Record 62–20 (.756) Period 1987 – 1988 | Radio KLAC Arena The Forum | |
![]() | ||
Televisions Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV Similar 1979–80 Los Angeles, 2000–01 Los Angeles, 2009–10 Los Angeles, 1971–72 Los Angeles, 1949–50 Minneapolis Lakers se |
The 1987–88 season saw the Lakers win their eleventh NBA championship, defeating the Detroit Pistons in a seven-game final to become the NBA’s first repeat champions since the Boston Celtics did it in the 1968–69 NBA season. In doing so, the Lakers made good on Pat Riley's famous promise to repeat as champions. “I'm guaranteeing everybody here,” Riley said at the civic celebrations following the Lakers’ 1987 championship win, “next year we’re gonna win it again.” Before the Lakers could make good on Riley's guarantee, they swept the San Antonio Spurs in the opening round of the playoffs. The following two rounds however would not be as easy for the Lakers, but they still managed to get through a tough seven-game series against both the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semis and the Dallas Mavericks Western Conference Finals.
Contents
- Season standings
- West First Round
- West Conference Semifinals
- West Conference Finals
- NBA Finals
- Awards
- All Star
- References
By the time the Lakers had finished their season they had played an NBA record 106 games including another record 24 playoff games, winning 77 and losing 29. The Lakers went 62–20 in the regular season and 15–9 in the playoffs.
The 1988 Finals proved the last time the Showtime-era Lakers would win the NBA Championship. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar abruptly retired after another NBA Finals appearance the following year, in which the Lakers were swept in four straight by the rejuvenated Pistons. Although they made the Finals in 1991, the Lakers lost to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in five games. After that, the Lakers did not make another Finals appearance and win another NBA Championship until 2000. It was also the final time the Lakers won the Championship at The Forum.
Season standings
z – clinched division titley – clinched division titlex – clinched playoff spotWest First Round
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) San Antonio Spurs: Lakers win series 3–0
Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3–0)
West Conference Semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Utah Jazz: Lakers win series 4–3
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
West Conference Finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks: Lakers win series 4–3
Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4–2)
NBA Finals
(W1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E2) Detroit Pistons: Lakers win series 4–3
Last Playoff Meeting: 1962 Western Division Finals (Los Angeles won 4–3)