1983–84 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1983–84 season for the Los Angeles Lakers saw them lose in the 1984 NBA Finals against Larry Bird's Boston Celtics in seven well-fought games. The Lakers were coming off of an NBA Finals loss to the Julius Erving and Moses Malone led Philadelphia 76ers, in which they were swept in four games. The Los Angeles Lakers, powered by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (who broke the NBA's all-time total points record) and Magic Johnson with his 13.1 assists per game (tops in '84), ended up winning 54 games in the 1983–84 NBA season. On April 5, 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a 12-foot shot over Mark Eaton of the Utah Jazz 1 to surpass Wilt Chamberlain as the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 31,421 points.[1]

1983–84 Los Angeles Lakers season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachPat Riley
OwnersJerry Buss
ArenaThe Forum
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(Lost to Celtics 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKHJ
RadioAM 570 KLAC

In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Kansas City Kings in the first round, Dallas Mavericks in the second, and the Phoenix Suns in the 1984 Western Conference Finals in order to advance to what is called the "greatest NBA Finals in history", against Larry Bird's formidable, 62–20 Boston Celtics. The Lakers' early step on the green team in the Championship caused Bird to label teammates "sissies". The words inspired the Celtics, and shot down the Lakers, with the Celtics winning game 7 by a score of 111–102, a Laker heartbreaker, and still, arguably, the most memorable Finals of the 1980s.

Draft picks
Main article: 1983 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College

Roster
1983–84 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
C 33 Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1947-04-16 UCLA
G 21 Cooper, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1956-04-15 New Mexico
F 0 Garrett, Calvin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1956-07-11 Oral Roberts
G 32 Johnson, Magic 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959-08-14 Michigan State
G 15 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
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
C 41 Nater, Swen 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1950-01-14 UCLA
F 31 Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958-02-25 Santa Clara
G 4 Scott, Byron (R) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1961-03-28 Arizona State
F 35 Spriggs, Larry 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1959-09-08 Howard
F 52 Wilkes, Jamaal 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1953-05-02 UCLA
F 42 Worthy, James 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961-02-27 North Carolina
Head coach

Pat Riley

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2013-07-30

Regular season

Season standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 5428.659–28–1326–1518–12
x-Portland Trail Blazers 4834.585633–815–2617–13
x-Seattle SuperSonics 4240.5121232–910–3114–16
x-Phoenix Suns 4141.5001331–1010–3116–14
Golden State Warriors 3745.4511727–1410–3113–17
San Diego Clippers 3052.3662425–165–3612–18
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers5428.659–
2 y-Utah Jazz4537.5499
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers4834.5856
4 x-Dallas Mavericks4339.52411
5 x-Seattle SuperSonics4240.51212
6 x-Phoenix Suns4141.50013
7 x-Denver Nuggets3844.46316
8 x-Kansas City Kings3844.46316
9 San Antonio Spurs3745.45117
10 Golden State Warriors3745.45117
11 San Diego Clippers3052.36624
12 Houston Rockets2953.35425


z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1983–84 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 —0–54–23–31–10–22–41–11–14–20–20–23–33–34–15–11–10–21–11–11–11–14–2
Boston 5–0—5–06–02–02–04–22–01–15–12–00–25–14–23–32–42–02–02–01–12–01–14–2
Chicago 2–40–5—2–41–10–21–52–00–23–31–10–22–42–42–42–31–12–00–21–10–21–12–4
Cleveland 3–30–64–2—1–10–21–51–11–12–40–20–21–52–31–52–41–11–11–11–11–10–24–1
Dallas 1–10–21–11–1—4–20–24–14–22–03–33–20–21–10–21–13–22–34–24–11–44–20–2
Denver 2–00–22–02–02–4—1–12–34–20–24–21–41–11–11–11–12–31–43–33–22–33–30–2
Detroit 4–22–45–15–12–01–1—1–11–14–21–11–13–21–44–23–32–01–11–12–01–11–13–3
Golden State 1–10–20–21–11–43–21–1—2–32–04–13–30–21–11–11–11–52–43–23–34–21–42–0
Houston 1–11–12–01–12–42–41–13–2—1–12–41–41–10–20–20–22–31–42–42–33–21–50–2
Indiana 2–41–53–34–20–22–02–40–21–1—0–21–11–51–52–40–51–11–10–21–11–11–11–4
Kansas City 2–00–21–12–03–32–41–11–44–22–0—0–50–22–00–20–22–32–35–13–21–43–32–0
Los Angeles 2–02–02–02–02–34–11–13–34–11–15–0—2–01–10–21–13–35–12–34–23–34–11–1
Milwaukee 3–31–54–25–12–01–12–32–01–15–12–00–2—4–24–12–42–01–11–11–11–11–15–1
New Jersey 3–32–44–23–21–11–14–11–12–05–10–21–12–4—3–33–32–00–20–22–01–11–14–2
New York 1–43–34–15–12–01–12–41–12–04–22–02–01–43–3—2–41–10–22–02–01–12–04–2
Philadelphia 1–54–23–24–21–11–13–31–12–05–02–01–14–23–34–2—1–11–12–02–01–12–04–2
Phoenix 1–10–21–11–12–33–20–25–13–21–13–23–30–20–21–11–1—2–45–04–22–41–42–0
Portland 2–00–20–21–13–24–11–14–24–11–13–21–51–12–02–01–14–2—4–14–24–21–41–1
San Antonio 1–10–22–01–12–43–31–12–34–22–01–53–21–12–00–20–20–51–4—4–12–34–21–1
San Diego 1–11–11–11–11–42–30–23–33–21–12–32–41–10–20–20–22–42–41–4—3–32–31–1
Seattle 1–10–22–01–14–13–21–12–42–31–14–13–31–11–11–11–14–22–43–23–3—1–41–1
Utah 1–11–11–12–02–43–31–14–15–11–13–31–41–11–10–20–24–14–12–43–24–1—1–1
Washington 2–42–44–21–42–02–03–30–22–04–10–21–11–52–42–42–40–21–11–11–11–11–1—

