1981–82 Los Angeles Lakers season

1981–82 Los Angeles Lakers season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach
General managerBill Sharman
Owner(s)Jerry Buss
ArenaThe Forum
Results
Record57–25 (.695)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finishNBA champions
(Defeated 76ers 4–2)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKHJ
RadioAM 570 KLAC

The 1981–82 NBA season saw the Lakers win the NBA Finals for their third NBA championship in Los Angeles, and their eighth overall in franchise history.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
8 179 Jay Triano  Canada Simon Fraser University

[1]

Roster

1981–82 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
C 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1947-04-16 UCLA
PF 8 Jim Brewer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-12-03 Minnesota
SG 21 Michael Cooper 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1956-04-15 New Mexico
G 34 Clay Johnson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956-07-18 Missouri
SG 32 Magic Johnson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959-08-14 Michigan State
PG 5 Eddie Jordan 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955-01-29 Rutgers
F 25 Mitch Kupchak 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1954–05–24 North Carolina
PF 54 Mark Landsberger 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1955-05-21 Arizona State
C 11 Bob McAdoo 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-09-25 North Carolina
F 40 Mike McGee 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959-07-29 Michigan
G 30 Kevin McKenna 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1959–01–08 Creighton
PG 10 Norm Nixon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955-10-11 Duquesne
F 31 Kurt Rambis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958-02-25 Santa Clara
SF 52 Jamaal Wilkes 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1953-05-02 UCLA
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Soon before the start of training camp, Jamaal Wilkes' eight-day-old daughter died, his second child to die as a baby. He started the season slowly, culminating with a 1-for-10 shooting performance in a 128–102 loss to San Antonio on November 10, 1981. He seriously considered quitting basketball.[2]

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,[3] 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,[4] he was booed across the league, even by Lakers' fans.[5] 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.[6]

Wilkes recovered to average 21.1 points and shoot 52.5% as Los Angeles advanced to the NBA Finals, where they faced Philadelphia. Wilkes scored a team-high 27 points in game 6 as the Lakers won the series 4–2. Johnson had a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists and four steals and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.[2]

Season standings

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y- 57 25 .695 – 30–11 27–14 21–9
x-Seattle SuperSonics 52 30 .634 5.0 31–10 21–20 18–12
x-Phoenix Suns 46 36 .561 11.0 31–10 15–26 14–16
Golden State Warriors 45 37 .549 12.0 28–13 17–24 15–15
Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 15.0 27–14 15–26 15–15
San Diego Clippers 17 65 .207 40.0 11–30 6–35 7–23
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c- 57 25 .695 –
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 48 34 .585 9
3 x-Seattle SuperSonics 52 30 .634 5
4 x-Denver Nuggets 46 36 .561 11
5 x-Phoenix Suns 46 36 .561 11
6 x-Houston Rockets 46 36 .561 11
7 Golden State Warriors 45 37 .549 12
8 Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 15
9 Kansas City Kings 30 52 .366 27
10 Dallas Mavericks 28 54 .341 29
11 Utah Jazz 25 57 .305 32
12 San Diego Clippers 17 65 .207 40
c - clinched homecourt advantage
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1981-82 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NYN 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 —

Game log

Regular season

1981–82 game log
Total: 57-25 (Home: 30-11; Road: 27-14)
October: 0–1 (home: 0–1; road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 30 Houston L 112-113 (2OT) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Magic Johnson (14) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum
15,884 		0–1
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

Playoffs

1982 playoff game log
Total: 12–2 (Home: 7–0; Road: 5–2)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 27 Phoenix W 115–96 Jamaal Wilkes (28) Bob McAdoo (12) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum
13,623 		1–0
2 April 28 Phoenix W 117–98 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) Magic Johnson (12) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum
15,558 		2–0
3 April 30 @ Phoenix W 114–106 Jamaal Wilkes (26) Magic Johnson (14) Magic Johnson (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,660 		3–0
4 May 2 @ Phoenix W 112–107 Jamaal Wilkes (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Magic Johnson (12) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
11,932 		4–0
Western Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 9 San Antonio W 128–117 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Magic Johnson (16) Magic Johnson (14) The Forum
15,700 		1–0
2 May 11 San Antonio W 110–101 Nixon & Wilkes (22) Kurt Rambis (15) Johnson & Nixon (9) The Forum
17,505 		2–0
3 May 14 @ San Antonio W 118–108 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (10) Johnson & Nixon (10) HemisFair Arena
15,800 		3–0
4 May 15 @ San Antonio W 128–123 Norm Nixon (30) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (9) Norm Nixon (10) HemisFair Arena
15,800 		4–0
NBA Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 27 @ Philadelphia W 124–117 Nixon & Wilkes (24) Magic Johnson (14) Norm Nixon (10) The Spectrum
18,364 		1–0
2 May 30 @ Philadelphia L 94–110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23) Magic Johnson (11) Norm Nixon (10) The Spectrum
18,364 		1–1
3 June 1 Philadelphia W 129–108 Norm Nixon (29) Magic Johnson (9) Magic Johnson (8) The Forum
17,505 		2–1
4 June 3 Philadelphia W 111–101 Johnson & Wilkes (24) Abdul-Jabbar & Rambis (11) Norm Nixon (14) The Forum
17,505 		3–1
5 June 6 @ Philadelphia L 102–135 Bob McAdoo (23) Magic Johnson (10) Norm Nixon (13) The Spectrum
18,364 		3–2
6 June 8 Philadelphia W 114–104 Jamaal Wilkes (27) Magic Johnson (13) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum
17,505 		4–2
1982 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

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

References

  1. ^ "1981 NBA Draft on databaseBasketball.com". Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Newman, Bruce (June 21, 1982). "L.A. NEEDED A PAT ON ITS BACK". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "Earvin Johnson Seeks a Trade". New York Times. Associated Press. November 19, 1981. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  4. ^ Johnson; Novak (1999). My Life. p. 143. ISBN 1-902799-01-1.
  5. ^ "Magic Johnson Bio". NBA Encyclopedia: Playoff Edition. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  6. ^ Ostler, Scott; Springer, Steve (1988). Winnin' Times : The Magical Journey of the Los Angeles Lakers. Collier Books. pp. 154–156, 159–160, 169. ISBN 0-02-029591-X.
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