The 1988-89 Los Angeles Lakers season was marked by both high expectations and notable achievements. Coming off back-to-back NBA Championships, the Lakers aimed to secure a third consecutive title under head coach Pat Riley. The team featured key players like Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was in his final season.
The Lakers dominated the regular season with a 57-25 record, clinching the top seed in the Western Conference. Magic Johnson had an impressive season, leading the league in assists and earning the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. The team’s performance was characterized by their fast-paced style and strong defensive plays.
In the playoffs, the Lakers swept through the first three rounds, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, and Phoenix Suns without losing a single game. This dominant performance set up a highly anticipated NBA Finals matchup against the Detroit Pistons, a rematch of the previous year’s Finals.
However, the Finals took a toll on the Lakers, with injuries to key players including Magic Johnson and Byron Scott. The Pistons capitalized on these setbacks, sweeping the Lakers in four games to win the championship. Despite the disappointing end, the 1988-89 season solidified the Lakers’ status as one of the era’s premier teams, with their regular-season and early playoff performance highlighting their exceptional talent and teamwork.
- Regular Season Record: 57-25
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-0, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-0, Western Conference Finals: 4-0, NBA Finals: 0-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Magic Johnson | 77 | 22.5 | 7.9 | 12.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 31.4 | 14 | 18.4 | 5.9 | 11.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 28.6 |
| James Worthy | 81 | 20.5 | 6.0 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 8.7 | 15 | 24.8 | 6.7 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 37.5 |
| Byron Scott | 74 | 19.6 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 39.9 | 11 | 19.9 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 38.5 |
| A.C. Green | 82 | 13.3 | 9.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 23.5 | 15 | 10.1 | 9.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 74 | 10.1 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 15 | 11.1 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Orlando Woolridge | 74 | 9.7 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 15 | 8.1 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Mychal Thompson | 80 | 9.2 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 15 | 11.4 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Michael Cooper | 80 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 38.1 | 15 | 7.7 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 38.2 |
| Tony Campbell | 63 | 6.2 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 9.5 | 9 | 6.2 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Mark McNamara | 39 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| David Rivers | 47 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 16.7 | 6 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Lamp | 37 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 5 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1989 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Portland Trail Blazers, securing a decisive 3-0 series sweep. Led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers showcased their championship pedigree, dominating both ends of the court. This performance set the stage for their continued success in the postseason, as they aimed to defend their title.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 128-108 | |
| Apr 30, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 113-105 | |
| May 03, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-108 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers showcased their dominant prowess by sweeping the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round with a decisive 4-0 victory. Led by the brilliance of Magic Johnson and the unstoppable force of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers demonstrated their championship pedigree, setting the stage for a deep playoff run. This series win highlighted their seamless blend of experience and talent, further solidifying their status as a formidable contender that season.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 07, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-102 | |
| May 10, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 130-108 | |
| May 12, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 91-86 | |
| May 14, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 97-95 |
1989 Conference Championship vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Western Conference Finals by sweeping the Phoenix Suns in four games. Led by the legendary duo of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers showcased their championship pedigree and depth, setting the stage for their showdown with the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. Despite their commanding performance in the conference finals, the Lakers faced challenges in the finals, ultimately falling to the Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 127-119 | |
| May 23, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 101-95 | |
| May 26, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 110-107 | |
| May 28, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 122-117 |
1989 NBA Finals vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1989 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Detroit Pistons in a highly anticipated matchup. Despite entering the series as the defending champions and having a perfect postseason run up to that point, the Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Pistons. Injuries to key players like Magic Johnson and Byron Scott severely hampered their performance, allowing the u0022Bad Boysu0022 of Detroit to secure their first NBA championship.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 06, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 109-97 | |
| Jun 08, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-105 | |
| Jun 11, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 114-110 | |
| Jun 13, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 105-97 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 116-113 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 122-107 | |
| Nov 08, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 114-102 | |
| Nov 09, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 128-110 | |
| Nov 11, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 114-103 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 148-146 | |
| Nov 17, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-98 | |
| Nov 18, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-105 | |
| Nov 22, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | W 110-98 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | @ Miami Heat | W 138-91 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-99 | |
| Nov 28, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-104 | |
| Nov 30, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-106 | |
| Dec 02, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 113-92 | |
| Dec 04, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 119-112 | |
| Dec 06, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 111-102 | |
| Dec 07, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 125-111 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 112-105 | |
| Dec 11, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 95-94 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-102 | |
| Dec 14, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-113 | |
| Dec 16, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-96 | |
| Dec 18, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 115-110 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-103 | |
| Dec 23, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 120-102 | |
| Dec 25, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 101-87 | |
| Dec 26, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-96 | |
| Dec 28, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 128-123 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 124-109 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 116-106 | |
| Jan 04, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 133-120 | |
| Jan 06, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 118-86 | |
| Jan 08, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 126-96 | |
| Jan 10, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 106-97 | |
| Jan 13, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 116-95 | |
| Jan 15, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 116-95 | |
| Jan 16, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 124-113 | |
| Jan 18, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 111-90 | |
| Jan 20, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 115-99 | |
| Jan 24, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | L 122-117 | |
| Jan 27, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 114-97 | |
| Jan 29, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 118-93 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | W 125-114 | |
| Feb 01, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 114-97 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 140-129 | |
| Feb 05, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 134-116 | |
| Feb 08, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 121-118 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 111-103 | |
| Feb 16, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-101 | |
| Feb 19, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 119-110 | |
| Feb 20, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 100-97 | |
| Feb 22, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-79 | |
| Feb 24, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 115-103 | |
| Feb 26, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 134-122 | |
| Mar 01, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 142-121 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 139-117 | |
| Mar 05, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 88-83 | |
| Mar 07, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 106-97 | |
| Mar 08, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 127-87 | |
| Mar 10, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 123-90 | |
| Mar 12, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 126-115 | |
| Mar 13, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 97-96 | |
| Mar 17, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 106-103 | |
| Mar 19, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 113-111 | |
| Mar 21, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 104-103 | |
| Mar 23, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 115-92 | |
| Mar 26, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-116 | |
| Mar 28, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 127-104 | |
| Mar 30, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 138-98 | |
| Apr 01, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 114-108 | |
| Apr 02, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 118-117 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-97 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 99-97 | |
| Apr 08, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 122-116 | |
| Apr 10, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 133-116 | |
| Apr 12, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 107-100 | |
| Apr 15, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 119-107 | |
| Apr 16, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 121-108 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 142-118 | |
| Apr 20, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 118-115 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 121-114 | |
| Apr 23, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-117 |
