The 1952-53 season was a pivotal one for the Minneapolis Lakers, who later became the Los Angeles Lakers. Under the leadership of head coach John Kundla, the Lakers were a dominant force in the NBA. The team was led by center George Mikan, who was a towering presence on the court and played a crucial role in their success. Mikan was supported by talented teammates such as forward Jim Pollard and guard Slater Martin, creating a formidable lineup.
During the regular season, the Lakers secured the top spot in the Western Division with a record of 48-22. Their impressive performance allowed them to advance to the playoffs, where they continued to showcase their dominance. In the Western Division Finals, they faced the Fort Wayne Pistons and emerged victorious, securing their spot in the NBA Finals.
In the Finals, the Lakers met the New York Knicks in a hard-fought series. The Lakers ultimately triumphed, winning the championship in five games. This victory marked the Lakers’ second consecutive NBA championship and the fourth in the franchise’s history. George Mikan’s outstanding play was instrumental in their success, further cementing his legacy as one of the game’s early greats.
The 1952-53 season solidified the Lakers’ status as an NBA powerhouse and set the stage for future success. Their achievements during this period remain a significant part of the Lakers’ storied history.
- Regular Season Record: 48-22
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-0, Division Finals: 3-2, NBA Finals: 4-1
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1952-53 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| George Mikan | 70 | 20.6 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 19.8 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vern Mikkelsen | 70 | 14.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 12.0 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Pollard | 66 | 13.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 14.3 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Slater Martin | 70 | 10.6 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 10.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pep Saul | 70 | 7.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 7.2 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Harrison | 70 | 7.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Holstein | 66 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Whitey Skoog | 67 | 3.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 5.8 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lew Hitch | 70 | 3.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Schnittker | 3 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Howie Schultz | 40 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1953 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Minneapolis Lakers
In the 1953 NBA Playoffs, the Minneapolis Lakers, who would later become the Los Angeles Lakers, showcased their dominance in the Western Division Finals by defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons 3-0 in a best-of-five series. Led by the legendary George Mikan, the Lakers exhibited their championship pedigree, which ultimately propelled them to secure their fourth NBA title by the end of the playoffs. Mikan's scoring prowess and the team's cohesive play were instrumental in their sweep, underlining their status as a powerhouse of the era.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 1953 | vs. Indianapolis Olympians | L 85-69 | |
| Mar 23, 1953 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | W 81-79 |
1953 Conference Championship vs. Minneapolis Lakers
In the 1953 NBA Playoffs, the Minneapolis Lakers, who later became the Los Angeles Lakers, showcased their dominance by advancing to the Western Division Finals. They faced the Fort Wayne Pistons in a best-of-three series, decisively winning 2-0 to secure their spot in the NBA Finals. This successful run highlighted the Lakers' continued excellence under the leadership of legendary coach John Kundla and star center George Mikan.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 1953 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 83-73 | |
| Mar 28, 1953 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 82-75 | |
| Mar 30, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 98-95 | |
| Apr 01, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 85-82 | |
| Apr 02, 1953 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 74-58 |
1953 NBA Finals vs. Minneapolis Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 04, 1953 | vs. New York Knicks | W 96-88 | |
| Apr 05, 1953 | vs. New York Knicks | L 73-71 | |
| Apr 07, 1953 | @ New York Knicks | W 90-75 | |
| Apr 08, 1953 | @ New York Knicks | W 71-69 | |
| Apr 10, 1953 | @ New York Knicks | W 91-84 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1952-53 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1952-53 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1952 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 94-91 | |
| Nov 02, 1952 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 81-69 | |
| Nov 05, 1952 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 97-75 | |
| Nov 08, 1952 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 93-71 | |
| Nov 09, 1952 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 96-89 | |
| Nov 11, 1952 | @ Boston Celtics | W 101-92 | |
| Nov 13, 1952 | @ New York Knicks | L 100-91 | |
| Nov 15, 1952 | @ Rochester Royals | L 97-89 | |
| Nov 16, 1952 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | L 87-51 | |
| Nov 20, 1952 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 89-81 | |
| Nov 22, 1952 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 96-89 | |
| Nov 23, 1952 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 62-46 | |
| Nov 27, 1952 | vs. Indianapolis Olympians | L 90-69 | |
| Nov 28, 1952 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | W 97-82 | |
| Nov 29, 1952 | @ Rochester Royals | L 83-71 | |
| Nov 30, 1952 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 91-66 | |
| Dec 01, 1952 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 89-67 | |
| Dec 03, 1952 | @ Boston Celtics | W 106-102 | |
| Dec 04, 1952 | @ New York Knicks | W 81-71 | |
| Dec 06, 1952 | vs. New York Knicks | L 85-78 | |
| Dec 08, 1952 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | L 81-76 | |
| Dec 11, 1952 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 82-79 | |
| Dec 14, 1952 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 95-77 | |
| Dec 19, 1952 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | W 87-69 | |
| Dec 20, 1952 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | L 86-75 | |
| Dec 25, 1952 | vs. Indianapolis Olympians | L 90-73 | |
| Dec 27, 1952 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 94-71 | |
| Dec 28, 1952 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | L 86-77 | |
| Dec 30, 1952 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | L 74-69 | |
| Dec 31, 1952 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 82-56 | |
| Jan 02, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 74-66 | |
| Jan 03, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 79-75 | |
| Jan 04, 1953 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 83-80 | |
| Jan 06, 1953 | vs. Rochester Royals | W 85-69 | |
| Jan 08, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 75-67 | |
| Jan 10, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 84-79 | |
| Jan 11, 1953 | vs. New York Knicks | L 85-79 | |
| Jan 14, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 112-104 | |
| Jan 17, 1953 | @ Rochester Royals | L 109-101 | |
| Jan 18, 1953 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | W 83-70 | |
| Jan 23, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | L 67-65 | |
| Jan 25, 1953 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 87-82 | |
| Jan 27, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 96-76 | |
| Jan 29, 1953 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 83-65 | |
| Jan 31, 1953 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 87-80 | |
| Feb 01, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 92-76 | |
| Feb 03, 1953 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | L 96-93 | |
| Feb 05, 1953 | vs. New York Knicks | L 81-73 | |
| Feb 07, 1953 | @ Rochester Royals | L 87-72 | |
| Feb 08, 1953 | vs. Indianapolis Olympians | L 71-67 | |
| Feb 12, 1953 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 91-81 | |
| Feb 14, 1953 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 92-84 | |
| Feb 15, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 80-71 | |
| Feb 17, 1953 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 74-70 | |
| Feb 19, 1953 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 107-87 | |
| Feb 21, 1953 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 85-75 | |
| Feb 22, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 90-78 | |
| Feb 24, 1953 | @ New York Knicks | L 79-63 | |
| Feb 25, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 85-72 | |
| Feb 26, 1953 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 85-73 | |
| Feb 27, 1953 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 98-75 | |
| Mar 01, 1953 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 102-80 | |
| Mar 03, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 86-68 | |
| Mar 05, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 94-91 | |
| Mar 06, 1953 | @ Boston Celtics | L 100-85 | |
| Mar 07, 1953 | @ Rochester Royals | L 84-82 | |
| Mar 08, 1953 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | L 100-73 | |
| Mar 09, 1953 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | L 95-83 | |
| Mar 12, 1953 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 89-77 | |
| Mar 17, 1953 | @ Indianapolis Olympians | W 73-71 |