The LA Lakers would return once additional to the NBA Finals in 1973, only to lose to the Knicks. That was it for Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, as they called it a vocation at that point. The LA Lakers were now left with Gail Goodrich as their lone superstar. However, he would leave as a complimentary agent in 1975.

In 1974, the LA Lakers acquired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. Kareem would lead the league in scoring with the Los Angeles Lakers, and kept them in the playoffs, but he wasn't capable to win a title alone. So in 1979, the LA Lakers spent their first round pick on Magic Johnson. Johnson right away sparked the team to an NBA title in his first season. In fact, in game 6 of the Finals besides the 76ers, Kareem was hurt and Magic, obviously a PG, had to start at C for Kareem. He would play all 5 positions and attain a triple double (achieving double digits in at least 3 major statistical categories). The Lakers would again win the title in 1982, and then had the initial pick in the 1982 draft, due to a trade a few years prior.

After defeating the 76ers once again, the Los Angeles Lakers spent the first overall pick on James Worthy. It would shown to be a most worthy selection as the LA Lakers were starting to turn into the Showtime Dynasty. For the total story on that dynasty, click here. The LA Lakers would make another trip to the NBA Finals in 1983, but with some tough injuries, they were swept by Dr J, Moses Malone and the 76ers. In 1984, the LA Lakers returned to the NBA Finals to meet a recognizable foe: the Boston Celtics. The full story of this renewed competition is found in the prior link. The Celtics would win that series in 7 games, but the LA Lakers would finally beat Boston in 1985. In 1986, the LA Lakers missed the Finals for the first time since 1981, when the Houston Rockets in the West semi-finals stunned them. In 1987, after acquiring Mychal Thompson to add some size to the LA Lakers, they would again defeat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. In 1988, they would beat the Detroit Pistons. In all, the Showtime LA Lakers won 5 NBA Titles in just 9 years. With their replicate victories in 87 and 88, the Lakers became the first team to do so since the 68-69 Celtics. In 1989, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced that he was playing his final season. He had a farewell tour all across the NBA everywhere he went. The Los Angeles Lakers again got to the NBA Finals. All throughout the playoffs, they had swept everyone. However, disaster struck. Byron Scott was injured before game 1. Without him, the Los Angeles Lakers could not re-adjust their game in time, and lost game 1 to the Pistons. Then disaster truly struck. Magic Johnson tore his constrain in game 2. He cried on the court because he knew what this meant.

The Pistons would go on to sweep the injured LA Lakers, finishing the career of the greatest player in the history of the game, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Coach Pat Riley pulled him out with 47 seconds left and received a standing ovation, which was typically reserved for Elvis. Without the Captain, the Suns in the 1990s playoffs would stun the LA Lakers. In 1991, they returned to the Finals, but were knocked out by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 5 games. The next November, Magic Johnson announced to the world that he had HIV and had to retire right away. James Worthy retired in 1994, and just like that, Showtime was over and slow time began.

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