The 1969-70 Los Angeles Lakers season was marked by high expectations and a strong roster, featuring stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor. Under head coach Joe Mullaney, the Lakers aimed to dominate the NBA with their formidable lineup. The team finished the regular season with an impressive 46-36 record, securing second place in the Western Division behind the Atlanta Hawks.
Chamberlain, a dominant force in the league, contributed significantly despite missing a large portion of the season due to a knee injury. Jerry West, known as “Mr. Clutch,” led the team with his scoring prowess, averaging 31.2 points per game. Elgin Baylor also added firepower, despite dealing with his own injury issues.
In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns in the Western Division Semifinals, winning the series 4-3 after overcoming a 3-1 deficit. They then swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Western Division Finals, showcasing their championship potential. The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals to face the New York Knicks, a series that would be remembered for its intensity.
The NBA Finals went to a decisive Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, where the Lakers ultimately fell to the Knicks, 113-99. Despite the loss, Jerry West made history by becoming the first and only player from the losing team to win the NBA Finals MVP award. The season, while ending in disappointment, was a testament to the Lakers’ resilience and talent.
- Regular Season Record: 46-36
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 4-3, Division Finals: 4-0, NBA Finals: 3-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1969-70 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Jerry West | 74 | 31.2 | 4.6 | 7.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18 | 31.2 | 3.7 | 8.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 12 | 27.3 | 18.4 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18 | 22.1 | 22.2 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Elgin Baylor | 54 | 24.0 | 10.0 | 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18 | 18.7 | 9.6 | 4.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Happy Hairston | 55 | 20.6 | 12.4 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 16 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mel Counts | 81 | 12.6 | 8.4 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Garrett | 73 | 11.6 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18 | 12.8 | 2.9 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Keith Erickson | 68 | 8.9 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 9.9 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rick Roberson | 74 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willie McCarter | 40 | 7.7 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Egan | 72 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 16 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Tresvant | 20 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Hewitt | 20 | 3.3 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mike Lynn | 44 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the second round of the 1970 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Phoenix Suns in a thrilling series. The Lakers, led by stars like Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, overcame a 3-1 series deficit to win in seven games. Their resilience and experience ultimately propelled them to the Western Division Finals, highlighting the team's determination and skill.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 128-112 | |
| Mar 29, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 114-101 | |
| Apr 02, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 112-98 | |
| Apr 04, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 112-102 | |
| Apr 05, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 138-121 | |
| Apr 07, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 104-93 | |
| Apr 09, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 129-94 |
1970 Conference Championship vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the 1970 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers reached the Western Division Finals, showcasing the prowess of their star duo, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. They faced the Atlanta Hawks and emerged victorious in a hard-fought series, winning 4-0 to secure their place in the NBA Finals. Despite their strong performance in the conference finals, the Lakers ultimately fell to the New York Knicks in a historic seven-game championship series.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 119-115 | |
| Apr 14, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 105-94 | |
| Apr 17, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 115-114 | |
| Apr 19, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 133-114 |
1970 NBA Finals vs. New York Knicks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 124-112 | |
| Apr 27, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | W 105-103 | |
| Apr 29, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | L 111-108 | |
| May 01, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 121-115 | |
| May 04, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 107-100 | |
| May 06, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 135-113 | |
| May 08, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 113-99 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1969-70 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1969-70 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 131-126 | |
| Oct 18, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | L 99-96 | |
| Oct 21, 1969 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 142-137 | |
| Oct 22, 1969 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 116-109 | |
| Oct 24, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 123-112 | |
| Oct 25, 1969 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 130-106 | |
| Oct 26, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 129-125 | |
| Nov 02, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 124-116 | |
| Nov 07, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 122-120 | |
| Nov 09, 1969 | vs. New York Knicks | L 112-102 | |
| Nov 11, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 110-102 | |
| Nov 14, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 127-112 | |
| Nov 15, 1969 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 114-111 | |
| Nov 16, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 138-125 | |
| Nov 18, 1969 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 125-114 | |
| Nov 19, 1969 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 116-103 | |
| Nov 21, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 100-98 | |
| Nov 22, 1969 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 106-98 | |
| Nov 23, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 129-97 | |
| Nov 25, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | L 103-96 | |
| Nov 26, 1969 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-81 | |
| Nov 28, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 114-108 | |
| Nov 30, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 116-114 | |
| Dec 04, 1969 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 119-109 | |
| Dec 05, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 128-109 | |
| Dec 06, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 128-115 | |
| Dec 07, 1969 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 104-103 | |
| Dec 09, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 123-99 | |
| Dec 10, 1969 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-99 | |
| Dec 12, 1969 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 121-107 | |
| Dec 14, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 131-127 | |
| Dec 19, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 117-109 | |
| Dec 21, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 133-117 | |
| Dec 23, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 115-109 | |
| Dec 26, 1969 | vs. New York Knicks | W 114-106 | |
| Dec 28, 1969 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-99 | |
| Dec 30, 1969 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 105-100 | |
| Jan 02, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 125-95 | |
| Jan 03, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-109 | |
| Jan 04, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 120-112 | |
| Jan 06, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 105-100 | |
| Jan 09, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 127-112 | |
| Jan 10, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-112 | |
| Jan 14, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-113 | |
| Jan 16, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | W 108-103 | |
| Jan 18, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 106-100 | |
| Jan 22, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 122-108 | |
| Jan 23, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-100 | |
| Jan 24, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-121 | |
| Jan 25, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-106 | |
| Jan 27, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 124-109 | |
| Jan 28, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 113-108 | |
| Jan 30, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 102-87 | |
| Feb 01, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-112 | |
| Feb 03, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 124-114 | |
| Feb 04, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 125-109 | |
| Feb 06, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 118-105 | |
| Feb 07, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 121-117 | |
| Feb 08, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 125-113 | |
| Feb 10, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 111-106 | |
| Feb 11, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 125-115 | |
| Feb 12, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 136-114 | |
| Feb 14, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-113 | |
| Feb 15, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 98-96 | |
| Feb 17, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 114-93 | |
| Feb 18, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 117-103 | |
| Feb 20, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-114 | |
| Feb 21, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 121-106 | |
| Feb 22, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 108-96 | |
| Feb 24, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 118-106 | |
| Feb 27, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 111-101 | |
| Mar 01, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | W 120-114 | |
| Mar 03, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 101-93 | |
| Mar 04, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 94-91 | |
| Mar 06, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 105-100 | |
| Mar 08, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 144-116 | |
| Mar 10, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 106-104 | |
| Mar 13, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 128-117 | |
| Mar 15, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 106-101 | |
| Mar 18, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 137-122 | |
| Mar 20, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-111 | |
| Mar 22, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-118 |
