The Minneapolis Lakers were one of the

few teams in the NBL. They had George Mikan,

Jim Pollard, Herm Schaefer, and coach John

Kulda. Mikan averaged 24.4 points per game in

the first year in the first year with the Lakers.

The Lakers got the NBL crown that year.

   The Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals,

Fort Wayne, Zoller Pistons, and the Indianapolis

Katskys (later renamed the jets) entered a league

called the BAA or the Basketball Association of

America. The BAA already had eight teams already including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Everybody came to see George Mikan who averaged 28.8 points per game. The Lakers battled the Royals and then defeated the Lakers in game six of the finals for the BAA championship.

  After that season the BAA and NBL combined and made the NBA which had 17 teams. The Lakers won the first NBA championship deafeting the Nationals. The following season Minneapolis the Lakers deafeted the Knicks in the finals to win for the second time in three years. The following season the Lakers won in the finals against the Knicks which was the first NBA dynasty. The following season the Lakers deafeted the Royals for their next championship.

  The following season the NBA put in two new rules, the shot clock and the six fouls per person. That year Mikan retired, but by midseason the Lakers asked him to come back The next two years the Lakers lost to St. Louis after that now in 57-58  Mikan was coach. They had a horrible season which then gave them No. 1 draft pick. They decided to pick Seattle University star Elgin Baylor who was an alll around player. In his rookie year he averaged 24.9 points per game and 15.0 rebounds. The Lakers lost in the  finals Boston. In 59-60 coach John Kulda was replaced by John Castellani who was Baylor's college coach. Minneapolis lost to St. Louis in the conference finals. During the offseason the Minneapolis Lakers became the Los Angeles Lakers.