The 1982–83 NBA season was the Lakers' 35th season in the NBA and the 23rd season in Los Angeles. The Lakers were attempting to become the first team since the Boston Celtics in 1969 to repeat as NBA Champions. However, on April 10, 1983, rookie and number one pick in the 1982 draft James Worthy injured his leg while attempting a putback in a home loss against Phoenix, ending his season. Even without Worthy for the playoffs, the Lakers made it to the NBA Finals, only to be swept in four games by the Julius Erving and Moses Malone led Philadelphia 76ers .
NBA draft The Lakers were the defending league champions, which normally results in a low draft position, but the team had the top pick in the Draft thanks to a trade made years earlier. On February 15, 1980, the Lakers had sent Don Ford and their top pick in the 1980 NBA Draft (who turned out to be Chad Kinch ) to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Butch Lee and the Cavs' top pick in the 1982 NBA Draft.[1] Prior to the implementation of the NBA draft lottery in 1985, the teams with the two worst records from the previous season would flip a coin flip for the top pick. Cleveland finished last in 1981–82, and the Lakers won the coin flip with the San Diego Clippers .
Roster 1982–83 Los Angeles Lakers roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 33 Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem (C) 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)225 lb (102 kg) 1947-04-16 UCLA G 35 Bates, Billy Ray 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg) 1956-05-31 Texas G 21 Cooper, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg) 1956-04-15 New Mexico G 34 Johnson, Clay 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)175 lb (79 kg) 1956-07-18 Missouri G 32 Johnson, Magic 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg) 1959-08-14 Michigan State F 13 Jones, Dwight 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)210 lb (95 kg) 1952-02-27 Houston G 15 Jordan, Eddie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) 1955-01-29 Rutgers F 54 Landsberger, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg) 1955-05-21 Arizona State C 11 McAdoo, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)210 lb (95 kg) 1951-09-25 North Carolina F 40 McGee, Mike 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg) 1959-07-29 Michigan F 50 Mix, Steve 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) 1947-12-30 Toledo G 10 Nixon, Norm 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg) 1955-10-11 Duquesne F 31 Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)213 lb (97 kg) 1958-02-25 Santa Clara F 52 Wilkes, Jamaal 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)190 lb (86 kg) 1953-05-02 UCLA F 42 Worthy, James 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg) 1961-02-27 North Carolina
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(L) On leave from the team InjuredRoster Last transaction: April 16, 1983
Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents 1982-83 NBA Records Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS Atlanta – 1–5 5–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 0–2 2–0 6–0 0–2 0–2 1–4 2–4 3–2 2–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 Boston 5–1 – 3–2 5–1 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 5–1 3–3 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 Chicago 1–5 2–3 – 5–1 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 4–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 1–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–5 Cleveland 0–6 1–5 1–5 – 2–0 0–2 1–5 2–0 2–0 5–1 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–6 1–5 0–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 Dallas 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 – 3–3 2–0 3–2 5–1 2–0 3–3 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 3–2 2–4 5–0 2–3 2–4 0–2 Denver 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–3 – 2–0 4–1 5–1 1–1 3–3 1–4 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–1 2–3 2–4 3–2 3–2 4–2 1–1 Detroit 3–3 3–3 4–2 5–1 0–2 0–2 – 2–0 2–0 4–2 0–2 0–2 3–3 3–2 1–5 0–6 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–2 Golden State 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–4 0–2 – 3–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 3–3 3–3 3–2 2–0 Houston 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–5 0–2 2–3 – 2–0 1–5 0–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–5 0–5 1–5 2–3 1–4 0–6 1–1 Indiana 0–6 1–4 2–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 – 