Madmen's Ball: The Inside Story of the Lakers' Dysfunctional Dynasties »

With the trading of Shaquille O'Neal, the $130 million re-signing of the controversy-plagued Kobe Bryant, and the departure of legendary coach Phil Jackson, the history of the Los Angeles Lakers entered yet another tumultuous phase in 2004. Few teams in the history of sports have ever been as dysfunctional as the squad Jackson coached during his final season, but as Mark Heisler's riotous Laker history shows, the nine-time NBA champions have often mixed crazy antics with awesome talent. From the enigmatic Jerry West to the cerebral Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the willful, flamboyant Wilt Chamberlain, the Lakers have showcased Hall of Famers with special quirks. Madmen's Ball captures a franchise too good -- and too crazy -- to ignore.