1982–83 Los Angeles Lakers season

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.

1982–83 Los Angeles Lakers season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachPat Riley
General managerJerry West
Owner(s)Jerry Buss
ArenaThe Forum
Results
Record58–24 (.707)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to 76ers 0–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKHJ
RadioAM 570 KLAC
< 1981–82 1983–84 >

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.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
11James WorthyForward  United StatesNorth Carolina

Roster

1982–83 Los Angeles Lakers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C33Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem (C)7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)225 lb (102 kg)1947-04-16UCLA
G35Bates, Billy Ray6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg)1956-05-31Texas
G21Cooper, Michael6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg)1956-04-15New Mexico
G34Johnson, Clay6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)175 lb (79 kg)1956-07-18Missouri
G32Johnson, Magic6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg)1959-08-14Michigan State
F13Jones, Dwight6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)210 lb (95 kg)1952-02-27Houston
G15Jordan, Eddie6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg)1955-01-29Rutgers
F54Landsberger, Mark6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg)1955-05-21Arizona State
C11McAdoo, Bob6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)210 lb (95 kg)1951-09-25North Carolina
F40McGee, Mike6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg)1959-07-29Michigan
F50Mix, Steve6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)1947-12-30Toledo
G10Nixon, Norm6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg)1955-10-11Duquesne
F31Rambis, Kurt6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)213 lb (97 kg)1958-02-25Santa Clara
F52Wilkes, Jamaal6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)190 lb (86 kg)1953-05-02UCLA
F42Worthy, James  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg)1961-02-27North 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
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 16, 1983

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division
TeamWLPCT.GB
Los Angeles Lakers5824.707-
Phoenix Suns5329.6465
Seattle SuperSonics4834.58510
Portland Trail Blazers4636.56112
Golden State Warriors3052.36628
San Diego Clippers2557.30533

Record vs. opponents

1982-83 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDKCKLALMILNJNNYKPHIPHOPORSASSDCSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta1–55–16–01–11–13–30–22–06–00–20–21–42–43–22–41–11–10–21–11–12–04–2
Boston5–13–25–12–02–03–31–12–04–11–12–03–35–13–33–32–01–12–01–11–12–03–3
Chicago1–52–35–11–11–12–42–01–14–20–20–21–52–41–41–50–21–10–21–10–21–11–5
Cleveland0–61–51–52–00–21–52–02–05–11–10–21–50–61–50–50–21–10–21–11–10–23–2
Dallas1–10–21–10–23–32–03–25–12–03–32–30–20–20–20–22–33–22–45–02–32–40–2
Denver1–10–21–12–03–32–04–15–11–13–31–42–01–10–20–24–12–32–43–23–24–21–1
Detroit3–33–34–25–10–20–22–02–04–20–20–23–33–21–50–61–11–11–11–10–20–23–2
Golden State2–01–10–20–22–31–40–23–21–11–41–51–10–21–10–22–42–41–43–33–33–22–0
Houston0–20–21–10–21–51–50–22–32–01–50–50–21–10–20–20–50–51–52–31–40–61–1
Indiana0–61–42–41–50–21–12–41–10–21–10–21–50–63–31–41–10–20–21–11–12–01–5
Kansas City2–01–12–01–13–33–32–04–15–11–11–41–11–11–10–21–42–33–34–11–44–22–0
Los Angeles2–00–22–02–03–24–12–05–15–02–04–12–01–12–00–23–33–31–45–15–14–11–1
Milwaukee4–13–35–15–12–00–23–31–12–05–11–10–23–24–21–51–12–02–02–00–22–03–2
New Jersey4–21–54–26–02–01–12–32–01–16–01–11–12–34–23–31–11–10–21–12–01–13–2
New York2–33–34–15–12–02–05–11–12–03–31–10–22–42–41–50–21–12–00–21–11–14–2
Philadelphia4–23–35–15–02–02–06–02–02–04–12–02–05–13–35–12–00–21–12–02–02–04–2
Phoenix1–10–22–02–03–21–41–14–25–01–14–13–31–11–12–00–25–13–24–25–15–00–2
Portland1–11–11–11–12–33–21–14–25–02–03–23–30–21–11–12–01–52–35–13–33–21–1
San Antonio2–00–22–02–04–24–21–14–15–12–03–34–10–22–00–21–12–33–24–11–45–12–0
San Diego1–11–11–11–10–52–31–13–33–21–11–41–50–21–12–00–22–41–51–40–62–30–2
Seattle1–11–12–01–13–22–32–03–34–11–14–11–52–00–21–10–21–53–34–16–05–01–1
Utah0–20–21–12–04–22–42–02–36–00–22–41–40–21–11–10–20–52–31–53–20–50–2
Washington2–43–35–12–32–01–12–30–21–15–10–21–13–33–32–42–42–01–10–22–01–12–0

