The 1981-82 Los Angeles Lakers season was a significant chapter in the franchise’s storied history, marked by both challenges and triumphs. Under the guidance of head coach Pat Riley, who took over early in the season, the Lakers navigated the regular season with a strong performance, finishing with a 57-25 record, which placed them first in the Pacific Division.
Key players included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who continued to dominate as one of the league’s premier centers, and Magic Johnson, whose versatility and playmaking abilities were pivotal. The Lakers also benefited from the contributions of Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon, who provided scoring and stability in the backcourt.
The postseason saw the Lakers excel, demonstrating their championship pedigree. In the first round, they defeated the Phoenix Suns, advancing to the Western Conference Finals where they faced the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers emerged victorious, securing their place in the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. The series was a rematch of the 1980 Finals, and the Lakers showcased their depth and skill by winning the series 4-2, capturing their second NBA championship in three years.
The 1981-82 season was a testament to the Lakers’ resilience and tactical adaptability under Pat Riley’s leadership, cementing their status as a dominant force in the NBA during the early 1980s.
- Regular Season Record: 57-25
- Playoff Result: Western Conference Semifinals: 4-0, Western Conference Finals: 4-0, NBA Finals: 4-2
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1981-82 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 76 | 23.9 | 8.7 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 14 | 20.4 | 8.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.0 |
| Jamaal Wilkes | 82 | 21.1 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 14 | 20.0 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Magic Johnson | 78 | 18.6 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 21.4 | 14 | 17.4 | 11.3 | 9.3 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Norm Nixon | 82 | 17.6 | 2.1 | 8.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 27.3 | 14 | 20.4 | 3.1 | 8.1 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 33.3 |
| Mitch Kupchak | 26 | 14.3 | 8.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Michael Cooper | 76 | 11.9 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 13.3 | 14 | 11.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 50.0 |
| Bob McAdoo | 41 | 9.6 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 14 | 16.7 | 6.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Mike McGee | 39 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kurt Rambis | 64 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 14 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Mark Landsberger | 75 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eddie Jordan | 58 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 12.5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Clay Johnson | 7 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Brewer | 71 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 16.7 | 8 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Kevin McKenna | 36 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1982 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, showcased their dominance by defeating the Spurs in a decisive 4-0 series sweep. This victory propelled them towards their ultimate goal, eventually capturing the NBA Championship that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 115-96 | |
| Apr 28, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 117-98 | |
| Apr 30, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 114-106 | |
| May 02, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 112-107 |
1982 Conference Championship vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers showcased their dominance in the Western Conference Finals by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in a decisive 4-0 sweep. Led by the legendary Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers displayed a perfect blend of fast-paced offense and solid defense, setting the stage for their eventual NBA championship victory. This series highlighted the beginning of the u0022Showtimeu0022 era, with the Lakers thrilling fans with their dynamic and entertaining style of play.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 09, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 128-117 | |
| May 11, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 110-101 | |
| May 14, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 118-108 | |
| May 15, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 128-123 |
1982 NBA Finals vs. Philadelphia 76ers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 124-117 | |
| May 30, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-94 | |
| Jun 01, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 129-108 | |
| Jun 03, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-101 | |
| Jun 06, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 135-102 | |
| Jun 08, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-104 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1981-82 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1981-82 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 113-112 | |
| Nov 03, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 102-100 | |
| Nov 04, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-103 | |
| Nov 06, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 101-99 | |
| Nov 08, 1981 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 121-111 | |
| Nov 10, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 128-102 | |
| Nov 11, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 95-93 | |
| Nov 13, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-115 | |
| Nov 14, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 98-97 | |
| Nov 15, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 124-123 | |
| Nov 18, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | W 113-110 | |
| Nov 20, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 136-116 | |
| Nov 21, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 119-117 | |
| Nov 24, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 125-110 | |
| Nov 25, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 117-96 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 138-129 | |
| Nov 29, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 122-104 | |
| Dec 01, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 117-86 | |
| Dec 02, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-96 | |
| Dec 04, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 126-117 | |
| Dec 06, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 119-106 | |
| Dec 08, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 102-98 | |
| Dec 11, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 124-116 | |
| Dec 13, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 122-118 | |
| Dec 17, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-115 | |
| Dec 19, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 106-100 | |
| Dec 20, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 112-94 | |
| Dec 22, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 124-110 | |
| Dec 25, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 104-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 139-117 | |
| Dec 29, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 121-114 | |
| Jan 03, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-90 | |
| Jan 08, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 119-113 | |
| Jan 09, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 130-127 | |
| Jan 10, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 118-107 | |
| Jan 12, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 114-100 | |
| Jan 15, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 97-92 | |
| Jan 17, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 109-97 | |
| Jan 19, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 140-139 | |
| Jan 20, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 132-113 | |
| Jan 22, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-111 | |
| Jan 26, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 96-94 | |
| Jan 28, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 97-87 | |
| Feb 02, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 119-117 | |
| Feb 03, 1982 | vs. New York Knicks | L 98-94 | |
| Feb 05, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 90-87 | |
| Feb 07, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | W 119-113 | |
| Feb 09, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 130-117 | |
| Feb 10, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 125-102 | |
| Feb 12, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 100-94 | |
| Feb 14, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 108-103 | |
| Feb 16, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-101 | |
| Feb 19, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 126-106 | |
| Feb 21, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 132-131 | |
| Feb 23, 1982 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 145-129 | |
| Feb 25, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-98 | |
| Feb 26, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 116-114 | |
| Feb 28, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-101 | |
| Mar 03, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-103 | |
| Mar 04, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | L 129-119 | |
| Mar 07, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-113 | |
| Mar 09, 1982 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 105-99 | |
| Mar 12, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 111-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 138-116 | |
| Mar 16, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-108 | |
| Mar 17, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 120-112 | |
| Mar 19, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 112-106 | |
| Mar 21, 1982 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 107-102 | |
| Mar 23, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 118-116 | |
| Mar 26, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-105 | |
| Mar 28, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 116-111 | |
| Mar 30, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 143-120 | |
| Apr 01, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 117-100 | |
| Apr 02, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 109-99 | |
| Apr 04, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 129-111 | |
| Apr 06, 1982 | @ Houston Rockets | W 108-97 | |
| Apr 09, 1982 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 153-128 | |
| Apr 11, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-104 | |
| Apr 13, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 106-101 | |
| Apr 14, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 128-115 | |
| Apr 16, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 125-109 | |
| Apr 18, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 120-115 |