A "Laker" can refer to different things depending on the context. Here are the different meanings of "Laker" based on the search results:

• A Los Angeles Laker is an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles that competes in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.

• A laker can also refer to a ship designed for navigating on lakes, especially the Great Lakes.

• A laker can also refer to a person associated with a lake, such as a resident, visitor, or worker.

• Laker can also be a surname.

• Laker Airways is an airline company.

• Laker Beer is a brand of beer sold in Canada.

Regarding the origin of the name "Lakers" for the Los Angeles basketball team, there are different versions. One version indicates that the name was inspired by Minnesotas nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes", when the team was based in Minneapolis. Another version suggests that the name was chosen because the teams original owner, Ben Berger, had a collection of antique pistols called "Lakers".