1989–90 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Lakers' 42nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th in the city of Los Angeles.[1] The Lakers drafted Yugoslavian center Vlade Divac with the 26th overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft.[2][3][4][5] Despite the retirement of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and an NBA Finals defeat in which they were swept in four games by the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers got off to a fast start winning ten of their first eleven games,[6] and holding a 35–11 record at the All-Star break,[7] on their way finishing the regular season with a league-best 63–19 record.[8]

1989–90 Los Angeles Lakers season
Division champions
Head coachPat Riley
General managerJerry West
OwnersJerry Buss
ArenaGreat Western Forum
Results
Record63–19 (.768)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Suns 1–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKCAL-TV
Prime Ticket
(Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)
RadioKLAC
(Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)
< 1988–89 1990–91 >

Magic Johnson averaged 22.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while James Worthy averaged 21.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. In addition, Byron Scott provided the team with 15.5 points per game, while A.C. Green provided 12.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, sixth man Orlando Woolridge contributed 12.7 points per game, Mychal Thompson averaged 10.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and Divac contributed 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game off the bench, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.[9] Three members of the team, Johnson, Worthy and Green were all selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game in Miami, Florida, with head coach Pat Riley coaching the Western Conference.[10][11][12][13] Johnson won the All-Star MVP award, despite the Western Conference losing to the Eastern Conference, 130–113.[14][15][16][17][18] Riley was also named Coach of the Year for the first time.[19][20][21]

However, after defeating the Houston Rockets in four games in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs,[22][23][24][25] the Lakers were defeated in the Western Conference Semi-finals by the 5th-seeded Phoenix Suns in five games.[26][27][28][29] It was the first time in nine years that the Lakers did not reach the Western Conference finals, ending a run that started in 1981,[30] the longest series of consecutive NBA Conference finals appearances since Bill Russell's Boston Celtics in 1969.

Following the season, Riley resigned after nine seasons and was replaced by Mike Dunleavy.[31][32][33][34] He would return to coach the New York Knicks for the 1991–92 season.[35][36][37] Also following the season, Orlando Woolridge was traded to the Denver Nuggets,[38][39] and Michael Cooper was released to free agency, and left to play overseas in Italy.[40][41]

Johnson won the league's Most Valuable Player of the Year award (his third in four years) in a controversial voting over Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers. Johnson received fewer first-place votes (27 of the 92 cast) than Barkley (38), but totaled 636 points in the ballot compared to Barkley's 614.[42][43][44][45][46]

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege/Club
126Vlade DivacC  Yugoslavia KK Partizan

Roster

1989–90 Los Angeles Lakers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G21Cooper, Michael6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg)1956–04–15New Mexico
C12Divac, Vlade7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)243 lb (110 kg)1968–02–03Yugoslavia
G10Drew, Larry6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg)1958–04–02Missouri
F45Green, A.C.6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)1963–10–04Oregon State
G32Johnson, Magic6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg)1959–08–14Michigan State
F49McCants, Mel6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)240 lb (109 kg)1967–08–19Purdue
C31McNamara, Mark6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)235 lb (107 kg)1959–06–08California
G4Scott, Byron6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg)1961–03–28Arizona State
C43Thompson, Mychal6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)226 lb (103 kg)1955–01–30Minnesota
F3Vincent, Jay6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg)1959–06–10Michigan State
F0Woolridge, Orlando6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg)1959–12–16Notre Dame
F42Worthy, 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

