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 .
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 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 SF 24 Branch, Adrian 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)185 lb (84 kg) 1963-11-17 Maryland SG 21 Cooper, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg) 1956-04-15 New Mexico PF 45 Green, A.C. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg) 1963-10-04 Oregon State PG 32 Johnson, Magic (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg) 1959-08-14 Michigan State PG 1 Matthews, Wes 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) 1959-08-24 Wisconsin PF 31 Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)213 lb (97 kg) 1958-02-25 Santa Clara SG 4 Scott, Byron 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg) 1961-03-28 Arizona State C 52 Smrek, Mike 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)250 lb (113 kg) 1962-08-31 Canisius SF 55 Thompson, Billy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)195 lb (88 kg) 1963-12-01 Louisville PF 00, 43 Thompson, Mychal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)226 lb (103 kg) 1955-01-30 Minnesota SF 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 InjuredRoster Last transaction: February 13, 1987
Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents 1986-87 NBA Records Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS Atlanta – 3–3 4–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0 Boston 3–3 – 6–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 Chicago 2–4 0–6 – 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 3–2 4–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 Cleveland 2–4 2–3 1–5 – 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–0 0–2 1–5 4–2 4–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–4 Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 – 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–3 0–2 5–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 3–3 1–1 Denver 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 – 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 5–1 2–3 2–4 1–1 Detroit 3–3 2–3 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 6–0 5–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 Golden State 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–4 1–1 – 4–1 0–2 6–0 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–5 4–2 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–3 0–2 Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 3–3 1–1 1–4 – 2–0 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 5–1 5–1 1–4 3–3 1–1 Indiana 3–3 1–5 2–3 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 – 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2 L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 0–2 0–6 1–4 0–2 – 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–6 1–4 1–4 2–4 2–3 0–2 L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 5–0 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 6–0 – 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 5–1 5–0 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 2–4 5–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 – 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 New Jersey 0–5 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 2–4 – 5–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 New York 1–5 2–4 2–4 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–4 1–5 – 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 Philadelphia 3–3 3–3 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–3 3–3 – 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 – 2–4 2–3 2–3 1–5 4–1 0–2 Portland 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 2–4 3–2 2–0 6–0 1–5 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–2 – 3–2 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 4–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 1–1 4–1 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–3 – 3–3 2–3 1–5 1–1 San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–4 1–5 0–2 4–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 – 1–4 2–4 0–2 Seattle 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 3–2 0–2 2–4 4–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 5–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 – 3–2 1–1 Utah 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 5–1 4–2 2–3 – 1–1 Washington 0–5 2–4 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–4 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 —
