The 1953-54 Los Angeles Lakers season marked another impressive campaign for the franchise, which was still based in Minneapolis at the time. Under the leadership of head coach John Kundla, the Lakers continued their dominance in the NBA, building on their reputation as a formidable team.
During the regular season, the Lakers finished with a strong record of 46-26. Their success was largely attributed to the outstanding performance of their star player, George Mikan, who was a dominant force in the league. Mikan’s presence in the paint and scoring ability made him a crucial component of the team’s success. Alongside Mikan, Jim Pollard and Vern Mikkelsen played pivotal roles, contributing significantly on both ends of the court.
In the playoffs, the Lakers maintained their high level of play. They advanced through the Western Division playoffs, defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons in the Division Finals. The Lakers then faced the Syracuse Nationals in the NBA Finals. It was a hard-fought series, but the Lakers emerged victorious, winning the championship in a tight seven-game series. This victory secured the Lakers’ fifth NBA title, further solidifying their status as a powerhouse in the league during the early 1950s.
The 1953-54 season was the last championship for the Lakers in Minneapolis before the team relocated to Los Angeles in 1960. The success of this season remains a significant part of the franchise’s storied history.
- Regular Season Record: 46-26
- Playoff Result: Division Round-Robin: 1-0, Division Round-Robin: 2-0, Division Finals: 2-1, NBA Finals: 4-3
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1953-54 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| George Mikan | 75 | 18.2 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 18.9 | 9.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Pollard | 74 | 11.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 11.7 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vern Mikkelsen | 75 | 11.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 10.4 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Slater Martin | 72 | 10.0 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 8.8 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Clyde Lovellette | 75 | 8.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 9.9 | 5.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Whitey Skoog | 74 | 7.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pep Saul | 74 | 6.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Schnittker | 74 | 4.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Harrison | 40 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jim Holstein | 73 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Fritsche | 2 | 0.5 | 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 1954 NBA Playoffs
1954 Conference Championship vs. Minneapolis Lakers
In the 1954 NBA Playoffs, the Minneapolis Lakers, who later became the Los Angeles Lakers, advanced to the Western Division Finals, where they faced the Rochester Royals. The Lakers, led by the legendary George Mikan, displayed their dominance by defeating the Royals in a best-of-three series, ultimately propelling them to the NBA Finals. This victory was part of their impressive run that culminated in winning their fifth NBA Championship, cementing their status as a powerhouse in the league's early years.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 89-76 | |
| Mar 27, 1954 | @ Rochester Royals | L 74-73 | |
| Mar 28, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 82-72 |
1954 NBA Finals vs. Minneapolis Lakers
In the 1954 NBA Finals, the Minneapolis Lakers, led by legendary center George Mikan, clinched their fifth championship by defeating the Syracuse Nationals in a grueling seven-game series. The Lakers' victory marked the end of an era for Mikan, who was instrumental in establishing the early dominance of the franchise. This triumph solidified the Lakers' legacy as the first true dynasty in NBA history.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1954 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 79-68 | |
| Apr 03, 1954 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 62-60 | |
| Apr 04, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 81-67 | |
| Apr 08, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 80-69 | |
| Apr 10, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 84-73 | |
| Apr 11, 1954 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 65-63 | |
| Apr 12, 1954 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 87-80 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1953-54 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1953-54 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | L 69-59 | |
| Oct 31, 1953 | @ New York Knicks | L 91-67 | |
| Nov 01, 1953 | @ Boston Celtics | W 84-79 | |
| Nov 04, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 77-75 | |
| Nov 05, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 77-65 | |
| Nov 07, 1953 | vs. New York Knicks | L 70-62 | |
| Nov 10, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 78-62 | |
| Nov 13, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 92-84 | |
| Nov 14, 1953 | @ Rochester Royals | L 98-91 | |
| Nov 15, 1953 | @ Boston Celtics | W 89-74 | |
| Nov 17, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 83-66 | |
| Nov 19, 1953 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 107-79 | |
| Nov 21, 1953 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 76-70 | |
| Nov 22, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 57-55 | |
| Nov 26, 1953 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 88-80 | |
| Nov 29, 1953 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 95-82 | |
| Dec 03, 1953 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 87-74 | |
| Dec 05, 1953 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 90-80 | |
| Dec 12, 1953 | vs. New York Knicks | L 71-67 | |
| Dec 13, 1953 | vs. Rochester Royals | W 87-70 | |
| Dec 15, 1953 | @ New York Knicks | L 80-79 | |
| Dec 16, 1953 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 69-63 | |
| Dec 17, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 75-64 | |
| Dec 19, 1953 | @ Rochester Royals | W 91-78 | |
| Dec 20, 1953 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 81-76 | |
| Dec 25, 1953 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 88-78 | |
| Dec 26, 1953 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 77-71 | |
| Dec 27, 1953 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 79-75 | |
| Dec 30, 1953 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | W 97-80 | |
| Jan 02, 1954 | vs. New York Knicks | L 78-74 | |
| Jan 04, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | W 85-84 | |
| Jan 07, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 89-71 | |
| Jan 09, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 78-67 | |
| Jan 10, 1954 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 99-85 | |
| Jan 13, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | L 88-84 | |
| Jan 14, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 96-71 | |
| Jan 16, 1954 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | W 64-58 | |
| Jan 17, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 86-83 | |
| Jan 18, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 91-72 | |
| Jan 23, 1954 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 75-72 | |
| Jan 26, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | W 84-69 | |
| Jan 27, 1954 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 76-73 | |
| Jan 28, 1954 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 104-82 | |
| Jan 30, 1954 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | L 80-64 | |
| Jan 31, 1954 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 82-67 | |
| Feb 02, 1954 | @ Rochester Royals | W 87-78 | |
| Feb 03, 1954 | vs. New York Knicks | L 91-79 | |
| Feb 04, 1954 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 82-70 | |
| Feb 06, 1954 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 97-94 | |
| Feb 07, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 90-83 | |
| Feb 08, 1954 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 106-91 | |
| Feb 09, 1954 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 70-67 | |
| Feb 11, 1954 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 110-82 | |
| Feb 12, 1954 | @ Milwaukee Hawks | L 71-62 | |
| Feb 13, 1954 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 86-77 | |
| Feb 14, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 105-77 | |
| Feb 16, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 85-79 | |
| Feb 18, 1954 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 105-92 | |
| Feb 20, 1954 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 83-68 | |
| Feb 21, 1954 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 100-73 | |
| Feb 22, 1954 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 79-72 | |
| Feb 23, 1954 | @ New York Knicks | W 100-82 | |
| Feb 25, 1954 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 81-72 | |
| Feb 27, 1954 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 95-85 | |
| Feb 28, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | L 94-77 | |
| Mar 02, 1954 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 91-87 | |
| Mar 05, 1954 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-106 | |
| Mar 06, 1954 | @ Rochester Royals | L 74-59 | |
| Mar 07, 1954 | vs. Milwaukee Hawks | L 65-63 | |
| Mar 09, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | W 70-61 | |
| Mar 10, 1954 | vs. New York Knicks | W 85-76 | |
| Mar 13, 1954 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 93-66 | |
| Mar 17, 1954 | vs. Rochester Royals | L 109-88 | |
| Mar 18, 1954 | @ Fort Wayne Pistons | W 90-85 | |
| Mar 20, 1954 | vs. Fort Wayne Pistons | L 78-73 |