06/20/2025
I remember at the time their goal was 16-0. They wanted to be the 1st team to go undefeated in the playoffs.
The 2001 Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just win a championship — they conquered the NBA.
✅ An incredible 15-1 playoff record
✅ A flawless 11-0 sweep through the Western Conference
✅ Took down four 50-win teams, all ranked in the top 10 defensively
✅ Dominated opponents with an average margin of victory of 14 points per game
Their run wasn’t just impressive — it was historic. They made elite teams look like JV squads.
Shaquille O’Neal was an unstoppable force of nature. He wasn’t just dominant — he was untouchable.
30.4 PPG, 15.4 RPG, 2.4 BPG — there was no answer for him. You couldn’t stop him, foul him, or reason with him.
And then there was Kobe Bryant, just 22 years old, already playing like a seasoned legend.
He attacked from all angles, with poise, flair, and that signature killer instinct.
29.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.1 APG — he didn’t just rise to the occasion, he owned it.
They weren’t chasing greatness — they were leaving it in the rearview mirror.
The only blemish? A Game 1 Finals loss to Allen Iverson’s one-man masterpiece. But that loss only awakened the beast. From that point on, the Lakers took four straight and never looked back.
The history books are full of champions. But true dominance? That’s rare.
The 2001 Lakers remain the gold standard of postseason greatness.
15-1. Unmatched. Unforgettable. Unstoppable.
゚