The 1992-93 Los Angeles Lakers season was a transitional period for the franchise as they continued to adapt to life without Magic Johnson, who had retired in 1991. Under head coach Randy Pfund, the Lakers finished the regular season with a 39-43 record, placing them eighth in the Western Conference. This marked the first time since the 1975-76 season that the Lakers finished with a losing record, highlighting the challenges the team faced in maintaining their previous dominance.
Despite the struggles, the Lakers managed to secure a playoff spot. Key players included James Worthy, who led the team with his experience and scoring ability, and Sedale Threatt, who took over the point guard responsibilities. The team also saw contributions from young talent like Vlade Divac and Elden Campbell. However, injuries hampered the team’s consistency throughout the season.
In the playoffs, the Lakers faced a formidable opponent in the Phoenix Suns, who were the top seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers managed to push the series to five games in a best-of-five format, ultimately losing 2-3. The series was competitive, but the Suns, led by MVP Charles Barkley, proved to be too strong. This season was a clear indication of the Lakers’ need for rebuilding and retooling as they looked to return to their former glory in the coming years.
- Regular Season Record: 39-43
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-3
Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats for 1992-93 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Sedale Threatt | 82 | 15.1 | 3.3 | 6.9 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 26.4 | 5 | 18.0 | 3.4 | 8.0 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 23.1 |
| James Worthy | 82 | 14.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 27.0 | 5 | 13.8 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Sam Perkins | 49 | 13.7 | 7.7 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 17.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Byron Scott | 58 | 13.7 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 32.6 | 5 | 13.6 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 53.3 |
| A.C. Green | 82 | 12.8 | 8.7 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 34.8 | 5 | 9.8 | 14.6 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Vlade Divac | 82 | 12.8 | 8.9 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 28.0 | 5 | 18.0 | 9.4 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 44.4 |
| Anthony Peeler | 77 | 10.4 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 39.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Elden Campbell | 79 | 7.7 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 5 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.0 |
| James Edwards | 52 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Doug Christie | 23 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 16.7 | 5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 33.3 |
| Tony Smith | 55 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 18.2 | 5 | 6.8 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 50.0 |
| Benoit Benjamin | 28 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Duane Cooper | 65 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 23.3 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Alex Blackwell | 27 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Los Angeles Lakers in the 1993 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 1993 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Phoenix Suns in a thrilling first-round matchup. Despite the Lakers taking a surprising 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, the Suns, led by Charles Barkley, mounted a comeback to win the series 3-2. This marked the first time in NBA history that a team had come back from a 0-2 deficit to win a five-game series, showcasing the Suns' resilience and the Lakers' missed opportunity.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1993 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 107-103 | |
| May 02, 1993 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 86-81 | |
| May 04, 1993 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 107-102 | |
| May 06, 1993 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 101-86 | |
| May 09, 1993 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 112-104 |
Los Angeles Lakers 1992-93 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1992-93 season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1992 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 114-112 | |
| Nov 08, 1992 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 124-114 | |
| Nov 10, 1992 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 107-106 | |
| Nov 12, 1992 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-102 | |
| Nov 13, 1992 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 124-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1992 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 105-102 | |
| Nov 20, 1992 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 120-118 | |
| Nov 22, 1992 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 119-107 | |
| Nov 25, 1992 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 100-98 | |
| Nov 27, 1992 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 98-90 | |
| Nov 29, 1992 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 114-85 | |
| Dec 01, 1992 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 117-110 | |
| Dec 03, 1992 | @ Houston Rockets | W 95-89 | |
| Dec 04, 1992 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 103-93 | |
| Dec 06, 1992 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 107-85 | |
| Dec 09, 1992 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 124-111 | |
| Dec 11, 1992 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 118-93 | |
| Dec 13, 1992 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 114-96 | |
| Dec 15, 1992 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 107-101 | |
| Dec 16, 1992 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 18, 1992 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 116-100 | |
| Dec 19, 1992 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 92-86 | |
| Dec 23, 1992 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 80-79 | |
| Dec 26, 1992 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 104-92 | |
| Dec 28, 1992 | @ Miami Heat | L 107-96 | |
| Dec 30, 1992 | @ Orlando Magic | W 96-93 | |
| Jan 02, 1993 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 106-91 | |
| Jan 03, 1993 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-101 | |
| Jan 05, 1993 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 91-88 | |
| Jan 06, 1993 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 98-78 | |
| Jan 08, 1993 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 93-90 | |
| Jan 10, 1993 | vs. Miami Heat | L 101-89 | |
| Jan 14, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 105-102 | |
| Jan 15, 1993 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-96 | |
| Jan 18, 1993 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 110-90 | |
| Jan 20, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-101 | |
| Jan 22, 1993 | @ Utah Jazz | L 98-94 | |
| Jan 24, 1993 | @ Washington Bullets | W 112-110 | |
| Jan 26, 1993 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-91 | |
| Jan 28, 1993 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 127-110 | |
| Jan 29, 1993 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 123-108 | |
| Jan 31, 1993 | @ Boston Celtics | W 96-87 | |
| Feb 02, 1993 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 110-97 | |
| Feb 04, 1993 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 114-110 | |
| Feb 05, 1993 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 132-104 | |
| Feb 08, 1993 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 108-100 | |
| Feb 10, 1993 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 111-102 | |
| Feb 14, 1993 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 135-96 | |
| Feb 18, 1993 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 105-103 | |
| Feb 24, 1993 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 104-99 | |
| Feb 26, 1993 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 114-102 | |
| Feb 28, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 124-112 | |
| Mar 02, 1993 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 127-115 | |
| Mar 03, 1993 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 117-111 | |
| Mar 05, 1993 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 101-97 | |
| Mar 07, 1993 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 105-101 | |
| Mar 09, 1993 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 123-121 | |
| Mar 10, 1993 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-104 | |
| Mar 12, 1993 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 101-95 | |
| Mar 14, 1993 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 117-107 | |
| Mar 15, 1993 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 92-87 | |
| Mar 17, 1993 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 101-100 | |
| Mar 19, 1993 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 129-119 | |
| Mar 21, 1993 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 106-101 | |
| Mar 24, 1993 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 120-105 | |
| Mar 26, 1993 | vs. New York Knicks | L 105-95 | |
| Mar 28, 1993 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 92-90 | |
| Mar 30, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 101-93 | |
| Mar 31, 1993 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 126-113 | |
| Apr 04, 1993 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 111-99 | |
| Apr 06, 1993 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 115-114 | |
| Apr 08, 1993 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 122-116 | |
| Apr 09, 1993 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-105 | |
| Apr 11, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 98-96 | |
| Apr 13, 1993 | @ Houston Rockets | L 126-107 | |
| Apr 14, 1993 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 112-99 | |
| Apr 16, 1993 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 100-84 | |
| Apr 18, 1993 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-112 | |
| Apr 20, 1993 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 107-95 | |
| Apr 21, 1993 | @ Utah Jazz | L 113-102 | |
| Apr 23, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-93 | |
| Apr 24, 1993 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 125-107 |