1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 41st season of the franchise, 39th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 27th in Los Angeles. Coming from a shocking defeat to the Houston Rockets in the previous season's Western Conference Finals in five games, where they won the first game, but proceeded to drop the next four, the Lakers avenged their playoff upset by making the NBA Finals for the sixth time in the 1980s. Prior to reaching the NBA Finals, in the playoffs, the Lakers swept the Denver Nuggets in three games in the First Round, defeated the Golden State Warriors in five games in the Semi-finals, and swept the Seattle SuperSonics in four games in the Conference Finals. This team was named one of the 10 greatest teams in NBA history.

1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachPat Riley
General managerJerry West
OwnersJerry Buss
ArenaThe Forum
Results
Record65–17 (.793)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Celtics 4–2)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionPrime Ticket, KHJ
RadioAM 570 KLAC
< 1985–86 1987–88 >
Championship parade, June 1987

The highlight of the season saw the Lakers winning the NBA Finals, and their tenth NBA title (fifth in Los Angeles) over the defending NBA champions and rivals, the Boston Celtics, in six games. This marked the third and final time the Lakers and Celtics faced off against each other in the NBA Finals in the 1980s, as well as the last time the Lakers and Celtics faced off against each other in the NBA Finals until 2008, where the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4–2 to win their 17th NBA championship. The two teams would then meet again in 2010, where the Lakers defeated the Celtics 4–3 to win their 16th NBA championship.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Club Team
123Ken Barlow  United StatesNotre Dame
369Andre Turner  United StatesMemphis State

Roster

PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C33Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem (C)7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)225 lb (102 kg)1947-04-16UCLA
SF24Branch, Adrian6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)185 lb (84 kg)1963-11-17Maryland
SG21Cooper, Michael6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg)1956-04-15New Mexico
PF45Green, A.C.6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)1963-10-04Oregon State
PG32Johnson, Magic (C)6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg)1959-08-14Michigan State
PG1Matthews, Wes6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg)1959-08-24Wisconsin
PF31Rambis, Kurt6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)213 lb (97 kg)1958-02-25Santa Clara
SG4Scott, Byron6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg)1961-03-28Arizona State
C52Smrek, Mike7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)250 lb (113 kg)1962-08-31Canisius
SF55Thompson, Billy6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)195 lb (88 kg)1963-12-01Louisville
PF00, 43Thompson, Mychal6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)226 lb (103 kg)1955-01-30Minnesota
SF42Worthy, James6 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
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 13, 1987

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers6517.79337–428–1324–6
x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.5981634–715–2617–13
x-Golden State Warriors4240.5122325–1617–2417–13
x-Seattle SuperSonics3943.4762625–1614–2715–15
Phoenix Suns3646.4392926–1510–3114–16
Los Angeles Clippers1270.146539–323–383–27
#
Team W L PCT GB
1z-Los Angeles Lakers6517.793
2y-Dallas Mavericks5527.67110
3x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59816
4x-Utah Jazz4438.53721
5x-Golden State Warriors4240.51223
6x-Houston Rockets4240.51223
7x-Seattle SuperSonics3943.47626
8x-Denver Nuggets3745.45128
9Phoenix Suns3646.43929
10Sacramento Kings2953.35436
11San Antonio Spurs2854.34137
12Los Angeles Clippers1270.14653

