The Los Angeles Lakers today unveiled Lakers: An Official History of the Purple & Gold, the definitive authorized history of the franchise, produced in collaboration with world-renowned luxury art book publisher TASCHEN.
Lakers is a visual masterpiece spanning seven decades of legacy, leadership and championships on and off the basketball court. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, the book explores stories of fandom, basketball culture and the franchise’s connections to Hollywood. It features rare and never-before-published artwork and photographs alongside original stories and essays from some of the most influential voices in and around the Lakers organization.
“The Lakers are a global phenomenon,” said Los Angeles Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss. “No other team has turned athletes into icons or left a legacy quite like the Lakers. Players, coaches and fans have made this franchise about so much more than a game – they’ve created an unforgettable show that has been playing for 79 seasons. This book is a love letter to everyone who has been part of that story.”
The 528-page book chronicles the history of Lakers and explores how the franchise’s culture helped transform Los Angeles into a global stage where sports, celebrity and entertainment collide, influencing sports and style around the world. Edited by Vikki Tobak, the book features a foreword by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, an introduction by Jeanie Buss and an afterword by Phil Jackson.
Essays in the book are penned by Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper, Shaquille O’Neal, Pau Gasol, LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Pat Riley, Claire Rothman, Linda Rambis, Dyan Cannon, Paula Abdul, Flea, Jack Nicholson, Lou Adler and Ray Nicholson, with additional text by Michael Arkush and Damion Thomas.
Across 10 chapters, the book details Lakers history from the franchise’s origins in Minneapolis and the Showtime era to the three-peat at the turn of the millennium, followed by the back-to-back and 2020 championship. Each Lakers championship is packaged in emblematic gold, featuring the team’s roster, head coach and memorable playoff contributions.
Lakers is filled with stories of fandom, entertainment, fashion and culture. Special layouts include a four-page gatefold showcasing the Lakers 17 championship rings, a four-page gatefold chronicling the evolution of Lakers uniforms and a four-page spread featuring the franchise’s retired numbers. Additional materials include historic promotional pieces, play diagrams and postgame analysis notes.
Lakers is available now at the Lakers Team Shop, the Team LA store at Crypto.com Arena, LakersStore.com, TASCHEN.com and TASCHEN stores. Available October 1 at select retailers worldwide.