Before the start of the 1996-97 NBA season, the LA Lakers made some moves that would impact the franchise for years to come. On June 26, 1996, the Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick in the draft. On July 11, 1996, the Hornets and Lakers finalized a deal that sent Bryant to Los Angeles in exchange for Vlade Divac. A week later, on July 18, Shaquille O'Neal signed a free agent contract to join the Lakers. With those two deals, a new NBA dynasty was born.

The greatness that is the Los Angeles Lakers franchise started '46 as the Detroit Gems. In '47, the team shifted to Minneapolis and became the Minneapolis Lakers from the state nickname, "land of 10,000 lakes." The Lakers relocated to Los Angeles before the '60-'61 season.