerry Buss wanted to feel like a Hollywood production.
The era was dramatized in the HBO series Winning Time, which ran for two seasons in 2022 and 2023 with Quincy Isaiah as Magic.
Which team is the Lakers' biggest historic rival?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Boston Celtics
The Lakers and Celtics have met in the NBA Finals 12 times, more than any other pairing, with Boston winning nine of those series.
The 1980s duel between Magic and Larry Bird is widely credited with reviving the NBA's television ratings and national popularity.
How many points did Kobe Bryant score in his final NBA game in 2016?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
60
On April 13, 2016, Kobe scored 60 points on 50 shots against Utah, the most ever by a player in his final NBA game.
The Lakers trailed by 10 late in the fourth quarter and won 101 to 96, with Kobe scoring 23 points in the final period.
Which Lakers duo won three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002?
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Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O'Neal
Shaq was Finals MVP in all three of the 2000, 2001 and 2002 title runs, with Kobe as his running mate under coach Phil Jackson.
The 2001 Lakers went 15 and 1 in the playoffs, a postseason record that stood until Golden State's 16 and 1 run in 2017.
What jersey numbers did Kobe Bryant wear during his Lakers career?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
8 & 24
Kobe wore number 8 from 1996 to 2006, then switched to 24 for his final 10 seasons, and the Lakers retired both numbers in December 2017.
He is the only player in NBA history to have two different jersey numbers retired by the same franchise.
Which coach led the Lakers to four championships as head coach in the 1980s?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Pat Riley
Pat Riley took over from Paul Westhead in 1981 and won titles in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988, trademarking the phrase three-peat along the way.
Riley later coached the New York Knicks and won a fifth championship as a head coach with the Miami Heat in 2006.
In what year did LeBron James join the Lakers?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
2018
LeBron signed a four-year deal worth 154 million dollars with the Lakers on July 1, 2018 after leaving Cleveland for the second time.
His first Lakers season ended without a playoff berth, the franchise's sixth straight miss, before the 2020 title changed the story.
Which Lakers player is known as "The Logo" and appears on the NBA logo?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Jerry West
Designer Alan Siegel based the 1969 NBA logo on a photo of Jerry West dribbling, although the league has never officially confirmed the likeness.
West won only one title as a player, in 1972, but built the 1980s title teams and the Shaq and Kobe dynasty as a Lakers executive.
How many NBA championships did Magic Johnson win with the Lakers?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
5
Magic won titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988, earning Finals MVP three times, including as a rookie in 1980.
In the 1980 clincher he started at center in place of the injured Kareem and posted 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists.
Which Lakers player won the 2020 NBA Finals MVP?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
LeBron James
LeBron averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists against Miami, becoming the first player to win Finals MVP with three different franchises.
The 2020 Finals were played inside the Disney World bubble in Orlando with no fans in the arena because of the pandemic.
What was the Lakers' original city before moving to Los Angeles?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Minneapolis
The team began as the Minneapolis Lakers in 1947, named for Minnesota's 10,000 lakes, and won five titles led by George Mikan before moving in 1960.
The Lakers' name made little sense in Los Angeles, much like the Utah Jazz, a franchise born in New Orleans that kept its name after relocating.
Which Lakers center was known for his unstoppable "Skyhook" shot?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem's skyhook, released high and one-handed with his body shielding the ball, was virtually unblockable and carried him to a record six MVP awards.
The NCAA banned dunking from 1967 to 1976 partly because of Kareem's dominance at UCLA, which pushed him to perfect the hook.
How many championships did Phil Jackson win as Lakers head coach?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
5
Phil Jackson won the 2000 to 2002 three-peat with Shaq and Kobe, then two more in 2009 and 2010 during his second spell with the team.
Combined with six Bulls titles, his 11 championships are the most by any head coach in NBA history.
Which Lakers player scored 81 points in a single game in 2006?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe dropped 81 on the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006, including 55 points in the second half, as the Lakers rallied from 18 down to win.
Only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962 ranks higher on the NBA's single-game scoring list.
What are the Lakers' team colors?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Purple and Gold
The Lakers adopted purple and gold in 1967 after Jack Kent Cooke bought the team, and the club officially calls its purple shade Forum Blue.
