The 1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers season was marked by their successful defense of the NBA championship, making them the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Boston Celtics in 1969. Coached by Pat Riley, the Lakers finished the regular season with a 62-20 record, securing the top seed in the Western Conference. This season was part of the iconic “Showtime” era, characterized by fast-paced play and led by Magic Johnson, who averaged 19.6 points, 11.9 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game.
In the playoffs, the Lakers faced a challenging path. They defeated the San Antonio Spurs 3-0 in the first round, followed by a grueling seven-game series against the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Western Conference Finals saw another seven-game series, this time against the Dallas Mavericks, which the Lakers clinched to reach the NBA Finals. In the Finals, the Lakers faced the Detroit Pistons in a hard-fought series that also went to seven games. The Lakers ultimately triumphed, securing the championship with a 108-105 victory in Game 7, held at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
James Worthy was named the NBA Finals MVP, largely due to his performance in Game 7, where he recorded a triple-double with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. This season solidified the Lakers’ legacy and further established Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the rest of the team as one of the most dominant forces in NBA history.
- Regular Season Record: 62-20
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-0, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-3, Western Conference Finals: 4-3, NBA Finals: 4-3
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1987-88 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Byron Scott | 81 | 21.7 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 34.6 | 24 | 19.6 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 43.6 |
| James Worthy | 75 | 19.7 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 12.5 | 24 | 21.1 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 11.1 |
| Magic Johnson | 72 | 19.6 | 6.2 | 11.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 19.6 | 24 | 19.9 | 5.4 | 12.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 50.0 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 80 | 14.6 | 6.0 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 24 | 14.1 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Mychal Thompson | 80 | 11.6 | 6.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 24 | 9.7 | 7.1 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| A.C. Green | 82 | 11.4 | 8.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 24 | 10.0 | 7.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Tony Campbell | 13 | 11.0 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 15 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Cooper | 61 | 8.7 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 32.0 | 24 | 6.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 40.3 |
| Wes Matthews | 51 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 23.3 | 10 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kurt Rambis | 70 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 19 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Milt Wagner | 40 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 20.0 | 5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Ray Tolbert | 14 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mike Smrek | 48 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 8 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Billy Thompson | 9 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jeff Lamp | 3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1988 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dominated the series, sweeping the Spurs 3-0. Their performance set the tone for a successful playoff run, ultimately leading to their championship victory.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 122-110 | |
| May 01, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 130-112 | |
| May 03, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 109-107 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Utah Jazz
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs' second round, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Utah Jazz in a tightly contested series. The Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, showcased their championship pedigree by defeating the Jazz in seven games. Their resilience and experience were key in overcoming Utah's formidable challenge, propelling the Lakers towards another successful playoff run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 08, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 110-91 | |
| May 10, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 101-97 | |
| May 13, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 96-89 | |
| May 15, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | W 113-100 | |
| May 17, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 111-109 | |
| May 19, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-80 | |
| May 21, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 109-98 |
1988 Conference Championship vs. Dallas Mavericks
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced a fierce challenge in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. The series went to a dramatic Game 7, where Magic Johnson's leadership and James Worthy's dynamic performance propelled the Lakers to a hard-fought 117-102 victory. This triumph showcased the Lakers' resilience and set the stage for their eventual championship win, contributing to their legacy as u0022Showtimeu0022 legends.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 113-98 | |
| May 25, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 123-101 | |
| May 27, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 106-94 | |
| May 29, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 118-104 | |
| May 31, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 119-102 | |
| Jun 02, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 105-103 | |
| Jun 04, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 117-102 |
1988 NBA Finals vs. Detroit Pistons
The Los Angeles Lakers clinched the 1988 NBA Finals in a thrilling seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons, becoming the first team since 1969 to win back-to-back championships. Led by Finals MVP James Worthy and the legendary Magic Johnson, the Lakers showcased resilience and skill, overcoming a formidable Pistons defense. Worthy's Game 7 triple-double performance was pivotal, as the Lakers secured a dramatic 108-105 victory, cementing their legacy as one of the NBA's iconic dynasties.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 07, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 105-93 | |
| Jun 09, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 108-96 | |
| Jun 12, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 99-86 | |
| Jun 14, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-86 | |
| Jun 16, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-94 | |
| Jun 19, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 103-102 | |
| Jun 21, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 108-105 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-109 | |
| Nov 08, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 101-92 | |
| Nov 10, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 133-124 | |
| Nov 12, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 111-82 | |
| Nov 14, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 118-110 | |
| Nov 15, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 147-130 | |
| Nov 17, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 142-115 | |
| Nov 20, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 119-116 | |
| Nov 22, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-116 | |
| Nov 24, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-85 | |
| Nov 27, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 127-119 | |
| Dec 01, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 125-120 | |
| Dec 02, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-104 | |
| Dec 04, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 85-83 | |
| Dec 05, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 97-95 | |
| Dec 08, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-81 | |
| Dec 09, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 120-112 | |
| Dec 11, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | W 115-114 | |
| Dec 13, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 90-89 | |
| Dec 15, 1987 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 122-97 | |
| Dec 17, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 113-106 | |
| Dec 19, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-97 | |
| Dec 20, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-94 | |
| Dec 23, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 117-103 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | W 117-109 | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 131-115 | |
| Jan 03, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 98-81 | |
| Jan 04, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 133-115 | |
| Jan 06, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 103-89 | |
| Jan 08, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 106-104 | |
| Jan 09, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 101-98 | |
| Jan 12, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 117-113 | |
| Jan 13, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 110-109 | |
| Jan 16, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 107-96 | |
| Jan 18, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 121-110 | |
| Jan 21, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 115-113 | |
| Jan 22, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-112 | |
| Jan 24, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-109 | |
| Jan 26, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 111-100 | |
| Jan 28, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 115-94 | |
| Jan 29, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 117-107 | |
| Feb 02, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-101 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-86 | |
| Feb 09, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 11, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 120-108 | |
| Feb 12, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 133-132 | |
| Feb 14, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 115-106 | |
| Feb 16, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 119-100 | |
| Feb 18, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | W 111-96 | |
| Feb 19, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 126-119 | |
| Feb 21, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-110 | |
| Feb 23, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 111-100 | |
| Feb 26, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 112-105 | |
| Feb 28, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 111-97 | |
| Mar 01, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-100 | |
| Mar 04, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-107 | |
| Mar 06, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 108-97 | |
| Mar 07, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-104 | |
| Mar 09, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 10, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 128-107 | |
| Mar 12, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 110-101 | |
| Mar 14, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 115-105 | |
| Mar 15, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 112-95 | |
| Mar 19, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 102-95 | |
| Mar 20, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 130-127 | |
| Mar 22, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 117-95 | |
| Mar 25, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 120-119 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 114-92 | |
| Mar 29, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 122-111 | |
| Apr 02, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 106-92 | |
| Apr 03, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 108-104 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 94-90 | |
| Apr 08, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 126-107 | |
| Apr 09, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-109 | |
| Apr 12, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 109-103 | |
| Apr 13, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 120-106 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 117-114 | |
| Apr 17, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 127-119 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 133-126 | |
| Apr 20, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 114-107 | |
| Apr 22, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 117-112 | |
| Apr 24, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 136-100 |