The 1949-50 season marked a pivotal chapter in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers, who were known as the Minneapolis Lakers at the time. This season was significant as it was the inaugural season of the newly formed National Basketball Association (NBA), following the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL). The Lakers were entering the NBA as defending champions, having won the 1949 BAA title.
Coached by John Kundla, the Lakers boasted a formidable lineup, spearheaded by center George Mikan, who was widely regarded as the league’s first superstar. Mikan’s dominance on the court was a key factor in the Lakers’ success, as he led the team in scoring and rebounding. The Lakers finished the regular season with a 51-17 record, securing the top spot in the Western Division.
In the playoffs, the Lakers demonstrated their prowess by defeating the Chicago Stags and the Fort Wayne Pistons to reach the NBA Finals. They faced the Syracuse Nationals in the championship series. The Lakers’ experience and depth proved too much for Syracuse, as they clinched the series 4-2 to win their second consecutive title. Mikan’s performance throughout the playoffs solidified his status as the league’s preeminent player. This season set the foundation for the Lakers’ storied legacy in professional basketball.
- Regular Season Record: 51-17
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-0, Division Finals: 2-0, NBA Semifinals: 2-0, NBA Finals: 4-2
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1949-50 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| George Mikan | 71 | 27.6 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 31.8 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Pollard | 69 | 14.5 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 12.5 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vern Mikkelsen | 71 | 11.8 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 12.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Arnie Ferrin | 66 | 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 6.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Herm Schaefer | 68 | 5.2 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Carlson | 58 | 4.7 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Harrison | 69 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Slater Martin | 70 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Jaros | 62 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Walther | 22 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Gene Stump | 23 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bud Grant | 35 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy Hassett | 44 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Normie Glick | 1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1950 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Minneapolis Lakers
In the 1950 NBA Playoffs' second round, the Minneapolis Lakers, who later became the Los Angeles Lakers, faced off against the Anderson Packers. The Lakers, led by the legendary George Mikan, showcased their dominance by defeating the Packers in a best-of-three series, advancing to the NBA Finals. Mikan's scoring prowess and the Lakers' robust defense were pivotal in securing their spot in the championship round, where they ultimately clinched the title.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 1950 | vs. Chicago Stags | L 85-75 | |
| Mar 25, 1950 | @ Chicago Stags | W 75-67 |
1950 Conference Championship vs. Minneapolis Lakers
In the 1950 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by star center George Mikan, advanced to the Western Division Finals, showcasing their dominance in the league's early years. They faced the Anderson Packers and emerged victorious, showcasing their strong defense and Mikan's scoring prowess. This win propelled them to the NBA Finals, where they ultimately secured their first championship title.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 1950 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 93-79 | |
| Mar 28, 1950 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 89-82 |
1950 NBA Finals vs. Syracuse Nationals
In the 1950 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by the legendary George Mikan, secured their first championship in franchise history by defeating the Syracuse Nationals. The Lakers' dominant performance, highlighted by Mikan's scoring prowess and defensive strength, set the foundation for their future success in the league. This victory marked the beginning of the Lakers' storied legacy in professional basketball.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 08, 1950 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 68-66 | |
| Apr 09, 1950 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 91-85 | |
