Lakers Release 528-Page Official History With Taschen — SkimNews
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- Taschen and the Los Angeles Lakers co-published a 528-page authorized history titled "Lakers: An Official History of the Purple & Gold," edited by Vikki Tobak and tracing the franchise from its Minneapolis origins through the 2020 championship.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote the foreword, Jeanie Buss penned the introduction, and Phil Jackson provided the afterword for the book.
- Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, LeBron James, and Luka Dončić are among the players featured alongside non-athlete contributors Pat Riley, Paula Abdul, Flea, Jack Nicholson, Lou Adler, and Dyan Cannon.
- The book is organized into 10 chapters with each championship run in its own gold-themed section, and includes special design features like a four-page gatefold of the franchise's 17 championship rings, a uniform-evolution spread, and a four-page retired-numbers section.
- Buss described the project as "a love letter to everyone who has been part of that story," framing the Lakers as a "global phenomenon" in announcing the release.
- The volume is available immediately on Taschen's website, with a wider retail rollout scheduled for Oct. 1.
Why it matters: For Lakers fans and collectors, this Taschen production is the franchise's most ambitious authorized visual history — a 528-page, celebrity-loaded volume that leans explicitly into the team's signature Hollywood crossover identity. The Oct. 1 retail date positions it for the holiday gifting season, a window Taschen's coffee-table format is built to dominate.
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