Andrew Pace
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, with 17 championship wins. The 1996 NBA Finals saw the Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics play the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls. The Lakers had a strong 1995-96 season, with Magic Johnson returning to the team in January 1996, and the acquisition of Kobe Bryant in the off-season. However, the Lakers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Houston Rockets. The 1996 NBA championship series was eventually won by the Chicago Bulls, who beat the Seattle SuperSonics four games to two.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did the Lakers win the basketball championship in 1996? | No |
| The 1996 NBA Finals | The Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics vs. the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls |
| The 1996 NBA Finals winner | The Chicago Bulls |
| The 1996 NBA Finals MVP | Michael Jordan |
| The Lakers' performance in the 1995-96 season | Lost in the first round of the playoffs to the defending champion Houston Rockets |
| The Lakers' performance in the 1996-97 season | The Lakers signed free agent All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal and acquired high school basketball star Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets |
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What You'll Learn
The Lakers' 1995–96 season
The 1995–96 season was a turbulent one for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team brought back a similar roster to the previous year and initially performed well, posting a 24–18 record after 42 games. The return of Magic Johnson in January 1996 was a boost, and the Lakers went 29–11 with him in the lineup. However, as the season progressed, issues arose. Johnson's age and time away from the game began to show, and disciplinary issues plagued the team. Team captain Cedric Ceballos and Nick Van Exel were both suspended, and the Lakers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the defending champion Houston Rockets.
The 1996 NBA Finals, which concluded the 1995–96 season, featured a matchup between the Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics and the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls. The Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, ultimately defeated the SuperSonics four games to two, claiming their second three-peat and solidifying their place in NBA history.
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Magic Johnson's return
The 1996–97 season of the Los Angeles Lakers was marked by the return of Magic Johnson to the NBA, five years after his last game. Johnson, who had retired in 1991 after contracting the HIV virus, began intense workouts to fight the virus and decided to make a comeback to the Lakers in 1996.
On January 26, 1996, Johnson returned to the Lakers as a reserve power forward, registering 19 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds in his first game back against the Golden State Warriors. Johnson's return sparked the Lakers, and they went on a 29–11 run while he was in the lineup. However, as the season progressed, Johnson's age and time away from the game began to affect his performance.
Johnson's return also caused some tension within the team. Team captain Cedric Ceballos was suspended by the team, and Nick Van Exel was suspended for seven games for shoving a referee. Johnson himself was ejected from a late-season game for bumping an official. The Lakers ultimately lost in the first round of the playoffs to the defending champion Houston Rockets.
Despite the setbacks, Johnson's comeback was considered a success, and he proved his greatness once again. Johnson's return to the Lakers in 1996 is remembered as a memorable moment in the franchise's history, showcasing his dedication and passion for the game.
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Kobe Bryant's acquisition
The 1996–97 season was the Los Angeles Lakers' 49th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and their 37th in the city of Los Angeles. This season is memorable for the Lakers' acquisition of the high-school basketball star Kobe Bryant.
Bryant was initially selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. However, the 17-year-old Bryant had expressed his desire to play for the Lakers. Jerry West, the then-general manager of the Lakers, also foresaw Bryant's potential as a basketball player. As a result, West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac, to the Hornets in exchange for the young Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant's impact extended beyond his time on the basketball court. He was a brand builder, an investor, and a coach to other athletes and company founders. His success on the court grew in tandem with his Nike partnership, which released multiple lines of Kobe shoes and gear. In 2013, he co-founded the venture capital firm Bryant Stibel with Web.com founder Jeff Stibel. The firm was established to provide strategy, capital, and operational support to businesses, with a focus on technology, media, and data. In 2014, Bryant also became an early investor in BodyArmor, a sports drink brand, acquiring a 10% stake for $6 million. When Coca-Cola acquired BodyArmor in 2021, Bryant's estate made approximately $400 million.
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The 1996 NBA Finals
The Bulls came close to winning 70 games for the second straight year, settling for a 69-win campaign in 1997. They won their second straight title over the Utah Jazz in six games of the 1997 NBA Finals. The Bulls' combined 87 wins in the regular season and postseason would stand as an NBA record until the 2015-16 season.
The Bulls won the series 4-2, with Michael Jordan being named NBA Finals MVP for a then-record fourth time. The victory was partly due to the stellar performance of power forward Dennis Rodman, who delivered a repeat of his Game 2 performance with 19 rebounds, tying his own NBA Finals record. Jordan finished the game with 22 points.
The 1996–97 season was also an important one for the Lakers, as they signed free-agent All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal to a seven-year, $120 million deal. They also acquired high school basketball star Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets, who selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft.
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The Lakers' 1996–97 season
The 1996–97 season was the Los Angeles Lakers' 49th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and their 37th in the city of Los Angeles. The Lakers had a strong start to the season, with a 35–13 record at the All-Star break, but they eventually slipped out of first place.
One of the most notable moments of the season was the Lakers holding the Dallas Mavericks to just two points in the third quarter of an 87–80 home win on April 6, 1997. This set an NBA record for the fewest points scored in a single quarter. The Lakers also signed free agent All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal to a seven-year, $120 million deal and acquired high school basketball star Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets, who had selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft.
The team also signed former Lakers guard Byron Scott, free agents Jerome Kersey and Sean Rooks, and acquired rookie center Travis Knight from the Chicago Bulls. In January, they traded Cedric Ceballos to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Robert Horry, a two-time NBA champion.
Overall, the 1996–97 season was a significant one for the Los Angeles Lakers, with notable player acquisitions, strong performances, and a few setbacks.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Lakers did not win the 1996 championship. The 1996 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1995-96 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics played the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls, with the Bulls winning the series 4 games to 2.
The 1996-97 season was the Los Angeles Lakers' 49th season in the NBA. The team signed All-Star centre Shaquille O'Neal and acquired high school basketball star Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets. They also signed former Lakers guard Byron Scott and free agents Jerome Kersey and Sean Rooks.
The Lakers had a strong start to the season, holding the best record in the Western Conference at the All-Star break with 35-13. However, they slipped out of first place and finished the season with a 56-26 record, losing in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Utah Jazz.
