The 2005-06 Los Angeles Lakers season marked a significant turnaround for the franchise after missing the playoffs the previous year. Under the guidance of head coach Phil Jackson, who returned to the team after a one-year hiatus, the Lakers finished the regular season with a 45-37 record. This performance secured them the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
The season was highlighted by the stellar play of Kobe Bryant, who delivered one of the most iconic scoring seasons in NBA history. He averaged 35.4 points per game, leading the league in scoring and setting a career-high. Bryant’s most memorable performance came on January 22, 2006, when he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history.
In the playoffs, the Lakers faced the Phoenix Suns in a heated first-round series. They took a surprising 3-1 lead, showcasing their potential and resilience. However, the Suns mounted a comeback to win the next three games, eliminating the Lakers in seven games. Despite the early exit, the season was seen as a step forward, laying the groundwork for future successes with Bryant as the focal point. The 2005-06 campaign is remembered for Bryant’s scoring prowess and the rejuvenation of the Lakers under Jackson’s leadership.
- Regular Season Record: 45-37
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 2005-06 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kobe Bryant | 80 | 35.4 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 34.7 | 7 | 27.9 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 40.0 |
| Lamar Odom | 80 | 14.8 | 9.2 | 5.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 37.2 | 7 | 19.1 | 11.0 | 4.9 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 20.0 |
| Smush Parker | 82 | 11.5 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 36.6 | 7 | 8.9 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 15.4 |
| Chris Mihm | 59 | 10.2 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Brian Cook | 81 | 7.9 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 42.9 | 7 | 6.3 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 36.4 |
| Kwame Brown | 72 | 7.4 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 7 | 12.9 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Devean George | 71 | 6.3 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 31.2 | 7 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 42.9 |
| Luke Walton | 69 | 5.0 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 32.7 | 7 | 12.1 | 6.4 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 36.4 |
| Laron Profit | 25 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 16.7 | |||||||
| Sasha Vujačić | 82 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 34.3 | 7 | 6.0 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 60.0 |
| Ronny Turiaf | 23 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jim Jackson | 13 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 36.4 | 3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Andrew Bynum | 46 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Von Wafer | 16 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 11.8 | |||||||
| Stanislav Medvedenko | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Devin Green | 27 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Aaron McKie | 14 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 2006 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 2006 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced a thrilling first-round series against the Phoenix Suns, ultimately losing in a dramatic seven-game battle. Despite holding a 3-1 series lead, the Lakers couldn't contain the Suns' fast-paced offense led by Steve Nash, as Phoenix mounted a comeback to advance. Kobe Bryant's standout performances, including a memorable buzzer-beater in Game 4, highlighted the series, but the Suns' resilience proved too much for the Lakers to overcome.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2006 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 107-102 | |
| Apr 26, 2006 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 99-93 | |
| Apr 28, 2006 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 99-92 | |
| Apr 30, 2006 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 99-98 | |
| May 02, 2006 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 114-97 | |
| May 04, 2006 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 126-118 | |
| May 06, 2006 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 121-90 |
Los Angeles Lakers 2005-06 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2005-06 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 2005 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 99-97 | |
| Nov 03, 2005 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 122-112 | |
| Nov 06, 2005 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 112-92 | |
| Nov 08, 2005 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 103-97 | |
| Nov 09, 2005 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 88-74 | |
| Nov 11, 2005 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 85-81 | |
| Nov 14, 2005 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 85-73 | |
| Nov 16, 2005 | vs. New York Knicks | W 97-92 | |
| Nov 18, 2005 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 97-91 | |
| Nov 20, 2005 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 96-93 | |
| Nov 24, 2005 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-96 | |
| Nov 27, 2005 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 102-96 | |
| Nov 29, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 90-84 | |
| Dec 01, 2005 | @ Utah Jazz | W 105-101 | |
| Dec 02, 2005 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 113-108 | |
| Dec 04, 2005 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 99-98 | |
| Dec 06, 2005 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-92 | |
| Dec 07, 2005 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 102-91 | |
| Dec 09, 2005 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 93-80 | |
| Dec 10, 2005 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 95-82 | |
| Dec 12, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 109-106 | |
| Dec 14, 2005 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 94-79 | |
| Dec 16, 2005 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 97-91 | |
| Dec 18, 2005 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 76-74 | |
| Dec 20, 2005 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 112-90 | |
| Dec 23, 2005 | @ Orlando Magic | W 104-88 | |
| Dec 25, 2005 | @ Miami Heat | L 97-92 | |
| Dec 26, 2005 | @ Washington Wizards | L 94-91 | |
| Dec 28, 2005 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 100-99 | |
| Jan 01, 2006 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 98-94 | |
| Jan 03, 2006 | @ Utah Jazz | L 90-80 | |
| Jan 06, 2006 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 119-93 | |
| Jan 07, 2006 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 112-109 | |
| Jan 09, 2006 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 96-90 | |
| Jan 11, 2006 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-103 | |
| Jan 12, 2006 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-98 | |
| Jan 14, 2006 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 110-104 | |
| Jan 16, 2006 | vs. Miami Heat | W 100-92 | |
| Jan 19, 2006 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 118-109 | |
| Jan 20, 2006 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 106-93 | |
| Jan 22, 2006 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 122-104 | |
| Jan 27, 2006 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 106-105 | |
| Jan 29, 2006 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-93 | |
| Jan 31, 2006 | @ New York Knicks | W 130-97 | |
| Feb 01, 2006 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 105-79 | |
| Feb 03, 2006 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 112-102 | |
| Feb 04, 2006 | @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | L 106-90 | |
| Feb 07, 2006 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 102-87 | |
| Feb 08, 2006 | @ Houston Rockets | W 89-78 | |
| Feb 11, 2006 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 100-99 | |
| Feb 13, 2006 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 94-88 | |
| Feb 15, 2006 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 114-110 | |
| Feb 21, 2006 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-82 | |
| Feb 23, 2006 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 106-85 | |
| Feb 24, 2006 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 102-83 | |
| Feb 26, 2006 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 112-111 | |
| Feb 28, 2006 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 102-87 | |
| Mar 01, 2006 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 99-93 | |
| Mar 03, 2006 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 106-94 | |
| Mar 04, 2006 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 105-94 | |
| Mar 06, 2006 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 103-96 | |
| Mar 08, 2006 | @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | W 113-107 | |
| Mar 10, 2006 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 100-92 | |
| Mar 12, 2006 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-113 | |
| Mar 14, 2006 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 114-98 | |
| Mar 15, 2006 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 92-89 | |
| Mar 17, 2006 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 92-89 | |
| Mar 19, 2006 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 96-95 | |
| Mar 20, 2006 | @ Boston Celtics | W 105-97 | |
| Mar 22, 2006 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 87-80 | |
| Mar 24, 2006 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-96 | |
| Mar 26, 2006 | vs. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | W 105-94 | |
| Mar 30, 2006 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 96-85 | |
| Mar 31, 2006 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-93 | |
| Apr 02, 2006 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-88 | |
| Apr 06, 2006 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 110-108 | |
| Apr 07, 2006 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 107-96 | |
| Apr 09, 2006 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 100-83 | |
| Apr 11, 2006 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-100 | |
| Apr 14, 2006 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-99 | |
| Apr 16, 2006 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-89 | |
| Apr 19, 2006 | vs. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | W 115-95 |