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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1October 29Golden StateL 117-132Magic Johnson (22)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
15,802
0–1
November: 12–3 (home: 8–0; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
2November 3@ DenverW 135-134 (OT)3 players tied (22)Magic Johnson (15)Magic Johnson (13)McNichols Sports Arena
14,807
1-1
3November 4DenverW 131-108Norm Nixon (21)Kurt Rambis (11)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum
12,815
2–1
4November 6@ UtahW 104-101Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (22)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (8)Salt Palace
11,869
3–1
5November 7PortlandW 103-89Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
13,526
4–1
6November 9Kansas CityW 139-117Norm Nixon (20)Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (7)Norm Nixon (13)The Forum
12,402
5–1
7November 12HoustonW 127-96Magic Johnson (28)Johnson & Wilkes (10)Norm Nixon (10)The Forum
15,804
6–1
8November 14ClevelandW 111-98Jamaal Wilkes (30)Magic Johnson (12)Norm Nixon (12)The Forum
12,806
7–1
9November 16@ PhoenixL 105-113Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)Magic Johnson (7)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13,288
7–2
10November 17@ DallasL 117-118Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)Kurt Rambis (9)Norm Nixon (13)Reunion Arena
17,134
7–3
11November 19WashingtonW 122-92Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)3 players tied (9)Norm Nixon (10)The Forum
14,945
8–3
12November 21DenverW 143-129Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)Kurt Rambis (16)Norm Nixon (15)The Forum
17,505
9–3
13November 24@ SeattleW 111-93James Worthy (26)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Magic Johnson (10)Kingdome
26,230
10–3
14November 26@ San DiegoW 117-115Magic Johnson (32)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Norm Nixon (8)San Diego Sports Arena
12,077
11–3
15November 28Golden StateW 142-127Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)Kurt Rambis (9)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
16,125
12–3
16 [A]November 30@ San AntonioL 114-117Norm Nixon (23)James Worthy (10)Norm Nixon (11)HemisFair Arena
12,115
12–4
December: 12–3 (home: 6–1; road: 6–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
17December 1@ HoustonW 106-95Johnson & McAdoo (19)Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (8)Magic Johnson (10)The Summit
8,786
13–4
18December 3PortlandW 115-100Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)3 players tied (9)Magic Johnson (14)The Forum
13,787
14–4
19December 5PhiladelphiaL 104-114Jamaal Wilkes (22)Bob McAdoo (9)Johnson & Nixon (7)The Forum14–5
20December 8PhoenixW 89-86Jamaal Wilkes (20)Kurt Rambis (13)Magic Johnson (8)The Forum
13,763
15–5
21December 10@ UtahW 128-122Bob McAdoo (26)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (13)Salt Palace
9,023
16–5
22December 11@ Golden StateW 128-107Kurt Rambis (20)Kurt Rambis (14)Cooper & Nixon (9)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13,335
17–5
23December 14@ PortlandL 103-107Magic Johnson (24)Magic Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (12)Memorial Coliseum17–6
24December 17New JerseyW 117-106Jamaal Wilkes (27)Johnson & Wilkes (8)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
15,786
18–6
25December 18@ PhoenixL 100-126Jamaal Wilkes (20)Bob McAdoo (8)James Worthy (7)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,856
18–7
26December 19DallasW 110-108Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
14,094
19–7
27December 22UtahW 124-100Bob McAdoo (22)3 players tied (7)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum
12,358
20–7
28December 23@ San DiegoW 120-115Magic Johnson (23)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (7)Magic Johnson (9)San Diego Sports Arena
8,160
21–7
29December 26@ HoustonW 96-94Jamaal Wilkes (22)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (4)The Summit
