1990–91 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1990–91 NBA season was the Lakers' 43rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st in the city of Los Angeles.[1] This season's highlight was Magic Johnson leading the Lakers to the NBA Finals, where they lost in five games to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.[2][3][4][5][6] The Lakers would not return to the Finals until 2000. The season is generally considered the final season of the team's successful, uptempo Showtime era.[7][8]

1990–91 Los Angeles Lakers season
Conference champions
Head coachMike Dunleavy Sr.
General managerJerry West
Owner(s)Jerry Buss
ArenaGreat Western Forum
Results
Record58–24 (.707)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 3rd (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Bulls 1–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKCAL
Prime Ticket
RadioKLAC
< 1989–90 1991–92 >

During the off-season, the team signed free agent Sam Perkins,[9][10][11] and acquired Terry Teagle from the Golden State Warriors.[12][13][14] The Lakers held a 35–11 record at the All-Star break,[15] and finished the regular season with a 58–24 record, but for the first time since the 1980–81 season, did not win their division.[16] Johnson finished second behind Jordan in the voting for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.[17][18][19][20] Johnson was the league's third-oldest point guard, and had grown more powerful and stronger than in his earlier years, but was also slower and less nimble.[21] Mike Dunleavy was the new head coach, the offense used more half-court sets, and the team had a renewed emphasis on defense.[22][23]

Johnson averaged 19.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 12.5 assists per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while James Worthy led the team in scoring averaging 21.4 points per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Johnson and Worthy were both selected to play in the 1991 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte.[24][25] In addition, Byron Scott provided the team with 14.5 points per game, while Perkins contributed 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, second-year center Vlade Divac provided with 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, A.C. Green played most of the season off the bench, averaging 9.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and Teagle contributed 9.9 points per game off the bench.[26]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Lakers swept the Houston Rockets in three straight games,[27][28][29][30] then defeated the 7th-seeded Golden State Warriors in five games in the Western Conference Semi-finals.[31][32][33][34] In the Western Conference finals, they defeated the top-seeded and Pacific Division champion Portland Trail Blazers in six games to advance to the NBA Finals.[35][36][37][38] Following the season, Mychal Thompson retired.

Game 5 of the NBA Finals was the last Finals game played at the Forum. It was also Magic's last NBA game before his retirement that November due to his diagnosis with the HIV virus,[39][40][41][42][43] although he would play in the All-Star Game in 1992 and the Dream Team that summer. Magic would make a brief return to the Lakers midway through the 1995–96 NBA season.[44][45][46][47] After losing to the Houston Rockets in that year's playoffs, Magic retired again for good.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
127Elden CampbellPF/C  United StatesClemson
251Tony SmithSG  United StatesMarquette

Roster

1990–91 Los Angeles Lakers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
F41Campbell, Elden6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)215 lb (98 kg)1968–07–23Clemson
C12Divac, Vlade7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)243 lb (110 kg)1968–02–03Serbia
G10Drew, Larry6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg)1958–04–02Missouri
F45Green, AC6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg)1963–10–04Oregon State
G32Johnson, Magic (C)6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg)1959–08–14Michigan State
F14Perkins, Sam6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)235 lb (107 kg)1961–06–14North Carolina
G4Scott, Byron6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg)1961–03–28Arizona State
G34Smith, Tony6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg)1968–06–14Marquette
G20Teagle, Terry6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg)1960–04–10Baylor
F30Thomas, Irving6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg)1966–01–02Florida State
C43Thompson, Mychal6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)226 lb (103 kg)1955–01–30Minnesota
F42Worthy, James (C)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
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: December 6, 1990

Regular season

  • April 15, 1991 – Magic Johnson established the standard for most assists in a career with 9,888.[48] The previous record holder was Oscar Robertson. For the season, Magic would establish a team record with 989 assists for the season. Magic would finish the season with a career total of 9,921.

