The 1954-55 Los Angeles Lakers season was a transitional period for the franchise. Coming off a successful run in the early 1950s, where they captured multiple championships, the Lakers entered this season without their legendary center, George Mikan, who had retired. The absence of Mikan marked a significant shift in the team’s dynamics and performance.
Under the leadership of head coach John Kundla, the Lakers finished the regular season with a record of 40 wins and 32 losses. This performance placed them second in the Western Division. The Lakers struggled to maintain the dominance they once had, as the team adjusted to a new style of play without their towering center. The roster still featured notable players such as Jim Pollard and Vern Mikkelsen, who attempted to fill the void left by Mikan.
In the postseason, the Lakers faced the Fort Wayne Pistons in the Western Division Finals. The series was fiercely contested but ultimately ended in disappointment for Los Angeles, as they were defeated 3-1 by the Pistons. This loss highlighted the challenges the team faced in adapting to the changes in their lineup and the evolving competitive landscape of the league.
Overall, the 1954-55 season was a period of adjustment for the Lakers. It marked the beginning of a new era, as they sought to rebuild and re-establish themselves as a championship contender in the post-Mikan years.
- Regular Season Record: 40-32
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-1, Division Finals: 1-3
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1954-55 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Clyde Lovellette | 70 | 18.7 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vern Mikkelsen | 72 | 18.4 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 13.7 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Slater Martin | 72 | 13.5 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 13.7 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Whitey Skoog | 72 | 10.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 13.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Pollard | 63 | 10.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 14.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Schnittker | 72 | 10.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 7.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lew Hitch | 17 | 5.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 7.9 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed Kalafat | 72 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Holstein | 63 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 5.7 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Carney | 19 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bobby Watson | 51 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Don Sunderlage | 45 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1955 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Minneapolis Lakers
In the 1955 NBA Playoffs, the Minneapolis Lakers, who later became the Los Angeles Lakers, faced a challenging second-round series against the Fort Wayne Pistons. They were unable to advance as the Pistons defeated them, showcasing the Lakers' struggles during the mid-1950s despite their earlier championship successes. This marked a period of transition for the team, which would later regain prominence.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 1955 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 82-78 | |
| Mar 18, 1955 | @ Rochester Royals | L 94-92 | |
| Mar 19, 1955 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 119-110 |
1955 Conference Championship vs. Fort Wayne Pistons
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 1955 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 96-79 | |
| Mar 22, 1955 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 98-97 | |
| Mar 23, 1955 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 99-91 | |
| Mar 27, 1955 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | W 105-96 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1954-55 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1954-55 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1954 | @ New York Knicks | L 94-83 | |
| Oct 31, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 97-94 | |
| Nov 06, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 79-67 | |
| Nov 07, 1954 | vs. New York Knicks | W 103-93 | |
| Nov 14, 1954 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 99-92 | |
| Nov 25, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 95-84 | |
| Nov 27, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 97-81 | |
| Nov 28, 1954 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 115-108 | |
| Nov 30, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 92-90 | |
| Dec 01, 1954 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 91-88 | |
| Dec 02, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | L 117-108 | |
| Dec 04, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | L 95-88 | |
| Dec 05, 1954 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | L 104-102 | |
| Dec 07, 1954 | @ New York Knicks | L 97-89 | |
| Dec 08, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | W 101-99 | |
| Dec 11, 1954 | @ Rochester Royals | W 91-83 | |
| Dec 12, 1954 | vs. New York Knicks | L 80-73 | |
| Dec 14, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-108 | |
| Dec 15, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | W 99-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1954 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 86-83 | |
| Dec 19, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 108-93 | |
| Dec 25, 1954 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 99-91 | |
| Dec 26, 1954 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 87-82 | |
| Dec 29, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | W 129-118 | |
| Dec 30, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 93-76 | |
| Dec 31, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 103-91 | |
| Jan 02, 1955 | vs. Rochester Royals | W 102-100 | |
| Jan 03, 1955 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 76-74 | |
| Jan 04, 1955 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 93-92 | |
| Jan 05, 1955 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 106-85 | |
| Jan 06, 1955 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 117-106 | |
| Jan 08, 1955 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 100-97 | |
| Jan 09, 1955 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 89-86 | |
| Jan 11, 1955 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 93-82 | |
| Jan 12, 1955 | @ Rochester Royals | W 102-88 | |
| Jan 13, 1955 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 102-96 | |
| Jan 14, 1955 | @ Boston Celtics | L 100-95 | |
| Jan 15, 1955 | @ Rochester Royals | L 93-90 | |
| Jan 16, 1955 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 106-98 | |
| Jan 19, 1955 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 95-81 | |
| Jan 20, 1955 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 97-90 | |
| Jan 21, 1955 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 100-92 | |
| Jan 23, 1955 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | L 82-79 | |
| Jan 27, 1955 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | L 85-79 | |
| Jan 29, 1955 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 100-91 | |
| Jan 30, 1955 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 99-92 | |
| Feb 02, 1955 | vs. New York Knicks | L 96-81 | |
| Feb 03, 1955 | vs. New York Knicks | L 90-83 | |
| Feb 05, 1955 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 103-87 | |
| Feb 06, 1955 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | W 101-99 | |
| Feb 08, 1955 | @ New York Knicks | L 98-95 | |
| Feb 09, 1955 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-112 | |
| Feb 10, 1955 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 85-81 | |
| Feb 12, 1955 | @ Rochester Royals | W 96-95 | |
| Feb 13, 1955 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 103-93 | |
| Feb 19, 1955 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 98-92 | |
| Feb 20, 1955 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 105-92 | |
| Feb 21, 1955 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 112-110 | |
| Feb 23, 1955 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 120-97 | |
| Feb 24, 1955 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 112-98 | |
| Feb 25, 1955 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-104 | |
| Feb 26, 1955 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | W 90-89 | |
| Feb 27, 1955 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 93-84 | |
| Feb 28, 1955 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 90-88 | |
| Mar 03, 1955 | vs. Rochester Royals | W 83-76 | |
| Mar 04, 1955 | @ Boston Celtics | W 121-106 | |
| Mar 05, 1955 | @ Rochester Royals | W 107-104 | |
| Mar 06, 1955 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | W 100-98 | |
| Mar 07, 1955 | vs. New York Knicks | L 97-96 | |
| Mar 09, 1955 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 102-89 | |
| Mar 10, 1955 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 96-93 | |
| Mar 12, 1955 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 86-78 |