Los Angeles Lakers Video, DVD

Over the past 50 years the Lakers have won an unprecedented 14 championships, making them the best NBA franchise ever. This five-disc special edition collector's set features the complete Lakers history including year-end compilation programs highlighting the Championship seasons from the 1950s through 2002. Plus for the first time ever on DVD, the team's most memorable Finals games including its first championship win in Los Angeles, Magic's "baby hook" game in 1987, and back-to-back title games.

Packing a whopping 22 hours of content on five double-sided discs, Los Angeles Lakers: The Complete History is a treasure trove for fans of the purple and gold. In fact, even the ambitious title doesn't do the set justice, as the opening 2002 documentary traces the franchise to its Minnesota roots and a vintage 1953 feature shows the game's first dominant big man, George Mikan, in action. The glitzier West Coast years--Wilt, West, Magic, Kareem, Shaq, Kobe, et al.--are the primary focus, of course, and this set, one of the first two entries in the NBA Dynasty series (along with the slightly less-substantial Chicago Bulls: The 1990s), collects seven of the highlight videos that were released on VHS (2000 and 2002 were also on DVD), which provide a time-capsule look at each of the championship seasons. The real joy of the set, however, is nine NBA playoff games presented as they were originally broadcast and almost in their entirety. They last about 90-100 minutes with TV introductions and post-game interviews, but minus halftime, commercials, and some slower moments. The games include such absolute classics as the game in which rookie Magic Johnson started at center in place of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the 1987 "baby hook" game against the Boston Celtics. If you're used to watching current NBA games you might be tempted to just skip to the end, but it's surprisingly rewarding to watch the game develop, to watch the game's superstars strut their stuff (or see a couple of 1972 reserves named Phil Jackson and Pat Riley), and to observe how radically the sport has changed over the years. Variable picture quality and technical glitches are unavoidable (even the 2002 game looks washed out), but this is the first time complete or nearly complete NBA games have been available in the home-video era, and they probably still look better than the VHS tapes you've been saving over the years. Yes, it'd be easy to argue about which games from the Lakers' long history should have been included, and the highlight videos don't have a ton of replay value, but the NBA Dynasty series is a major milestone in archived sports. --David Horiuchi

In the 2010 season, one challenger after another tried to knock the Los Angeles Lakers off their NBA throne. But in the end, the Lakers reigned supreme once again, winning their 16th NBA championship in a drive that culminated with an NBA Finals triumph over the arch-rival Boston Celtics, led by Finals MVP Kobe Bryant. From the start of the season, the Lakers focused on their goal of repeating as champions. With Kobe delivering a string of game-winning shots, along with the emergence of All-Star big man Pau Gasol, and a strong supporting cast, the Lakers finished with the best record in the West. In the playoffs, L.A. survived a challenge from up and coming Oklahoma City, swept past Utah, and held off Phoenix to set up a rematch with the team that defeated them in the 2008 Finals, the Boston Celtics. In the latest chapter of the league's greatest rivalry, the Lakers battled their way past Boston in a thrilling 7 game series to earn redemption, as Kobe won his fifth championship ring, and Phil Jackson his record 11th as a head coach. Relive the Lakers stirring run to glory on this action-packed DVD.

Relive all the action of the 2009 NBA Finals with this Warner Los Angeles Lakers Finals Champions DVD. Loaded with bonus features, the DVD includes in-depth analysis and profiles on your favorite players.

The 2010 NBA Finals exceeded the hype as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, the two most successful franchises in NBA history, picked up where they left off in 2008 when the Celtics defeated the Lakers to earn the title. Relive the dramatic setbacks, comebacks, and late-game heroics of the epic series with this Bombo® Los Angeles Lakers 2010 NBA Finals Collector's Edition DVD box set.

UPC: 85391123477?Led by Earvin ?Magic? Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; relive the return to glory as the Los Angeles Lakers take on Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in a legendary 1984-85 NBA Finals match up. Avenging their loss to the Celtics in the previous year; experience the excitement of the Lakers? historic ninth NBA Championship in this action-packed 7-disc DVD collector?s set. You get all six games; each in its entirety and original broadcast form; plus a thrilling year-end recap featuring sizzling highlights and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.