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1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season

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Head coach
  
Paul Westhead

Arena
  
The Forum

Owner(s)
  
Jerry Buss

Record
  
54–28 (.659)

1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season

Place
  
Division: 2nd (Pacific)Conference: 3rd (Western)

Playoff finish
  
First Round(Eliminated 2-1)

The Lakers were attempting to become the first team since 1969 to repeat as NBA Champions. Despite missing Magic Johnson for 45 games due to a knee injury, the Lakers still managed an impressive 54-28 record during the regular season, and they were the #3 seed heading into the Western Conference playoffs. However, the underdog Houston Rockets eliminated the Lakers in a best-of-three first round series two games to one.

Contents

NBA Draft

The Lakers did not have a first round pick in the 1980 Draft. Their first selection was Wayne Robinson, the 31st pick overall, but he never played a game for the Lakers. Future NBA Coach Butch Carter was their second selection at #37 overall.

Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

    • West First Round

    (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 2-1

  • Game 1 @ Los Angeles: Houston 111, Los Angeles 107
  • Game 2 @ Houston: Los Angeles 111, Houston 106
  • Game 3 @ Los Angeles: Houston 89, Los Angeles 86

    • Player statistics

    Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game

    Award winners/Honors

  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, First Team All-NBA, First Team All-Defense, All-Star
  • Michael Cooper, Second Team All-Defense
  • Jamaal Wilkes, All-Star

    • References

    1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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