10,833
22–7
30December 29@ Golden StateW 120-110Magic Johnson (27)Kurt Rambis (13)Magic Johnson (10)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13,335
23–7
31December 30SeattleW 137-117Norm Nixon (24)Magic Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (16)The Forum
17,505
24–7
January: 10–3 (home: 6–0; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
32January 2DetroitW 127-112Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)Magic Johnson (7)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum
15,343
25–7
33January 5@ PhiladelphiaL 120-122 (OT)Jamaal Wilkes (36)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (20)The Spectrum
18,482
25–8
34January 6@ ClevelandW 125-107Norm Nixon (20)Kurt Rambis (12)Magic Johnson (8)Richfield Coliseum
11,270
26–8
35January 8@ New YorkW 108-90McAdoo & Wilkes (20)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Johnson & Nixon (8)Madison Square Garden
19,591
27–8
36January 11@ New JerseyL 96-110Wilkes & Worthy (17)Johnson & McAdoo (8)Magic Johnson (11)Brendan Byrne Arena
20,149
27–9
37January 15@ AtlantaW 120-101Jamaal Wilkes (21)Magic Johnson (17)Magic Johnson (21)Omni Coliseum
15,956
28–9
38January 19San DiegoW 107-104Jamaal Wilkes (26)Kurt Rambis (10)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum29–9
39January 21San AntonioW 119-110Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)Bob McAdoo (7)Norm Nixon (15)The Forum30–9
40January 23IndianaW 105-102Jamaal Wilkes (28)Bob McAdoo (9)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)The Forum
14,139
31–9
41January 25@ PortlandW 125-120Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (9)Memorial Coliseum
12,666
32–9
42January 26MilwaukeeW 115-113Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (20)The Forum
17,505
33–9
43January 28AtlantaW 109-85Magic Johnson (21)Kurt Rambis (12)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum
17,505
34–9
44January 30@ BostonL 95-110Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (10)Boston Garden
15,320
34–10
February: 6–6 (home: 2–3; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
45February 2@ DallasL 120-122Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34)Johnson & Rambis (9)3 players tied (6)Reunion Arena
17,134
34–11
46February 4@ Kansas CityW 143-125Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (15)Checkerdome35–11
47February 6Kansas CityW 116-106Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18)James Worthy (8)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum
17,505
36–11
48February 8@ SeattleW 121-118Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (11)Kingdome
19,726
37–11
49February 9UtahW 113-99Jamaal Wilkes (22)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum
13,656
38–11
All-Star Break
50February 15San AntonioL 103-124Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Abdul-Jabbar & McAdoo (10)Norm Nixon (12)The Forum
15,111
38–12
51February 17@ DallasW 127-110Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Magic Johnson (11)Reunion Arena
17,134
39–12
52February 18@ Kansas CityL 118-124Jamaal Wilkes (26)Johnson & Worthy (7)Magic Johnson (15)Kemper Arena
15,116
39–13
53February 20@ IndianaW 126-112Magic Johnson (27)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Norm Nixon (13)Market Square Arena
10,952
40–13
54February 23BostonL 104-113Magic Johnson (20)Magic Johnson (13)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
17,505
40–14
55February 26@ UtahL 92-101Jamaal Wilkes (17)3 players tied (9)Magic Johnson (10)Salt Palace
12,097
40–15
56February 27DenverL 120-135Magic Johnson (28)Kurt Rambis (14)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum
17,505
40–16
March: 13–3 (home: 8–1; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
57March 1@ ChicagoW 114-111Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)Chicago Stadium
15,307
41–16
58March 2@ MilwaukeeW 127-117Magic Johnson (34)3 players tied (7)Magic Johnson (15)MECCA Arena
