1969–70 Los Angeles Lakers season

Offseason

After the tumultuous previous two seasons under the fiery head coach Butch Van Breda Kolff, the Lakers replaced him with the low key Joe Mullaney.

Draft picks

1st round, 12th pick – Willie McCarter, G, Drake University

1st round, 15th pick – Rick Roberson, C, University of Cincinnati

2nd round, 27th pick – Dick Garrett, G, Southern Illinois University

Regular season

After barely losing the NBA title the previous season, the veteran Lakers had high hopes coming into the 1969–70 season. However, 7 games into the season, Wilt Chamberlain suffered a severe knee injury and it was thought he would miss the next 10–12 months. Elgin Baylor also missed 28 games due to injury, and Jerry West missed 8. 1st draft pick Willie McCarter also missed almost the entire season. But the Lakers received key contributions from rookies Rick Roberson and Dick Garrett, and managed to battle the Atlanta Hawks for 1st place in the Western Division for most of the season. Chamberlain returned for the final few games, and while the Lakers finished 2nd in the division to Atlanta by 2 games, they were at full strength for the playoffs.

Season standings

x – clinched playoff spot

West Division Semifinals

The Lakers will still adjusting to playing at full strength with Wilt Chamberlain in the lineup, and it showed in the first round of the playoffs against the upstart Phoenix Suns. After winning game 1, the Suns stunned the Lakers by winning the next three games. Facing a 3–1 series deficit, the Lakers became the 2nd team in NBA history to overcome such a deficit and win the series.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4–3

Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 128, Phoenix 112

Game 2 @ Los Angeles: Phoenix 114, Los Angeles 101

Game 3 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 112, Los Angeles 98

Game 4 @ Phoenix: Phoenix 112, Los Angeles 102

Game 5 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 138, Phoenix 121

Game 6 @ Phoenix: Los Angeles 104, Phoenix 93

Game 7 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 129, Phoenix 94

West Division Finals

After winning the final 3 games of the first round vs. Phoenix, the Lakers appeared to be hitting their stride. In a rematch of the 1969 Western Division finals (won by the Lakers in 5 games), the Lakers swept the Hawks, although each game was close except for game four.

(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4–0

Game 1 @ Atlanta: Los Angeles 119, Atlanta 115

Game 2 @ Atlanta: Los Angeles 105, Atlanta 94

Game 3 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 115, Atlanta 114 (OT)

Game 4 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 133, Atlanta 114

NBA Finals

(E1) New York Knicks vs. (W2) Los Angeles Lakers: Knicks win series 4–3

Game 1 @ New York: New York 124, Los Angeles 112

Game 2 @ New York: Los Angeles 105, New York 103

Game 3 @ Los Angeles: New York 111, Los Angeles 108 (OT)

Game 4 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 121, New York 115 (OT)

Game 5 @ New York: New York 107, Los Angeles 100

Game 6 @ Los Angeles: Los Angeles 135, New York 113

Game 7 @ New York: New York 113, Los Angeles 99

Awards and records

Jerry West, All-NBA First Team

Jerry West, NBA All-Defensive First Team

Jerry West, NBA All-Star Game

Elgin Baylor, NBA All-Star Game

Dick Garrett, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team