On October 9, 1973, the Lakers beat Chicago 117-97 on the road, a quiet line in a Minneapolis-born franchise still finding its footing in Los Angeles. Forty-seven years later to the day, LeBron James and the Lakers lost Game 5 of the 2020 Finals to Miami, 111-108, two days before clinching the championship that remains this team's last.
A Road Win, Early
The 1973-74 Lakers were a team in transition, a season removed from Wilt Chamberlain's retirement and still years from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's arrival. The 117-97 win at Chicago on this date is a minor result from that gap, but it belongs to a pattern the franchise has leaned on since Minneapolis: winning away from home builds a season's floor. The current roster just lived that lesson twice, beating Sacramento 127-103 on October 5 and 114-110 on October 8 to sweep the two-game preseason series.
The Last Ring
Six years later to the day in 2020, James and the Lakers lost Game 5 of the Finals to Miami, 111-108, then closed out the series two days after for the 17th championship, tying the Celtics atop the league. That title was the last time a single Lakers star carried this franchise all the way. James left for Philadelphia this summer, and the job he held now sits with Doncic, who is about to open his first full season in Los Angeles after arriving in the February 2025 trade for Anthony Davis.
What the History Asks
West, Baylor, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Bryant, James — the Lakers have always built around one name, and the roster around Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler is the newest version of that bet. The payroll is already past the luxury tax line at $201.3 million, and the draft picks that financed this era are thin through 2030. The preseason sweep of Sacramento, with Sandro Mamukelashvili scoring 19 off the bench and Jake LaRavia adding 17, is one early answer. The regular season opener against Golden State on October 21 is the next one.
When did the Lakers last win an NBA championship?
2020, the 17th title in franchise history, won under LeBron James and Anthony Davis two days after an October 9 loss to Miami in Game 5 of the Finals.
Did the Lakers sweep their preseason series with the Kings?
Yes. Los Angeles beat Sacramento 127-103 on October 5 and 114-110 on October 8 for a two-game sweep.
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