Rahul Sharma (Editor)

1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers season

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Record
  
31–19 (.620)

Arena
  
The Forum

Radio
  
KLAC

Period
  
1998 – 1999

Owner
  
Jerry Buss

Place
  
Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 4th (Western)

Playoff finish
  
Conference Semifinals (Eliminated by Spurs 0-4)

Head coaches
  
Del Harris, Bill Bertka, Kurt Rambis

Televisions
  
Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV

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The 1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 51st season of the franchise, 51st in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 39th in Los Angeles. It was the Lakers' final season at the Great Western Forum. During the offseason, the Lakers signed free agent Derek Harper. At midseason, Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell were both traded to the Charlotte Hornets for All-Star forward Glen Rice, J.R. Reid and B.J. Armstrong, who was released and signed with the Orlando Magic. The Lakers move continued midway through the season, acquiring rebounding specialist Dennis Rodman, who was well known for winning championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls. However, after 23 games, Rodman was released by the team.

Contents

The Lakers finished second in the Pacific Division with a 31–19 record. Their attendance for the season was 430,007 (12th in the league). In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 3–1 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, but were swept in four straight games by the San Antonio Spurs during the Western Conference Semifinals.

Following the season, Reid signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, Ruben Patterson signed with the Seattle SuperSonics, and Harper was traded to the Detroit Pistons, but was released and then retired.

Roster Notes

  • Forward Dennis Rodman was waived on April 16.

    • Regular season

    The Lakers went through three coaches during the season: Del Harris (6–6), Bill Bertka (1–0) and Kurt Rambis (24–13). Fourteen different Lakers started at least one game during the season. From February 25 to March 12, the Lakers won ten consecutive games. Outside of the streak, the Lakers were 21-19 in all other games. During the season, over half of the Lakers' games were televised nationally.

    At season's end, the Lakers ranked second in the league in scoring at 99.0 points per game (only Sacramento averaged more points: 100.2 ppg). Despite the high scoring, the Lakers were the fourth worst Free Throw shooting team in the league with a percentage of .683. Shaquille O'Neal had a percentage of .540.

    z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot

    West First Round

    (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 3-1

  • Game 1 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 9): Los Angeles 101, Houston 100
  • Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 11): Los Angeles 110, Houston 98
  • Game 3 @ Compaq Center, Houston (May 13): Houston 100, Los Angeles 88
  • Game 4 @ Compaq Center, Houston (May 15): Los Angeles 98, Houston 88

    • Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-1)

    West Conference Semifinals

    (1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers: Spurs win series 4-0

  • Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 17): San Antonio 87, Los Angeles 81
  • Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 19): San Antonio 79, Los Angeles 76
  • Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 22): San Antonio 103, Los Angeles 91
  • Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 23): San Antonio 118, Los Angeles 107

    • Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference Semifinals (San Antonio won 4-2)

    Season

  • Shaquille O'Neal averaged 26.3 ppg (2nd), 10.7 rpg (8th), and shot 57.6% (1st). For his efforts, he was named to the All-NBA second-team.
  • Kobe Bryant had a career high 19.9 ppg and added 3.8 apg. He was recognized as an All-NBA third-team.
  • Dennis Rodman played 23 games with the Lakers in 1999. He averaged 11.2 rebounds per game and the Lakers went 17-6 with Rodman in the lineup.
  • Glen Rice played in 27 games with the club and averaged 17.5 points per game. With Rice in the lineup, the Lakers went 16-11

    • Awards and honors

  • Kobe Bryant, All-NBA Third Team
  • Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA Second Team

    • References

    1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA