The 1958-59 Los Angeles Lakers season marked a pivotal time in the franchise’s history. It was the team’s final season in Minneapolis before relocating to Los Angeles. The Lakers, led by head coach John Kundla, finished the regular season with a 33-39 record. Despite the losing record, they managed to secure a playoff spot, finishing fourth in the Western Division.
A significant highlight of the season was the performance of rookie Elgin Baylor. Baylor, the first overall pick in the 1958 NBA Draft, made an immediate impact, averaging 24.9 points and 15 rebounds per game. His impressive play earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award and an All-Star selection, providing the Lakers with a cornerstone talent for their upcoming transition to Los Angeles.
In the playoffs, the Lakers demonstrated resilience and potential by defeating the Detroit Pistons in the Western Division Semifinals. They advanced to the Western Division Finals, where they faced the St. Louis Hawks. The Lakers emerged victorious in a tightly contested series, advancing to the NBA Finals.
The NBA Finals saw the Lakers face the Boston Celtics, the beginning of what would become a historic rivalry. Despite a valiant effort, the Lakers were swept by the Celtics in four games. The season, however, laid the groundwork for future success, with Baylor’s arrival signaling a new era for the franchise as they prepared for their move to Los Angeles in the following season.
- Regular Season Record: 33-39
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-1, Division Finals: 4-2, NBA Finals: 0-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1958-59 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Elgin Baylor | 70 | 24.7 | 11.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 25.5 | 10.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vern Mikkelsen | 72 | 13.9 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 15.5 | 5.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Garmaker | 72 | 13.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 14.5 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Foust | 72 | 12.3 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 11.8 | 7.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hot Rod Hundley | 72 | 9.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Slick Leonard | 59 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 12.2 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Krebs | 72 | 8.8 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 7.2 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed Fleming | 71 | 6.5 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Boo Ellis | 72 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13 | 6.8 | 4.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Hamilton | 67 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1959 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Minneapolis Lakers
In the 1959 NBA Playoffs, the Minneapolis Lakers, who would later become the Los Angeles Lakers, reached the Western Division Finals, which is now considered the second round. Despite their efforts, they were overpowered by the St. Louis Hawks, who defeated them in a four-game sweep. The series highlighted the Lakers' need for more depth and experience, which they would address in the coming years as they transitioned to Los Angeles.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14, 1959 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 92-89 | |
| Mar 15, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-103 | |
| Mar 18, 1959 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 129-102 |
1959 Conference Championship vs. St. Louis Hawks
In the 1959 NBA Playoffs, the Minneapolis Lakers, who would later become the Los Angeles Lakers, reached the Western Division Finals before being defeated by the St. Louis Hawks. Despite their efforts, the Lakers were overwhelmed by the Hawks' formidable roster, led by Bob Pettit, ultimately losing the series 4-2. This marked the end of the Lakers' playoff run that year, as they continued to build toward future successes.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 124-90 | |
| Mar 22, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 106-98 | |
| Mar 24, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 127-97 | |
| Mar 26, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 108-98 | |
| Mar 28, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 98-97 | |
| Mar 29, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 106-104 |
1959 NBA Finals vs. Boston Celtics
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 04, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-115 | |
| Apr 05, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-108 | |
| Apr 07, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 123-110 | |
| Apr 09, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 118-113 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1958-59 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1958-59 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 1958 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 99-79 | |
| Oct 25, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 110-94 | |
| Oct 26, 1958 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-100 | |
| Oct 29, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 112-100 | |
| Nov 01, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 108-101 | |
| Nov 06, 1958 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 103-101 | |
| Nov 08, 1958 | vs. New York Knicks | W 108-100 | |
| Nov 09, 1958 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 101-97 | |
| Nov 11, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 116-113 | |
| Nov 13, 1958 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 119-110 | |
| Nov 15, 1958 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 106-101 | |
| Nov 16, 1958 | @ New York Knicks | L 98-90 | |
| Nov 20, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 121-102 | |
| Nov 22, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 114-109 | |
| Nov 23, 1958 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 124-109 | |
| Nov 24, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-104 | |
| Nov 25, 1958 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 98-90 | |
| Nov 28, 1958 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 114-93 | |
| Nov 29, 1958 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 108-105 | |
| Nov 30, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 84-77 | |
| Dec 06, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 132-128 | |
| Dec 09, 1958 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-97 | |
| Dec 11, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 101-99 | |
| Dec 14, 1958 | vs. New York Knicks | W 100-99 | |
| Dec 18, 1958 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 113-104 | |
| Dec 20, 1958 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 99-88 | |
| Dec 25, 1958 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 98-97 | |
| Dec 26, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-99 | |
| Dec 27, 1958 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-94 | |
| Dec 28, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 120-116 | |
| Dec 29, 1958 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 95-93 | |
| Dec 30, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 118-113 | |
| Jan 01, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 106-105 | |
| Jan 02, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | L 107-97 | |
| Jan 04, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 111-95 | |
| Jan 05, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-106 | |
| Jan 06, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 112-95 | |
| Jan 07, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 89-78 | |
| Jan 08, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 95-93 | |
| Jan 11, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-106 | |
| Jan 12, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-108 | |
| Jan 13, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 110-95 | |
| Jan 15, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 111-105 | |
| Jan 16, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 95-91 | |
| Jan 18, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 119-98 | |
| Jan 25, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 125-111 | |
| Jan 28, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 112-109 | |
| Jan 29, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 117-91 | |
| Jan 30, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 88-86 | |
| Jan 31, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 120-96 | |
| Feb 07, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 109-97 | |
| Feb 08, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 115-103 | |
| Feb 09, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | L 128-122 | |
| Feb 10, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 118-100 | |
| Feb 11, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 106-105 | |
| Feb 12, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 119-114 | |
| Feb 14, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 139-96 | |
| Feb 15, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 109-98 | |
| Feb 17, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 97-90 | |
| Feb 18, 1959 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 105-95 | |
| Feb 20, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | L 116-106 | |
| Feb 22, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 120-106 | |
| Feb 25, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 116-96 | |
| Feb 27, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 173-139 | |
| Feb 28, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-107 | |
| Mar 01, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 100-98 | |
| Mar 03, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-112 | |
| Mar 04, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 128-122 | |
| Mar 05, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | L 135-115 | |
| Mar 06, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 99-98 | |
| Mar 08, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 120-104 | |
| Mar 11, 1959 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-118 |