The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. Their history stretches back to the very beginning of the NBA when they were still in Minneapolis and they became the NBA’s first true dynasty.
This fact was cemented after the team’s 1954 season. The Lakers finished the season with an NBA-Best 46-26 record. They would make it to the NBA Finals where they would meet the Syracuse Nationals.
After a grueling seven game series, the Lakers made history on April 12, 1954 when they defeated the Nationals 87-80 to complete the first three-peat in the history of the NBA. Their 1954 championship was also their fifth in six years.
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This Lakers dynasty was led by the first NBA superstar, Lakers center George Mikan. Mikan averaged 18 points and 14 rebounds during the season.
The Lakers also had a solid collection of role players including Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelson, and Clyde Lovellette, all of whom contributed to the Lakers historic run.
The NBA was much different during those times, but that does nothing to diminish the incredible accomplishment of this team. Winning two championships is extremely difficult, but to win three straight is something only the Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls have done.
Of course there can only be one first, and the Minneapolis Lakers will always be able to hold the claim of being the first team to three-peat.
This week, we remember the the 1954 Minneapolis Lakers for accomplishing the NBA’s first three-peat by defeating the Syracuse Nationals in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, on April 12, 1954.
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