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers6319.76837–426–1522–6
x-Portland Trail Blazers5923.720435–624–1720–8
x-Phoenix Suns5428.659932–922–1920–8
Seattle SuperSonics4141.5002230–1111–3011–17
Golden State Warriors3745.4512627–1410–3111–17
Los Angeles Clippers3052.3663320–2110–317–21
Sacramento Kings2359.2804016–257–347–21
#
Team W L PCT GB
1z-Los Angeles Lakers6319.768
2y-San Antonio Spurs5626.6837
3x-Portland Trail Blazers5923.7204
4x-Utah Jazz5527.6718
5x-Phoenix Suns5428.6599
6x-Dallas Mavericks4735.57316
7x-Denver Nuggets4339.52420
8x-Houston Rockets4141.50022
9Seattle SuperSonics4141.50022
10Golden State Warriors3745.45126
11Los Angeles Clippers3052.36633
12Sacramento Kings2359.28040
13Minnesota Timberwolves2260.26841
14Charlotte Hornets1963.23244
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1989-90 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta1–32–00–52–30–21–13–22–02–02–31–10–24–03–21–12–21–35–02–20–21–11–11–11–11–12–2
Boston3–12–02–23–11–11–12–21–12–01–31–10–25–02–21–15–14–14–03–21–10–22–01–12–01–12–3
Charlotte0–20–20–21–11–33–20–22–21–41–12–20–41–10–22–21–11–11–10–21–30–41–30–50–40–50–2
Chicago5–02–22–05–02–01–11–42–01–12–31–11–14–04–12–03–13–13–22–22–01–11–11–11–10–23–1
Cleveland3–21–31–10–50–20–21–41–10–23–21–11–14–03–21–14–02–24–12–21–11–12–01–11–11–13–1
Dallas2–01–13–10–22–02–31–13–14–12–03–10–42–01–14–12–01–12–01–11–30–43–13–22–21–31–1
Denver1–11–12–31–12–03–20–22–24–10–22–20–42–01–15–02–01–12–01–11–32–24–01–32–20–41–1
Detroit2–32–22–04–14–11–12–01–11–14–11–11–13–13–22–04–04–05–01–32–01–12–01–11–11–14–0
Golden State0–21–12–20–21–11–32–21–12–21–13–11–42–01–13–12–00–22–01–10–52–23–21–32–32–21–1
Houston0–20–24–11–12–01–41–41–12–21–12–22–21–11–12–21–11–12–01–12–21–34–02–22–23–21–1
Indiana3–23–11–13–22–30–22–01–41–11–10–20–23–13–21–14–01–34–10–41–11–11–11–11–11–13–1
L.A. Clippers1–11–12–21–11–11–32–21–11–32–22–01–40–21–13–12–00–22–00–20–40–52–30–43–20–41–1
L.A. Lakers2–02–04–01–11–14–04–01–14–12–22–04–12–01–14–02–02–01–11–13–12–35–02–24–02–21–1
Miami0–40–51–10–40–40–20–21–30–21–11–32–00–22–21–11–41–53–10–50–20–21–10–20–21–12–3
Milwaukee2–32–22–01–42–31–11–12–31–11–12–31–11–12–22–04–02–25–01–31–11–11–11–12–00–23–1
Minnesota1–11–12–20–21–11–40–50–21–32–21–11–30–41–10–21–11–11–11–10–41–32–21–41–30–51–1
New Jersey2–21–51–11–30–40–20–20–40–21–10–40–20–24–10–41–11–41–31–40–20–21–10–20–20–22–3
New York3–11–41–11–32–21–11–10–42–01–13–12–00–25–12–21–14–12–22–31–10–22–01–11–11–15–0
Orlando0–50–41–12–31–40–20–20–50–20–21–40–21–11–30–51–13–12–22–20–20–21–11–10–21–10–4
Philadelphia2–22–32–02–22–21–11–13–11–11–14–02–01–15–03–11–14–13–22–21–11–11–11–11–11–15–1
Phoenix2–01–13–10–21–13–13–10–25–02–21–14–01–32–01–14–02–01–12–01–12–35–00–43–23–12–0
Portland1–12–04–01–11–14–02–21–12–23–11–15–03–22–01–13–12–02–02–01–13–24–03–13–22–21–1
Sacramento1–10–23–11–10–21–30–40–22–30–41–13–20–51–11–12–21–10–21–11–10–50–40–42–21–31–1
San Antonio1–11–15–01–11–12–33–11–13–12–21–14–02–22–01–14–12–01–11–11–14–01–34–03–13–22–0
Seattle1–10–24–01–11–12–22–21–13–22–21–12–30–42–00–23–12–01–12–01–12–32–32–21–31–32–0
Utah1–11–15–02–01–13–14–01–12–22–31–14–02–21–12–05–02–01–11–11–11–32–23–12–33–12–0
Washington2–23–22–01–31–31–11–10–41–11–11–31–11–13–21–31–13–20–54–01–50–21–11–10–20–20–2

