2020 Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers traded for Anthony Davis in the summer of 2019 and paired him with LeBron James. They went 52-19 and finished first in the West. The season split in two: a normal stretch, a four-month shutdown for the pandemic, then a restart in a sealed campus in Florida.

Kobe Bryant's death in a helicopter crash in January reshaped the year for the franchise and the city. The team wore Black Mamba jerseys in the playoffs and carried his memory openly.

Davis was the best player in the bubble for long stretches, hitting a buzzer-beating three to win Game 2 of the conference finals against Denver. James controlled the Finals with a near triple-double, and at 35 became the oldest player to win Finals MVP.

Miami pushed back despite losing Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo to injuries early. Jimmy Butler posted two triple-doubles to steal games, but the Lakers closed in six. It was the franchise's 17th title, tying Boston for the most at the time.

The starting five was Rajon Rondo, Danny Green, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Dwight Howard. Frank Vogel coached the group with Alex Caruso as the primary bench scorer.

The full roster ran deeper than the headline names. Role players who mattered included Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (starting guard and closer); Markieff Morris (midseason addition).

The 2020 title came in the modern era of load management, threes, and switch-heavy defense. The Los Angeles Lakers still had to win four series, usually against teams built to contend rather than tank.

The Los Angeles Lakers share a lineage with other banners from 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010. Compare those seasons on the franchise hub to see how the roster and style changed between title runs.

Looking back, the 2019-20 Lakers won the title inside the Disney World bubble, the strangest championship run in league history, beating the Miami Heat in six. LeBron James won his fourth Finals MVP and Anthony Davis, acquired the summer before, anchored both the paint and the perimeter. They played the entire year in the shadow of Kobe Bryant, who died in January.

For the full roster beyond the featured starters, see the table on this page. For other Los Angeles Lakers titles, use the franchise hub linked below.