Before 1967 the Lakers wore blue and white, the colors the franchise brought with it when it relocated to California.
Which Spanish forward helped the Lakers win back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol arrived from Memphis in a February 2008 trade and was the second scoring option behind Kobe on the 2009 and 2010 title teams.
The Lakers retired his number 16 in March 2023, and he entered the Hall of Fame the same year alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade.
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All Sports quizzes →About the Los Angeles Lakers Quiz
The Los Angeles Lakers have hung 17 championship banners, second only to the Boston Celtics. The franchise moved west in 1960 and has since given the NBA some of its biggest names: Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, whose 81-point night in 2006 remains the second-highest scoring game in league history. Even the team's home arena, opened in 1999, has become a landmark of downtown Los Angeles.
These 20 questions run from easy warm-ups about team colors and famous nicknames to tougher tests on coaching records, jersey numbers and Finals MVPs. The mix suits lifelong Lakers fans, general NBA followers and anyone who wants a quick refresher on Showtime, the three-peat years and the 2020 bubble title. Each answer unlocks a short explanation, so you learn something even when you miss.
You will find 20 multiple choice questions here, each with four options. Difficulty: Medium. Most people finish in about 7 minutes, and every answer comes with a short explanation and one extra fact worth keeping.
How to play
Read the question and pick one of the four answers. The correct answer is revealed straight away with a short explanation, then press Next question to keep going. At the end you get your score out of 20 and a full review of your round. Play again any time and the questions arrive in a fresh order. There is no timer and no account.
Good to know before you play
How many championships have the Lakers won?
The Lakers have won 17 NBA championships, five before the franchise moved west in 1960 and 12 in Los Angeles. Their most recent title came in 2020, when they beat the Miami Heat in the Orlando bubble.
Who has scored the most points in Lakers history?
Kobe Bryant leads the franchise with 33,643 career points, all scored in a Lakers uniform across 20 seasons from 1996 to 2016.
Who owns the Los Angeles Lakers?
The Buss family, who bought the team in 1979, agreed in June 2025 to sell majority control to Dodgers owner Mark Walter at a valuation of about 10 billion dollars, with Jeanie Buss staying on as governor.
Answer key: all 20 questions with explanations
- How many NBA championships have the Lakers won in franchise history?
17 The Lakers have won 17 titles, five before the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and 12 since, the latest coming in the 2020 Orlando bubble. Only one franchise has more titles, and the Lakers needed a record 32 Finals appearances to collect their 17, more trips than any other team. - Which Lakers legend is known as "The Black Mamba"?
Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant gave himself the nickname Black Mamba around 2003, inspired by the deadly snake in the film Kill Bill, to describe his ruthless on-court persona. The phrase Mamba Mentality became the title of his 2018 book and the name of the youth sports academy he founded in Thousand Oaks. - What is the Lakers' home arena called?
Crypto.com Arena The downtown Los Angeles building opened in 1999 as Staples Center and became Crypto.com Arena in December 2021 under a 20-year naming deal worth 700 million dollars. The Lakers share the arena with the NHL's Kings and the WNBA's Sparks, while the Clippers moved out in 2024 to the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood. - Which former Lakers star broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time NBA scoring record in February 2023?
LeBron James LeBron James passed Kareem's 38,387 points on February 7, 2023 against Oklahoma City and has since pushed the record beyond 42,000 points. James left the Lakers as a free agent in the summer of 2026 and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026/27 season. - What era of Lakers basketball was led by Magic Johnson in the 1980s?
Showtime Showtime was the name for the fast-break, no-look-pass style Magic Johnson ran at the Forum, a brand owner Jerry Buss wanted to feel like a Hollywood production. The era was dramatized in the HBO series Winning Time, which ran for two seasons in 2022 and 2023 with Quincy Isaiah as Magic. - Which team is the Lakers' biggest historic rival?
Boston Celtics The Lakers and Celtics have met in the NBA Finals 12 times, more than any other pairing, with Boston winning nine of those series. The 1980s duel between Magic and Larry Bird is widely credited with reviving the NBA's television ratings and national popularity. - How many points did Kobe Bryant score in his final NBA game in 2016?
