The 1990-91 Los Angeles Lakers season marked a significant chapter in the franchise’s storied history. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Dunleavy, the Lakers finished the regular season with a 58-24 record, securing the top spot in the Pacific Division and the second seed in the Western Conference. The season was highlighted by the stellar play of Magic Johnson, who continued to demonstrate his prowess on the court by averaging 19.4 points, 12.5 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game.
In the postseason, the Lakers displayed their championship pedigree. They powered through the first round by defeating the Houston Rockets in three straight games. In the Western Conference Semifinals, they faced a tougher challenge from the Golden State Warriors but emerged victorious, winning the series 4-1. The Western Conference Finals saw them go up against the Portland Trail Blazers, whom they defeated in six games, advancing to the NBA Finals for the ninth time in 12 seasons.
The NBA Finals pitted the Lakers against the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. Despite taking Game 1, the Lakers could not maintain their momentum. The Bulls won the next four games, capturing their first NBA Championship. The 1990-91 season was notable for being Magic Johnson’s last full season before his initial retirement due to HIV, making it a poignant finale for the Showtime era. Despite the Finals loss, the Lakers’ performance throughout the season showcased their enduring competitiveness and legacy in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 58-24
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-0, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-1, Western Conference Finals: 4-2, NBA Finals: 1-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1990-91 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| James Worthy | 78 | 21.4 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 28.9 | 18 | 21.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 16.7 |
| Magic Johnson | 79 | 19.4 | 7.0 | 12.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 32.0 | 19 | 21.8 | 8.1 | 12.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 29.6 |
| Byron Scott | 82 | 14.5 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 32.4 | 18 | 13.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 52.6 |
| Sam Perkins | 73 | 13.5 | 7.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 28.1 | 19 | 17.7 | 8.3 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 36.7 |
| Vlade Divac | 82 | 11.2 | 8.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 35.7 | 19 | 13.3 | 6.7 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 16.7 |
| Terry Teagle | 82 | 9.9 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 18 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| A.C. Green | 82 | 9.1 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 20.0 | 19 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 50.0 |
| Mychal Thompson | 72 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 8 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Tony Smith | 64 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 7 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Drew | 48 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 42.4 | 18 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 27.3 |
| Elden Campbell | 52 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 14 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Irving Thomas | 26 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Brown | 7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Houston Rockets
In the first round of the 1991 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Houston Rockets, securing a dominant 3-0 series sweep. Led by Magic Johnson's exceptional playmaking and the scoring prowess of James Worthy, the Lakers showcased their championship pedigree, efficiently dismantling the Rockets' defense and advancing with confidence. This set the tone for their deep playoff run, ultimately culminating in an NBA Finals appearance.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 94-92 | |
| Apr 27, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-98 | |
| Apr 30, 1991 | @ Houston Rockets | W 94-90 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Golden State Warriors
In the 1991 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Golden State Warriors in the second round, showcasing their dominance with a 4-1 series victory. Led by Magic Johnson's impeccable playmaking and the scoring prowess of James Worthy, the Lakers demonstrated their championship pedigree, effectively neutralizing the Warriors' fast-paced offense. This series win propelled the Lakers into the Western Conference Finals, maintaining their status as a formidable force in the NBA postseason.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 05, 1991 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 126-116 | |
| May 08, 1991 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 125-124 | |
| May 10, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 115-112 | |
| May 12, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 123-107 | |
| May 14, 1991 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 124-119 |
1991 Conference Championship vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the 1991 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson, showcased their championship pedigree by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. The series ended 4-2, with the Lakers' experience and Johnson's playmaking proving decisive against a young and talented Blazers squad. This victory propelled the Lakers to the NBA Finals, marking the end of an era as Magic faced off against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-106 | |
| May 21, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-98 | |
| May 24, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-92 | |
| May 26, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-95 | |
| May 28, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 95-84 | |
| May 30, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 91-90 |
1991 NBA Finals vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1991 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson, faced off against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Despite a Game 1 victory, the Lakers ultimately fell in five games as the Bulls clinched their first championship, marking a significant shift in NBA dominance from the Showtime era to the Jordan-led Bulls dynasty. This series is often remembered for the iconic matchup between two of the game's greatest players, Magic and Jordan, as well as the passing of the torch to a new era in basketball.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 02, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 93-91 | |
