1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers season

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1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachPat Riley
OwnersJerry Buss
ArenaThe Forum
Results
Record65–17 (.793)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Celtics 4–2)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionPrime Ticket, KHJ
RadioAM 570 KLAC
< 1985–86 1987–88 >

The 1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 41st season of the franchise, 39th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 27th in Los Angeles. Coming from a shocking defeat to the Houston Rockets in the previous season's Western Conference Finals in five games, where they won the first game, but proceeded to drop the next four, the Lakers avenged their playoff upset by making the NBA Finals for the sixth time in the 1980s. Prior to reaching the NBA Finals, in the playoffs, the Lakers swept the Denver Nuggets in three games in the First Round, defeated the Golden State Warriors in five games in the Semi-finals, and swept the Seattle SuperSonics in four games in the Conference Finals. This team was named one of the 10 greatest teams in NBA history.

The highlight of the season saw the Lakers winning the NBA Finals, and their tenth NBA title over the defending NBA champions and rivals, the Boston Celtics, in six games. This marked the third and final time the Lakers and Celtics faced off against each other in the NBA Finals in the 1980s, as well as the last time the Lakers and Celtics faced off against each other in the NBA Finals until 2008, where the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4–2 to win their 17th NBA championship. The two teams would then meet again in 2010, where the Lakers defeated the Celtics 4–3 to win their 16th NBA championship.

Draft picks[]

Round Pick Player Nationality School/Club Team
1 23 Ken Barlow  United States Notre Dame
3 69 Andre Turner  United States Memphis State

Roster[]

Los Angeles Lakers roster
  • v
  • t
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
C 33 United States Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem (C) 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) UCLA
F 24 United States Branch, Adrian 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Maryland
G/F 21 United States Cooper, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) New Mexico
45 United States Green, A.C. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Oregon State
G 32 United States Johnson, Magic 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan State
G 1 United States Matthews, Wes 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) University of Wisconsin
F 31 United States Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) Santa Clara University
G 4 United States Scott, Byron 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Arizona State
C 52 Canada Smrek, Mike 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Canisius
F 55 United States Thompson, Billy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Louisville
F/C 43 The Bahamas Thompson, Mychal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 226 lb (103 kg) University of Minnesota
F 42 United States Worthy, James 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Pacific Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 65 17 .793 – 37–4 28–13 24–6
x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 16 34–7 15–26 17–13
x-Golden State Warriors 42 40 .512 23 25–16 17–24 17–13
x-Seattle SuperSonics 39 43 .476 26 25–16 14–27 15–15
Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 29 26–15 10–31 14–16
Los Angeles Clippers 12 70 .146 53 9–32 3–38 3–27
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 65 17 .793 –
2 y-Dallas Mavericks 55 27 .671 10
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 16
4 x-Utah Jazz 44 38 .537 21
5 x-Golden State Warriors 42 40 .512 23
6 x-Houston Rockets 42 40 .512 23
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics 39 43 .476 26
8 x-Denver Nuggets 37 45 .451 28
9 Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 29
10 Sacramento Kings 29 53 .354 36
11 San Antonio Spurs 28 54 .341 37
12 Los Angeles Clippers 12 70 .146 53



Record vs. opponents[]

1986-87 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 3–3 4–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0
Boston 3–3 – 6–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2
Chicago 2–4 0–6 – 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 3–2 4–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3
Cleveland 2–4 2–3 1–5 – 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–0 0–2 1–5 4–2 4–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–4
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 – 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–3 0–2 5–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 3–3 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 – 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 5–1 2–3 2–4 1–1
Detroit 3–3 2–3 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 6–0 5–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3
Golden State 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–4 1–1 – 4–1 0–2 6–0 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–5 4–2 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 3–3 1–1 1–4 – 2–0 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 5–1 5–1 1–4 3–3 1–1
Indiana 3–3 1–5 2–3 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 – 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 0–2 0–6 1–4 0–2 – 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–6 1–4 1–4 2–4 2–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 5–0 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 6–0 – 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 5–1 5–0 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1
Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 2–4 5–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 – 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 0–5 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 2–4 – 5–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4
New York 1–5 2–4 2–4 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–4 1–5 – 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4
Philadelphia 3–3 3–3 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–3 3–3 – 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3
Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 – 2–4 2–3 2–3 1–5 4–1 0–2
Portland 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 2–4 3–2 2–0 6–0 1–5 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–2 – 3–2 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 4–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 1–1 4–1 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–3 – 3–3 2–3 1–5 1–1
San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–4 1–5 0–2 4–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 – 1–4 2–4 0–2
Seattle 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 3–2 0–2 2–4 4–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 5–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 – 3–2 1–1
Utah 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 5–1 4–2 2–3 – 1–1
Washington 0–5 2–4 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–4 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 —

