The 1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers season was a significant chapter in the franchise’s storied history. Under the guidance of head coach Pat Riley, the Lakers continued to build upon their reputation as a dominant force in the NBA. The team was led by superstars Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who were instrumental in guiding the Lakers to a 62-20 regular-season record, securing the top seed in the Western Conference.
During the playoffs, the Lakers displayed their dominance by defeating the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals and the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, both in five games. These performances set the stage for a rematch with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, a year after losing to them in the 1984 championship series.
The 1985 NBA Finals provided a platform for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to showcase his enduring talent. After a disappointing Game 1, where the Lakers suffered a 148-114 loss, Abdul-Jabbar rebounded with a series of commanding performances, ultimately earning the Finals MVP award. The Lakers defeated the Celtics in six games, clinching the title with a decisive 111-100 victory in Game 6 at the Boston Garden. This victory marked the first time the Lakers defeated the Celtics in the NBA Finals after eight previous attempts and ended the infamous “Boston Garden Curse.” The 1984-85 season remains a pivotal moment in Lakers history, highlighting their resilience and capacity to overcome historical hurdles.
- Regular Season Record: 62-20
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-0, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-1, Western Conference Finals: 4-1, NBA Finals: 4-2
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1984-85 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 79 | 22.0 | 7.9 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 19 | 21.9 | 8.1 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| Magic Johnson | 77 | 18.3 | 6.2 | 12.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 18.9 | 19 | 17.5 | 7.1 | 15.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 14.3 |
| James Worthy | 80 | 17.6 | 6.4 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 19 | 21.5 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 50.0 |
| Byron Scott | 81 | 16.0 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 43.3 | 19 | 16.9 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 47.6 |
| Bob McAdoo | 66 | 10.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 19 | 11.4 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Mike McGee | 76 | 10.2 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 36.1 | 17 | 11.2 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 50.0 |
| Michael Cooper | 82 | 8.6 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 28.5 | 19 | 10.4 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 30.8 |
| Jamaal Wilkes | 42 | 8.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Larry Spriggs | 75 | 6.7 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 16 | 6.1 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Mitch Kupchak | 58 | 5.3 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 16 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Kurt Rambis | 82 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 19 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Ronnie Lester | 32 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Nevitt | 11 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Earl Jones | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1985 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the first round of the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers, led by the dynamic duo of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dominated the series, sweeping the Suns 3-0. This decisive victory set the tone for the Lakers' journey towards an eventual championship win that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 142-114 | |
| Apr 20, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 147-130 | |
| Apr 23, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 119-103 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, showcased their dominance by sweeping the series 4-1, displaying their depth and resilience. This victory propelled them further towards their ultimate goal of capturing the NBA Championship, which they achieved by defeating the Boston Celtics in the Finals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 125-101 | |
| Apr 30, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 134-118 | |
| May 03, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 130-126 | |
| May 05, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-107 | |
| May 07, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 139-120 |
1985 Conference Championship vs. Denver Nuggets
In the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, ultimately securing their place in the NBA Finals with a 4-1 series victory. Led by Magic Johnson's exceptional playmaking and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's dominant scoring, the Lakers showcased their offensive prowess and depth. This triumph set the stage for a historic showdown against the Boston Celtics, where the Lakers would go on to win their first championship over their archrivals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 139-122 | |
| May 14, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 136-114 | |
| May 17, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 136-118 | |
| May 19, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 120-116 | |
| May 22, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 153-109 |
1985 NBA Finals vs. Boston Celtics
In the 1985 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Boston Celtics in a classic showdown, ultimately securing a 4-2 series victory. This triumph was significant as it marked the first time the Lakers defeated the Celtics in the Finals, a feat highlighted by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Finals MVP performance. Magic Johnson's playmaking and the Lakers' u0022Showtimeu0022 style were pivotal in overcoming the Celtics' physical defense, cementing their legacy in NBA history.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 148-114 | |
| May 30, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | W 109-102 | |
| Jun 02, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 136-111 | |
| Jun 05, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-105 | |
| Jun 07, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-111 | |
| Jun 09, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | W 111-100 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1984-85 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1984-85 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 113-112 | |
| Oct 28, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 107-96 | |
| Oct 30, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 144-110 | |
| Nov 01, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-103 | |
| Nov 02, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 119-100 | |
| Nov 04, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 124-116 | |
| Nov 06, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 146-130 | |
| Nov 08, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 122-106 | |
| Nov 09, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 130-126 | |
| Nov 11, 1984 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 121-111 | |
| Nov 16, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 128-116 | |
| Nov 18, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 96-89 | |
| Nov 20, 1984 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 130-108 | |
| Nov 21, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 102-97 | |
| Nov 24, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-103 | |
| Nov 25, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-94 | |
| Nov 28, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | W 114-109 | |
| Nov 30, 1984 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 130-121 | |
| Dec 02, 1984 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 113-112 | |
| Dec 04, 1984 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 116-112 | |
| Dec 05, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 104-93 | |
| Dec 07, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-116 | |
| Dec 08, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | L 101-98 | |
| Dec 12, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 131-107 | |
| Dec 13, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 124-122 | |
| Dec 16, 1984 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 109-101 | |
| Dec 18, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 117-116 | |
| Dec 19, 1984 | @ Houston Rockets | W 123-116 | |
| Dec 21, 1984 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 119-105 | |
| Dec 26, 1984 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-97 | |
| Dec 28, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 135-123 | |
| Dec 29, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 113-107 | |
| Jan 04, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-95 | |
| Jan 06, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 99-98 | |
| Jan 08, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 126-124 | |
| Jan 10, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 120-112 | |
| Jan 11, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 121-102 | |
| Jan 13, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 121-98 | |
| Jan 15, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-105 | |
| Jan 16, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 104-102 | |
| Jan 18, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 110-92 | |
| Jan 19, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 139-109 | |
| Jan 22, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 123-114 | |
| Jan 25, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-104 | |
| Jan 26, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 96-83 | |
| Jan 29, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 122-106 | |
| Jan 30, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 116-113 | |
| Feb 01, 1985 | vs. New York Knicks | W 105-104 | |
| Feb 02, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-96 | |
| Feb 03, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 122-100 | |
| Feb 05, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | W 113-104 | |
| Feb 12, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 121-110 | |
| Feb 15, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 120-111 | |
| Feb 17, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 117-111 | |
| Feb 19, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 127-117 | |
| Feb 21, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 123-117 | |
| Feb 22, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 122-113 | |
| Feb 24, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 119-114 | |
| Feb 26, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 100-94 | |
| Feb 28, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 117-105 | |
| Mar 02, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 125-106 | |
| Mar 06, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 145-119 | |
| Mar 09, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 133-106 | |
| Mar 12, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 123-108 | |
| Mar 13, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | W 120-105 | |
| Mar 15, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 115-114 | |
| Mar 16, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 123-112 | |
| Mar 19, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 130-112 | |
| Mar 22, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | W 130-107 | |
| Mar 24, 1985 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 148-130 | |
| Mar 26, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-113 | |
| Mar 27, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-97 | |
| Mar 29, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 120-115 | |
| Mar 31, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 123-98 | |
| Apr 02, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 118-104 | |
| Apr 03, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 122-108 | |
| Apr 05, 1985 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 132-125 | |
| Apr 07, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 135-133 | |
| Apr 09, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 148-119 | |
| Apr 11, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 137-130 | |
| Apr 12, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 145-131 | |
| Apr 14, 1985 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 122-116 |