Explores the history of the Los Angeles Lakers in a narrative a narrative about the names, games and special moments that have helped make the Lakers successful from Mikan to West and from Magic to Kobe.

Introduces some of the best players from the Los Angeles Lakers.

After 20 unforgettable years in the NBA, Kobe Bryant is calling it a career. All he’s done in those two decades is establish himself as one of the best to ever play the game, arguably the greatest Laker ever and the most popular athlete in the history of Los Angeles sports. The Black Mamba’s path to iconic status started quietly as the 13th pick of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets but with a draft day trade to the legendary Lakers, the rest is resounding history. Kobe’s credentials are impeccable with five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, one NBA regular season MVP, 18 All-Star game appearances and countless other accolades to his name. Kobe Bryant: Laker for Life is the ultimate tribute to the Lakers superstar as he concludes his legendary career, covering 20 years of hardwood genius. Including nearly 100 full-color photographs, fans are provided a glimpse into the early days of Kobe’s career, bursting onto the NBA scene winning the Slam Dunk Contest to his individual brilliance and NBA titles with the Lakers to his celebratory swan song through the league during his final season. A must-have keepsake for Lakers fans and Kobe aficionados alike, Kobe Bryant is the perfect commemoration of a Los Angeles icon and Laker for Life.

Against the backdrop of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, California, the Los Angeles Lakers have become not only one of professional basketball's most treasured gems, but an internationally-renowned sports icon. With the wizardry of players who require only one name--Elgin, West, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Shaq, Kobe--the Lakers grew from a promising Midwestern team starting afresh in the City of Angels and becoming one of the most successful corporate giants in the history of athletic competition. This definitive encyclopedia of the Lakers provides all vital data pertaining to each season of the team's first 50 years in Los Angeles, including biographies of Hall of Famers, other great performers, and coaches; complete rosters; season-by-season schedules and statistics; draft picks; and records and individual accomplishments.

They were dominant in their early days in Minneapolis, but after they moved to Southern California, the Los Angeles Lakers became legendary champions. From the pioneers of the 1950s to the global superstars of today, get to know the players who made the Lakers one of the NBA’s top teams through the years.

"Includes 2010 championship season."--Jacket.

The Los Angeles Times Encyclopedia of the Lakers was compiled in 1998 on the 50th anniversary of the team -- which since its 1960 move from Minneapolis has been known as the Los Angeles Lakers. It has detailed year-by-year and player-by-player statistics, augmented by anecdotes and photos of Lakers players (from Kareem Abdul-Jabar to Wayne Yates), coaches, sportscasters and fans.