The 1959-60 Los Angeles Lakers season marked the franchise’s final year in Minneapolis before relocating to Los Angeles. The team, coached by John Kundla, played their games at the Minneapolis Auditorium. They ended the regular season with a record of 25 wins and 50 losses, placing them third in the Western Division of the NBA.
Despite their subpar regular season performance, the Lakers managed to secure a spot in the playoffs. The standout player for the team was rookie Elgin Baylor, who made an immediate impact and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. Baylor’s exceptional scoring and rebounding abilities became a cornerstone for the team, averaging 24.9 points and 15 rebounds per game throughout the season.
In the playoffs, the Lakers faced the Detroit Pistons in the Western Division Semifinals. The series was a best-of-three contest, and the Lakers emerged victorious, winning two games to none. This success advanced them to the Division Finals, where they faced the St. Louis Hawks. However, the Lakers were unable to overcome the Hawks, losing the series four games to three in a hard-fought seven-game series.
The 1959-60 season was pivotal for the Lakers, as it set the stage for their move to Los Angeles and the subsequent transformation into one of the NBA’s most storied franchises. Elgin Baylor’s emergence as a superstar laid the foundation for future successes in their new home.
- Regular Season Record: 25-50
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-0, Division Finals: 3-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1959-60 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Elgin Baylor | 70 | 29.6 | 14.9 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 33.4 | 10.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rudy LaRusso | 71 | 13.7 | 5.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 15.4 | 5.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Foust | 47 | 13.3 | 3.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Hot Rod Hundley | 73 | 12.8 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 11.8 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Garmaker | 44 | 11.7 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Frank Selvy | 44 | 10.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 15.7 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ray Felix | 31 | 8.4 | 5.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Slick Leonard | 73 | 8.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 6.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Hawkins | 69 | 7.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 7.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Krebs | 75 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed Fleming | 27 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Steve Hamilton | 15 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Boo Ellis | 46 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bobby Smith | 10 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chuck Share | 3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nick Mantis | 10 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ron Sobie | 1 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1960 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1960 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by the dynamic duo of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, showcased their formidable talent in the Western Division Finals against the St. Louis Hawks. Despite their efforts, the Lakers fell short, losing the series in seven games, as the Hawks' depth and experience proved decisive. This matchup was a prelude to the Lakers' emerging dominance in the 1960s, as Baylor and West continued to develop into one of the league's most iconic tandems.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 113-112 | |
| Mar 13, 1960 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 114-99 |
1960 Conference Championship vs. St. Louis Hawks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 112-99 | |
| Mar 17, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 120-113 | |
| Mar 19, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 93-89 | |
| Mar 20, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 103-101 | |
| Mar 22, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 117-110 | |
| Mar 24, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 117-96 | |
| Mar 26, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 97-86 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1959-60 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1959-60 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1959 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-105 | |
| Oct 24, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 94-87 | |
| Oct 25, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 103-102 | |
| Oct 31, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 117-108 | |
| Nov 01, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 138-101 | |
| Nov 03, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | W 99-93 | |
| Nov 06, 1959 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 118-113 | |
| Nov 07, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 113-111 | |
| Nov 08, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 136-115 | |
| Nov 10, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 134-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 107-93 | |
| Nov 14, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 104-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 18, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | W 106-105 | |
| Nov 20, 1959 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 105-85 | |
| Nov 21, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 99-93 | |
| Nov 25, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 100-93 | |
| Nov 26, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 114-95 | |
| Nov 28, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 102-91 | |
| Nov 29, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-93 | |
| Dec 01, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | W 103-100 | |
| Dec 03, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 123-109 | |
| Dec 04, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 120-101 | |
| Dec 05, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 108-95 | |
| Dec 06, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 121-104 | |
| Dec 08, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 93-89 | |
| Dec 09, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 96-86 | |
| Dec 12, 1959 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 107-97 | |
| Dec 19, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 131-113 | |
| Dec 25, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 112-96 | |
| Dec 26, 1959 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 108-105 | |
| Dec 27, 1959 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 119-109 | |
| Dec 28, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-104 | |
| Dec 30, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 122-107 | |
| Dec 31, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | L 127-102 | |
| Jan 01, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 109-98 | |
| Jan 05, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 126-111 | |
| Jan 09, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 121-91 | |
| Jan 10, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 112-106 | |
| Jan 14, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | W 131-126 | |
| Jan 15, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 122-118 | |
| Jan 16, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 105-98 | |
| Jan 17, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 135-119 | |
| Jan 23, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-104 | |
| Jan 27, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 116-112 | |
| Jan 29, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 119-112 | |
| Jan 31, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 114-104 | |
| Feb 01, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 103-96 | |
| Feb 03, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-108 | |
| Feb 05, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 114-96 | |
| Feb 06, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 116-101 | |
| Feb 07, 1960 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 104-102 | |
| Feb 09, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 129-90 | |
| Feb 10, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 110-109 | |
| Feb 11, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 111-108 | |
| Feb 13, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 123-117 | |
| Feb 14, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 121-119 | |
| Feb 16, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-122 | |
| Feb 17, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 131-127 | |
| Feb 19, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 111-101 | |
| Feb 20, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 122-106 | |
| Feb 21, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 112-98 | |
| Feb 22, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 113-103 | |
| Feb 23, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | W 117-112 | |
| Feb 24, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 131-110 | |
| Feb 25, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 105-95 | |
| Feb 26, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-111 | |
| Feb 27, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 109-91 | |
| Mar 01, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 109-101 | |
| Mar 02, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | L 123-113 | |
| Mar 03, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 117-114 | |
| Mar 05, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 107-106 | |
| Mar 06, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 114-105 | |
| Mar 09, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-116 | |
| Mar 10, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | L 133-108 |