76ers–Lakers rivalry
Philadelphia 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers
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| First meeting | January 11, 1950 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | December 7, 2017 (Wells Fargo Center) |
| Next meeting | TBD |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 313 meetings |
| All-time series | 165-148 (Lakers) |
| Regular season series | 145-134 (Lakers) |
| Postseason results | 20-14 (Lakers) |
| Longest win streak | |
| Current win streak | Los Angeles, 1 |
| Post-season history | |
| |
The 76ers–Lakers rivalry is an NBA rivalry between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The two teams have met only six times in the NBA Finals with the Lakers winning five of them and only one series win by the 76ers/Nationals.[1]
Overview[edit]
As of 2001, the Lakers and 76ers have met 6 times in the NBA Finals, with Los Angeles winning five of them while Philadelphia has won only once.
| Year | Winner | Series |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4–2 |
| 1954 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4–3 |
| 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 |
| 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | 4–0 |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–1 |
History[edit]
Lakers–Nationals rivalry[edit]
The Minneapolis Lakers and the Syracuse Nationals have met twice in a interconference matchup since the Lakers' establishment in 1948. Dolph Schayes was a member of the Nationals when they faced Bob Harrison, George Mikan, and the Lakers. Harrison's Game 1 buzzer beater of the 1950 NBA Finals was the beginning of a buzzer beating era in the league only for certain occasions.
Relocations to Philadelphia and Los Angeles[edit]
In 1960, the Lakers relocated to Los Angeles. Three years later, the Nationals moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers. In the 60s, these two teams never met in the NBA Playoffs as well as the 70s.
1980s rivalry[edit]
In the 1980s, the two teams moved to new eras which ignited the rivalry, including Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Mo Cheeks, Magic Johnson, Darryl Dawkins, Bobby Jones, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Elgin Baylor. The 76ers' lone Finals series win over the Lakers came in 1983, where it was a four-game sweep. This NBA Finals was dubbed Showdown '83.
Rivalry renewed[edit]
The rivalry between the 76ers and Lakers became more intense after the 1996 NBA Draft with Allen Iverson being drafted first overall by the 76ers and Philadelphia native and Lower Merion High School product Kobe Bryant by the Lakers. After that, both of these teams added Dikembe Mutombo and Shaquille O'Neal, respectively, as the rivalry is reborn after both teams' rebuilds. In 2001, the two teams met again for the last time to date in the NBA Finals where it became Kobe vs. AI. In Game 1, Iverson shot a contested two-point shot while being defended by Tyronn Lue of the Lakers, where Lue slipped and after making that shot, AI stepped over Lue as a signature moment of the NBA Finals. After the Lakers tied up the series at one apiece as it shifted to Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant made a comment about playing an NBA Finals game in his hometown saying "I'm coming to Philadelphia to cut their hearts out!" Upon hearing those comments, the fans booed him as he was introduced by Matt Cord, the PA announcer of the 76ers. He was also booed when he received the NBA All-Star MVP in Philadelphia.
Rebuilding eras[edit]
After Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant retired, both of these teams started to rebuild with top draft picks in hopes to reignite the rivalry again. The 76ers began the rebuild process with new head coach Brett Brown in 2013. The 76ers would then add veterans Jerryd Bayless, J. J. Redick, Amir Johnson, Marco Belinelli, and Ersan İlyasova to complement their drafted young players in Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, Furkan Korkmaz, Dario Saric, Markelle Fultz, and Richaun Holmes, as well as their undrafted heralded players including T. J. McConnell and Robert Covington. The Lakers did the same thing with adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Isaiah Thomas, and Brook Lopez to aid their drafted young players like Julius Randle, Ivica Zubac, Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma, Thomas Bryant, Lonzo Ball, and Brandon Ingram. In 2017, Lonzo's father LaVar Ball was the reason the 76ers-Lakers rivalry reignited.[2]
"Beat LA!"[edit]
Just like the Celtics–Lakers rivalry, the 76ers also use those chants by the fans when the Lakers come to the 76ers' arena in Philadelphia.
References[edit]
- ↑ "NBA: Most frequent playoff matchups". McCubed.net.
- ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers: LaVar and Lonzo Ball are sparking a Lakers rivalry". thesixersense.com.
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