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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 1 @ Houston L 102-112 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)Kurt Rambis (13)Magic Johnson (10)The Summit 16,0160-1 2 November 4 @ Seattle W 110-96 James Worthy (26)Kurt Rambis (17)Magic Johnson (10)Seattle Center Coliseum 10,4261-1 3 November 7 Denver W 138-116 James Worthy (30)Abdul-Jabbar & Brickowski (9)Magic Johnson (18)The Forum 15,8722-1 4 November 9 New York W 111-88 James Worthy (22)Abdul-Jabbar & B. Thompson (6)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum 17,5053-1 5 November 12 Seattle W 122-97 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)Kurt Rambis (9)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 13,6944-1 6 November 16 Sacramento W 113-111 Magic Johnson (34)Kurt Rambis (12)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 13,4215-1 7 November 18 @ Dallas W 114-110 Magic Johnson (29)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Magic Johnson (9)Reunion Arena 17,0076-1 8 November 19 @ San Antonio W 117-108 Magic Johnson (25)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (13)HemisFair Arena 10,5817-1 9 November 21 New Jersey W 111-95 James Worthy (26)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 14,9188-1 10 November 23 Milwaukee W 127-117 Magic Johnson (23)Byron Scott (9)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 16,2519-1 11 November 25 Atlanta L 107-113 Magic Johnson (22)A.C. Green (7)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)The Forum 17,5059-2 12 November 26 @ L.A. Clippers W 126-92 A.C. Green (19)A.C. Green (7)Magic Johnson (14)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12,11010-2 13 November 28 Chicago W 110-103 Magic Johnson (30)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum 17,50511-2 14 November 30 L.A. Clippers W 137-115 Byron Scott (26)Billy Thompson (13)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum 13,09912-2
December: 10–4 (home: 5–0; road: 5–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 December 4 @ Golden State L 106-116 Magic Johnson (28)James Worthy (12)Johnson & Scott (6)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,02512-3 16 December 5 Dallas W 112-104 Magic Johnson (27)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 15,89613-3 17 December 7 Golden State W 132-100 Byron Scott (26)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum 14,93714-3 18 December 9 @ New York W 113-87 Magic Johnson (22)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (15)Madison Square Garden 19,32015-3 19 December 10 @ Milwaukee L 93-116 James Worthy (24)James Worthy (6)Wes Matthews (6)MECCA Arena 11,05215-4 20 December 12 @ Boston W 117-110 Magic Johnson (31)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (8)Boston Garden 14,89016-4 21 December 13 @ Detroit L 114-119 Magic Johnson (34)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (9)Pontiac Silverdome 33,44716-5 22 December 16 @ Cleveland W 121-116 Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (25)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (14)Richfield Coliseum 17,75517-5 23 December 18 Portland W 131-115 Byron Scott (27)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)Magic Johnson (18)The Forum 15,00718-5 24 December 20 @ Dallas L 119-130 Magic Johnson (34)A.C. Green (15)Magic Johnson (15)Reunion Arena 17,00718-6 25 December 21 @ Houston W 103-96 Magic Johnson (38)A.C. Green (16)Magic Johnson (16)The Summit 16,01619-6 26 December 23 @ Sacramento W 127-117 (OT) Magic Johnson (46)A.C. Green (16)Magic Johnson (9)ARCO Arena I 10,33320-6 27 December 26 Houston W 134-111 Magic Johnson (30)Kurt Rambis (6)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum 17,50521-6 28 December 28 Philadelphia W 111-85 Magic Johnson (28)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum 17,50522-6
January: 12–4 (home: 6–0; road: 6–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 29 January 1 @ Portland W 140-104 Byron Scott (31)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (18)Memorial Coliseum 12,66623-6 30 January 2 Phoenix W 155-118 Magic Johnson (32)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (14)The Forum 17,50524-6 31 January 4 Utah W 121-113 Magic Johnson (26)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum 17,50525-6 32 January 7 Denver W 147-109 Byron Scott (23)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 15,77726-6 33 January 8 @ Utah L 101-107 Magic Johnson (25)A.C. Green (14)Magic Johnson (9)Salt Palace 12,21226-7 34 January 10 @ Golden State L 109-124 Magic Johnson (38)Green & Rambis (7)Magic Johnson (7)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,02526-8 35 January 11 San Antonio W 111-109 James Worthy (30)Kurt Rambis (6)Magic Johnson (9)The Forum 15,29427-8 36 January 15 Golden State W 129-109 Johnson & Worthy (31)James Worthy (13)Magic Johnson (12)The Forum 17,50528-8 37 January 18 @ Washington W 115-101 Magic Johnson (26)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (10)Capital Centre 19,41129-8 38 January 19 @ New Jersey W 126-115 Magic Johnson (42)Magic Johnson (11)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (7)Brendan Byrne Arena 14,19730-8 39 January 21 @ Atlanta W 112-109 James Worthy (27)Green & Worthy (11)Magic Johnson (9)Omni Coliseum 16,52231-8 40 January 22 @ Indiana W 118-108 Magic Johnson (29)Johnson & Rambis (10)Magic Johnson (11)Market Square Arena 16,91232-8 41 January 24 @ Dallas L 117-132 Magic Johnson (25)James Worthy (8)Magic Johnson (12)Reunion Arena 17,00732-9 42 January 27 Portland W 107-100 Byron Scott (21)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum 15,98933-9 43 January 28 @ Seattle L 101-125 Magic Johnson (24)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (11)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,63433-10 44 January 30 @ Phoenix W 114-102 A.C. Green (24)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)Magic Johnson (19)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,47134-10
