1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachPat Riley
OwnersJerry Buss
ArenaGreat Western Forum
Results
Record57–25 (.695)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(Lost to Pistons 0–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKHJ-TV
Prime Ticket
(Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)
RadioKLAC
(Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >

The 1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 43rd season of the franchise, 41st in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 29th in Los Angeles. The Lakers entered the season as the two-time defending NBA champions. The Lakers finished with a 57–25 regular season recorded, earning them the top playoff seed in the Western Conference. After marching undefeated through the first three rounds, the Lakers were seen as the favorites in the 1989 NBA Finals, in a rematch against the Detroit Pistons, who they defeated in last season's NBA Finals in a hard fought seven games.[1] However, after injuries to their starting backcourt of Magic Johnson and Byron Scott,[2] the Lakers were swept by the Pistons in four games. After the finals concluded, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement after twenty seasons.

The 1988–89 season marked an end to a run of eight consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances for the Lakers, the most since the 1968–69 Boston Celtics, as in the following season, the Lakers would lose in the Conference Semifinals to the Phoenix Suns in five games.

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1988 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 25 David Rivers PG  United States Notre Dame

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
G/F 19 United States Campbell, Tony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Ohio State
G/F 21 United States Cooper, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) New Mexico
F/C 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 (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan State
G/F 3 United States Lamp, Jeff 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Virginia
C 31 United States McNamara, Mark 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) California
G 14 United States Rivers, David 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Notre Dame
G 4 United States Scott, Byron 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Arizona State
F/C 43 The Bahamas Thompson, Mychal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 226 lb (103 kg) University of Minnesota
PF 0 United States Woolridge, Orlando 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Notre Dame
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 57 25 .695 – 35–6 22–19 25–9
x-Phoenix Suns 55 27 .671 2 35–6 20–21 23–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573 10 31–10 16–25 20–14
x-Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 14 29–12 14–27 15–19
x-Portland Trail Blazers 39 43 .476 18 28–13 11–30 17–17
Sacramento Kings 27 55 .329 30 21–20 6–35 12–22
Los Angeles Clippers 21 61 .256 36 17–24 4–37 7–27
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 57 25 .695 –
2 y-Utah Jazz 51 31 .622 6
3 x-Phoenix Suns 55 27 .671 2
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573 10
5 x-Houston Rockets 45 37 .549 12
6 x-Denver Nuggets 44 38 .537 13
7 x-Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 14
8 x-Portland Trail Blazers 39 43 .476 18
9 Dallas Mavericks 38 44 .463 19
10 Sacramento Kings 27 55 .329 30
11 San Antonio Spurs 21 61 .256 36
12 Los Angeles Clippers 21 61 .256 36
13 Miami Heat 15 67 .183 42

Record vs. opponents[]