Game log[]

Playoffs[]

1987 playoff game log
First round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 23 Denver W 128–95 James Worthy (28) Mychal Thompson (9) Magic Johnson (14) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 April 25 Denver W 139–127 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) A. C. Green (13) Magic Johnson (15) The Forum
17,297 		2–0
3 April 29 @ Denver W 140–103 Byron Scott (25) A. C. Green (10) Magic Johnson (14) McNichols Sports Arena
15,137 		3–0
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 Golden State W 125–116 James Worthy (28) Magic Johnson (12) Magic Johnson (14) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 May 7 Golden State W 116–101 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) three players tied (8) Michael Cooper (12) The Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 May 9 @ Golden State W 133–108 James Worthy (28) Mychal Thompson (12) Magic Johnson (14) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025 		3–0
4 May 10 @ Golden State L 121–129 Byron Scott (28) A. C. Green (12) Michael Cooper (10) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025 		3–1
5 May 12 Golden State W 116–108 James Worthy (23) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum
17,505 		4–1
Conference Finals: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 16 Seattle W 87–82 James Worthy (27) Magic Johnson (7) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 May 19 Seattle W 112–104 James Worthy (30) A. C. Green (14) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 May 23 @ Seattle W 122–121 James Worthy (39) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (11) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,657 		3–0
4 May 25 @ Seattle W 133–102 James Worthy (26) A. C. Green (13) Magic Johnson (12) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,477 		4–0
NBA Finals: 4–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 June 2 Boston W 126–113 James Worthy (33) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 June 4 Boston W 141–122 Byron Scott (24) Johnson, Rambis (5) Magic Johnson (20) The Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 June 7 @ Boston L 103–109 Magic Johnson (32) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (9) Boston Garden
14,890 		2–1
4 June 9 @ Boston W 107–106 Magic Johnson (29) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Cooper, Johnson (5) Boston Garden
14,890 		3–1
5 June 11 @ Boston L 108–123 Magic Johnson (29) Magic Johnson (8) Magic Johnson (12) Boston Garden
14,890 		3–2
6 June 14 Boston W 106–93 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Mychal Thompson (9) Magic Johnson (19) The Forum
17,505 		4–2
1987 schedule

Player statistics[]

Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game

Season[]

Player GP MPG REB AST STL BLK PTS PPG
Magic Johnson 80 36.3 504 977 138 36 1909 23.8
James Worthy 82 34.4 466 226 108 83 1594 19.4
Byron Scott 82 33.3 286 281 125 18 1397 17.0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 78 31.3 523 203 49 97 1366 17.5
Michael Cooper 82 27.5 254 373 78 43 859 10.5
A. C. Green 79 28.4 615 84 70 80 852 10.8
Kurt Rambis 78 19.4 453 63 74 41 446 5.7
Mychal Thompson 33 20.6 136 28 14 30 333 10.1
Billy Thompson 59 12.9 171 60 15 30 332 5.6
Wes Matthews 50 10.6 47 100 23 4 208 4.2
Frank Brickowski 37 10.9 97 12 14 4 146 3.9
Adrian Branch 32 6.8 53 16 16 3 138 4.3
Mike Smrek 35 6.7 37 5 4 13 76 2.2

Playoffs[]

Award winners[]

Transactions[]

References[]

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