February: 10–4 (home: 5–2; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 2 Dallas L 99-103 Byron Scott (21)A.C. Green (9)Michael Cooper (10)The Forum 17,50534-11 46 February 4 Sacramento W 128-92 Byron Scott (21)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (17)The Forum 14,72935-11 47 February 5 @ Portland L 104-105 Magic Johnson (26)A.C. Green (16)Magic Johnson (10)Memorial Coliseum 12,66635-12 All-Star Break 48 February 10 @ Sacramento W 114-98 Byron Scott (30)Kurt Rambis (11)Magic Johnson (13)ARCO Arena I 10,33336-12 49 February 13 Indiana W 113-108 Magic Johnson (40)James Worthy (9)Cooper & Johnson (7)The Forum 17,50537-12 50 February 15 Boston W 106-103 Magic Johnson (39)Johnson & Worthy (7)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 17,50538-12 51 February 17 Washington L 99-114 James Worthy (21)Kurt Rambis (13)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 17,50538-13 52 February 18 @ Denver W 128-122 Magic Johnson (37)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)Magic Johnson (16)McNichols Sports Arena 17,02239-13 53 February 20 @ Chicago W 110-100 Magic Johnson (28)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)Magic Johnson (16)Chicago Stadium 18,07940-13 54 February 22 @ Philadelphia W 112-110 (OT) James Worthy (24)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (18)The Spectrum 17,96741-13 55 February 24 @ Phoenix W 97-93 Cooper & Scott (21)A.C. Green (15)Michael Cooper (7)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,68642-13 56 February 25 Phoenix W 99-91 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (9)Michael Cooper (8)The Forum 16,41643-13 57 February 27 Golden State W 121-109 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum 17,50544-13 58 February 28 @ Utah L 100-107 Magic Johnson (24)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (14)Salt Palace 12,21244-14
March: 13–1 (home: 10–0; road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 3 @ Golden State W 114-109 Byron Scott (26)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (17)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,02545-14 60 March 4 Seattle W 138-124 Magic Johnson (31)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum 17,50546-14 61 March 7 Cleveland W 122-118 James Worthy (31)3 players tied (8) Magic Johnson (17)The Forum 17,50547-14 62 March 9 @ L.A. Clippers W 136-114 Byron Scott (30)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (15)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12,06748-14 63 March 10 Denver W 143-107 James Worthy (23)Kurt Rambis (15)Magic Johnson (20)The Forum 17,50549-14 64 March 12 Portland W 125-116 Magic Johnson (25)Cooper & Rambis (7)Magic Johnson (16)The Forum 17,50550-14 65 March 15 L.A. Clippers W 115-101 Magic Johnson (20)Kurt Rambis (18)Magic Johnson (10)The Forum 17,50551-14 66 March 18 Utah W 111-97 Magic Johnson (27)A.C. Green (13)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum 17,50552-14 67 March 20 San Antonio W 147-115 Byron Scott (22)A.C. Green (17)Magic Johnson (11)The Forum 17,50553-14 68 March 22 Sacramento W 129-121 Magic Johnson (33)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum 17,50554-14 69 March 24 @ Phoenix L 93-108 James Worthy (23)A.C. Green (11)Michael Cooper (9)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,90754-15 70 March 26 Detroit W 128-111 Byron Scott (25)A.C. Green (14)Magic Johnson (15)The Forum 17,50555-15 71 March 28 @ Houston W 123-109 Magic Johnson (31)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)Magic Johnson (13)The Summit 16,27956-15 72 March 31 Houston W 111-96 Magic Johnson (21)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum 17,50557-15
April: 8–2 (home: 3–1; road: 5–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 73 April 2 @ Seattle W 117-114 Magic Johnson (34)Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (13)Seattle Center Coliseum 14,73958-15 74 April 3 @ Portland W 127-121 Magic Johnson (35)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (11)Memorial Coliseum 12,66659-15 75 April 5 @ Denver W 126-118 Magic Johnson (23)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (10)McNichols Sports Arena 17,02260-15 76 April 6 L.A. Clippers W 135-112 James Worthy (20)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (16)The Forum 14,77761-15 77 April 9 @ L.A. Clippers W 118-100 Magic Johnson (28)Kurt Rambis (10)Magic Johnson (11)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 13,80162-15 78 April 10 San Antonio W 131-121 James Worthy (24)A.C. Green (14)Magic Johnson (13)The Forum 17,50563-15 79 April 12 Phoenix W 119-104 James Worthy (26)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (19)The Forum 17,50564-15 80 April 16 @ Utah W 110-97 Magic Johnson (31)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (10)Magic Johnson (8)Salt Palace 12,21265-15 81 April 17 @ San Antonio L 103-115 Mychal Thompson (20)Kurt Rambis (7)Johnson & Worthy (6)HemisFair Arena 12,87265-16 82 April 19 Seattle L 104-110 Byron Scott (25)Mychal Thompson (12)Magic Johnson (7)The Forum 17,50565-17
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)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
NBA Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
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 Playoffs Award winners Transactions References