The 1961-62 Los Angeles Lakers season marked a significant chapter for the franchise as it was just their second season in Los Angeles after relocating from Minneapolis. The Lakers finished the regular season with a 54-26 record, securing first place in the Western Division. This impressive result was largely due to the stellar performances of key players, most notably Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Baylor averaged 38.3 points and 18.6 rebounds per game, while West added 30.8 points per game, solidifying their status as one of the most formidable duos in the league.
In the playoffs, the Lakers faced the Detroit Pistons in the Western Division Finals. They won the series 4-2, advancing to the NBA Finals. The Finals pitted them against the Boston Celtics, beginning a storied rivalry. The series was intense and stretched to seven games. Despite their efforts, the Lakers fell short, losing Game 7 in overtime with a nail-biting score of 110-107. The loss was partly due to the Celtics’ dominant defensive play and the Lakers missing crucial opportunities in the deciding game.
The 1961-62 season, despite ending in disappointment, laid the foundation for the Lakers’ future success in the NBA. The performances of Baylor and West throughout the season and playoffs were pivotal, and the team’s ability to reach the Finals demonstrated their competitive edge and potential for growth in subsequent seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 54-26
- Playoff Result: Division Finals: 4-2, NBA Finals: 3-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1961-62 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Elgin Baylor | 48 | 38.3 | 18.4 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 38.6 | 17.7 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry West | 75 | 30.8 | 6.3 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 31.5 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rudy LaRusso | 80 | 17.2 | 8.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 14.1 | 8.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Frank Selvy | 79 | 14.7 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 12.7 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Krebs | 78 | 10.0 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 7.5 | 8.9 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Hawkins | 79 | 9.1 | 5.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hot Rod Hundley | 78 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ray Felix | 80 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Howie Jolliff | 64 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Sims | 19 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Wayne Yates | 37 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob McNeill | 30 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bobby Smith | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1962 NBA Playoffs
1962 Conference Championship vs. Detroit Pistons
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 1962 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 132-108 | |
| Mar 25, 1962 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 127-112 | |
| Mar 27, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 111-106 | |
| Mar 29, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-117 | |
| Mar 31, 1962 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 132-125 | |
| Apr 03, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 123-117 |
1962 NBA Finals vs. Boston Celtics
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 07, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-108 | |
| Apr 08, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | W 129-122 | |
| Apr 10, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 117-115 | |
| Apr 11, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 115-103 | |
| Apr 14, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | W 126-121 | |
| Apr 16, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 119-105 | |
| Apr 18, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-107 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1961-62 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1961-62 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 118-113 | |
| Oct 20, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 122-115 | |
| Oct 24, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 124-122 | |
| Oct 25, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 120-116 | |
| Oct 27, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 128-118 | |
| Oct 28, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 135-126 | |
| Nov 01, 1961 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 120-115 | |
| Nov 03, 1961 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 132-114 | |
| Nov 04, 1961 | @ Chicago Packers | W 125-112 | |
| Nov 07, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 127-110 | |
| Nov 08, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 124-118 | |
| Nov 13, 1961 | vs. Chicago Packers | W 127-113 | |
| Nov 15, 1961 | vs. Chicago Packers | W 133-118 | |
| Nov 17, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 125-121 | |
| Nov 18, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | W 103-101 | |
| Nov 21, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-102 | |
| Nov 23, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 122-114 | |
| Nov 24, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 100-89 | |
| Nov 25, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-103 | |
| Nov 26, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 117-102 | |
| Nov 28, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 121-111 | |
| Dec 01, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 138-117 | |
| Dec 02, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 129-119 | |
| Dec 04, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 131-120 | |
| Dec 05, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 125-120 | |
| Dec 06, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 123-121 | |
| Dec 08, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 151-147 | |
| Dec 09, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 114-107 | |
| Dec 11, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 132-119 | |
| Dec 13, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 137-136 | |
| Dec 15, 1961 | @ Chicago Packers | L 97-94 | |
| Dec 16, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 128-123 | |
| Dec 17, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 122-116 | |
| Dec 19, 1961 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 104-101 | |
| Dec 20, 1961 | @ Chicago Packers | W 102-98 | |
| Dec 23, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 129-126 | |
| Dec 25, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 141-127 | |
| Dec 26, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 129-117 | |
| Dec 27, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 119-111 | |
| Dec 28, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 121-114 | |
| Dec 29, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 123-118 | |
| Jan 01, 1962 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 114-111 | |
| Jan 03, 1962 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 124-123 | |
| Jan 07, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 118-95 | |
| Jan 13, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 108-107 | |
| Jan 14, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-108 | |
| Jan 17, 1962 | vs. New York Knicks | W 129-121 | |
| Jan 19, 1962 | vs. New York Knicks | W 108-107 | |
| Jan 20, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 125-124 | |
| Jan 21, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 112-111 | |
| Jan 23, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-103 | |
| Jan 24, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 136-123 | |
| Jan 25, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 116-112 | |
| Jan 28, 1962 | vs. Chicago Packers | W 124-109 | |
| Jan 30, 1962 | vs. Chicago Packers | W 107-92 | |
| Jan 31, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 123-122 | |
| Feb 01, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-115 | |
| Feb 03, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 127-124 | |
| Feb 04, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | L 113-105 | |
| Feb 05, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 134-128 | |
| Feb 06, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | L 116-112 | |
| Feb 08, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 113-109 | |
| Feb 12, 1962 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 117-113 | |
| Feb 14, 1962 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 130-107 | |
| Feb 16, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 127-121 | |
| Feb 17, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | W 128-121 | |
| Feb 18, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 125-99 | |
| Feb 20, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 115-96 | |
| Feb 22, 1962 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-116 | |
| Feb 23, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 124-117 | |
| Feb 24, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 118-114 | |
| Feb 25, 1962 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 128-99 | |
| Feb 27, 1962 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 107-100 | |
| Mar 03, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 134-125 | |
| Mar 04, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 124-115 | |
| Mar 09, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | L 122-100 | |
| Mar 11, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-105 | |
| Mar 12, 1962 | vs. New York Knicks | W 119-106 | |
| Mar 13, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 120-111 | |
| Mar 14, 1962 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 125-115 |
