Pro basketball team season (won NBA championship)
NBA professional basketball team season
Championship parade, June 1982 The 1981–82 NBA season saw the Lakers win their third NBA Championship in Los Angeles, and their eighth overall in franchise history.
[ 1]
1981–82 Los Angeles Lakers roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 33 Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1947-04-16 UCLA PF 8 Brewer, Jim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-12-03 Minnesota SG 21 Cooper, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1956-04-15 New Mexico G 34 Johnson, Clay 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956-07-18 Missouri SG 32 Johnson, Magic 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959-08-14 Michigan State PG 5 Jordan, Eddie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955-01-29 Rutgers F 25 Kupchak, Mitch 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1954–05–24 North Carolina PF 54 Landsberger, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1955-05-21 Arizona State C 11 McAdoo, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-09-25 North Carolina F 40 McGee, Mike 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959-07-29 Michigan G 30 McKenna, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1959–01–08 Creighton PG 10 Nixon, Norm 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955-10-11 Duquesne F 31 Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958-02-25 Santa Clara SF 52 Wilkes, Jamaal 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1953-05-02 UCLA
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured Roster
On November 18, 1981, at halftime while on the road at Utah, Magic Johnson and coach Paul Westhead had a verbal altercation in the locker room. It was stated by teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that Johnson had offered input on the game, which resulted in Westhead twice telling him to "Shut up." Johnson then told reporters after this game that he would like to be traded anywhere,[ 2] resulting in a barrage of media coverage. One day after these events, Lakers owner Jerry Buss held a press conference at The Forum, where he announced the firing of Westhead, with his replacement being Pat Riley as "coach" and general manager Jerry West as "offensive coach". West came to the podium and clarified to media that Riley was indeed the head coach and that West himself would simply provide him support on the bench, which lasted for a period of 12 games. Although Johnson denied responsibility for Westhead's firing,[ 3] he was booed across the league, even by Lakers' fans.[ 4] However, Buss was also unhappy with the Lakers offense and had intended on firing Westhead days before the Westhead–Johnson altercation, but assistant GM West and GM Bill Sharman had convinced Buss to delay his decision.[ 5]
c - clinched homecourt advantage y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1981-82 NBA Records Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS Atlanta – 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 0–2 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–2 5–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–4 Boston 5–1 – 4–2 5–0 2–0 1–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 6–0 Chicago 3–2 2–4 – 5–1 1–1 1–1 0–6 0–2 1–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–5 2–4 3–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–4 Cleveland 2–4 0–5 1–5 – 2–0 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 0–6 0–6 0–6 0–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–5 Dallas 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 – 1–5 1–1 0–5 2–4 1–1 4–2 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–3 1–5 2–3 1–4 3–3 1–1 Denver 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 – 1–1 3–2 5–1 0–2 4–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 2–4 5–0 2–3 3–3 2–0 Detroit 4–2 0–6 6–0 5–1 1–1 1–1 – 2–0 2–0 2–4 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 3–3 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–4 Golden State 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–3 0–2 – 1–4 2–0 3–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–2 2–4 3–2 5–1 1–5 3–2 1–1 Houston 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–5 0–2 4–1 – 2–0 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 4–1 3–3 4–1 2–3 6–0 2–0 Indiana 2–4 1–5 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 0–2 0–2 – 1–1 0–2 0–6 4–2 3–2 0–6 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5 Kansas City 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 2–4 0–2 2–3 3–3 1–1 – 1–4 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–3 0–5 1–5 4–1 2–3 3–3 0–2 Los Angeles 