The L.A. Lakers remain one of the most iconic franchises in sports, boasting legendary players such as Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. To celebrate this rich legacy, Taschen, the renowned art book publisher, has teamed up with the team to release a large‑format coffee‑table book that combines photography with essays from the franchise’s most celebrated figures. The volume, which goes on sale on Oct. 1, can be pre‑ordered now.
Lakers. An Official History of the Purple & Gold
The 528‑page volume opens with a foreword by Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar, an introduction from team president Jeanie Buss, and an afterword by Phil Jackson. It also contains essays from iconic players and coaches such as Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Pau Gasol, Pat Riley and Luka Dončić, as well as celebrity contributors like Jack Nicholson, Paula Abdul and Flea.
Beyond the photographs and essays, the book chronicles the franchise’s journey, from its Minneapolis beginnings through the dynasties that produced 17 NBA championships.
Taschen describes the work as “a game‑changer for basketball books, honoring the heroes of the hardwood and their fans—a landmark volume for every Lakers supporter, collector and sports enthusiast. It stands as the definitive visual chronicle of a franchise that transformed basketball into spectacle and spectacle into history.” The book, titled Lakers. An Official History of the Purple & Gold, is now available from the Lakers Store at Crypto.com Arena, via LakersStore.com and Taschen’s website, with broader retail distribution slated for Oct. 1.
Its release coincides with a period of transition for the franchise, marked by the departure of longtime star LeBron James and the recent sale of the team from Mark Walters to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. Nonetheless, the Lakers are set to open their season on Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors.
Readers can explore additional imagery from the volume below.
