The show

This oral history traces the Los Angeles Lakers from their start in Minneapolis in 1946 through their triumphs and setbacks after the franchise moved to Los Angeles. Roland Lazenby, a sportswriter, built the book from interviews with players, coaches, and others who were part of the team's story. Among those who speak are Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant.

Rather than offering a conventional narrative, the book lets the people involved tell the Lakers' history in their own words, while Lazenby's storytelling and attention to detail connect the accounts. It is presented as the first oral history of the franchise to cover its full span.

The book looks at why the Lakers, with 14 NBA championships, have remained a favorite of sports fans across the country.