The Lakers Franchise goes back before the NBA even existed. Long before moving to Los Angeles the Lakers home was Minneapolis Minnesota. The first season as the Minneapolis Lakers was in 1947, the first player to be recognized as a star was the Lakers center George Mikan. The Lakers Franchise has flourished and has had some of the best players in the NBA to play for them, like Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberline, Shaquille O’Neal, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, James Worthy, and Kobe Bryant.