The Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers are two of the most storied franchises in the NBA. They have both won multiple championships and have had some of the greatest players in the history of the game. When these two teams meet, it is always a highly anticipated matchup that brings out the best in both squads.
The History of the Rivalry
The Warriors and Lakers have been playing against each other since the 1948-49 season when the Lakers were still located in Minneapolis. The rivalry really began to heat up in the 1960s when the Lakers moved to Los Angeles and the Warriors moved to San Francisco. During this time, the Lakers had some of the greatest players of all time, including Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor, while the Warriors had their own superstar in Rick Barry.
The rivalry continued into the 1970s when the Warriors won their first championship in 1975 with a team that included Barry, Jamaal Wilkes, and Phil Smith. The Lakers would get their revenge in 1980 when they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals to win their first championship since moving to Los Angeles. The Lakers would go on to win four more championships in the 1980s with a team that included Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy.
The rivalry hit a lull in the 1990s as both teams struggled to find success. The Lakers were able to turn things around in the late 90s with the addition of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, while the Warriors continued to struggle until the arrival of Chris Webber in 1993. However, Webber was traded after just one season and the Warriors would not make the playoffs again until 2007.
The Modern Era
The rivalry between the Warriors and Lakers was reignited in the 2010s with the emergence of Stephen Curry and the Warriors’ “Splash Brothers” era. The Lakers also had their own superstar duo in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. The two teams met in the playoffs in 2013 and 2016, with the Warriors winning both series.
The rivalry reached new heights in the 2018-19 season when LeBron James joined the Lakers. The Warriors were still the dominant team in the Western Conference, but the addition of James made the Lakers a legitimate contender. The two teams met for the first time that season on Christmas Day, with the Lakers winning a close game 127-101. The Warriors would get their revenge in their next meeting in January, winning 130-111.
The Future of the Rivalry
The Warriors and Lakers will continue to be two of the most popular and successful franchises in the NBA for years to come. The Warriors are currently undergoing a transition period with the departure of Kevin Durant and the injury to Klay Thompson, but they still have a talented roster led by Curry and Draymond Green. The Lakers have James and Anthony Davis, two of the best players in the league, and are poised to make a deep playoff run in the near future.
When these two teams meet, it is always must-see TV. The rivalry between the Warriors and Lakers is one of the greatest in NBA history, and it will continue to captivate fans for years to come.