Record vs. opponents

1986-87 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMILNJNNYKPHIPHOPORSACSASSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta3–34–24–22–02–03–31–11–13–32–01–13–35–05–13–31–11–12–02–02–02–05–0
Boston3–36–03–22–02–03–22–02–05–12–00–23–34–24–23–32–02–02–02–02–01–14–2
Chicago2–40–65–11–11–13–30–20–23–22–00–24–23–24–23–31–11–11–11–12–00–23–3
Cleveland2–42–31–50–21–11–51–10–23–32–00–21–54–24–12–41–11–11–11–11–10–22–4
Dallas0–20–21–12–04–21–15–03–30–25–03–22–02–02–02–03–22–35–14–25–03–31–1
Denver0–20–21–11–12–40–24–13–31–12–30–51–12–02–00–23–23–22–45–12–32–41–1
Detroit3–32–33–35–11–12–01–11–13–32–01–13–35–16–05–01–10–21–11–12–01–13–3
Golden State1–10–22–01–10–51–41–14–10–26–02–40–22–02–01–11–54–24–14–14–22–30–2
Houston1–10–22–02–03–33–31–11–42–04–11–40–21–11–10–23–22–35–15–11–43–31–1
Indiana3–31–52–33–32–01–13–32–00–22–00–22–45–13–22–41–10–21–12–01–11–14–2
L.A. Clippers0–20–20–20–20–53–20–20–61–40–20–60–21–10–20–21–50–61–41–42–42–30–2
L.A. Lakers1–12–02–02–02–35–01–14–24–12–06–01–12–02–02–05–15–15–04–14–23–21–1
Milwaukee3–33–32–45–10–21–13–32–02–04–22–01–14–24–22–32–00–22–01–12–01–14–1
New Jersey0–52–42–32–40–20–21–50–21–11–51–10–22–45–13–31–10–20–20–20–21–12–4
New York1–52–42–41–40–20–20–60–21–12–32–00–22–41–53–31–10–22–01–10–21–12–4
Philadelphia3–33–33–34–20–22–00–51–12–04–22–00–23–23–33–31–12–02–01–12–01–13–3
Phoenix1–10–21–11–12–32–31–15–12–31–15–11–50–21–11–11–12–42–32–31–54–10–2
Portland1–10–21–11–13–22–32–02–43–22–06–01–52–02–02–00–24–23–24–14–23–21–1
Sacramento0–20–21–11–11–54–21–11–41–51–14–10–50–22–00–20–23–22–33–32–31–51–1
San Antonio0–20–21–11–12–41–51–11–41–50–24–11–41–12–01–11–13–21–43–31–42–40–2
Seattle0–20–20–21–10–53–20–22–44–11–14–22–40–22–02–00–25–12–43–24–13–21–1
Utah0–21–12–02–03–34–21–13–23–31–13–22–31–11–11–11–11–42–35–14–22–31–1
Washington0–52–43–34–21–11–13–32–01–12–42–01–11–44–24–23–32–01–11–12–01–11–1