Game log

Regular season

1989–90 game log
Total: 63–19 (home: 37–4; road: 26–15)
November: 11–2 (home: 7–0; road: 4–2)
December: 10–4 (home: 5–1; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
14December 1DetroitL 97-108 (OT)Magic Johnson (28)James Worthy (13)Magic Johnson (10)Great Western Forum
17,505
11-3
15December 3New YorkW 115-104James Worthy (22)Divac & Thompson (8)Magic Johnson (11)Great Western Forum
17,505
12-3
16December 5L.A. ClippersW 111-103Magic Johnson (34)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (10)Great Western Forum
16,035
13-3
17December 7PhoenixW 100-96James Worthy (27)Johnson & Worthy (11)Magic Johnson (12)Great Western Forum
17,257
14-3
18December 9@ WashingtonL 101-103James Worthy (26)James Worthy (10)Magic Johnson (14)Capital Centre
18,756
14-4
19December 10@ OrlandoL 103-108James Worthy (31)Vlade Divac (13)Magic Johnson (8)Orlando Arena
15,077
14-5
20December 12@ CharlotteW 103-89Magic Johnson (27)Vlade Divac (13)Magic Johnson (10)Charlotte Coliseum
23,901
15-5
21December 13@ MiamiW 102-75James Worthy (21)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (8)Miami Arena
15,008
16-5
22December 15@ BostonW 119-110James Worthy (28)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (21)Boston Garden
14,890
17-5
23December 16@ New JerseyW 99-92Magic Johnson (28)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (8)Brendan Byrne Arena
20,049
18-5
24December 19@ ChicagoL 83-93James Worthy (19)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (10)Chicago Stadium
18,676
18-6
25December 20@ MinnesotaW 106-97 (OT)Magic Johnson (26)A.C. Green (15)Magic Johnson (9)Target Center
25,689
19-6
26December 26SacramentoW 104-102Magic Johnson (27)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (14)Great Western Forum
17,505
20-6
27December 29Golden StateW 130-111James Worthy (34)James Worthy (12)Magic Johnson (17)Great Western Forum
17,505
21-6
January: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
28January 3DenverW 114-98Magic Johnson (27)James Worthy (13)Larry Drew (8)Great Western Forum
17,505
22-6
29January 6@ Golden StateL 131-133James Worthy (30)A.C. Green (18)Magic Johnson (16)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025
22-7
30January 7MiamiW 132-93Divac & Johnson (21)Vlade Divac (14)Magic Johnson (9)Great Western Forum
17,505
23-7
31January 9@ PhoenixL 118-121 (OT)James Worthy (25)A.C. Green (15)Magic Johnson (24)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487
23-8
32January 10OrlandoW 121-106Byron Scott (20)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (13)Great Western Forum
16,534
24-8
33January 12HoustonW 107-98Magic Johnson (31)Johnson & Thompson (11)Magic Johnson (11)Great Western Forum
17,505
25-8
34January 15SacramentoW 111-91Divac & Green (25)Mychal Thompson (12)Magic Johnson (10)Great Western Forum
16,844
26-8
35January 17SeattleW 100-90James Worthy (24)James Worthy (13)Magic Johnson (9)Great Western Forum
17,505
27-8
36January 19@ MilwaukeeL 102-103Magic Johnson (26)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (10)Bradley Center
18,633
27-9
37January 21@ DetroitW 107-97James Worthy (31)Green & Thompson (9)Magic Johnson (16)The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454
28-9
38January 23@ New YorkW 118-97Byron Scott (19)A.C. Green (14)Magic Johnson (13)Madison Square Garden
18,212
29-9
