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1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 43rd season of the franchise, 41st in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 29th in Los Angeles.[1] This would also be the final season for All-Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[2][3][4][5] During the off-season, the Lakers signed free agent Orlando Woolridge.[6][7][8] The Lakers entered the season as the two-time defending NBA champions. The team won 15 of their first 18 games, held a 32–15 record at the All-Star break,[9] and finished with a 57–25 record, earning them the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.[10]

Magic Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 12.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game, won the Most Valuable Player award,[11][12][13][14][15] and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while James Worthy averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and Byron Scott provided the team with 19.6 points and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, A.C. Green provided with 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while being selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Abdul-Jabbar contributed 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Off the bench, Woolridge provided with 9.7 points per game, while Mychal Thompson averaged 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and defensive guard Michael Cooper contributed 7.3 points and 3.9 assists per game.[16]

Johnson, Worthy and Abdul-Jabbar were all selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, while head coach Pat Riley was selected to coach the Western Conference. However, Johnson did not participate due to a hamstring injury, as Abdul-Jabbar was selected as his replacement; it would also be the final All-Star appearance for Abdul-Jabbar.[17][18][19][20][21][22]

After going undefeated by sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers, 3–0 in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs,[23][24][25][26] then sweeping the Seattle SuperSonics, 4–0 in the Western Conference Semi-finals,[27][28][29][30] and sweeping the Phoenix Suns, 4–0 in the Western Conference Finals,[31][32][33][34] the Lakers were seen as the favorites in the 1989 NBA Finals, in a rematch against the Detroit Pistons, who they defeated in last season's NBA Finals in a hard-fought seven games.[35] However, after injuries to their starting backcourt of Johnson and Scott,[36][37][38][39] the Lakers were swept by the Pistons in four straight games. After the Finals concluded, Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement at age 42, after twenty seasons in the NBA.[40][41][42][43][44] Also following the season, Tony Campbell signed as a free agent with the newly expansion Minnesota Timberwolves.[45][46][47]

The 1988–89 season marked an end to a run of eight consecutive Western Conference finals appearances for the Lakers, the most since the 1968–69 Boston Celtics, as in the following season, the Lakers would lose in the conference semifinals to the Phoenix Suns in five games.[48][49][50][51]