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 4–1 4–1 2–0 3–3 4–1 2–0 4–1 – 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 5–1 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 2–0 Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 5–1 6–0 1–1 1–1 4–2 0–2 1–1 6–0 1–1 2–0 – 4–1 3–3 4–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 3–2 New Jersey 2–3 1–5 4–2 6–0 0–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 – 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–2 New York 1–5 1–5 2–3 6–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 2–0 3–3 2–4 – 1–5 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–5 Philadelphia 3–3 2–4 5–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 6–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 5–1 – 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 6–0 Phoenix 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 3–2 2–0 2–4 2–3 1–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 – 3–3 4–1 4–2 3–3 3–2 1–1 Portland 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 3–2 2–0 4–2 1–4 1–1 5–0 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–3 – 3–2 4–2 3–3 4–1 0–2 San Antonio 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 4–2 2–0 2–3 3–3 0–2 5–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–4 2–3 – 3–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 San Diego 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2 0–5 0–2 1–5 1–4 0–2 1–4 1–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–4 2–3 – 1–5 1–4 0–2 Seattle 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–1 3–2 1–1 5–1 3–2 1–1 3–2 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–4 5–1 – 5–0 1–1 Utah 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–3 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–6 1–1 3–3 0–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–4 3–3 4–1 0–5 – 1–1 Washington 4–2 0–6 4–2 5–1 1–1 0–2 4–1 1–1 0–2 5–1 2–0 0–2 2–3 2–4 5–1 0–6 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 —
1981–82 game log Total: 57-25 (Home: 30-11; Road: 27-14) October: 0–1 (home: 0–1; road: 0–0)
November: 12–4 (home: 5–2; road: 7–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 3 @ Portland L 100-102 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Magic Johnson (12) Magic Johnson (10) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 0-2 3 November 4 @ Seattle W 106-103 Norm Nixon (22) Magic Johnson (12) Norm Nixon (7) Kingdome 14,536 1-2 4 November 6 Phoenix L 99-101 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14) Magic Johnson (16) The Forum 13,665 1-3 5 November 8 Dallas W 121-111 Magic Johnson (24) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (15) The Forum 9,870 2-3 6 November 10 @ San Antonio L 102-128 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Magic Johnson (7) HemisFair Arena 11,365 2-4 7 November 11 @ Houston W 95-93 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (21) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (9) Norm Nixon (11) The Summit 15,535 3-4 8 November 13 Portland W 119-115 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Mitch Kupchak (12) Magic Johnson (15) The Forum 17,505 4-4 9 November 14 @ Phoenix W 98-97 Norm Nixon (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17) Magic Johnson (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,068 5-4 10 November 15 Indiana W 124-123 (2OT) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 14,140 6-4 11 November 18 @ Utah W 113-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Cooper & Johnson (8) Magic Johnson (9) Salt Palace 10,802 7-4 12 November 20 San Antonio W 136-116 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Mitch Kupchak (17) Magic Johnson (16) The Forum 17,505 8-4 13 November 21 @ San Diego W 119-117 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Magic Johnson (10) San Diego Sports Arena 11,057 9-4 14 November 24 @ Dallas W 125-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) Mark Landsberger (10) Johnson & Nixon (9) Reunion Arena 14,266 10-4 15 November 25 @ San Antonio W 117-96 Jamaal Wilkes (26) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (13) Magic Johnson (9) HemisFair Arena 13,653 11-4 16 November 27 San Diego L 129-138 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7) Norm Nixon (16) The Forum 14,586 11-5 17 November 29 Houston W 122-104 Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (23) Magic Johnson (11) Johnson & Nixon (11) The Forum 13,247 12-5
