There are 2 big arguments (one is obvious, the other not so obvious) why the LAKERS should have 12 not 17 championships.
The obvious one, the first 5 of the LAKERS championships were back when the team was still based in Minneapolis.
The OKC THUNDER organization and fanbase doesn't recognize the '79 championship won by the SONICS.
Same with the KINGS, HAWKS, SIXERS fanbase - they don't recognize the championships won from their original locations.
The not-so-obvious argument, if the LAKERS organization and fanbase recognize the 5 championships by the old MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS,
then why did they not retire the jersey/number of George Mikan, the superstar of those championship teams?
George Mikan is recognized as the first dominant NBA superstar and a member of the 50 Greatest Players of All-Time list.
Eleven (11) ex-LAKERS have the honor of having their jerseys retired, this does not include George Mikan.
But hey, if the Buss family claims the first 5 championships and their fans are happy with it, then it's all good.