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–6 3–3 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–5 Kansas City 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 3–3 2–0 4–1 5–1 1–1 – 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4 2–3 3–3 4–1 1–4 4–2 2–0 Los Angeles 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 4–1 2–0 5–1 5–0 2–0 4–1 – 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–4 5–1 5–1 4–1 1–1 Milwaukee 4–1 3–3 5–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 1–1 2–0 5–1 1–1 0–2 – 3–2 4–2 1–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 3–2 New Jersey 4–2 1–5 4–2 6–0 2–0 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 2–3 – 4–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 New York 2–3 3–3 4–1 5–1 2–0 2–0 5–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 2–4 – 1–5 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 Philadelphia 4–2 3–3 5–1 5–0 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–0 2–0 4–1 2–0 2–0 5–1 3–3 5–1 – 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2 Phoenix 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 1–4 1–1 4–2 5–0 1–1 4–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 – 5–1 3–2 4–2 5–1 5–0 0–2 Portland 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 1–1 4–2 5–0 2–0 3–2 3–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–5 – 2–3 5–1 3–3 3–2 1–1 San Antonio 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 4–2 4–2 1–1 4–1 5–1 2–0 3–3 4–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–3 3–2 – 4–1 1–4 5–1 2–0 San Diego 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–5 2–3 1–1 3–3 3–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–4 1–5 1–4 – 0–6 2–3 0–2 Seattle 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 3–3 4–1 1–1 4–1 1–5 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 4–1 6–0 – 5–0 1–1 Utah 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–4 2–0 2–3 6–0 0–2 2–4 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 2–3 1–5 3–2 0–5 – 0–2 Washington 2–4 3–3 5–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–2 1–1 5–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 3–3 2–4 2–4 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 —
Game Log Regular season 1982–83 game log Total: 58–24 (home: 33–8; road: 25–16) October: 0–1 (home: 0–1; road: 0–0)
November: 12–3 (home: 8–0; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 3 @ Denver W 135-134 (OT) 3 players tied (22) Magic Johnson (15)Magic Johnson (13)McNichols Sports Arena 14,8071-1 3 November 4 Denver W 131-108 Norm Nixon (21)Kurt Rambis (11)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum 12,8152–1 4 November 6 @ Utah W 104-101 Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (22)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (8)Salt Palace 11,8693–1 5 November 7 Portland W 103-89 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 13,5264–1 6 November 9 Kansas City W 139-117 Norm Nixon (20)Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (7)Norm Nixon (13)The Forum 12,4025–1 7 November 12 Houston W 127-96 Magic Johnson (28)Johnson & Wilkes (10)Norm Nixon (10)The Forum 15,8046–1 8 November 14 Cleveland W 111-98 Jamaal Wilkes (30)Magic Johnson (12)Norm Nixon (12)The Forum 12,8067–1 9 November 16 @ Phoenix L 105-113 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)Magic Johnson (7)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,2887–2 10 November 17 @ Dallas L 117-118 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)Kurt Rambis (9)Norm Nixon (13)Reunion Arena 17,1347–3 11 November 19 Washington W 122-92 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)3 players tied (9) Norm Nixon (10)The Forum 14,9458–3 12 November 21 Denver W 143-129 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)Kurt Rambis (16)Norm Nixon (15)The Forum 17,5059–3 13 November 24 @ Seattle W 111-93 James Worthy (26)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Magic Johnson (10)Kingdome 26,23010–3 14 November 26 @ San Diego W 117-115 Magic Johnson (32)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Norm Nixon (8)San Diego Sports Arena 12,07711–3 15 November 28 Golden State W 142-127 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)Kurt Rambis (9)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum 16,12512–3 16 [A] November 30 @ San Antonio L 114-117 Norm Nixon (23)James Worthy (10)Norm Nixon (11)HemisFair Arena 12,11512–4
