The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers season was a landmark year in NBA history, marked by extraordinary team performance and record-breaking achievements. Under the guidance of head coach Bill Sharman, the Lakers finished the regular season with an outstanding 69-13 record, setting a new NBA record for the most wins in a single season at that time.
A pivotal factor in their success was the Lakers’ unprecedented 33-game winning streak, which remains the longest in NBA history. The team was spearheaded by Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Gail Goodrich, each contributing significantly to the Lakers’ dominant season. Chamberlain’s role was crucial, especially on the defensive end, while West and Goodrich led the scoring efforts.
In the playoffs, the Lakers maintained their momentum, overcoming the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks to reach the NBA Finals. Facing the New York Knicks, the Lakers secured the championship in five games, marking the franchise’s first title since relocating to Los Angeles. Wilt Chamberlain was named the NBA Finals MVP, highlighting his pivotal role throughout the postseason.
The 1971-72 season not only established the Lakers as a powerhouse in the NBA but also set a standard for team excellence. Their achievements during this year are still celebrated as one of the most remarkable in the annals of professional basketball.
- Regular Season Record: 69-13
- Playoff Result: Western Conference Semifinals: 4-0, Western Conference Finals: 4-2, NBA Finals: 4-1
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1971-72 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Gail Goodrich | 82 | 25.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 23.8 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry West | 77 | 25.8 | 4.2 | 9.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 22.9 | 4.9 | 8.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim McMillian | 80 | 18.8 | 6.5 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 19.1 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 82 | 14.8 | 19.1 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 14.7 | 21.0 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Happy Hairston | 80 | 13.1 | 12.7 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 13.5 | 13.1 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Elgin Baylor | 9 | 11.8 | 6.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Flynn Robinson | 64 | 9.9 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 6.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pat Riley | 67 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15 | 5.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Keith Erickson | 15 | 5.7 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Trapp | 58 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Leroy Ellis | 74 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Cleamons | 38 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1972 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1972 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Western Conference Finals, as the playoffs structure was different then. The Lakers, led by Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, overcame the Bucks' formidable duo of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, winning the series 4-2. This victory propelled the Lakers to the NBA Finals, where they ultimately secured their first championship in Los Angeles.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 1972 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 95-80 | |
| Mar 30, 1972 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 131-124 | |
| Apr 02, 1972 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-101 | |
| Apr 04, 1972 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-97 |
1972 Conference Championship vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the 1972 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers reached the conference finals with a dominant performance, ultimately facing the Milwaukee Bucks. Led by the legendary Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, the Lakers overcame the Bucks in a hard-fought six-game series, showcasing their depth and cohesion. This victory propelled them into the NBA Finals, where they would go on to secure their first championship since moving to Los Angeles.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 09, 1972 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 93-72 | |
| Apr 12, 1972 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 135-134 | |
| Apr 14, 1972 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-105 | |
| Apr 16, 1972 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-88 | |
| Apr 18, 1972 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-90 | |
| Apr 22, 1972 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 104-100 |
1972 NBA Finals vs. New York Knicks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1972 | vs. New York Knicks | L 114-92 | |
| Apr 30, 1972 | vs. New York Knicks | W 106-92 | |
| May 03, 1972 | @ New York Knicks | W 107-96 | |
| May 05, 1972 | @ New York Knicks | W 116-111 | |
| May 07, 1972 | vs. New York Knicks | W 114-100 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1971-72 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1971-72 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 1971 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 132-103 | |
| Oct 16, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | W 119-104 | |
| Oct 19, 1971 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 123-106 | |
| Oct 20, 1971 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 126-104 | |
| Oct 22, 1971 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 113-106 | |
| Oct 24, 1971 | @ Houston Rockets | W 113-103 | |
| Oct 29, 1971 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 119-107 | |
| Oct 30, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 115-106 | |
| Oct 31, 1971 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 109-105 | |
| Nov 05, 1971 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 110-106 | |
| Nov 06, 1971 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 105-89 | |
| Nov 07, 1971 | vs. New York Knicks | W 103-96 | |
| Nov 09, 1971 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 122-109 | |
| Nov 10, 1971 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 143-103 | |
| Nov 12, 1971 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-107 | |
| Nov 13, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 130-108 | |
| Nov 14, 1971 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 128-115 | |
| Nov 16, 1971 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-90 | |
| Nov 19, 1971 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 106-99 | |
| Nov 21, 1971 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-105 | |
| Nov 25, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 139-115 | |
| Nov 26, 1971 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 132-113 | |
| Nov 28, 1971 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 138-121 | |
| Dec 01, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | W 124-111 | |
| Dec 03, 1971 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 131-116 | |
| Dec 05, 1971 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-107 | |
| Dec 08, 1971 | @ Houston Rockets | W 125-120 | |
| Dec 09, 1971 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 124-111 | |
| Dec 10, 1971 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 126-117 | |
| Dec 12, 1971 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 104-95 | |
| Dec 14, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 129-114 | |
| Dec 17, 1971 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 129-99 | |
| Dec 18, 1971 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 132-106 | |
| Dec 19, 1971 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 154-132 | |
| Dec 21, 1971 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 117-103 | |
| Dec 22, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 127-120 | |
| Dec 26, 1971 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 137-115 | |
| Dec 28, 1971 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 105-87 | |
| Dec 30, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-106 | |
| Jan 02, 1972 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 122-113 | |
| Jan 05, 1972 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 113-103 | |
| Jan 07, 1972 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 134-90 | |
| Jan 09, 1972 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-104 | |
| Jan 11, 1972 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 123-103 | |
| Jan 12, 1972 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 108-107 | |
| Jan 14, 1972 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 135-121 | |
| Jan 21, 1972 | vs. New York Knicks | L 104-101 | |
| Jan 22, 1972 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 116-102 | |
| Jan 25, 1972 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 129-119 | |
| Jan 28, 1972 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 118-105 | |
| Jan 30, 1972 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 153-131 | |
| Feb 04, 1972 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 118-105 | |
| Feb 05, 1972 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 108-96 | |
| Feb 06, 1972 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 151-127 | |
| Feb 08, 1972 | @ New York Knicks | W 107-102 | |
| Feb 09, 1972 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 117-113 | |
| Feb 11, 1972 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-108 | |
| Feb 13, 1972 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 121-110 | |
| Feb 15, 1972 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 125-118 | |
| Feb 16, 1972 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 110-109 | |
| Feb 18, 1972 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 125-114 | |
| Feb 19, 1972 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-94 | |
| Feb 20, 1972 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 132-113 | |
| Feb 22, 1972 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 135-134 | |
| Feb 23, 1972 | @ Houston Rockets | L 115-110 | |
| Feb 25, 1972 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 109-88 | |
| Feb 27, 1972 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-118 | |
| Feb 29, 1972 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-111 | |
| Mar 01, 1972 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-108 | |
| Mar 03, 1972 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 114-104 | |
| Mar 05, 1972 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 108-94 | |
| Mar 07, 1972 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-97 | |
| Mar 10, 1972 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 132-98 | |
| Mar 12, 1972 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 141-102 | |
| Mar 14, 1972 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 129-116 | |
| Mar 15, 1972 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 121-116 | |
| Mar 17, 1972 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 123-107 | |
| Mar 19, 1972 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 162-99 | |
| Mar 21, 1972 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 109-104 | |
| Mar 22, 1972 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 124-120 | |
| Mar 24, 1972 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 112-110 | |
| Mar 26, 1972 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-98 |