The 1989-90 Los Angeles Lakers season marked a transitional period for the storied franchise. After dominating the 1980s with five NBA championships, the Lakers, led by head coach Pat Riley, faced new challenges during this campaign. The team finished the regular season with a 63-19 record, securing the top spot in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference, showcasing their continued prowess in the league.
Magic Johnson, the team’s cornerstone, had another stellar season, averaging 22.3 points, 11.5 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game. His leadership and all-around play remained critical to the Lakers’ success. Supporting him were key players like James Worthy, who contributed 21.1 points per game, and Byron Scott, adding 15.5 points per game. Veteran center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired the previous season, marking the end of an era and leaving a significant void in the Lakers’ frontcourt.
In the playoffs, the Lakers aimed for another championship run but faced a setback. They advanced past the Houston Rockets in the first round and overcame the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals. However, their journey ended in the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns, losing in five games. This early exit was a disappointment for a team accustomed to reaching the NBA Finals. The 1989-90 season highlighted both the Lakers’ enduring talent and the challenges of maintaining dominance with an evolving roster. It set the stage for further changes as the team sought to adapt and reclaim its championship aspirations in the years to come.
- Regular Season Record: 63-19
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1989-90 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Magic Johnson | 79 | 22.3 | 6.6 | 11.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 38.4 | 9 | 25.2 | 6.3 | 12.8 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 20.0 |
| James Worthy | 80 | 21.1 | 6.0 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 30.6 | 9 | 24.2 | 5.6 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 25.0 |
| Byron Scott | 77 | 15.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 42.3 | 9 | 13.4 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 38.2 |
| A.C. Green | 82 | 12.9 | 8.7 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 28.3 | 9 | 11.8 | 9.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Orlando Woolridge | 62 | 12.7 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 9 | 11.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Mychal Thompson | 70 | 10.1 | 6.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 6.4 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Vlade Divac | 82 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 9 | 9.1 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 50.0 |
| Michael Cooper | 80 | 6.4 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 31.8 | 9 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 25.0 |
| Larry Drew | 80 | 5.2 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 39.5 | 7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Jay Vincent | 24 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark McNamara | 33 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mel McCants | 13 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jawann Oldham | 3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Steve Bucknall | 18 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mike Higgins | 6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1990 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Houston Rockets
In the first round of the 1990 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and James Worthy, faced the Houston Rockets. The Lakers showcased their experience and depth, sweeping the Rockets in a 3-0 series victory. This dominant performance highlighted their playoff readiness and set the stage for a deeper postseason run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 101-89 | |
| Apr 29, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-100 | |
| May 01, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 114-108 | |
| May 03, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | W 109-88 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 1990 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite their strong regular-season performance, the Lakers were unexpectedly eliminated by the Suns in five games, with Phoenix's dynamic duo of Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers proving too much for Magic Johnson and his squad. This marked a significant turning point, as it was the first time since 1981 that the Lakers didn't reach the Western Conference Finals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 08, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 104-102 | |
| May 10, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 124-100 | |
| May 12, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 117-103 | |
| May 13, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 114-101 | |
| May 15, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 106-103 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1989-90 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1989-90 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 102-94 | |
| Nov 04, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 106-98 | |
| Nov 07, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 111-107 | |
| Nov 09, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 106-95 | |
| Nov 10, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 106-100 | |
| Nov 12, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 107-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 117-94 | |
| Nov 17, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 119-105 | |
| Nov 19, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 120-115 | |
| Nov 25, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | W 92-86 | |
| Nov 26, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 132-112 | |
| Nov 28, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 110-104 | |
| Nov 30, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 109-93 | |
| Dec 01, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-97 | |
| Dec 03, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-104 | |
| Dec 05, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 111-103 | |
| Dec 07, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 100-96 | |
| Dec 09, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 103-101 | |
| Dec 10, 1989 | @ Orlando Magic | L 108-103 | |
| Dec 12, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 103-89 | |
| Dec 13, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 102-75 | |
| Dec 15, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | W 119-110 | |
| Dec 16, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 99-92 | |
| Dec 19, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 93-83 | |
| Dec 20, 1989 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 106-97 | |
| Dec 26, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 104-102 | |
| Dec 29, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 130-111 | |
| Jan 03, 1990 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 114-98 | |
| Jan 06, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 133-131 | |
| Jan 07, 1990 | vs. Miami Heat | W 132-93 | |
| Jan 09, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 121-118 | |
| Jan 10, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 121-106 | |
| Jan 12, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 107-98 | |
| Jan 15, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 111-91 | |
| Jan 17, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 100-90 | |
| Jan 19, 1990 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-102 | |
| Jan 21, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 107-97 | |
| Jan 23, 1990 | @ New York Knicks | W 118-97 | |
| Jan 24, 1990 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 120-111 | |
| Jan 26, 1990 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 100-91 | |
| Jan 29, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 86-84 | |
| Jan 30, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 121-104 | |
| Feb 02, 1990 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 112-106 | |
| Feb 04, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 121-105 | |
| Feb 06, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 121-119 | |
| Feb 07, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 121-103 | |
| Feb 14, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 132-128 | |
| Feb 15, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 101-92 | |
| Feb 18, 1990 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 116-110 | |
| Feb 20, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 115-114 | |
| Feb 21, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 113-111 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 122-116 | |
| Feb 25, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 104-103 | |
| Feb 28, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-107 | |
| Mar 02, 1990 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 124-93 | |
| Mar 04, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 115-96 | |
| Mar 06, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 112-95 | |
| Mar 07, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 103-91 | |
| Mar 09, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 131-115 | |
| Mar 11, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 123-115 | |
| Mar 12, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 107-102 | |
| Mar 14, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-110 | |
| Mar 15, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 112-96 | |
| Mar 17, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 101-99 | |
| Mar 20, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 109-97 | |
| Mar 23, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-102 | |
| Mar 25, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-94 | |
| Mar 27, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 130-111 | |
| Mar 28, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-99 | |
| Mar 30, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 135-106 | |
| Apr 01, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 119-103 | |
| Apr 05, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 110-103 | |
| Apr 06, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 103-99 | |
| Apr 08, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 116-109 | |
| Apr 09, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 113-106 | |
| Apr 12, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-104 | |
| Apr 13, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 131-119 | |
| Apr 15, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 113-102 | |
| Apr 17, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-101 | |
| Apr 19, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 113-89 | |
| Apr 21, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 125-115 | |
| Apr 22, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 130-88 |