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1993–94 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1993–94 NBA season was the Lakers' 46th season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th in the city of Los Angeles.[1] The Lakers received the twelfth overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and selected George Lynch from the University of North Carolina,[2][3][4][5] and also selected Nick Van Exel from the University of Cincinnati with the 37th overall pick.[6][7][8][5] During the off-season, the team acquired Sam Bowie from the New Jersey Nets,[9][10][11] and re-signed free agent and former Lakers forward Kurt Rambis.[12][13] The Lakers continued to struggle as they lost 9 of their first 12 games, and held a 18–29 record at the All-Star break.[14] Head coach Randy Pfund was fired after a 27–37 start, and was replaced with interim Bill Bertka for the next two games.[15][16]

With the team out of playoff position and struggling in March, they decided to bring former Laker and retired All-Star guard Magic Johnson back as their new coach.[17][18][19][20][21] At midseason, the team acquired Danny Schayes from the Milwaukee Bucks.[22][23] Under Magic, the Lakers won five of their next six games. However, they lost their final ten games of the season and finished fifth in the Pacific Division with a 33–49 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1975–76.[24]

Vlade Divac led the team with 14.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, while second-year guard Anthony Peeler averaged 14.1 points per game, but only played just 30 games due to a stress fracture in his left leg, and tendonitis in his right leg,[25][26][27] and Van Exel averaged 13.6 points and 5.8 assists per game, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, Sedale Threatt provided the team with 11.9 points, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while Elden Campbell provided with 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, second-year guard Doug Christie contributed 10.3 points and 1.4 steals per game, and James Worthy averaged 10.2 points per game off the bench.[28]

Following the season, Johnson resigned as head coach,[29][30] while Worthy retired after twelve seasons with the Lakers,[31][32][33] Christie was traded to the New York Knicks,[34][35][36] and Schayes signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns.[37]

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

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

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Player statistics

Regular season

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1993-94 Los Angeles Lakers
  2. ^ Heisler, Mark (July 1, 1993). "THE NBA DRAFT: Big Deal for Warriors: Webber for Hardaway: Basketball: Golden State Finally Gets Someone with Size. Orlando Gets Memphis State Guard to Complement O'Neal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "NBA Draft at a Glance". Los Angeles Times. July 1, 1993. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  4. ^ Landman, Brian (July 1, 1993). "Magic Picks Up a "Penny"". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "1993 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Downey, Mike (July 2, 1993). "In Clutch, He Was Nick Van Awful". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Elliott, Helene (July 14, 1993). "Lakers Sign Second-Round Pick Van Exel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  8. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 11, 1994). "He'll Gladly State His Case: Lakers' Van Exel Proves That He Is More Than Talk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "Lakers Trade Benjamin to Nets". United Press International. June 21, 1993. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  10. ^ Freeman, Mike (June 22, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Get Benjamin in Swap for Bowie". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  11. ^ Elliott, Helene (June 22, 1993). "Lakers Trade Benjamin to True Believer: Basketball: He Is Dealt to Nets for Bowie and Draft Choice and Will Be Reunited with College Coach, Willis Reed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "Lakers Return to Glory Days, Sign Rambis". Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1993. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  13. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (December 15, 1993). "Rambis, 35, Is Cut After His Second Stint with Lakers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 10, 1994". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  15. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (March 23, 1994). "Lakers' Magic Move Surprises Pfund: Pro Basketball: Ousted Coach Thanks the Team, and Indicates He Might Be Willing to Stay in Another Capacity". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  16. ^ Benson, Lee (March 26, 1994). "Magic Triggered the Avalanche, Then Stepped in to Finish Pfund". Deseret News. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  17. ^ Araton, Harvey (March 23, 1994). "PRO BASKETBALL; Los Angeles Lakers Hire Magic Johnson to Be Head Coach". The New York Times. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  18. ^ Araton, Harvey (March 24, 1993). "PRO BASKETBALL; Magic Is Back: Returns to Coach Lakers". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  19. ^ Heisler, Mark (March 23, 1994). "Magic Johnson Coming Back to Lakers as Coach: Basketball: He Will Take Over from Randy Pfund. The Team Has Struggled Since the Star Retired". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  20. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (March 24, 1994). "The Future Might Be Now for Magic: Lakers: Coaching Debut Is More Like a Tryout to See If He Will Like the Job Enough to Do It Next Season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  21. ^ Norwood, Robyn (March 25, 1994). "Lakers Waiting for New Coach: Wednesday's Game: While Rallying to Defeat Mavericks, 112-109, They Wonder What It Will Be Like to Play for Magic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  22. ^ "Bucks Clear House, Deal Brickowski, Schayes". The Journal Times. February 25, 1994. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  23. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 25, 1994). "Lakers Don't Have Answers for Kings: Pro Basketball: Lineup Change Isn't Enough as They Lose to Sacramento for Fourth Time This Season, 102-90". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  24. ^ "1993–94 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  25. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 20, 1994). "Injured Laker Peeler Out at Least a Month". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  26. ^ "Barkley Leads in Voting". The Washington Post. January 20, 1994. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  27. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (April 21, 1994). "Lakers Lose Record 8th in Row: Pro Basketball: Peeler Left Unfulfilled Because of Injury as SuperSonics Increase L.A.'s Woes, 112-90". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  28. ^ "1993–94 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  29. ^ Weinberg, Rick (April 17, 1994). "BASKETBALL; Magic Opts for Relaxation, Not the Grind". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  30. ^ Springer, Steve (May 14, 1994). "Experience Necessary to Lakers: Pro Basketball: After Decades of Hiring Rookie Coaches, They Fill Their Latest Vacancy with Harris, 56". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  31. ^ "James Worthy Will Retire". The New York Times. November 10, 1994. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  32. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (November 10, 1994). "After 12 Years, Worthy to Call It Quits Today". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  33. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (November 11, 1994). "Worthy Hangs It Up, and So Will the Lakers: Pro Basketball: Team Will Put Retired Forward's No. 42 Next to Other Greats on Forum Wall". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  34. ^ Brown, Clifton (October 14, 1994). "BASKETBALL; Knicks Hope Christie Adds Some Swing". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  35. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (October 14, 1994). "Christie Goes to Knicks: Pro Basketball: Lakers Get Two Second-Round Picks for Former Pepperdine Star". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  36. ^ "Christie Goes to the Knicks". The Washington Post. October 14, 1994. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  37. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. October 1, 1994. Retrieved September 26, 2022.