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers6319.76836–527–1418-10
x-Los Angeles Lakers5824.707533–825-1619-9
x-Phoenix Suns5527.671832–923-1817–11
x-Golden State Warriors4438.5371930–1114–2713–15
x-Seattle SuperSonics4141.5002228-1313–2812-16
Los Angeles Clippers3151.3783223–188-3310-18
Sacramento Kings2557.3053824-171–409–19
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
#
Team W L PCT GB
1z-Portland Trail Blazers6319.768
2y-San Antonio Spurs5527.6718
3x-Los Angeles Lakers5824.7075
4x-Phoenix Suns5527.6718
5x-Utah Jazz5428.6599
6x-Houston Rockets5230.63411
7x-Golden State Warriors4438.53719
8x-Seattle SuperSonics4141.50022
9Orlando Magic3151.37832
10Los Angeles Clippers3151.37832
11Minnesota Timberwolves2953.35434
12Dallas Mavericks2854.34135
13Sacramento Kings2557.30538
14Denver Nuggets2062.24443
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1990-91 NBA Records
TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEAUTAWAS
Atlanta3–11–41–43–22–01–10–51–11–14–12–01–14–02–31–13–13–11–10–40–21–12–02–01–11–12–2
Boston1–33–12–23–12–02–02–21–12–02–22–01–14–12–22–04–15–01–12–31–11–12–01–12–01–15–1
Charlotte4–11–30–51–41–10–21–41–10–20–51–10–22–22–31–12–20–42–02–20–20–22–01–10–20–22–2
Chicago4–12–25–05–02–02–03–21–10–24–12–01–14–04–12–03–14–02–01–31–10–22–00–22–02–03–1
Cleveland2–31–34–10–52–01–12–30–20–21–41–11–13–12–31–12–23–12–02–20–20–21–10–21–10–21–3
Dallas0–20–21–10–20–23–10–22–21–32–01–32–20–21–11–42–02–01–41–10–41–32–21–42–20–52–0
Denver1–10–22–00–21–11–30–21–30–50–20–40–40–21–13–21–11–12–30–20–40–43–11–40–41–31–1
Detroit5–02–24–12–33–22–02–01–12–03–22–00–23–12–32–03–11–32–02–20–21–12–00–21–10–23–1
Golden State1–11–11–11–12–02–23–11–12–21–13–22–32–01–13–11–12–02–22–01–32–32–32–23–11–30–2
Houston1–10–22–02–02–03–15–00–22–21–12–21–32–02–05–02–02–03–22–03–10–43–12–32–22–21–1
Indiana1–42–25–01–44–10–22–02–31–11–11–10–22–22–31–13–12–21–11–31–10–22–01–11–12–02–2
L.A. Clippers0–20–21–10–21–13–14–00–22–32–21–10–40–21–13–11–10–21–30–22–31–33–22–22–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers1–11–12–01–11–12–24–02–03–23–12–04–02–00–23–12–01–14–01–13–22–34–03–13–22–22–0
Miami0–41–42–20–41–32–02–01–30–20–22–22–00–20–40–23–31–41–11–40–20–21–10–20–21–13–2
Milwaukee3–22–23–21–43–21–11–13–21–10–23–21–12–04–01–12–24–02–02–21–11–11–11–11–11–13–1
Minnesota1–10–21–10–21–14–12–30–21–30–51–11–31–32–01–11–11–12–22–00–40–43–10–42–21–41–1
New Jersey1–31–42–21–32–20–21–11–31–10–21–31–10–23–32–21–10–51–12–31–10–21–10–21–10–22–3
New York1–30–54–00–41–30–21–13–10–20–22–22–01–14–10–41–15–00–25–10–20–22–01–11–12–03–2
Orlando1–11–10–20–20–24–13–20–22–22–31–13–10–41–10–22–21–12–00–22–20–42–21–31–31–41–1
Philadelphia4–03–22–23–12–21–12–02–20–20–23–12–01–14–12–20–23–21–52–01–11–11–10–21–10–23–2
Phoenix2–01–12–01–12–04–04–02–03–11–31–13–22–32–01–14–01–12–02–21–13–23–11–33–22–22–0
Portland1–11–12–02–02–03–14–01–13–24–02–03–13–22–01–14–02–02–04–01–12–33–22–24–03–12–0
Sacramento0–20–20–20–21–12–21–30–23–21–30–22–30–41–11–11–31–10–22–21–11–32–31–31–41–32–0
San Antonio0–21–11–12–02–04–14–12–02–23–21–12–21–32–01–14–02–01–13–12–03–12–23–13–12–32–0
Seattle1–10–22–00–21–12–24–01–11–32–21–13–22–32–01–12–21–11–13–11–12–30–44–11–31–32–0
Utah1–11–12–00–22–05–03–12–03–12–20–23–12–21–11–14–12–00–24–12–02–21–33–13–23–12–0
Washington2–21–52–21–33–10–21–11–32–01–12–22–00–22–31–31–13–22–31–12–30–20–20–20–20–20–2