December: 12–3 (home: 6–1; road: 6–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 17 December 1 @ Houston W 106-95 Johnson & McAdoo (19)Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (8)Magic Johnson (10)The Summit 8,78613–4 18 December 3 Portland W 115-100 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)3 players tied (9) Magic Johnson (14)The Forum 13,78714–4 19 December 5 Philadelphia L 104-114 Jamaal Wilkes (22)Bob McAdoo (9)Johnson & Nixon (7)The Forum 14–5 20 December 8 Phoenix W 89-86 Jamaal Wilkes (20)Kurt Rambis (13)Magic Johnson (8)The Forum 13,76315–5 21 December 10 @ Utah W 128-122 Bob McAdoo (26)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (13)Salt Palace 9,02316–5 22 December 11 @ Golden State W 128-107 Kurt Rambis (20)Kurt Rambis (14)Cooper & Nixon (9)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,33517–5 23 December 14 @ Portland L 103-107 Magic Johnson (24)Magic Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (12)Memorial Coliseum 17–6 24 December 17 New Jersey W 117-106 Jamaal Wilkes (27)Johnson & Wilkes (8)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum 15,78618–6 25 December 18 @ Phoenix L 100-126 Jamaal Wilkes (20)Bob McAdoo (8)James Worthy (7)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,85618–7 26 December 19 Dallas W 110-108 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum 14,09419–7 27 December 22 Utah W 124-100 Bob McAdoo (22)3 players tied (7) Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 12,35820–7 28 December 23 @ San Diego W 120-115 Magic Johnson (23)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (7)Magic Johnson (9)San Diego Sports Arena 8,16021–7 29 December 26 @ Houston W 96-94 Jamaal Wilkes (22)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (4)The Summit 10,83322–7 30 December 29 @ Golden State W 120-110 Magic Johnson (27)Kurt Rambis (13)Magic Johnson (10)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,33523–7 31 December 30 Seattle W 137-117 Norm Nixon (24)Magic Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (16)The Forum 17,50524–7
January: 10–3 (home: 6–0; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 2 Detroit W 127-112 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)Magic Johnson (7)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 15,34325–7 33 January 5 @ Philadelphia L 120-122 (OT) Jamaal Wilkes (36)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (20)The Spectrum 18,48225–8 34 January 6 @ Cleveland W 125-107 Norm Nixon (20)Kurt Rambis (12)Magic Johnson (8)Richfield Coliseum 11,27026–8 35 January 8 @ New York W 108-90 McAdoo & Wilkes (20)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Johnson & Nixon (8)Madison Square Garden 19,59127–8 36 January 11 @ New Jersey L 96-110 Wilkes & Worthy (17)Johnson & McAdoo (8)Magic Johnson (11)Brendan Byrne Arena 20,14927–9 37 January 15 @ Atlanta W 120-101 Jamaal Wilkes (21)Magic Johnson (17)Magic Johnson (21)Omni Coliseum 15,95628–9 38 January 19 San Diego W 107-104 Jamaal Wilkes (26)Kurt Rambis (10)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 29–9 39 January 21 San Antonio W 119-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)Bob McAdoo (7)Norm Nixon (15)The Forum 30–9 40 January 23 Indiana W 105-102 Jamaal Wilkes (28)Bob McAdoo (9)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)The Forum 14,13931–9 41 January 25 @ Portland W 125-120 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (9)Memorial Coliseum 12,66632–9 42 January 26 Milwaukee W 115-113 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (20)The Forum 17,50533–9 43 January 28 Atlanta W 109-85 Magic Johnson (21)Kurt Rambis (12)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum 17,50534–9 44 January 30 @ Boston L 95-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (10)Boston Garden 15,32034–10
February: 6–6 (home: 2–3; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 2 @ Dallas L 120-122 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34)Johnson & Rambis (9)3 players tied (6) Reunion Arena 17,13434–11 46 February 4 @ Kansas City W 143-125 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (15)Checkerdome 35–11 47 February 6 Kansas City W 116-106 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18)James Worthy (8)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum 17,50536–11 48 February 8 @ Seattle W 121-118 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (11)Kingdome 19,72637–11 49 February 9 Utah W 113-99 Jamaal Wilkes (22)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 13,65638–11 All-Star Break 50 February 15 San Antonio L 103-124 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Abdul-Jabbar & McAdoo (10)Norm Nixon (12)The Forum 15,11138–12 51 February 17 @ Dallas W 