With kind apologies to Boston Celtics fans, the Los Angeles Lakers are the most storied franchise in basketball history. They have won the most NBA championships since 1980 of any team (11), and, no doubt, the reason is they have been a preferred destination for superstars.
That notion was reinforced in the summer of 1996 when Shaquille O’Neal joined them after leaving the Orlando Magic as a free agent. Of course, it was the same offseason that Kobe Bryant found his way to the Lakers after declaring for the draft straight out of high school.
