Los Angeles Lakers

From George Mikan and Jerry West to Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaq  Kobe, and LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers remain one of the most successful franchises in the history of the NBA.

The Lakers won 17 championships, tying their score with the Boston Celtics. Yet, the Lakers made 32 NBA final appearances, ten more than their rival from Boston.

The Californian team also recorded 19 conference titles, along with 33 division crowns. Moreover, they have 13 retired numbers, two belonging to the late Kobe Bryant.

The LA team won its last championship in 2020 when LBJ and his teammates led the squad to victory in the bubble, a biosecure solution at Walt Disney World in Florida, set to protect the players from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In season 2022/2023, the team reached the Western Conference Finals but failed to make it past the Denver Nuggets. At 38, LeBron James remains the team’s superstar, along with Anthony Davis. Whether the duo will play in the upcoming seasons remains to be seen.

Considering the franchise’s prosperous past and its superstars, it’s no wonder that millions of people outside the US love the Lakers. The team has a substantial following in Canada, where many basketball fans enjoy betting on their favourite team.

If you’re looking to bet on LA Lakers from Canada, make sure to get the hang of different betting options available on Canadian online sports betting sites.

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Odds — Types of Bets

Sportsbooks in Canada cover the NBA in detail, with all 30 teams usually included in the offer. Of course, the one that Canadians are most likely to bet on, apart from the Toronto Raptors, is the Los Angeles Lakers.

All the leading betting sites offer versatile betting options on the Lakers. We’re going to explore the most popular ones, including moneyline, point spread, totals, futures, and more.

Moneyline

Moneyline is the most straightforward bet you can make. You get to choose the winner of a match and win money if you make the right call. For example, if the Lakers are playing against the Boston Celtics and you choose to bet on the former, you’ll receive money if the Lakers win.

The amount of money you’ll receive depends on the suggested odds. If the Celtics are underdogs, they’ll have a + sign next to them, so if you see +150 next to their name, you need to bet $100 to receive $150 as a profit.

On the other hand, the favourites usually have a – sign, which is the amount you need to bet to get $100. So, if the Lakers have -120, you should stake $120 to have a $100 profit.

The moneyline takes into account the final outcome, even if there’s overtime. There’s no draw option — you have to choose one team or the other to win the match in the end.

Point Spread

Point spread also comes down to predicting the winner, but the points are also considered. If you see the Lakers listed at -10.5, it means the betting site “handicapped” them with 10.5 points. Therefore, if you bet on the Lakers, they must win by at least an 11-point difference for you to cash in on the bet.

On the other hand, you might see the Memphis Grizzlies, an underdog in a matchup against the Lakers, have a +10.5 next to their name. It means the book added 10.5 points to their score. By placing a bet on them, you predict that they will win or lose with a difference of ten fewer points.

The Lakers are often the favourites, so some books may end up handicapping them much more than expected. Bettors should consider that LeBron is 38, and fatigue may impair his scoring ability.

Totals

Also known as over/under, totals entail predicting whether the overall combined score of two teams will be higher or lower than what’s suggested by the betting site of your choice.

Imagine the Lakers playing the Golden State Warriors, and the predicted score is 230.5. If you think both LBJ and Curry are going to have a shooting night, you could make an “over” bet and win money if the combined score exceeds what’s suggested on the betting site.

Conversely, if the situation requires the two teams to play a defence-intensive game, you should make an “under” bet.

Futures

Futures bets let you predict the outcome of events to come, such as the winner of the NBA championship. The LA Lakers are never out of the picture in futures bets, as they are always one of the favourites for winning the championship, conference, and division.

Some futures bets are related to individual player accolades. For instance, you can bet on the player most likely to win the Rookie of the Year or the Most Valuable Player award.

Futures odds are often available throughout the season, although they can shift significantly based on how the events unfold. For example, if the LA Lakers start the season by losing several consecutive games, the suggested odds will increase, offering you a higher payout in case that happens.

Prop Bets

Prop bets or proposition bets are usually unrelated to the outcome of the game but rather to specific team or player statistics. For example, a sportsbook might ask the users whether LeBron will make a triple-double in the upcoming game. If you think this proposition is likely to happen, you can make a bet and support it.

Some prop bets require expertise. For example, if Anthony Davis has been scoring well and a betting site suggests he’ll reach 25+ points in the upcoming match, you could consider this and make a bet.

That said, certain prop bets only rely on the element of chance. For example, a book might let you choose who will make the first dunk or score first, which is often difficult to determine.

Live Betting

Betting on LA Lakers games in progress adds a layer of thrill and excitement. You can place wagers as the action unfolds and try to make predictions about in-game events. For example, you can make a moneyline bet on who’ll win the first or the second half (or even one of the quarters). Lately, many sportsbooks have added the so-called “micro-markets” that let you bet on a play-by-play basis.

Speed is the key when betting live. It’s also important to know basketball inside and out and recognize when there’s room for a shift in the momentum that can help you capitalize on it.

Some betting sites also allow live streaming services, meaning you can watch Lakers’ games as you’re placing bets. Even if there’s no live streaming, betting sites often provide in-play commentary and live stats to help you decide.

Parlays

If you make several wagers on a single betting slip, you’ll make a parlay bet. The odds for these selections then combine, giving you an increased payout. For example, you can make three separate bets on the LA Lakers winning three upcoming games. If everything goes according to plan, you’ll receive a payout.

