MLMinneapolis Lakers
MLMinneapolis Lakers has reached the nba champions decider 6 times on record, first in 1948-49 and most recently in 1958-59. 5 wins against 1 runner-up finish are recorded below, sourced from our full nba champions list.
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
MLMinneapolis Lakers — 5 nba champions (1948-49, 1949-50, 1951-52, 1952-53, 1953-54).
Franchise history
The franchise that became the Lakers began in 1946 as the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League, purchased for roughly $15,000 in 1947 by Minneapolis businessmen and relocated. The new owners named the team "Lakers" after Minnesota's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes." The move paid off almost immediately: through the 1947 dispersal draft, Minneapolis landed DePaul center George Mikan, professional basketball's first true dominant big man. Under coach John Kundla, and flanked by Jim Pollard and Vern Mikkelsen, Mikan's Lakers won the 1948 NBL title, then the 1949 BAA crown, then the first-ever NBA championship in 1950 after the two leagues merged — titles in three different leagues in three straight years.
NBA championships followed again in 1952, 1953, and 1954, forming the league's first true dynasty. Mikan's 1954 retirement triggered a sharp decline in both wins and attendance; despite drafting Elgin Baylor first overall in 1959, the club struggled financially. Owner Bob Short moved the team to Los Angeles for the 1960-61 season, making the Lakers the NBA's first West Coast franchise — an odd fit for a "lake" name in a city with none.
Sourcing caveat: Sources differ on whether to count 5 or 6 Minneapolis-era titles (5 BAA/NBA titles, or 6 including the pre-merger 1948 NBL crown) — both figures appear in reputable sources.
Sources
NBA Champions won (5)
Runner-up finishes (1)
See the full nba champions list for the winner each of these years.
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