Game log

Regular season

1986–87 game log
Total: 65–17 (Home: 37–4; Road: 28–13)
November: 12–2 (home: 8–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1November 1@ HoustonL 102-112Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)Kurt Rambis (13)Magic Johnson (10)The Summit
16,016
0-1
2November 4@ SeattleW 110-96James Worthy (26)Kurt Rambis (17)Magic Johnson (10)Seattle Center Coliseum
10,426
1-1
3November 7DenverW 138-116James Worthy (30)Abdul-Jabbar & Brickowski (9)Magic Johnson (18)The Forum
15,872
2-1
4November 9New YorkW 111-88James Worthy (22)Abdul-Jabbar & B. Thompson (6)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum
17,505
3-1
5November 12SeattleW 122-97Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)Kurt Rambis (9)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
13,694
4-1
6November 16SacramentoW 113-111Magic Johnson (34)Kurt Rambis (12)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum
13,421
5-1
7November 18@ DallasW 114-110Magic Johnson (29)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Magic Johnson (9)Reunion Arena
17,007
6-1
8November 19@ San AntonioW 117-108Magic Johnson (25)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (13)HemisFair Arena
10,581
7-1
9November 21New JerseyW 111-95James Worthy (26)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
14,918
8-1
10November 23MilwaukeeW 127-117Magic Johnson (23)Byron Scott (9)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
16,251
9-1
11November 25AtlantaL 107-113Magic Johnson (22)A.C. Green (7)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)The Forum
17,505
9-2
12November 26@ L.A. ClippersW 126-92A.C. Green (19)A.C. Green (7)Magic Johnson (14)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
12,110
10-2
13November 28ChicagoW 110-103Magic Johnson (30)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum
17,505
11-2
14November 30L.A. ClippersW 137-115Byron Scott (26)Billy Thompson (13)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
13,099
12-2
December: 10–4 (home: 5–0; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
15December 4@ Golden StateL 106-116Magic Johnson (28)James Worthy (12)Johnson & Scott (6)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025
12-3
16December 5DallasW 112-104Magic Johnson (27)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
15,896
13-3
17December 7Golden StateW 132-100Byron Scott (26)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
14,937
14-3
18December 9@ New YorkW 113-87Magic Johnson (22)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (15)Madison Square Garden
19,320
15-3
19December 10@ MilwaukeeL 93-116James Worthy (24)James Worthy (6)Wes Matthews (6)MECCA Arena
11,052
15-4
20December 12@ BostonW 117-110Magic Johnson (31)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (8)Boston Garden
14,890
16-4
21December 13@ DetroitL 114-119Magic Johnson (34)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (9)Pontiac Silverdome
33,447
16-5
22December 16@ ClevelandW 121-116Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (25)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (14)Richfield Coliseum
17,755
17-5
23December 18PortlandW 131-115Byron Scott (27)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)Magic Johnson (18)The Forum
15,007
18-5
24December 20@ DallasL 119-130Magic Johnson (34)A.C. Green (15)Magic Johnson (15)Reunion Arena
17,007
18-6
25December 21@ HoustonW 103-96Magic Johnson (38)A.C. Green (16)Magic Johnson (16)The Summit
16,016
19-6
26December 23@ SacramentoW 127-117 (OT)Magic Johnson (46)A.C. Green (16)Magic Johnson (9)ARCO Arena I
10,333
20-6
27December 26HoustonW 134-111Magic Johnson (30)Kurt Rambis (6)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum
17,505
21-6
28December 28PhiladelphiaW 111-85Magic Johnson (28)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum
17,505
22-6
January: 12–4 (home: 6–0; road: 6–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
29January 1@ PortlandW 140-104Byron Scott (31)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (18)Memorial Coliseum
12,666
23-6
30January 2PhoenixW 155-118Magic Johnson (32)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (14)The Forum
17,505
24-6
31January 4UtahW 121-113Magic Johnson (26)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum
17,505
25-6
32January 7DenverW 147-109Byron Scott (23)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum
15,777
26-6
33January 8@ UtahL 101-107Magic Johnson (25)A.C. Green (14)Magic Johnson (9)Salt Palace
12,212
26-7
34January 10@ Golden StateL 109-124Magic Johnson (38)Green & Rambis (7)Magic Johnson (7)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025
26-8
35January 11San AntonioW 111-109James Worthy (30)Kurt Rambis (6)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum
15,294
27-8
36January 15Golden StateW 129-109Johnson & Worthy (31)James Worthy (13)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum
17,505
28-8
37January 18@ WashingtonW 115-101Magic Johnson (26)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (10)Capital Centre
19,411
29-8
38January 19@ New JerseyW 126-115Magic Johnson (42)Magic Johnson (11)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (7)Brendan Byrne Arena
14,197
30-8
39January 21@ AtlantaW 112-109James Worthy (27)Green & Worthy (11)Magic Johnson (9)Omni Coliseum
16,522
31-8
40January 22@ IndianaW 118-108Magic Johnson (29)Johnson & Rambis (10)Magic Johnson (11)Market Square Arena
16,912
32-8
41January 24@ DallasL 117-132Magic Johnson (25)James Worthy (8)Magic Johnson (12)Reunion Arena
17,007
32-9
42January 27PortlandW 107-100Byron Scott (21)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum
15,989
33-9
43January 28@ SeattleL 101-125Magic Johnson (24)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (11)Seattle Center Coliseum
14,634
33-10
44January 30@ PhoenixW 114-102A.C. Green (24)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)Magic Johnson (19)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,471
34-10
February: 10–4 (home: 5–2; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
45February 2DallasL 99-103Byron Scott (21)A.C. Green (9)Michael Cooper (10)The Forum
17,505
34-11
46February 4SacramentoW 128-92Byron Scott (21)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (17)The Forum
14,729
35-11
47February 5@ PortlandL 104-105Magic Johnson (26)A.C. Green (16)Magic Johnson (10)Memorial Coliseum
12,666
35-12
All-Star Break
48February 10@ SacramentoW 114-98Byron Scott (30)Kurt Rambis (11)Magic Johnson (13)ARCO Arena I
10,333
36-12
49February 13IndianaW 113-108Magic Johnson (40)James Worthy (9)Cooper & Johnson (7)The Forum
17,505
37-12
50February 15BostonW 106-103Magic Johnson (39)Johnson & Worthy (7)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
17,505
38-12
51February 17WashingtonL 99-114James Worthy (21)Kurt Rambis (13)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
17,505
38-13
52February 18@ DenverW 128-122Magic Johnson (37)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (16)McNichols Sports Arena
17,022
39-13
53February 20@ ChicagoW 110-100Magic Johnson (28)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)Magic Johnson (16)Chicago Stadium
18,079
40-13
54February 22@ PhiladelphiaW 112-110 (OT)James Worthy (24)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (18)The Spectrum
17,967
41-13
55February 24@ PhoenixW 97-93Cooper & Scott (21)A.C. Green (15)Michael Cooper (7)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,686
42-13
56February 25PhoenixW 99-91Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (9)Michael Cooper (8)The Forum
16,416
43-13
57February 27Golden StateW 121-109Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum
17,505
44-13
58February 28@ UtahL 100-107Magic Johnson (24)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (14)Salt Palace
12,212
44-14
March: 13–1 (home: 10–0; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
59March 3@ Golden StateW 114-109Byron Scott (26)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (17)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025
45-14
60March 4SeattleW 138-124Magic Johnson (31)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum
17,505
46-14
61March 7ClevelandW 122-118James Worthy (31)3 players tied (8)Magic Johnson (17)The Forum
17,505
47-14
62March 9@ L.A. ClippersW 136-114Byron Scott (30)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (15)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
12,067
48-14
63March 10DenverW 143-107James Worthy (23)Kurt Rambis (15)Magic Johnson (20)The Forum
17,505
49-14
64March 12PortlandW 125-116Magic Johnson (25)Cooper & Rambis (7)Magic Johnson (16)The Forum
17,505
50-14
65March 15L.A. ClippersW 115-101Magic Johnson (20)Kurt Rambis (18)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
17,505
51-14
66March 18UtahW 111-97Magic Johnson (27)A.C. Green (13)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum
17,505
52-14
67March 20San AntonioW 147-115Byron Scott (22)A.C. Green (17)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum
17,505
53-14
68March 22SacramentoW 129-121Magic Johnson (33)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum
17,505
54-14
69March 24@ PhoenixL 93-108James Worthy (23)A.C. Green (11)Michael Cooper (9)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,907
54-15
70March 26DetroitW 128-111Byron Scott (25)A.C. Green (14)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum
17,505
55-15
71March 28@ HoustonW 123-109Magic Johnson (31)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)Magic Johnson (13)The Summit
16,279
56-15
72March 31HoustonW 111-96Magic Johnson (21)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
17,505
57-15
April: 8–2 (home: 3–1; road: 5–1)
1986–87 schedule