1988-89 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 3–1 4–1 4–2 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 6–0 4–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Boston 1–3 — 6–0 1–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 5–1 3–3 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–4
Charlotte 1–4 0–6 — 1–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–4 2–4 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5
Chicago 2–4 3–1 4–1 — 0–6 2–0 1–1 0–6 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–2 3–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1
Cleveland 2–4 4–1 4–0 6–0 — 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3 4–0 2–2 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Dallas 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 — 3–3 0–2 1–3 1–5 1–1 3–1 0–4 6–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 5–1 2–2 4–2 1–1
Denver 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–3 — 1–1 3–1 4–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 5–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–3 2–2 3–3 1–1
Detroit 5–1 3–1 4–0 6–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–4 4–0 0–4 5–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0
Golden State 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 — 1–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–4 2–3 3–1 2–4 2–2 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–4 1–1 3–1 — 2–0 2–2 1–3 4–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 6–0 2–2 2–4 0–2
Indiana 1–5 3–2 2–2 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 — 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–3 0–5 0–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–5 2–2 1–1 — 1–5 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–5 2–3 3–1 1–4 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 3–2 3–1 2–0 5–1 — 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–1 4–2 1–3 1–1
Miami 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–6 1–5 0–2 0–4 2–4 1–1 3–1 0–4 — 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–4 0–4 1–5 0–2
Milwaukee 0–6 2–2 4–0 0–6 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 — 4–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 1–4 1–5 4–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 — 2–4 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–5
New York 2–2 3–3 4–2 2–3 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–2 — 2–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
Philadelphia 2–2 3–3 3–3 3–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–3 5–1 4–2 — 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2
Phoenix 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 4–2 3–1 1–1 5–1 3–3 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 — 2–3 5–1 3–1 4–1 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–2 1–3 0–2 5–1 0–5 4–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–2 — 3–3 4–0 2–4 0–4 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–2 2–2 1–1 3–2 1–5 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 — 2–2 1–5 1–3 0–2
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 3–3 0–2 1–3 0–6 0–2 1–3 1–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 — 0–4 1–5 1–1
Seattle 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 4–2 2–2 1–1 4–1 2–4 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 4–2 5–1 4–0 — 3–1 1–1
Utah 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 0–2 2–2 4–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 5–1 1–3 — 2–0
Washington 1–3 4–2 5–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–4 5–1 1–5 2–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 —

Game log[]

Playoffs[]

1989 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 27 Portland W 128–108 Magic Johnson (30) Scott, Abdul-Jabbar (8) Magic Johnson (16) Great Western Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 April 30 Portland W 113–105 Magic Johnson (35) A. C. Green (13) Magic Johnson (12) Great Western Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 May 3 @ Portland W 116–108 Byron Scott (25) A. C. Green (13) Magic Johnson (7) Memorial Coliseum
12,880 		3–0
Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 7 Seattle W 113–102 James Worthy (28) James Worthy (12) Magic Johnson (14) Great Western Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 May 10 Seattle W 130–108 James Worthy (30) A. C. Green (8) Magic Johnson (12) Great Western Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 May 12 @ Seattle W 91–86 James Worthy (20) Magic Johnson (9) Magic Johnson (14) Kingdome
14,541 		3–0
4 May 14 @ Seattle W 97–95 James Worthy (33) A. C. Green (10) Magic Johnson (9) Kingdome
14,006 		4–0
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 20 Phoenix W 127–119 James Worthy (32) A. C. Green (10) Magic Johnson (12) Great Western Forum
17,505 		1–0
2 May 23 Phoenix W 101–95 Byron Scott (30) Magic Johnson (9) Magic Johnson (14) Great Western Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 May 26 @ Phoenix W 110–107 James Worthy (29) James Worthy (12) Magic Johnson (11) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,471 		3–0
4 May 28 @ Phoenix W 122–117 Byron Scott (35) A. C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (20) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,471 		4–0
NBA Finals: 0–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 June 6 @ Detroit L 97–109 Johnson, Worthy (17) A. C. Green (8) Magic Johnson (14) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		0–1
2 June 8 @ Detroit L 105–108 Cooper, Worthy (19) A. C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		0–2
3 June 11 Detroit L 110–114 James Worthy (26) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Michael Cooper (13) Great Western Forum
17,505 		0–3
4 June 13 Detroit L 97–105 James Worthy (40) A. C. Green (12) Michael Cooper (9) Great Western Forum
17,505 		0–4
1989 schedule
  • On June 28, 1989, after twenty professional seasons, Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement. On his "retirement tour" he received standing ovations at all the games, home and away.

Awards and honors[]

  • A. C. Green, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • Magic Johnson, NBA Most Valuable Player[3]
  • Magic Johnson, NBA All-First Team

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Can Lakers sweep Pistons in Finals?". Vidette-Messenger of Porter County. Valparaiso, Indiana. June 6, 1989. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "If Magic rests, Rivers must get into flow". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. June 11, 1989. p. 54 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ http://www.nba.com/history/awards_mvp.html
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