Since becoming a pro team in 1948, the Los Angeles Lakers franchise has made the playoffs 61 times and won a whopping 16 NBA titles. Only the Boston Celtics (17) have won more championships than the Lakers.

Some of the greatest players in NBA history have suited up for the Purple and Gold at some point in their careers. Among them are Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West and James Worthy.

It's also worth mentioning that superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis currently play for the organization. LeBron signed with the Lakers during the summer of 2018 as an unrestricted free agent on a four-year deal, while Los Angeles acquired Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in the offseason of 2019 after AD requested a trade during the 2018-19 season.

After becoming a professional squad in 1948, the Lakers won five titles in their first six years of existence. The franchise captured its sixth ring in 1971 after coming in second place in 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Banner No. 7 for the Lakers arrived in 1980 after Magic was drafted in the 1979 draft. It didn't take the franchise long to win No. 8, as Los Angeles took home the 1982 title after getting bounced in the first round of the 1981 playoffs. Rings No. 9, 10 and 11 were won in 1985, 1987 and 1988, respectively, thanks to Kareem and Magic.

After the Lakers' 11th championship, the organization didn't win another ring until 2000. Los Angeles won three straight titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002, with O'Neal winning all three Finals MVPs, Bryant establishing himself as the best shooting guard in the game and head coach Phil Jackson adding even more rings to his already impressive collection from his days with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the Chicago Bulls during the '90s.

After the Shaq-Kobe era ended following O'Neal's trade to the Miami Heat, the Lakers struggled before acquiring talented big man Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008. Bryant and Gasol led Los Angeles to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010, with Kobe winning both Finals MVPs.

The best player in Lakers franchise history, Bryant wore No. 8 for the first 10 years of his Hall of Fame career. He averaged 23.9 points per game while wearing No. 8 before switching to No. 24. The Black Mamba put up 26.3 points in 639 games with the No. 24 on his back.

Kobe finished his Lakers career with averages of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He was an 18-time All-Star and is the team's all-time leader in games played, minutes, field goals, free-throws and points.

The greatest point guard in NBA history and the second-best player to ever play for the Lakers behind Kobe, Magic put up 19.5 points, 7.2 boards and 11.2 assists per game during his legendary run with L.A., which included three regular-season MVPs, five NBA titles, three Finals MVPs and 12 All-Star appearances.

Shaq's numbers with the Lakers were pretty impressive, too. The Diesel put up 27.0 points and 11.8 boards per game with the Lakers, won three championships, three Finals MVPs and one regular-season MVP. He and Abdul-Jabbar — who averaged 22.1 points and 9.4 rebounds in 14 seasons with the Lakers — are considered the two best centers in NBA history.

Of course, we have to mention West's contributions with the Lakers as well. The Logo not only averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 boards and 6.7 assists with the franchise, but West is the only player in NBA history to win a Finals MVP Award despite playing for the losing team. He won the 1969 Finals MVP trophy, but wound up getting his championship in 1972.

Jackson, who won six rings with the Bulls and five with the Lakers, racked up 610 regular-season wins in Los Angeles, good for first in franchise history. Behind Jackson is the one and only Pat Riley, who won four titles with the LakeShow.

A total of 27 NBA Hall of Famers have played for the Lakers, and that number will rise once LeBron, Davis, Dwight Howard and Gasol retire, as all four players will be first-ballot Hall of Famers one day.

Los Angeles fans are hoping LeBron and Davis can win title No. 17 this year when the 2019-20 season resumes at Walt Disney World. Before games were suspended in March following Rudy Gobert's positive COVID-19 test, the Lakers had the best record in the Western Conference standings.

When you think about the NBA, the first four teams that usually come to mind are the Lakers, Bulls, Celtics and New York Knicks, though Los Angeles and Boston are in a class of their own due to their number of championships.

Celtics legend Larry Bird used to have countless battles with Magic and the Lakers during the '80s. That rivalry is what really expanded the NBA's profile.