Playoffs

1987 playoff game log
Total: 15–3 (Home: 10–0; Road: 5–3)
First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1April 23DenverW 128–95James Worthy (28)Mychal Thompson (9)Magic Johnson (14)The Forum
17,505
1–0
2April 25DenverW 139–127Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)A.C. Green (13)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum
17,297
2–0
3April 29@ DenverW 140–103Byron Scott (25)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (14)McNichols Sports Arena
15,137
3–0
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1May 16SeattleW 87–82James Worthy (27)Magic Johnson (7)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum
17,505
1–0
2May 19SeattleW 112–104James Worthy (30)A.C. Green (14)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum
17,505
2–0
3May 23@ SeattleW 122–121James Worthy (39)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Magic Johnson (11)Seattle Center Coliseum
14,657
3–0
4May 25@ SeattleW 133–102James Worthy (26)A.C. Green (13)Magic Johnson (12)Seattle Center Coliseum
14,477
4–0
NBA Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1June 2BostonW 126–113James Worthy (33)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum
17,505
1–0
2June 4BostonW 141–122Byron Scott (24)Johnson & Rambis (5)Magic Johnson (20)The Forum
17,505
2–0
3June 7@ BostonL 103–109Magic Johnson (32)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (9)Boston Garden
14,890
2–1
4June 9@ BostonW 107–106Magic Johnson (29)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Cooper & Johnson (5)Boston Garden
14,890
3–1
5June 11@ BostonL 108–123Magic Johnson (29)Magic Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (12)Boston Garden
14,890
3–2
6June 14BostonW 106–93Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)Mychal Thompson (9)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum
17,505
4–2
1987 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
Magic Johnson8036.350497713836190923.8
James Worthy8234.446622610883159419.4
Byron Scott8233.328628112518139717.0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar7831.35232034997136617.5
Michael Cooper8227.5254373784385910.5
A.C. Green7928.461584708085210.8
Kurt Rambis7819.44536374414465.7
Mychal Thompson3320.613628143033310.1
Billy Thompson5912.91716015303325.6
Wes Matthews5010.6471002342084.2
Frank Brickowski3710.997121441463.9
Adrian Branch326.853161631384.3
Mike Smrek356.7375413762.2

Playoffs

Award winners

Transactions

References