| Jun 05, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 107-86 | |
| Jun 07, 1991 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 104-96 | |
| Jun 09, 1991 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 97-82 | |
| Jun 12, 1991 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 108-101 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1990-91 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1990-91 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-99 | |
| Nov 06, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 125-123 | |
| Nov 09, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 100-86 | |
| Nov 11, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | L 109-103 | |
| Nov 13, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 112-111 | |
| Nov 15, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | W 108-103 | |
| Nov 16, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 99-86 | |
| Nov 18, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-93 | |
| Nov 19, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 122-105 | |
| Nov 21, 1990 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 141-121 | |
| Nov 24, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 115-89 | |
| Nov 28, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 97-80 | |
| Dec 01, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 108-98 | |
| Dec 04, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 114-90 | |
| Dec 06, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 83-73 | |
| Dec 07, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 101-79 | |
| Dec 09, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 106-99 | |
| Dec 12, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 112-97 | |
| Dec 15, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 111-109 | |
| Dec 16, 1990 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 115-112 | |
| Dec 18, 1990 | @ New York Knicks | W 100-97 | |
| Dec 19, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 84-74 | |
| Dec 21, 1990 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 114-103 | |
| Dec 23, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 118-94 | |
| Dec 26, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-99 | |
| Dec 30, 1990 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-107 | |
| Jan 03, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 108-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 115-99 | |
| Jan 06, 1991 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 135-108 | |
| Jan 08, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-88 | |
| Jan 09, 1991 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 108-85 | |
| Jan 11, 1991 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 105-93 | |
| Jan 13, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 116-97 | |
| Jan 15, 1991 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 128-103 | |
| Jan 17, 1991 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 93-78 | |
| Jan 18, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 105-96 | |
| Jan 21, 1991 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 120-114 | |
| Jan 22, 1991 | @ Orlando Magic | W 116-96 | |
| Jan 24, 1991 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 113-93 | |
| Jan 25, 1991 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-103 | |
| Jan 27, 1991 | @ Boston Celtics | W 104-87 | |
| Jan 29, 1991 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 110-89 | |
| Jan 31, 1991 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 116-103 | |
| Feb 01, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-92 | |
| Feb 03, 1991 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 99-86 | |
| Feb 05, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 116-102 | |
| Feb 12, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 99-95 | |
| Feb 13, 1991 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 120-106 | |
| Feb 15, 1991 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 98-85 | |
| Feb 17, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-96 | |
| Feb 19, 1991 | @ Houston Rockets | W 112-103 | |
| Feb 21, 1991 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 106-92 | |
| Feb 22, 1991 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-102 | |
| Feb 24, 1991 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 102-96 | |
| Feb 25, 1991 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 92-90 | |
| Feb 28, 1991 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 121-108 | |
| Mar 01, 1991 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 115-101 | |
| Mar 03, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 104-95 | |
| Mar 05, 1991 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 94-85 | |
| Mar 07, 1991 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 99-94 | |
| Mar 09, 1991 | @ Washington Bullets | W 87-72 | |
| Mar 10, 1991 | @ Orlando Magic | W 115-101 | |
| Mar 12, 1991 | @ Miami Heat | W 102-95 | |
| Mar 15, 1991 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 127-117 | |
| Mar 17, 1991 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 98-91 | |
| Mar 19, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 119-105 | |
| Mar 20, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-106 | |
| Mar 22, 1991 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 99-92 | |
| Mar 24, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-96 | |
| Mar 25, 1991 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 99-89 | |
| Mar 29, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-105 | |
| Mar 31, 1991 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 115-87 | |
| Apr 02, 1991 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 122-115 | |
| Apr 04, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 102-98 | |
| Apr 05, 1991 | vs. Miami Heat | W 108-87 | |
| Apr 07, 1991 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 93-85 | |
| Apr 11, 1991 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 110-95 | |
| Apr 13, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-113 | |
| Apr 15, 1991 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 112-106 | |
| Apr 17, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 118-111 | |
| Apr 20, 1991 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-93 | |
| Apr 21, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-100 |