Girish Mahajan (Editor)

1982–83 Los Angeles Lakers season

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Head coach
  
Pat Riley

Arena
  
The Forum

Owner(s)
  
Jerry Buss

Record
  
58–24 (.707)

Place
  
Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 1st (Western)

Playoff finish
  
NBA Finals (Lost to 76ers 0–4)

In the 1982-83 NBA season, the Lakers were attempting to become the first team since the Boston Celtics in 1969 to repeat as NBA Champions. However, on April 10, 1983, rookie James Worthy injured his leg while attempting a putback in a home loss against Phoenix, ending his rookie season. Even without Worthy for the playoffs, the Lakers did make it to the NBA Finals, only to be swept in four games by the Julius Erving and Moses Malone led Philadelphia 76ers.

Contents

NBA Draft

The Lakers were the defending league champions, which normally results in a low draft position, but the Lakers had the top pick in the Draft thanks to a trade made years earlier. On February 15, 1980, the Lakers sent Don Ford and their top pick in the 1980 NBA Draft (who turned out to be Chad Kinch) in exchange for Butch Lee and the Cleveland Cavaliers' top pick in the 1982 NBA Draft. Prior to the implementation of the NBA Draft Lottery in 1985, the teams with the two worst records from the previous season would engage in a coin flip to determine which team would receive the top pick. Therefore, when Cleveland finished with the worst record in 1981-82, the Lakers took their place in the coin flip, and won out over the San Diego Clippers to earn the top pick.

West First Round

The Lakers had a first round bye.

West Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers: Lakers win series 4–1

  • Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 118, Portland 97
  • Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 112, Portland 106
  • Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland: Los Angeles 115, Portland 109 (OT)
  • Game 4 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland: Portland 108, Los Angeles 95
  • Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 116, Portland 108
  • West Conference Finals

    (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) San Antonio Spurs: Lakers win series 4–2

  • Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 119, San Antonio 107
  • Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles: San Antonio 122, Los Angeles 113
  • Game 3 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio: Los Angeles 113, San Antonio 100
  • Game 4 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio: Los Angeles 129, San Antonio 121
  • Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles: San Antonio 117, Los Angeles 112
  • Game 6 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio: Los Angeles 101, San Antonio 100
  • NBA Finals

    (E1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers: 76ers win series 4–0

  • Game 1 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia: Philadelphia 113, Los Angeles 107
  • Game 2 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia: Philadelphia 103, Los Angeles 93
  • Game 3 @ The Forum, Los Angeles: Philadelphia 111, Los Angeles 94
  • Game 4 @ The Forum, Los Angeles: Philadelphia 115, Los Angeles 108
  • 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, Second Team All-NBA, All-Star
  • Michael Cooper, Second Team All-Defense
  • Magic Johnson, First Team All-NBA, All-Star
  • Jamaal Wilkes, All-Star
  • James Worthy, First Team All-Rookie
  • References

    1982–83 Los Angeles Lakers season Wikipedia


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