December: 12–2 (home: 8–0; road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 18 December 1 Utah W 117-86 Magic Johnson (19) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (8) The Forum 11,384 13-5 19 December 2 @ Seattle L 96-104 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Norm Nixon (8) Kingdome 20,021 13-6 20 December 4 @ Denver W 126-117 Norm Nixon (25) Mitch Kupchak (13) Magic Johnson (11) McNichols Sports Arena 14,562 14-6 21 December 6 Kansas City W 119-106 Johnson & Wilkes (22) Mitch Kupchak (12) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 15,321 15-6 22 December 8 Washington W 102-98 Norm Nixon (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 10,459 16-6 23 December 11 Portland W 124-116 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Magic Johnson (12) Johnson & Nixon (10) The Forum 15,658 17-6 24 December 13 Golden State W 122-118 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Magic Johnson (13) Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (8) The Forum 13,103 18-6 25 December 17 @ Golden State L 115-120 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Norm Nixon (7) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,239 18-7 26 December 19 @ San Diego W 106-100 Jamaal Wilkes (33) Magic Johnson (13) Magic Johnson (7) San Diego Sports Arena 6,563 19-7 27 December 20 Atlanta W 112-94 Jamaal Wilkes (36) Jim Brewer (15) Norm Nixon (12) The Forum 12,460 20-7 28 December 22 @ Portland W 124-110 Norm Nixon (27) Magic Johnson (10) 3 players tied (6) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 21-7 29 December 25 @ Phoenix W 104-101 Michael Cooper (30) Jim Brewer (15) Magic Johnson (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,056 22-7 30 December 27 San Diego W 139-117 Mike McGee (27) Mark Landsberger (12) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 14,951 23-7 31 December 29 Utah W 121-114 Jamaal Wilkes (34) Brewer & Wilkes (9) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum 14,392 24-7
January: 7–5 (home: 3–2; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 3 Seattle L 90-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16) Magic Johnson (14) The Forum 17,505 24-8 33 January 8 @ Chicago L 113-119 Magic Johnson (32) Mark Landsberger (8) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7) Chicago Stadium 18,947 24-9 34 January 9 @ Detroit W 130-127 Magic Johnson (40) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Norm Nixon (10) Pontiac Silverdome 21,045 25-9 35 January 10 @ Milwaukee L 107-118 Magic Johnson (28) Jamaal Wilkes (9) Norm Nixon (9) MECCA Arena 11,052 25-10 36 January 12 @ Cleveland W 114-100 Jamaal Wilkes (33) Magic Johnson (14) Norm Nixon (11) Richfield Coliseum 8,259 26-10 37 January 15 @ Indiana W 97-92 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Magic Johnson (15) Eddie Jordan (6) Market Square Arena 11,029 27-10 38 January 17 @ Kansas City W 109-97 Magic Johnson (29) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (9) Kemper Arena 9,879 28-10 39 January 19 @ Denver L 139-140 3 players tied (22) Magic Johnson (16) Magic Johnson (14) McNichols Sports Arena 15,272 28-11 40 January 20 New Jersey W 132-113 Jamaal Wilkes (30) Kurt Rambis (9) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum 11,323 29-11 41 January 22 Detroit W 123-111 Magic Johnson (26) Johnson & Rambis (16) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum 14,955 30-11 42 January 26 Milwaukee L 94-96 Jamaal Wilkes (18) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) Norm Nixon (13) The Forum 16,042 30-12 43 January 28 Phoenix W 97-87 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) Magic Johnson (6) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 14,623 31-12 All-Star Break
February: 10–5 (home: 5–3; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 2 @ Golden State L 117-119 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Magic Johnson (14) Magic Johnson (10) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,329 31-13 45 February 3 New York L 94-98 Jamaal Wilkes (26) Jamaal Wilkes (10) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 12,913 31-14 46 February 5 @ Washington W 90-87 Magic Johnson (22) Kurt Rambis (10) Norm Nixon (7) Capital Centre 19,035 32-14 47 February 7 @ Boston W 119-113 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) Jamaal Wilkes (8) Norm Nixon (13) Boston Garden 15,320 33-14 48 February 9 @ Atlanta W 130-117 Bob McAdoo (22) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8) Norm Nixon (10) Omni Coliseum 12,913 34-14 49 February 10 @ Kansas City L 102-125 Jamaal Wilkes (24) Jamaal Wilkes (7) Jordan & Nixon (4) Kemper Arena 9,580 34-15 50 February 12 San Antonio L 94-100 Jamaal Wilkes (23) Magic Johnson (15) Johnson & Nixon (8) The Forum 17,505 34-16 51 February 14 Boston L 103-108 Jamaal Wilkes (25) Magic Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (8) The Forum 17,505 34-17 52 February 16 Seattle W 108-101 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Jim