Game log

Regular season

1990–91 game log
Total: 58–24 (home: 33–8; road: 25–16)
November: 7–5 (home: 5–3; road: 2–2)
December: 10–4 (home: 5–1; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
13December 1@ PhoenixW 108-98Byron Scott (32)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (15)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487
8-5
14December 4DetroitW 114-90James Worthy (23)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (14)Great Western Forum
17,505
9-5
15December 6@ MinnesotaW 83-73Magic Johnson (21)Vlade Divac (12)Magic Johnson (11)Target Center
19,006
10-5
16December 7@ UtahL 79-101Magic Johnson (20)Johnson & Thompson (9)Magic Johnson (9)Salt Palace
12,616
10-6
17December 9WashingtonW 106-99James Worthy (20)Sam Perkins (14)Magic Johnson (14)Great Western Forum
15,809
11-6
18December 12DallasL 97-112 (OT)James Worthy (28)Sam Perkins (11)Magic Johnson (12)Great Western Forum
16,086
11-7
19December 15@ Golden StateW 111-109Sam Perkins (30)James Worthy (10)Magic Johnson (9)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025
12-7
20December 16IndianaW 115-112Magic Johnson (29)Vlade Divac (8)Magic Johnson (21)Great Western Forum
15,795
13-7
21December 18@ New YorkW 100-97Magic Johnson (22)3 players tied (6)Magic Johnson (11)Madison Square Garden
19,081
14-7
22December 19@ ClevelandL 74-84Magic Johnson (18)Sam Perkins (10)Magic Johnson (15)Richfield Coliseum
19,183
14-8
23December 21@ ChicagoL 103-114James Worthy (21)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (14)Chicago Stadium
18,676
14-9
24December 23MinnesotaW 118-94James Worthy (24)Vlade Divac (8)Magic Johnson (13)Great Western Forum
17,506
15-9
25December 26@ L.A. ClippersW 108-99James Worthy (31)A.C. Green (16)Magic Johnson (13)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
15,350
16-9
26December 30PhiladelphiaW 115-107Magic Johnson (34)Magic Johnson (13)Magic Johnson (13)Great Western Forum
17,505
17-9
January: 15–2 (home: 8–0; road: 7–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
27January 3@ PortlandW 108-104James Worthy (30)Sam Perkins (9)Magic Johnson (17)Memorial Coliseum
12,884
18-9
28January 4@ Golden StateL 99-115Byron Scott (22)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (13)Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025
18-10
29January 6Golden StateW 135-108James Worthy (29)Vlade Divac (12)Larry Drew (14)Great Western Forum
17,197
19-10
30January 8@ SeattleL 88-96James Worthy (21)Divac & Green (6)Larry Drew (6)Seattle Center Coliseum
14,441
19-11
31January 9UtahW 108-85Byron Scott (20)Sam Perkins (10)Magic Johnson (15)Great Western Forum
16,980
20-11
32January 11ClevelandW 105-93Magic Johnson (27)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (14)Great Western Forum
17,103
21-11
33January 13HoustonW 116-97Vlade Divac (22)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (16)Great Western Forum
17,164
22-11
34January 15CharlotteW 128-103Terry Teagle (27)Vlade Divac (12)Magic Johnson (10)Great Western Forum
16,858
23-11
35January 17@ SacramentoW 93-78James Worthy (36)3 players tied (9)Magic Johnson (15)ARCO Arena
17,014
24-11
36January 18SeattleW 105-96Magic Johnson (33)Vlade Divac (14)Magic Johnson (9)Great Western Forum
17,505
25-11
37January 21@ IndianaW 120-114Magic Johnson (27)Sam Perkins (12)Magic Johnson (15)Market Square Arena
15,166
26-11
38January 22@ OrlandoW 116-96Byron Scott (32)Sam Perkins (9)Magic Johnson (8)Orlando Arena
15,077
27-11
39January 24@ CharlotteW 113-93James Worthy (24)Vlade Divac (9)Magic Johnson (17)Charlotte Coliseum
23,901
28-11
40January 25@ New JerseyW 108-103 (OT)James Worthy (23)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (17)Brendan Byrne Arena
19,087
29-11
41January 27@ BostonW 104-87Magic Johnson (22)3 players tied (9)Magic Johnson (15)Boston Garden
14,890
30-11
42January 29New JerseyW 110-89A.C. Green (19)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (7)Great Western Forum
18,598
31-11
43January 31AtlantaW 116-103A.C. Green (20)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (12)Great Western Forum
17,505
32-11
February: 9–4 (home: 4–1; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
44February 1@ L.A. ClippersW 106-92Magic Johnson (30)A.C. Green (12)Magic Johnson (10)Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
15,350
33-11
45February 3ChicagoW 99-86Byron Scott (18)Vlade Divac (13)Magic Johnson (11)Great Western Forum
17,505
34-11
46February 5L.A. ClippersW 116-102James Worthy (24)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (13)Great Western Forum
17,230
35-11
All-Star Break
47February 12@ PhoenixL 95-99Sam Perkins (26)Divac & Green (9)Magic Johnson (15)Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,487
35-12
48February 13MinnesotaW 120-106Terry Teagle (24)Vlade Divac (13)Magic Johnson (14)Great Western Forum
16,662
36-12
49February 15BostonL 85-98James Worthy (23)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (16)Great Western Forum
17,506
36-13
50February 17PortlandW 106-96James Worthy (30)Sam Perkins (12)Magic Johnson (16)Great Western Forum
17,505
37-13
51February 19@ HoustonW 112-103James Worthy (27)Mychal Thompson (16)Magic Johnson (17)The Summit
16,611
38-13
52February 21@ DallasW 106-92Magic Johnson (21)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (12)Reunion Arena
17,007
39-13
53February 22@ AtlantaL 102-111Magic Johnson (24)Magic Johnson (9)Magic Johnson (9)Omni Coliseum
16,311
39-14
54February 24@ DetroitW 102-96 (OT)Magic Johnson (31)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (11)The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454
40-14
55February 25@ PhiladelphiaL 90-92Byron Scott (19)Vlade Divac (16)Magic Johnson (13)The Spectrum
18,168
40-15
56February 28@ DenverW 121-108Terry Teagle (23)Vlade Divac (13)Magic Johnson (14)McNichols Sports Arena
13,962
41-15
March: 10–6 (home: 6–3; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
57March 1OrlandoW 115-101Magic Johnson (26)Vlade Divac (12)Magic Johnson (9)Great Western Forum
17,326
42-15
58March 3HoustonL 95-104Vlade Divac (23)James Worthy (10)Magic Johnson (8)Great Western Forum
17,505
42-16
59March 5@ MinnesotaL 85-94Magic Johnson (32)James Worthy (7)Magic Johnson (9)Target Center
19,006
42-17
60March 7@ MilwaukeeL 94-99James Worthy (26)A.C. Green (9)Magic Johnson (9)Bradley Center
18,633
42-18
61March 9@ WashingtonW 87-72Magic Johnson (25)A.C. Green (11)Magic Johnson (8)Capital Centre
18,758
43-18
62March 10@ OrlandoW 115-101Sam Perkins (20)Vlade Divac (15)Magic Johnson (12)Orlando Arena
15,077
44-18
63March 12@ MiamiW 102-95Johnson & Scott (21)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (14)Miami Arena
15,008
45-18
64March 15DenverW 127-117James Worthy (35)Vlade Divac (9)Johnson & Worthy (10)Great Western Forum
17,506
46-18
65March 17San AntonioW 98-91James Worthy (30)James Worthy (9)Magic Johnson (15)Great Western Forum
17,505
47-18
66March 19L.A. ClippersW 119-105James Worthy (26)Vlade Divac (9)Magic Johnson (11)Great Western Forum
17,303
48-18
67March 20@ SeattleL 106-114James Worthy (23)Campbell & Perkins (5)James Worthy (7)Seattle Center Coliseum
14,392
48-19
68March 22MilwaukeeL 92-99James Worthy (34)A.C. Green (10)Larry Drew (7)Great Western Forum
17,505
48-20
69March 24SeattleW 113-96Magic Johnson (33)Green & Perkins (9)Magic Johnson (11)Great Western Forum
17,506
49-20
70March 25@ SacramentoW 99-89James Worthy (26)Magic Johnson (12)Magic Johnson (14)ARCO Arena
17,014
50-20
71March 29PortlandL 105-109 (OT)James Worthy (26)Magic Johnson (10)Magic Johnson (12)Great Western Forum
17,505
50-21
72March 31SacramentoW 115-87Terry Teagle (35)A.C. Green (10)Magic Johnson (10)Great Western Forum
16,522
51-21
1990–91 schedule

