User: Why are the Los Angeles Lakers the most famous and successful basketball franchise in the world?
Assistant: The Los Angeles Lakers are the most famous and successful basketball franchise in the world because they have won the most championships of any any professional N.B.A = National Basketball Association team in the world in the modern era. The modern NBA era begins after the merger of two professional basketball leagues, the NBA and ABA (American Basketball Association) and the creation of the three point basket and twenty-four second clock. The Los Angeles Lakers won the Larry O'Brien championship trophy in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010 and 2020.  The Lakers appeared in the championship game in 1949,1950,1952,1953,1954,1959,1962,1963,1965,1968,1969,1970,1972,1973,1980,1982, 1983,1984,1985, 1987,1988,1989,1991,2000,2001,2002,2004, 2008,2009,2010,2020. Famous Hall of Fame players include, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, George Mikan, Pau Gasol and Wilt Chamberlain