11,052
42–16
59March 4@ WashingtonL 93-96Norm Nixon (26)Kurt Rambis (9)Magic Johnson (10)Capital Centre
17,118
42–17
60March 5@ DetroitW 122-108James Worthy (28)Johnson & Worthy (10)Magic Johnson (16)Pontiac Silverdome
25,278
43–17
61March 8@ Golden StateW 116-112Magic Johnson (31)Magic Johnson (12)Johnson & Nixon (9)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13,335
44–17
62March 9San DiegoW 119-114Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)Magic Johnson (20)The Forum
17,505
45–17
63March 12ChicagoW 123-116Norm Nixon (27)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (14)The Forum
17,505
46–17
64March 16PhoenixW 104-95Magic Johnson (25)Magic Johnson (11)Norm Nixon (12)The Forum
16,060
47–17
65March 18Kansas CityW 109-96Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35)Kurt Rambis (12)Norm Nixon (13)The Forum
15,817
48–17
66March 19@ San DiegoL 99-107Jamaal Wilkes (22)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)Norm Nixon (10)San Diego Sports Arena
13,075
48–18
67March 20DallasW 117-110Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)Kurt Rambis (9)Magic Johnson (16)The Forum
17,505
49–18
68March 22SeattleW 123-108Jamaal Wilkes (26)Magic Johnson (15)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum
17,505
50–18
69March 25San AntonioL 120-132Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum
17,505
50–19
70March 27HoustonW 114-93Magic Johnson (26)Dwight Jones (9)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum
14,719
51–19
71March 29San DiegoW 127-109Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)Magic Johnson (8)The Forum
16,581
52–19
72March 31@ DenverW 122-116Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Magic Johnson (16)Magic Johnson (12)McNichols Sports Arena
17,310
53–19
April: 5–5 (home: 3–2; road: 2–3)
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1May 8San AntonioW 119–107Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (30)3 players tied (8)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum
15,063
1–0
2May 10San AntonioL 113–122Johnson & Nixon (28)Magic Johnson (12)Norm Nixon (11)The Forum
17,505
1–1
3May 13@ San AntonioW 113–100Jamaal Wilkes (26)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (13)HemisFair Arena
15,782
2–1
4May 15@ San AntonioW 129–121Magic Johnson (31)Magic Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (17)HemisFair Arena
15,782
3–1
5May 18San AntonioL 112–117Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum
17,505
3–2
6May 20@ San AntonioW 101–100Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)Magic Johnson (15)Magic Johnson (16)HemisFair Arena
15,782
4–2
NBA Finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1May 22@ PhiladelphiaL 107–113Norm Nixon (26)Mark Landsberger (10)Magic Johnson (11)The Spectrum
18,482
0–1
2May 26@ PhiladelphiaL 93–103Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)Magic Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (13)The Spectrum
18,482
0–2
3May 29PhiladelphiaL 94–111Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
17,505
0–3
4May 31PhiladelphiaL 108–115Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)4 players tied (7)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
17,505
0–4
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

PlayerGPMPGREBASTSTLBLKPTSPPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar7932.359220061170172221.8
Jamaal Wilkes8031.93431826517157119.6
Magic Johnson7936.868382917647132616.8
Norm Nixon7934.32055661044119115.1
Bob McAdoo4721.724739404070315.0
James Worthy7725.63991329164103313.4
Michael Cooper8226.2274315115506397.8
Kurt Rambis7823.253190105635847.5
Dwight Jones3215.3114221391564.9
Mike McGee399.853261151564.0
Clay Johnson489.369242241443.0
Mark Landsberger399.11281284982.5
Eddie Jordan359.52680311942.7
Steve Mix117.0120099.0
Billy Ray Bates46.8101051.3
Joe Cooper25.5201121.0

Playoffs

Award winners/Honors

Transactions

Notes

References