| Apr 14, 1950 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 91-77 | |
| Apr 16, 1950 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 77-69 | |
| Apr 20, 1950 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 83-76 | |
| Apr 23, 1950 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 110-95 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1949-50 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1949-50 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 1949 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 81-69 | |
| Nov 05, 1949 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 92-77 | |
| Nov 08, 1949 | @ Washington Capitols | W 68-66 | |
| Nov 10, 1949 | @ Boston Celtics | W 98-84 | |
| Nov 12, 1949 | @ Chicago Stags | L 86-79 | |
| Nov 16, 1949 | vs. St. Louis Bombers | L 94-71 | |
| Nov 17, 1949 | @ St. Louis Bombers | L 78-65 | |
| Nov 19, 1949 | @ Anderson Packers | L 83-80 | |
| Nov 20, 1949 | vs. Indianapolis Olympians | L 121-95 | |
| Nov 23, 1949 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 84-71 | |
| Nov 25, 1949 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 101-81 | |
| Nov 27, 1949 | vs. Chicago Stags | W 96-82 | |
| Nov 30, 1949 | vs. New York Knicks | L 102-92 | |
| Dec 01, 1949 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | L 86-68 | |
| Dec 03, 1949 | @ Chicago Stags | W 91-80 | |
| Dec 04, 1949 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 95-80 | |
| Dec 07, 1949 | vs. Washington Capitols | L 93-76 | |
| Dec 08, 1949 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 87-66 | |
| Dec 10, 1949 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 89-76 | |
| Dec 11, 1949 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 90-81 | |
| Dec 14, 1949 | @ New York Knicks | L 94-84 | |
| Dec 15, 1949 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 87-68 | |
| Dec 18, 1949 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 77-72 | |
| Dec 20, 1949 | @ Rochester Royals | L 87-62 | |
| Dec 21, 1949 | @ Washington Capitols | W 75-61 | |
| Dec 22, 1949 | @ Boston Celtics | L 87-69 | |
| Dec 25, 1949 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 72-58 | |
| Dec 26, 1949 | @ Tri-Cities Blackhawks | W 78-76 | |
| Dec 28, 1949 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 88-77 | |
| Dec 31, 1949 | @ Waterloo Hawks | W 86-68 | |
| Jan 01, 1950 | vs. Anderson Packers | L 87-75 | |
| Jan 04, 1950 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 91-75 | |
| Jan 05, 1950 | @ Sheboygan Red Skins | L 85-82 | |
| Jan 08, 1950 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 85-80 | |
| Jan 11, 1950 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 98-88 | |
| Jan 12, 1950 | @ St. Louis Bombers | W 89-73 | |
| Jan 14, 1950 | @ Rochester Royals | L 83-77 | |
| Jan 15, 1950 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 85-73 | |
| Jan 17, 1950 | @ Boston Celtics | W 105-79 | |
| Jan 18, 1950 | @ Washington Capitols | W 76-68 | |
| Jan 19, 1950 | @ New York Knicks | W 94-83 | |
| Jan 20, 1950 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 90-89 | |
| Jan 22, 1950 | vs. Chicago Stags | L 103-75 | |
| Jan 24, 1950 | @ Chicago Stags | W 80-68 | |
| Jan 25, 1950 | vs. St. Louis Bombers | L 85-78 | |
| Jan 29, 1950 | vs. Washington Capitols | L 88-60 | |
| Feb 01, 1950 | vs. New York Knicks | L 96-81 | |
| Feb 02, 1950 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 79-78 | |
| Feb 05, 1950 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 100-67 | |
| Feb 09, 1950 | vs. Washington Capitols | L 71-59 | |
| Feb 12, 1950 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 88-70 | |
| Feb 15, 1950 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 92-70 | |
| Feb 16, 1950 | @ St. Louis Bombers | W 72-71 | |
| Feb 17, 1950 | vs. Waterloo Hawks | L 80-74 | |
| Feb 19, 1950 | vs. Chicago Stags | L 96-83 | |
| Feb 22, 1950 | vs. St. Louis Bombers | L 100-57 | |
| Feb 25, 1950 | @ Rochester Royals | L 66-64 | |
| Feb 26, 1950 | vs. Tri-Cities Blackhawks | L 80-66 | |
| Feb 28, 1950 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 71-65 | |
| Mar 02, 1950 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 88-68 | |
| Mar 03, 1950 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 66-61 | |
| Mar 04, 1950 | @ New York Knicks | W 84-75 | |
| Mar 05, 1950 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 84-75 | |
| Mar 07, 1950 | vs. Sheboygan Red Skins | L 90-73 | |
| Mar 08, 1950 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 68-65 | |
| Mar 12, 1950 | vs. New York Knicks | L 87-66 | |
| Mar 15, 1950 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 96-62 | |
| Mar 19, 1950 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 69-67 | |
| Mar 21, 1950 | @ Rochester Royals | W 78-76 | |
| Apr 05, 1950 | vs. Anderson Packers | L 75-50 | |
| Apr 06, 1950 | @ Anderson Packers | W 90-71 |