Brewer (12) Magic Johnson (18) The Forum 15,047 35-17 53 February 19 Golden State W 126-106 Magic Johnson (26) Magic Johnson (14) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 17,505 36-17 54 February 21 @ Denver W 132-131 Norm Nixon (26) Mark Landsberger (9) Magic Johnson (8) McNichols Sports Arena 17,337 37-17 55 February 23 Denver W 145-129 Jamaal Wilkes (31) Abdul-Jabbar & Rambis (7) Norm Nixon (16) The Forum 14,072 38-17 56 February 25 @ Seattle W 104-98 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) Magic Johnson (12) Norm Nixon (12) Kingdome 26,209 39-17 57 February 26 Philadelphia W 116-114 (2OT) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (41) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 17,505 40-17 58 February 28 Cleveland W 102-101 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Kurt Rambis (17) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 14,882 41-17
March: 8–6 (home: 4–2; road: 4–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 3 @ New Jersey L 103-111 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Magic Johnson (8) Norm Nixon (8) Brendan Byrne Arena 15,623 41-18 60 March 4 @ New York L 119-129 (OT) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (39) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14) Magic Johnson (9) Madison Square Garden 14,937 41-19 61 March 7 @ Philadelphia L 113-119 Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (26) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (8) The Spectrum 18,364 41-20 62 March 9 Kansas City W 105-99 Magic Johnson (27) Kurt Rambis (12) Norm Nixon (5) The Forum 11,614 42-20 63 March 12 Chicago L 105-111 Magic Johnson (30) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (8) The Forum 17,505 42-21 64 March 14 Dallas W 138-116 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum 13,809 43-21 65 March 16 @ Portland W 120-108 Jamaal Wilkes (27) Mark Landsberger (14) Johnson & Nixon (9) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 44-21 6 March 17 @ Utah W 120-112 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Magic Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (9) Salt Palace 12,076 45-21 67 March 19 @ Dallas W 112-106 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (10) Reunion Arena 17,134 46-21 68 March 21 Houston W 107-102 Magic Johnson (25) Magic Johnson (16) Magic Johnson (7) The Forum 17,505 47-21 69 March 23 Dallas L 116-118 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Magic Johnson (15) Magic Johnson (14) The Forum 13,516 47-22 70 March 26 @ San Antonio L 105-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (10) HemisFair Arena 14,850 47-23 71 March 28 @ Kansas City W 116-111 Bob McAdoo (30) Bob McAdoo (10) Magic Johnson (8) Kemper Arena 9,521 48-23 72 March 30 San Diego W 143-120 Magic Johnson (29) Bob McAdoo (9) Norm Nixon (13) The Forum 12,109 49-23
April: 8–2 (home: 5–1; road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 73 April 1 @ San Diego W 117-100 Jamaal Wilkes (25) Kurt Rambis (9) Magic Johnson (17) San Diego Sports Arena 7,064 50-23 74 April 2 Phoenix L 99-109 Jamaal Wilkes (23) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Johnson & Nixon (14) The Forum 17,505 50-24 75 April 4 Portland W 129-111 Jamaal Wilkes (32) Kurt Rambis (9) Norm Nixon (13) The Forum 13,230 51-24 76 April 6 @ Houston W 108-97 Magic Johnson (23) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (10) The Summit 15,676 52-24 77 April 9 Denver W 153-128 Jamaal Wilkes (25) Mark Landsberger (14) Magic Johnson (16) The Forum 16,433 53-24 78 April 11 Seattle W 107-104 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Magic Johnson (12) Johnson & Nixon (8) The Forum 17,505 54-24 79 April 13 @ Golden State L 101-106 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Johnson & Nixon (9) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,239 54-25 80 April 14 Utah W 128-115 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 11,488 55-25 81 April 16 Golden State W 125-109 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Kurt Rambis (12) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum 17,505 56-25 82 April 18 @ Phoenix W 120-115 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) Magic Johnson (15) Magic Johnson (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660 57-25
1981–82 schedule
1982 playoff game log Total: 12–2 (Home: 7–0; Road: 5–2) Conference Semi-finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Western Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
NBA Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
1982 schedule
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Player Signed Former team
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s