1987–88_Los_Angeles_Lakers_season
1987–88 Los Angeles Lakers season
Pro basketball team season (won NBA championship)
The 1987–88 season saw the Lakers win their eleventh NBA championship, defeating the Detroit Pistons in a hard-fought seven games in the NBA Finals to become the NBA's first repeat champions since the Boston Celtics did it in the 1968–69 NBA season.[1] In doing so, the Lakers made good on Pat Riley's famous promise to repeat as champions. "I'm guaranteeing everybody here," Riley said at the civic celebrations following the Lakers’ 1987 championship win, "next year we’re gonna win it again."[2] Before the Lakers could make good on Riley's guarantee, they swept the San Antonio Spurs in the opening round of the playoffs. The following two rounds however would not be as easy for the Lakers, but they still managed to get through a tough seven-game series against both the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semis and the Dallas Mavericks Western Conference Finals.
Quick Facts Los Angeles Lakers season, Head coach ...
| 1987–88 Los Angeles Lakers season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
NBA champions | |||
Conference champions | |||
Division champions | |||
| Head coach | Pat Riley | ||
| General manager | Jerry West | ||
| Owners | Jerry Buss | ||
| Arena | The Forum | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 62–20 (.756) | ||
| Place | Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 1st (Western) | ||
| Playoff finish | NBA Champions (Defeated Pistons 4–3) | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | Prime Ticket, KHJ (Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz) | ||
| Radio | AM 570 KLAC (Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz) | ||
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By the time the Lakers had finished their season they had played an NBA record 106 games including another record 24 playoff games, winning 77 and losing 29. The Lakers went 62–20 in the regular season and 15–9 in the playoffs, en route to their sixth NBA Championship in Los Angeles, and their 11th overall in franchise history.
The 1988 Finals was the last time the Showtime-era Lakers won an NBA championship. It was also the final time that the franchise won a championship at The Forum. They did not win another league title until 2000, when they were playing at the Staples Center (now the Crypto.com Arena).
Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were all selected to play in the 1988 NBA All-Star Game held in Chicago. Pat Riley was chosen to coach the Western Conference All-Stars.
See also: 1987 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 69 | Willie Glass | Forward |  United States |
St. John's |
| 4 | 92 | Ralph Tally | Point Guard | United States |
Norfolk State |
| 6 | 115 | Kenny Travis | United States |
New Mexico State | |
| 6 | 138 | Frank Ford | Guard-Forward | United States |
Auburn University |
| 7 | 161 | Ron Vanderschaaf | Center |  Netherlands |
Central Washington University |
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More information Players, Coaches ...
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Season standings
More information W, L ...
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 36–5 | 26–15 | 23–7 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 | 33–8 | 20–21 | 23–7 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 | 32–9 | 12–29 | 19–11 |
| Phoenix Suns | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 | 22–19 | 6–35 | 11–19 |
| Golden State Warriors | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 | 16–25 | 4–37 | 7–23 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 | 14–27 | 3–38 | 7–23 |
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More information #, Team ...
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 8 |
| 3 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
| 5 | x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
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- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
More information Team, ATL ...
| 1987-88 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 | – | 2–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | – | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | – | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | – | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
| New York | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 0–6 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | – | 4–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | – | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | – | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | – | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
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Regular season
More information 1987–88 game log Total: 62–20 (Home: 36–5; Road: 26–15), Game ...
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Playoffs
More information 1988 playoff game log Total: 15–9 (Home: 12–2; Road: 3–7), Game ...
| 1988 playoff game log Total: 15–9 (Home: 12–2; Road: 3–7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
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Western Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
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Western Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 4–0; road: 0–3)
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NBA Finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
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| 1988 schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| GP | Games 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 |
Season
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 80 | 80 | 28.9 | .532 | .000 | .762 | 6.0 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 14.6 |
| Tony Campbell | 13 | 1 | 18.6 | .564 | .333 | .718 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 11.0 |
| Michael Cooper | 61 | 8 | 19.4 | .392 | .320 | .858 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 8.7 |
| A.C. Green | 82 | 64 | 32.1 | .503 | .000 | .773 | 8.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 11.4 |
| Magic Johnson | 72 | 70 | 36.6 | .492 | .196 | .853 | 6.2 | 11.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 19.6 |
| Jeff Lamp | 3 | 0 | 2.3 | .000 | .000 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| Wes Matthews | 51 | 8 | 13.8 | .460 | .233 | .831 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 5.7 |
| Kurt Rambis | 70 | 20 | 12.1 | .548 | .000 | .785 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 4.0 |
| Byron Scott | 81 | 81 | 37.6 | .527 | .346 | .858 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 21.7 |
| Mike Smrek | 48 | 2 | 8.8 | .427 | .000 | .667 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
| Billy Thompson | 9 | 0 | 4.2 | .231 | .000 | .800 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.6 |
| Mychal Thompson | 80 | 0 | 25.1 | .512 | .000 | .634 | 6.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 11.6 |
| Ray Tolbert | 14 | 0 | 5.9 | .571 | .000 | .769 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 3.0 |
| Milt Wagner | 40 | 4 | 9.5 | .422 | .200 | .897 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 3.8 |
| James Worthy | 75 | 72 | 35.4 | .531 | .125 | .796 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 19.7 |
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Playoffs
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24 | 24 | 29.9 | .464 | .000 | .789 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 14.1 |
| Tony Campbell | 15 | 0 | 6.3 | .429 | .000 | .688 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
| Michael Cooper | 24 | 0 | 24.5 | .412 | .403 | .741 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 6.4 |
| A.C. Green | 24 | 18 | 30.3 | .544 | .000 | .753 | 7.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 10.1 |
| Magic Johnson | 24 | 24 | 40.2 | .514 | .500 | .852 | 5.4 | 12.6 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 19.9 |
| Wes Matthews | 10 | 0 | 2.7 | .400 | .000 | .800 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.2 |
| Kurt Rambis | 19 | 6 | 9.8 | .618 | .000 | .692 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.7 |
| Byron Scott | 24 | 24 | 37.4 | .499 | .436 | .865 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 19.6 |
| Mike Smrek | 8 | 0 | 4.3 | .200 | .000 | .333 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Mychal Thompson | 24 | 0 | 25.6 | .513 | .000 | .581 | 7.1 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 9.7 |
| Milt Wagner | 5 | 0 | 2.8 | .400 | .000 | 1.000 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
| James Worthy | 24 | 24 | 37.3 | .523 | .111 | .758 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 21.1 |
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Awards
All-Star
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named to his 18th consecutive NBA All-Star Game. He broke the All-Star scoring record during the game at Chicago Stadium
- Magic Johnson was voted to his 6th consecutive NBA All-Star Game as a starter and 8th overall
- James Worthy was voted to his 3rd consecutive NBA All-Star Game
- Pat Riley was the NBA All-Star Games Western Conference coach for the 4th consecutive time and 6th overall
Trades
Free Agents
Additions
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Subtractions
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