Some betting sites allow same-game parlays, meaning you can combine several bets within a single game. For example, you can place a moneyline bet that the LA Lakers will win against the Celtics and combine it with a prop that LeBron will score more than 25 points.

Teasers

Teasers are similar to point spreads, except that you get to move the spread as you see fit, adjusting the total points. It means you can make some bets easier to hit but at a reduced payout. Overall, it’s important to understand the rules and potential payout adjustments associated with teaser bets, as they may differ depending on the sports betting platform.

Who Has the Best Odds on the Los Angeles Lakers?

Finding the best site for betting on the Los Angeles Lakers isn’t easy. Even if you come across the best odds for a single match, it doesn’t mean the same book will always have the most competitive offer on all Lakers’ games. Generally, you will have to register on several platforms and “shop” for odds.

You can either check every betting site (which takes time) or use our comparison table to learn more about the odds on the LA Lakers in their upcoming matchups.

Also, don’t forget to look out for occasional odds boosts and other promotions that can improve your betting experience.

Los Angeles Lakers History

How does one put the entire history of the Los Angeles Lakers within a few paragraphs?

The franchise was founded in 1947 in Minneapolis under the name Minneapolis Lakers before relocating to Los Angeles in 1960.

The Minneapolis era was marked by center George Mikan, the most dominant player in the league. The team even won their first season in the NBA in 1950, setting the stage for what was to come, which was nothing short of greatness. They repeated the same in 1952, 1953, and 1954.

In the 1960 NBA draft, the team picked Jerry West, who attended West Virginia University. He earned the nickname “the logo,” as his silhouette remains on the NBA logo even today. West is currently an executive board member of the NBA. In the 60s, the Lakers made it to the finals eight times and lost every single one. Their main rival was the Boston Celtics which dominated the league with Bill Russell and Sam Jones as their superstars. Nevertheless, this era is regarded as successful for the Lakers.

Wilt Chamberlain joined the team in 1968 when the Lakers acquired him from the Philadelphia 76ers. The most important season during the Wilt era was 1971/72, when the team won 33 consecutive games, setting the longest winning streak for any American professional sports team in a major league. Moreover, the team would go on and set a record of 69 wins during a single regular season, which lasted until 1995, when Jordan’s Bulls won 72 games. The Lakers met the Knicks in the finals, avenging their 1970’s defeat with a 4:1 win.

The team acquired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for season 1975/76, which was the first step in building one of the best basketball teams in the sport’s history. When the Lakers drafted Magic Johnson in 1979, the stage was set for the “Showtime” era to begin.

The team led by Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson won a total of five championships in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.

In the 90s, there was another “dry spell” for the Lakers, as the era was dominated by the Chicago Bulls. However, the team acquired a young Kobe Bryant in 1996 and signed Shaquille O’Neal, a free agent.

The team had significant success in the following years before winning the title in 2000, under the guiding hand of Phil Jackson, who already had six titles with the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers repeated this in 2001 and 2002, landing three back-to-back titles, a feat they only achieved in the early days of the NBA as Minneapolis Lakers.

The team reached the finals in 2004 but lost 1:4 to the Detroit Pistons. After that, both Phil Jackson and Shaq left the Lakers. Jackson returned soon after and was a coach to the iconic Kobe Bryant game against Toronto in 2006 when the Mamba scored 81 points, the second-highest in the entire history of the NBA.

The team required rebuilding, and the key moment was acquiring the Spanish power forward Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in Season 2007/08. Phil Jackson returned before that, and the Lakers landed two more chips in 2009 and 2010.

Kobe’s last season was in 2015, and LeBron was signed in 2018. LBJ helped the Lakers win their 17th title in the 2020 bubble playoffs and finals.

Since James is close to retirement, the question remains: Who is the next superstar to play for the Lakers?

How to Find Los Angeles Lakers Betting Odds and Place a Bet

Let’s make a step-by-step overview of how to start betting on the LA Lakers from Canada.

1. Pick an online betting site — It all starts by selecting a secure, reputable, and popular platform that offers its services to Canadian bettors. Some of the best options are featured on our site.
2. Open an account — Sign up by providing the required information and confirming your account via email, if necessary.
3. Make a deposit and claim the bonus — Go to the Cashier section and use one of the accepted payment methods to make your first deposit. Many books have welcome bonuses, so consider claiming one to kickstart your betting experience. However, pay close attention to the bonus terms to get the best value.
4. Go to the NBA betting section — Find available LA Lakers games and explore the offered betting markets.
5. Place your bet — Once you decide on the bet you want to place, add it to your slip and enter the amount you want to wager. Confirm the bet.
6. Wait for the outcome — After the event you’ve wagered on wraps up, check the results to see if you’ve won.

FAQ

How do online betting sites determine their odds on the Los Angeles Lakers?

Many factors influence the odds, including the overall performance of a team, the head-to-head performance against their competitor, injuries, home-court advantage, and more. All of these things aren’t set in stone, which is why odds change all the time. It’s important to stay up to date on all news and performance stats of the LA Lakers if you want to bet on them successfully.

Are there specific bonuses for betting on the Los Angeles Lakers?

Yes, there are. Sometimes, online betting sites will boost certain odds or offer other types of promotions related to the NBA and, specifically, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Can I bet on the Los Angeles Lakers to win the championship next year?

You should never rule out the Lakers for winning the championship.