The Purple and Gold Lakers Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem was out in game six of the finals after injuring his ankle against the Philadelphia 76ers. At just 20 years old, Magic Johnson, a point guard by trade, was asked to step up and play as the starting center in Abdul-Jabbar's absence. Johnson's versatility and leadership were on full display as he played not just center but also switched between playing guard and forward, effectively filling the roles of multiple positions throughout the game. Magic's 42-point performance in that critical Game 6 is widely regarded as one of the greatest individual performances in basketball history, especially considering the circumstances. Johnson was named the Finals MVP, becoming the first rookie to ever win the award.

Answer: Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor gave him the name because of Jerry West's West Virginian background. Though West was actually from Chelyan, a nearby small town, Cabin Creek was more widely known, and Baylor playfully referred to him as "Zeke" to give the impression of a tough, country figure from a remote place. West and Baylor played together in many Laker seasons, with West playing from 1960-1974. West's wife never liked the nickname because she felt it portrayed Jerry as someone under-educated. He certainly had a lot of basketball IQ, making it to 14 All-Star games. Over Jerry's 14-season career he averaged an amazing 27.0 points per game.

While the name stuck with West early in his career, he was later more famously known as "The Logo" due to his silhouette being used in the NBA's official logo.

Answer: Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt set an NBA record by scoring 100 points in a game in 1962 and averaged 50 points per game for the rest of the season. Wilt played in six seasons for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1965. Chamberlain played for three full seasons with the 76ers before becoming part of the Lakers squad in 1968. During his tenure, he helped the team win the NBA Championship in 1972. Chamberlain retired in 1973 with a 30.1 points per game average.

Answer: Detroit Gems

The Detroit Gems were founded in 1946 as part of the NBL. The team was based in Detroit, Michigan, but struggled immensely both on the court and in terms of attendance. The Gems' sole season in the NBL (1946-47) was disastrous. They finished with a league-worst record of 4-40, the lowest in the league.

After the dismal 1946-47 season, the Gems were sold to a group of investors led by Morris Chalfen and Ben Berger, who relocated the team to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The team was renamed the Minneapolis Lakers to reflect the state's famous lakes. The new ownership drafted a talented center, George Mikan, who would become one of the first superstars in professional basketball. They then joined the NBA for the 1949-50 season. With Mikan on the team, the franchise quickly turned things around, becoming one of the dominant forces in professional basketball during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

In fact, Mikan won a championship in three different leagues in three consecutive years with the same team. First, he won the 1948 NBL Championship, then the 1949 BAA Championship, and then the 1950 NBA Championship.

Answer: New York Knicks

Phil Jackson had a solid NBA playing career, primarily with the New York Knicks and later with the New Jersey Nets. Drafted by the Knicks in the second round of the 1967 NBA Draft, Jackson played for the team from 1967 to 1978, earning a reputation as a tenacious defender and intelligent player. While not known for his scoring, he contributed significantly to the Knicks' success, being part of the team's two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Although he missed the 1970 Finals due to spinal surgery, he played an important reserve role in the 1973 championship. After leaving the Knicks, Jackson joined the New Jersey Nets, where he played his final two seasons from 1978 to 1980, also serving as an assistant coach. He retired as a player after the 1979-1980 season, setting the stage for his legendary coaching career.

Phil Jackson, however, excelled as a coach. He started by taking the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships and winning them, and then taking the Lakers to five, and winning those too.

Answer: Kurt Rambis

Rambis began his NBA career in the 1981-82 season, and played nine of 12 seasons as a Laker. Nicknamed 'Rambo', he was originally drafted by the New York Knicks. Darrell Kurt Rambis played in Greece with AEK Athens BC under the name of Kyriakos Rambidis. His team won the Greek Cup in 1981. Kurt signed as a free agent with the Lakers in 1981.

Answer: Jack Kent Cooke

Before Dr. Jerry Buss acquired the Los Angeles Lakers, the franchise was owned by Jack Kent Cooke. Cooke purchased the Lakers in 1960 and was instrumental in the team's growth and success during the 1960s and early 1970s. Under his ownership, the Lakers secured multiple championships, including their first title in Los Angeles in 1972. Cooke owned the team until he sold it to Buss in 1979, something which marked a significant transition for the franchise. Buss brought a new vision and approach to team management and entertainment, leading to the Lakers' rise to prominence in the 1980s.

Answer: Byron Scott

Scott played eleven of his 14 seasons with the Lakers after attending Arizona State University. Byron retired in 1997 and began coaching, with his first head coaching position with the New Jersey Nets in 2000. In the 2010-11 season, Byron was unfortunate enough to be at the helm of the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers who were without LeBron James.

Answer: Pat Riley

Pat Riley had a notable career both as a player and as a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving a lasting impact on the franchise. Drafted by the San Diego Rockets in the first round of the 1967 NBA Draft, Riley played as a shooting guard and small forward, spending the majority of his career with the Lakers from 1970 to 1976. Known for his tenacity, defensive skills, and work ethic, he contributed as a reserve player during a period when the Lakers were emerging as a competitive force in the NBA. Riley was part of the Lakers team that reached the NBA Finals in 1972, although he did not play a significant role in the championship run. He retired as a player in 1976, finishing his career with the Phoenix Suns.

Shortly after retiring, Riley transitioned into coaching, initially serving as an assistant for the Lakers before being promoted to head coach in 1981. Under his leadership, the Lakers thrived during the "Showtime" era, which emphasized fast-paced, high-scoring basketball. Riley guided the team to four NBA championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988, earning a reputation for his strategic mind and motivational skills, particularly with stars like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy. He was awarded the NBA Coach of the Year in 1990 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2008. Riley's legacy with the Lakers is significant, as he helped shape the franchise's identity during one of its golden eras. After leaving the Lakers, he continued to find success with other franchises, including the Miami Heat, further enhancing his legacy in professional basketball.

Answer: 15th

Although they won the BAA title in 1949, their first NBA crown came in 1950. They won three consecutive championships from 1952-1954, the 1972 title, and five more in the 1980s. They had a three-peat from 200-2002 and the Lakers were repeat champions in the 2009-10 season with the 15th crown, marking their 30th appearance in the NBA finals.

They added another championship in 2020 in the odd Covid season that was played in a 'bubble'.