Playoffs

1991 playoff game log
Total: 12–7 (home: 7–4; road: 5–3)
First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1April 25HoustonW 94–92Byron Scott (20)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (10)Great Western Forum
17,505
1–0
2April 27HoustonW 109–98James Worthy (29)Vlade Divac (10)Magic Johnson (21)Great Western Forum
17,505
2–0
3April 30@ HoustonW 94–90Magic Johnson (38)Sam Perkins (13)Magic Johnson (7)The Summit
16,611
3–0
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
Conference finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 0–3; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1June 2@ ChicagoW 93–91Perkins & Worthy (22)Vlade Divac (14)Magic Johnson (11)Chicago Stadium
18,676
1–0
2June 5@ ChicagoL 86–107James Worthy (24)Green & Johnson (7)Magic Johnson (10)Chicago Stadium
18,676
1–1
3June 7ChicagoL 96–104 (OT)Sam Perkins (25)Sam Perkins (9)Magic Johnson (10)Great Western Forum
17,506
1–2
4June 9ChicagoL 82–97Vlade Divac (27)Vlade Divac (11)Magic Johnson (11)Great Western Forum
17,506
1–3
5June 12ChicagoL 101–108Sam Perkins (22)Magic Johnson (11)Magic Johnson (20)Great Western Forum
17,506
1–4
1991 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

External links