The 1975-76 Los Angeles Lakers season was marked by significant changes and a strong performance in the regular season. The team finished with a 40-42 record, placing them fourth in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. This season was notable for the integration of new players and adjustments under coach Bill Sharman, who was in his fifth year with the team.
One of the key highlights of the season was the acquisition of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from the Milwaukee Bucks. Abdul-Jabbar, known for his dominant presence on the court, made an immediate impact on the Lakers’ performance. Despite the team’s overall mid-tier performance, Abdul-Jabbar’s individual excellence was undeniable as he led the league in scoring, averaging 27.7 points per game, and rebounding, with 16.9 rebounds per game. His efforts earned him the NBA Most Valuable Player award for the season.
Despite Abdul-Jabbar’s stellar performance, the Lakers struggled to find consistency throughout the season. Their efforts were not enough to secure a playoff spot, marking a disappointing end for a team with such potential. The 1975-76 season served as a transitional period for the Lakers, setting the stage for future success as they continued to build around Abdul-Jabbar’s talents. The lessons learned from this season would eventually contribute to the team’s future dominance in the NBA during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Regular Season Record: 40-42
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1975-76 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 102 | 27.9 | 17.2 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 4.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Gail Goodrich | 90 | 18.5 | 2.8 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Lucius Allen | 91 | 15.1 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Cazzie Russell | 94 | 12.4 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Donnie Freeman | 84 | 11.8 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Don Ford | 96 | 10.2 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Cornell Warner | 100 | 7.2 | 8.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Pat Riley | 4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ron Williams | 18 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Corky Calhoun | 94 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Stu Lantz | 62 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Walt Wesley | 2 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Kermit Washington | 36 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Cliff Meely | 20 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jim McDaniels | 48 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| C.J. Kupec | 26 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Roche | 15 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers 1975-76 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1975-76 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1975 | @ New York Knicks | W 104-101 | |
| Oct 27, 1975 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-104 | |
| Oct 28, 1975 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 99-92 | |
| Oct 29, 1975 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 112-99 | |
| Oct 31, 1975 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-104 | |
| Nov 02, 1975 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 116-113 | |
| Nov 04, 1975 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 116-98 | |
| Nov 05, 1975 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 113-110 | |
| Nov 07, 1975 | vs. New York Knicks | W 105-97 | |
| Nov 08, 1975 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-106 | |
| Nov 09, 1975 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 125-112 | |
| Nov 12, 1975 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 116-100 | |
| Nov 14, 1975 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 114-107 | |
| Nov 16, 1975 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-93 | |
| Nov 18, 1975 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 120-106 | |
| Nov 19, 1975 | @ Houston Rockets | W 118-110 | |
| Nov 21, 1975 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 116-104 | |
| Nov 23, 1975 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 110-99 | |
| Nov 26, 1975 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-101 | |
| Nov 28, 1975 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 126-105 | |
| Nov 30, 1975 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-109 | |
| Dec 02, 1975 | @ Washington Bullets | L 107-104 | |
| Dec 03, 1975 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 118-110 | |
| Dec 07, 1975 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 114-106 | |
| Dec 12, 1975 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-102 | |
| Dec 13, 1975 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 116-108 | |
| Dec 14, 1975 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 110-100 | |
| Dec 16, 1975 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 123-103 | |
| Dec 18, 1975 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 114-98 | |
| Dec 19, 1975 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 104-91 | |
| Dec 21, 1975 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 99-98 | |
| Dec 23, 1975 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 111-97 | |
| Dec 26, 1975 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 104-95 | |
| Dec 27, 1975 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-100 | |
| Dec 28, 1975 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 123-113 | |
| Dec 30, 1975 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-100 | |
| Jan 02, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 113-105 | |
| Jan 03, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 130-99 | |
| Jan 04, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-101 | |
| Jan 06, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 114-113 | |
| Jan 07, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-103 | |
| Jan 09, 1976 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-106 | |
| Jan 11, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 95-89 | |
| Jan 13, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 104-102 | |
| Jan 22, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 129-105 | |
| Jan 23, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-96 | |
| Jan 25, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 105-101 | |
| Jan 28, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 121-118 | |
| Jan 30, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-113 | |
| Feb 01, 1976 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-82 | |
| Feb 05, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 117-109 | |
| Feb 06, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 112-106 | |
| Feb 08, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 97-89 | |
| Feb 10, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-88 | |
| Feb 13, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 126-112 | |
| Feb 15, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 101-88 | |
| Feb 17, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 115-101 | |
| Feb 18, 1976 | @ Houston Rockets | L 114-98 | |
| Feb 20, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 125-113 | |
| Feb 22, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-91 | |
| Feb 27, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 97-90 | |
| Feb 29, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-97 | |
| Mar 05, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 106-99 | |
| Mar 07, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 91-88 | |
| Mar 09, 1976 | @ New York Knicks | L 101-96 | |
| Mar 10, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 92-89 | |
| Mar 12, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-95 | |
| Mar 14, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 137-109 | |
| Mar 16, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-105 | |
| Mar 17, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-96 | |
| Mar 19, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 122-107 | |
| Mar 20, 1976 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 106-93 | |
| Mar 21, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 130-111 | |
| Mar 23, 1976 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 125-106 | |
| Mar 26, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-85 | |
| Mar 27, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 113-97 | |
| Mar 28, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 100-97 | |
| Mar 31, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-109 | |
| Apr 02, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-105 | |
| Apr 04, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-111 | |
| Apr 06, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-104 | |
| Apr 08, 1976 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113-98 |