The Los Angeles Lakers basketball team won their 15th NBA title in 2009 in their record 30th play-off appearance. Only Boston Celtics have a better record with 17 titles.
After losing in the 2007/08 play-offs, the Lakers bounced back to win the championship, beating Orlando Magic 4-1 in the final. Kobe Bryant was named Most Valuable Player in the finals for the first time in his career.
The Lakers finished with a 65–17 record, easily winning the Pacific Division and clinching first place in the Western Conference. After eliminating Utah Jazz 4-1, they needed seven games to beat the Houston Rockets and six to defeat the Denver Nuggets to win the Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers' quest for another NBA title was successfully completed, as they defeated the Orlando Magic in five games, and won their 15th title, their first in seven years.
