The 1960-61 season marked the Los Angeles Lakers’ inaugural campaign following their relocation from Minneapolis. Under the leadership of head coach Fred Schaus, the Lakers aimed to establish themselves in their new home city. The team played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, drawing attention from a fresh fan base eager to embrace professional basketball.
The Lakers showcased a promising roster led by Elgin Baylor, who was instrumental in driving the team’s success. Baylor, known for his scoring prowess and athletic ability, averaged an impressive 34.8 points per game, further cementing his status as one of the league’s premier players. Alongside Baylor, the Lakers benefited from the contributions of key players like Jerry West, who was in his rookie season and quickly adapted to the professional level, averaging 17.6 points per game.
Despite their efforts, the Lakers concluded the regular season with a 36-43 record, which positioned them third in the Western Division. This performance was enough to secure a playoff berth. In the postseason, they faced the Detroit Pistons in the division semifinals, defeating them 3-2 in a tightly contested series. However, their playoff run was cut short in the division finals by the St. Louis Hawks, losing the series 4-3. While the season ended without a championship, the 1960-61 Lakers laid a strong foundation for future success in Los Angeles.
- Regular Season Record: 36-43
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 3-2, Division Finals: 3-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1960-61 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Elgin Baylor | 73 | 34.8 | 19.8 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 38.1 | 13.6 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry West | 79 | 17.6 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 22.9 | 7.3 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rudy LaRusso | 79 | 14.6 | 6.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 12.2 | 5.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hot Rod Hundley | 79 | 11.0 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 6.7 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Frank Selvy | 77 | 10.8 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 10.3 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Hawkins | 79 | 9.6 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 11.6 | 5.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Krebs | 75 | 8.2 | 4.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ray Felix | 78 | 6.6 | 4.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 10.2 | 8.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Slick Leonard | 56 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Howie Jolliff | 46 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gary Alcorn | 21 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ron Johnson | 8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 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 1961 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1961 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Division Finals, where they faced the St. Louis Hawks. Despite the Lakers' efforts, led by the legendary Elgin Baylor, they were overpowered by the Hawks, losing the series 4-3. This hard-fought series highlighted the Lakers' potential, setting the stage for future successes.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 120-102 | |
| Mar 15, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 127-118 | |
| Mar 17, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 124-113 | |
| Mar 18, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 123-114 | |
| Mar 19, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 137-120 |
1961 Conference Championship vs. St. Louis Hawks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 122-118 | |
| Mar 22, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 121-106 | |
| Mar 24, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 118-112 | |
| Mar 25, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 118-117 | |
| Mar 27, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 121-112 | |
| Mar 29, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 114-113 | |
| Apr 01, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 105-103 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1960-61 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1960-61 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 140-123 | |
| Oct 22, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 112-96 | |
| Oct 24, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | L 111-101 | |
| Oct 25, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | W 120-118 | |
| Oct 28, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 122-120 | |
| Oct 29, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 125-118 | |
| Nov 02, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | W 106-96 | |
| Nov 05, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 112-110 | |
| Nov 06, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 119-113 | |
| Nov 09, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 125-118 | |
| Nov 12, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 131-124 | |
| Nov 15, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | W 123-108 | |
| Nov 19, 1960 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 130-122 | |
| Nov 20, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 135-131 | |
| Nov 22, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 133-118 | |
| Nov 23, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 122-118 | |
| Nov 24, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 108-100 | |
| Nov 25, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 141-128 | |
| Nov 26, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 126-113 | |
| Nov 27, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 113-106 | |
| Nov 28, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 137-112 | |
| Nov 29, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 122-121 | |
| Dec 01, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 117-114 | |
| Dec 02, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | W 120-117 | |
| Dec 04, 1960 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 113-103 | |
| Dec 05, 1960 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 123-101 | |
| Dec 07, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 114-112 | |
| Dec 10, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 111-108 | |
| Dec 12, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 114-103 | |
| Dec 14, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 124-113 | |
| Dec 16, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 130-116 | |
| Dec 17, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 140-112 | |
| Dec 19, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 107-103 | |
| Dec 20, 1960 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 97-94 | |
| Dec 26, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | L 119-112 | |
| Dec 28, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 115-113 | |
| Dec 29, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | W 111-95 | |
| Dec 30, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 107-99 | |
| Jan 01, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 116-105 | |
| Jan 02, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 123-113 | |
| Jan 03, 1961 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-96 | |
| Jan 05, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 110-96 | |
| Jan 06, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 108-104 | |
| Jan 10, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | W 117-104 | |
| Jan 11, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | L 109-104 | |
| Jan 14, 1961 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 123-114 | |
| Jan 15, 1961 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 109-105 | |
| Jan 19, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 106-103 | |
| Jan 21, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 136-111 | |
| Jan 22, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 112-109 | |
| Jan 24, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 116-107 | |
| Jan 25, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 117-112 | |
| Jan 29, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 137-113 | |
| Jan 30, 1961 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-116 | |
| Jan 31, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 121-112 | |
| Feb 02, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 116-115 | |
| Feb 05, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 125-120 | |
| Feb 06, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 110-101 | |
| Feb 07, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 96-95 | |
| Feb 08, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 120-103 | |
| Feb 09, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 123-113 | |
| Feb 12, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 105-95 | |
| Feb 13, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 104-100 | |
| Feb 14, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-93 | |
| Feb 16, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 129-106 | |
| Feb 18, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 121-106 | |
| Feb 19, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 112-106 | |
| Feb 20, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 126-121 | |
| Feb 22, 1961 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 105-93 | |
| Feb 26, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 121-116 | |
| Feb 27, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 113-88 | |
| Feb 28, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 123-108 | |
| Mar 01, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | W 144-107 | |
| Mar 02, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 114-110 | |
| Mar 05, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 125-114 | |
| Mar 07, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 137-136 | |
| Mar 08, 1961 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 120-103 | |
| Mar 11, 1961 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 108-105 | |
| Mar 12, 1961 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 123-122 |