Game log

Regular season
1983–84 game log
Total: 54–28 (Home: 28–13; Road: 26–15)
October: 2–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
November: 10–4 (Home: 7–1; Road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
7 November 11 Phoenix W 119–105 The Forum 5–2
9 November 15 Milwaukee W 126–97 The Forum 7–2
December: 7–6 (Home: 6–3; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
21 December 15 @ Phoenix L 104–114 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14–7
January: 8–6 (Home: 4–3; Road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
39 January 19 @ Phoenix L 123–138 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 24–15
41 January 24 Phoenix W 116–110 The Forum 25–16
February: 11–4 (Home: 4–1; Road: 7–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
48 February 8 @ Boston W 111–109 Boston Garden 32–16
55 February 24 Boston W 116–108 The Forum 32–16
March: 11–4 (Home: 4–3; Road: 7–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
67 March 20 @ Milwaukee W 99–94 MECCA Arena 45–22
73 March 31 @ Phoenix W 119–97 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 49–24
April: 5–4 (Home: 3–2; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
82 April 15 Phoenix L 114–123 The Forum 54–28
1983–84 schedule

Playoffs
1984 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 18 Kansas City W 116–105 Magic Johnson (26) three players tied (7) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum
13,918		 1–0
2 April 20 Kansas City W 109–102 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum
14,986		 2–0
3 April 22 @ Kansas City W 108–102 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23) Johnson, Worthy (10) Magic Johnson (13) Kemper Arena
7,261		 3–0
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 28 Dallas W 134–91 Mike McGee (25) Kurt Rambis (8) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum
13,512		 1–0
2 May 1 Dallas W 117–101 Magic Johnson (27) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum
15,298		 2–0
3 May 4 @ Dallas L 115–125 Magic Johnson (24) Bob McAdoo (8) Magic Johnson (14) Reunion Arena
17,007		 2–1
4 May 6 @ Dallas W 122–115 (OT) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (16) Reunion Arena
17,007		 3–1
5 May 8 Dallas W 115–99 Mike McGee (27) three players tied (6) Magic Johnson (15) The Forum
16,644		 4–1
Conference Finals: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 12 Phoenix W 110–94 Bob McAdoo (20) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Michael Cooper (10) The Forum
12,825		 1–0
2 May 15 Phoenix W 118–102 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (21) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (24) The Forum
16,578		 2–0
3 May 18 @ Phoenix L 127–135 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) three players tied (8) Magic Johnson (13) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660		 2–1
4 May 20 @ Phoenix W 126–115 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) three players tied (7) Magic Johnson (15) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660		 3–1
5 May 23 Phoenix L 121–126 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Bob McAdoo (8) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum
16,848		 3–2
6 May 25 @ Phoenix W 99–97 James Worthy (22) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (13) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660		 4–2
NBA Finals: 3–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 27 @ Boston W 115–109 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) Magic Johnson (10) Boston Garden
14,890		 1–0
2 May 31 @ Boston L 121–124 (OT) James Worthy (29) Magic Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (10) Boston Garden
14,890		 1–1
3 June 3 Boston W 137–104 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (21) The Forum
17,505		 2–1
4 June 6 Boston L 125–129 (OT) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (17) The Forum
17,505		 2–2
5 June 8 @ Boston L 103–121 James Worthy (22) Kurt Rambis (9) Magic Johnson (13) Boston Garden
14,890		 2–3
6 June 10 Boston W 119–108 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum
17,505		 3–3
7 June 12 @ Boston L 102–111 James Worthy (21) Kurt Rambis (9) Magic Johnson (15) Boston Garden
14,890		 3–4
1984 schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  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

Awards and records

References
  1. Numbelivable!, p.160, Michael X. Ferraro and John Veneziano, Triumph Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2007, ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0

Lakers History

The 1984 NBA Finals|Celtics.com

NBA.com: Larry's Celtics Edge Magic's Lakers in 7

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