60 On April 13, 2016, Kobe scored 60 points on 50 shots against Utah, the most ever by a player in his final NBA game. The Lakers trailed by 10 late in the fourth quarter and won 101 to 96, with Kobe scoring 23 points in the final period. - Which Lakers duo won three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002?
Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O'Neal Shaq was Finals MVP in all three of the 2000, 2001 and 2002 title runs, with Kobe as his running mate under coach Phil Jackson. The 2001 Lakers went 15 and 1 in the playoffs, a postseason record that stood until Golden State's 16 and 1 run in 2017. - What jersey numbers did Kobe Bryant wear during his Lakers career?
8 & 24 Kobe wore number 8 from 1996 to 2006, then switched to 24 for his final 10 seasons, and the Lakers retired both numbers in December 2017. He is the only player in NBA history to have two different jersey numbers retired by the same franchise. - Which coach led the Lakers to four championships as head coach in the 1980s?
Pat Riley Pat Riley took over from Paul Westhead in 1981 and won titles in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988, trademarking the phrase three-peat along the way. Riley later coached the New York Knicks and won a fifth championship as a head coach with the Miami Heat in 2006. - In what year did LeBron James join the Lakers?
2018 LeBron signed a four-year deal worth 154 million dollars with the Lakers on July 1, 2018 after leaving Cleveland for the second time. His first Lakers season ended without a playoff berth, the franchise's sixth straight miss, before the 2020 title changed the story. - Which Lakers player is known as "The Logo" and appears on the NBA logo?
Jerry West Designer Alan Siegel based the 1969 NBA logo on a photo of Jerry West dribbling, although the league has never officially confirmed the likeness. West won only one title as a player, in 1972, but built the 1980s title teams and the Shaq and Kobe dynasty as a Lakers executive. - How many NBA championships did Magic Johnson win with the Lakers?
5 Magic won titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988, earning Finals MVP three times, including as a rookie in 1980. In the 1980 clincher he started at center in place of the injured Kareem and posted 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. - Which Lakers player won the 2020 NBA Finals MVP?
LeBron James LeBron averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists against Miami, becoming the first player to win Finals MVP with three different franchises. The 2020 Finals were played inside the Disney World bubble in Orlando with no fans in the arena because of the pandemic. - What was the Lakers' original city before moving to Los Angeles?
Minneapolis The team began as the Minneapolis Lakers in 1947, named for Minnesota's 10,000 lakes, and won five titles led by George Mikan before moving in 1960. The Lakers' name made little sense in Los Angeles, much like the Utah Jazz, a franchise born in New Orleans that kept its name after relocating. - Which Lakers center was known for his unstoppable "Skyhook" shot?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem's skyhook, released high and one-handed with his body shielding the ball, was virtually unblockable and carried him to a record six MVP awards. The NCAA banned dunking from 1967 to 1976 partly because of Kareem's dominance at UCLA, which pushed him to perfect the hook. - How many championships did Phil Jackson win as Lakers head coach?
5 Phil Jackson won the 2000 to 2002 three-peat with Shaq and Kobe, then two more in 2009 and 2010 during his second spell with the team. Combined with six Bulls titles, his 11 championships are the most by any head coach in NBA history. - Which Lakers player scored 81 points in a single game in 2006?
Kobe Bryant Kobe dropped 81 on the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006, including 55 points in the second half, as the Lakers rallied from 18 down to win. Only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962 ranks higher on the NBA's single-game scoring list. - What are the Lakers' team colors?
Purple and Gold The Lakers adopted purple and gold in 1967 after Jack Kent Cooke bought the team, and the club officially calls its purple shade Forum Blue. Before 1967 the Lakers wore blue and white, the colors the franchise brought with it when it relocated to California. - Which Spanish forward helped the Lakers win back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010?
Pau Gasol Pau Gasol arrived from Memphis in a February 2008 trade and was the second scoring option behind Kobe on the 2009 and 2010 title teams. The Lakers retired his number 16 in March 2023, and he entered the Hall of Fame the same year alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade.
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