39January 24@ IndianaW 120-111Magic Johnson (32)A.C. Green (11)James Worthy (12)Market Square Arena
16,912
30-9
40January 26MilwaukeeW 100-91James Worthy (21)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (17)Great Western Forum
17,505
31-9
41January 29San AntonioL 84-86James Worthy (32)3 players tied (9)Larry Drew (8)Great Western Forum
17,505
31-10
42January 30@ L.A. ClippersL 104-121Byron Scott (24)Vlade Divac (10)Magic Johnson (7)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
15,350
31-11
February: 10–2 (home: 5–2; road: 5–0)
March: 12–4 (home: 7–0; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
55March 2ClevelandW 124-93Magic Johnson (26)Divac & Green (7)Magic Johnson (8)Great Western Forum
17,505
42-13
56March 4MinnesotaW 115-96A.C. Green (27)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (15)Great Western Forum
17,505
43-13
57March 6@ HoustonL 95-112Magic Johnson (27)James Worthy (9)Magic Johnson (8)The Summit
16,611
43-14
58March 7@ DallasW 103-91James Worthy (24)Green & Woolridge (7)Magic Johnson (11)Reunion Arena
17,007
44-14
59March 9Golden StateW 131-115Magic Johnson (33)Magic Johnson (13)Magic Johnson (16)Great Western Forum
17,505
45-14
60March 11@ AtlantaW 123-115Magic Johnson (32)Mychal Thompson (9)Magic Johnson (14)Omni Coliseum
16,371
46-14
61March 12@ CharlotteW 107-102James Worthy (26)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (15)Charlotte Coliseum
23,901
47-14
62March 14@ PhiladelphiaL 110-116Magic Johnson (34)3 players tied (6)Magic Johnson (9)The Spectrum
18,168
47-15
63March 15@ ClevelandL 96-112A.C. Green (20)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (10)Richfield Coliseum
20,273
47-16
64March 17@ MinnesotaW 101-99Magic Johnson (37)Mychal Thompson (8)Magic Johnson (13)Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
43,606
48-16
65March 20CharlotteW 109-97Byron Scott (21)Green & Woolridge (8)Johnson & Scott (6)Great Western Forum
17,505
49-16
66March 23L.A. ClippersW 110-102Magic Johnson (28)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (8)Great Western Forum
17,505
50-16
67March 25SeattleW 116-94Johnson & Woolridge (18)Vlade Divac (12)Magic Johnson (5)Great Western Forum
17,505
51-16
68March 27@ PortlandL 111-130Byron Scott (24)James Worthy (10)Magic Johnson (7)Memorial Coliseum
12,884
51-17
69March 28@ L.A. ClippersW 106-99James Worthy (27)Mychal Thompson (8)Byron Scott (8)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
15,350
52-17
70March 30PortlandW 135-106Magic Johnson (25)Johnson & Thompson (10)Magic Johnson (14)Great Western Forum
17,505
53-17
1989–90 schedule

Playoffs

1990 playoff game log
Total: 4–5 (home: 3–2; road: 1–3)
First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1April 27HoustonW 101–89James Worthy (34)James Worthy (11)Magic Johnson (14)Great Western Forum
17,505
1–0
2April 29HoustonW 104–100James Worthy (32)Magic Johnson (7)Magic Johnson (14)Great Western Forum
17,505
2–0
3May 1@ HoustonL 108–114James Worthy (26)Magic Johnson (8)Magic Johnson (18)The Summit
16,611
2–1
4May 3@ HoustonW 109–88James Worthy (20)James Worthy (7)Magic Johnson (8)The Summit
16,611
3–1
Conference Semi-finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
1990 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field-goal percentage 3P% 3-point field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG

Awards and records

Transactions

References