PRELUDE TO SHOWTIME Laker Wilt Chamberlain slides a finger roll over Milwaukee Buck Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a game in 1972. Abdul-Jabbar, who was known as Lew Alcindor when he played at UCLA from 1965-1969, would follow Chamberlain as Laker center after he returned to Los Angeles in 1975. (Larry Sharkey / LAT)
Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar displays his famous “sky-hook” shot as Boston Celtics center Robert Parrish (00) defends. (Carol Francavilla / AP)
Laker Magic Johnson celebrates in the locker room in 1987 after defeating the Boston Celtics to win another NBA championship. (Michael Edwards / LAT)
Kobe Bryant, Lindsey Hunter and Shaquille O’Neal posed with NBA hardware after clinching the 2001-2002 title in New Jersey. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
Shaquille O’Neal, foreground, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, back left, and George Mikan, who won championships with the Lakers, posed for this picture in 1996. (NBA Photos / Getty Images)