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

Game officials

Pre season

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and honors

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1988-89 Los Angeles Lakers
  2. ^ McManis, Sam (April 23, 1989). "A LAST HURRAH: For Abdul-Jabbar, a Season of Farewells Will Be Capped Today". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  3. ^ McManis, Sam (April 24, 1989). "A Fitting Farewell to Kareem: Lakers Beat Seattle in Center's Goodby". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  4. ^ Berger, Phil (June 14, 1989). "Abdul-Jabbar Winds Up 20 Years to Warm Goodbye". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 18, 1989). "BASKETBALL; As Applause Dies, Abdul-Jabbar Quietly Reflects". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Edes, Gordon (August 10, 1988). "Lakers to Announce Signing Today of Free Agent Orlando Woolridge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  7. ^ "Sports People; Lakers Sign Woolridge". The New York Times. August 11, 1988. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  8. ^ Thomas, Pete (August 11, 1988). "Lakers Boost Bench by Signing 6-9 Woolridge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  9. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "Magic Named MVP 2nd Time: Jordan Edged Out in Closest Vote in 8 Years". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. May 22, 1989. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Johnson Is M.V.P. for a Second Time". The New York Times. May 23, 1989. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  13. ^ McManis, Sam (May 23, 1989). "Magic Is the MVP This Time: Jordan Finishes Second in Closest Voting in 8 Seasons". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  14. ^ "Jordan 2nd in Close MVP Vote". Chicago Tribune. May 23, 1989. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "NBA MVP & ABA Most Valuable Player Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  16. ^ "1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  17. ^ Robinson, John (February 1, 1989). "Stockton, Eaton on All-Star Squad". Deseret News. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  18. ^ McManis, Sam (February 9, 1989). "Magic Has Partial Tear of Hamstring: He May Be Sidelined for at Least a Week; Lakers Fall". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  19. ^ McManis, Sam (February 12, 1989). "Today's All-Star Game May Lack the Usual Magic: Without Johnson and Bird, NBA Showcase Just Won't Be the Same". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  20. ^ "NBA All-Star Weekend Stars Will Have to Shine Without Bird, Magic Spotlights". Sun Sentinel. February 12, 1989. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  21. ^ "1989 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  22. ^ "1989 NBA All-Star Game: West 143, East 134". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  23. ^ McManis, Sam (May 4, 1989). "Lakers Shake Their Lethargy, Finish Sweep: Win Over Portland Extends First-Round Streak to 18-0". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  24. ^ "Abdul-Jabbar Leads Lakers to Sweep". The Washington Post. May 4, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  25. ^ "Lakers 116, Trail Blazers 108". United Press International. May 4, 1989. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  26. ^ "1989 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  27. ^ Anstine, Dennis (May 14, 1989). "Lakers 97, Sonics 95". United Press International. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  28. ^ McManis, Sam (May 15, 1989). "NBA Playoffs: Deep Down, Lakers Knew They Could: L.A., Losing by 29, Runs to 97-95 Win". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  29. ^ Goldaper, Sam (May 15, 1989). "Jordan Digs a Deeper Hole for Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  30. ^ "1989 NBA Western Conference semifinals: SuperSonics vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  31. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 29, 1989). "Lakers Make a Full Sweep Into Final". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  32. ^ McManis, Sam (May 29, 1989). "NBA PLAYOFFS: Sundown Comes Early in Phoenix: Lakers Sweep Into NBA Finals Again, 122-117". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  33. ^ Aldridge, David (May 29, 1989). "Lakers 11-0 and In Finals". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  34. ^ "1989 NBA Western Conference finals: Suns vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  35. ^ "Can Lakers sweep Pistons in Finals?". Vidette-Messenger of Porter County. Valparaiso, Indiana. June 6, 1989. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ McManis, Sam (June 9, 1989). "NBA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Lakers Caught with Guards Down: Magic Joins Scott on Sideline After Straining Hamstring in 108-105 Game 2 Loss to Pistons". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  37. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 10, 1989). "BASKETBALL; Johnson's Leg Injury Hurts Lakers". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  38. ^ McManis, Sam (June 10, 1989). "NBA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Magic Says Pain Won't Stop Him: Laker Star Would Play Despite Injury, But Not at Risk of Career". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  39. ^ "If Magic rests, Rivers must get into flow". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. June 11, 1989. p. 54 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ Barnes, Mike (June 13, 1989). "Pistons Win NBA Title". United Press International. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  41. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 14, 1989). "Pistons Earn First Title by Sweeping Lakers". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  42. ^ McManis, Sam (June 14, 1989). "Pistons End a Reign, Cap a Career: Detroit Sweeps Lakers, 105-97". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  43. ^ Smith, Sam (June 14, 1989). "Pistons Sweep to NBA Title". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  44. ^ "1989 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  45. ^ "Lakers Free Agent Campbell Signs Deal with Timberwolves". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 13, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  46. ^ "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. September 14, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  47. ^ McManis, Sam (November 21, 1989). "THE NBA: Campbell Gets Shot(s) With Timberwolves". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  48. ^ Brady, Frank (May 16, 1990). "Suns Rally to Beat Lakers, Earning Trip to West Final". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  49. ^ McManis, Sam (May 16, 1990). "Lakers Let Season Trickle Away: Game 5: Magic Johnson Scores 43, But the Suns Come Back from 15-Point Deficit to Clinch Series, 106-103". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  50. ^ "NBA Playoffs: Shocked Lakers Bounced from Playoffs by Johnson-Led Suns". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 16, 1990. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  51. ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference semifinals: Suns vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 21, 2023.