127-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Magic Johnson (11)Reunion Arena 17,13439–12 52 February 18 @ Kansas City L 118-124 Jamaal Wilkes (26)Johnson & Worthy (7)Magic Johnson (15)Kemper Arena 15,11639–13 53 February 20 @ Indiana W 126-112 Magic Johnson (27)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Norm Nixon (13)Market Square Arena 10,95240–13 54 February 23 Boston L 104-113 Magic Johnson (20)Magic Johnson (13)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 17,50540–14 55 February 26 @ Utah L 92-101 Jamaal Wilkes (17)3 players tied (9) Magic Johnson (10)Salt Palace 12,09740–15 56 February 27 Denver L 120-135 Magic Johnson (28)Kurt Rambis (14)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum 17,50540–16
March: 13–3 (home: 8–1; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 57 March 1 @ Chicago W 114-111 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)Chicago Stadium 15,30741–16 58 March 2 @ Milwaukee W 127-117 Magic Johnson (34)3 players tied (7) Magic Johnson (15)MECCA Arena 11,05242–16 59 March 4 @ Washington L 93-96 Norm Nixon (26)Kurt Rambis (9)Magic Johnson (10)Capital Centre 17,11842–17 60 March 5 @ Detroit W 122-108 James Worthy (28)Johnson & Worthy (10)Magic Johnson (16)Pontiac Silverdome 25,27843–17 61 March 8 @ Golden State W 116-112 Magic Johnson (31)Magic Johnson (12)Johnson & Nixon (9)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,33544–17 62 March 9 San Diego W 119-114 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)Magic Johnson (20)The Forum 17,50545–17 63 March 12 Chicago W 123-116 Norm Nixon (27)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (14)The Forum 17,50546–17 64 March 16 Phoenix W 104-95 Magic Johnson (25)Magic Johnson (11)Norm Nixon (12)The Forum 16,06047–17 65 March 18 Kansas City W 109-96 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35)Kurt Rambis (12)Norm Nixon (13)The Forum 15,81748–17 66 March 19 @ San Diego L 99-107 Jamaal Wilkes (22)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)Norm Nixon (10)San Diego Sports Arena 13,07548–18 67 March 20 Dallas W 117-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)Kurt Rambis (9)Magic Johnson (16)The Forum 17,50549–18 68 March 22 Seattle W 123-108 Jamaal Wilkes (26)Magic Johnson (15)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum 17,50550–18 69 March 25 San Antonio L 120-132 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum 17,50550–19 70 March 27 Houston W 114-93 Magic Johnson (26)Dwight Jones (9)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum 14,71951–19 71 March 29 San Diego W 127-109 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)Magic Johnson (8)The Forum 16,58152–19 72 March 31 @ Denver W 122-116 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Magic Johnson (16)Magic Johnson (12)McNichols Sports Arena 17,31053–19
April: 5–5 (home: 3–2; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 73 April 1 New York W 102-88 Norm Nixon (22)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 17,50554–19 74 April 4 @ Seattle L 111-121 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (8)Kingdome 18,04554–20 75 April 5 @ Portland L 101-107 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)Magic Johnson (16)Magic Johnson (13)Memorial Coliseum 12,66654–21 76 April 7 @ Phoenix W 117-108 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)3 players tied (8) Magic Johnson (13)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,66055–21 77 April 8 Golden State W 118-107 Magic Johnson (36)Magic Johnson (13)Magic Johnson (14)The Forum 15,17656–21 78 April 10 Phoenix L 95-101 Jamaal Wilkes (23)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum 16,54556–22 79 April 12 @ Houston W 114-113 Magic Johnson (31)Kurt Rambis (10)Magic Johnson (9)The Summit 8,14757–22 80 April 13 @ San Antonio L 109-114 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)Magic Johnson (12)HemisFair Arena 15,78257–23 81 April 15 Seattle W 100-99 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)Kurt Rambis (12)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 17,50558–23 82 April 17 Portland L 108-119 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Norm Nixon (12)The Forum 16,50958–24
1982–83 schedule
Playoffs 1983 playoff game log Total: 8–7 (home: 4–4; road: 4–3) Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Conference finals: 4–2 (home: 1–2; road: 3–0)
NBA Finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
1983 schedule
Player statistics Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game
Season Playoffs Award winners/Honors Transactions Notes References