Pro basketball team season (won NBA championship)
NBA professional basketball team season
Championship parade, June 1987 The 1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 41st season of the franchise, 39th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 27th in Los Angeles . Coming from a shocking defeat to the Houston Rockets in the previous season's Western Conference Finals in five games, where they won the first game, but proceeded to drop the next four, the Lakers avenged their playoff upset by making the NBA Finals for the sixth time in the 1980s . Prior to reaching the NBA Finals, in the playoffs, the Lakers swept the Denver Nuggets in three games in the First Round, defeated the Golden State Warriors in five games in the Semi-finals, and swept the Seattle SuperSonics in four games in the Conference Finals. This team was named one of the 10 greatest teams in NBA history .
The highlight of the season saw the Lakers winning the NBA Finals , and their tenth NBA title (fifth in Los Angeles) over the defending NBA champions and rivals , the Boston Celtics , in six games. This marked the third and final time the Lakers and Celtics faced off against each other in the NBA Finals in the 1980s, as well as the last time the Lakers and Celtics faced off against each other in the NBA Finals until 2008 , where the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4–2 to win their 17th NBA championship. The two teams would then meet again in 2010 , where the Lakers defeated the Celtics 4–3 to win their 16th NBA championship. HoopsHype would later rank this squad as the team with the seventh-easiest route to winning the NBA Finals in 2024 due to the fact that outside of the rivaling Celtics, two of their three opponents the Lakers faced off against had losing records in the Western Conference, with the only other team they played against in the Golden State Warriors holding a 42–40 record instead.[ 1]
Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 33 Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1947-04-16 UCLA SF 24 Branch, Adrian 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963-11-17 Maryland SG 21 Cooper, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1956-04-15 New Mexico PF 45 Green, A.C. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963-10-04 Oregon State PG 32 Johnson, Magic 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959-08-14 Michigan State PG 1 Matthews, Wes 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1959-08-24 Wisconsin PF 31 Rambis, Kurt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958-02-25 Santa Clara SG 4 Scott, Byron 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1961-03-28 Arizona State C 52 Smrek, Mike 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1962-08-31 Canisius SF 55 Thompson, Billy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963-12-01 Louisville PF 00, 43 Thompson, Mychal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 226 lb (103 kg) 1955-01-30 Minnesota SF 42 Worthy, James 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961-02-27 North Carolina
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: February 13, 1987
Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1986-87 NBA Records Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS Atlanta – 3–3 4–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0 Boston 3–3 – 6–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 Chicago 2–4 0–6 – 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 3–2 4–2 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 Cleveland 2–4 2–3 1–5 – 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–0 0–2 1–5 4–2 4–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–4 Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 – 4–2 1–1 5–0 3–3 0–2 5–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–3 5–1 4–2 5–0 3–3 1–1 Denver 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 – 0–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 2–3 0–5 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 5–1 2–3 2–4 1–1 Detroit 3–3 2–3 3–3 5–1 1–1 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 5–1 6–0 5–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 Golden State 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–4 1–1 – 4–1 0–2 6–0 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–5 4–2 4–1 4–1 4–2 2–3 0–2 Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–3 3–3 1–1 1–4 – 2–0 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 5–1 5–1 1–4 3–3 1–1 Indiana 3–3 1–5 2–3 3–3 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–0 0–2 – 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–2 L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 0–2 0–6 1–4 0–2 – 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–6 1–4 1–4 2–4 2–3 0–2 L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 5–0 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 6–0 – 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1 5–1 5–0 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 Milwaukee 3–3 3–3 2–4 5–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 – 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 New Jersey 0–5 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 2–4 – 5–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 New York 1–5 2–4 2–4 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 2–3 2–0 0–2 2–4 1–5 – 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 Philadelphia 3–3 3–3 3–3 4–2 0–2 2–0 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–3 3–3 – 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 Phoenix 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 – 2–4 2–3 2–3 1–5 4–1 0–2 Portland 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 2–4 3–2 2–0 6–0 1–5 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–2 – 3–2 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 4–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 1–1 4–1 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–2 2–3 – 3–3 2–3 1–5 1–1 San Antonio 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–4 1–5 0–2 4–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 3–3 – 1–4 2–4 0–2 Seattle 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–5 3–2 0–2 2–4 4–1 1–1 4–2 2–4 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 5–1 2–4 3–2 4–1 – 3–2 1–1 Utah 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–3 4–2 1–1 3–2 3–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 2–3 5–1 4–2 2–3 – 1–1 Washington 0–5 2–4 3–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–4 4–2 4–2 3–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 —
1986–87 game log Total: 65–17 (Home: 37–4; Road: 28–13) November: 12–2 (home: 8–1; road: 4–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 1 @ Houston L 102-112 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Kurt Rambis (13) Magic Johnson (10) The Summit 16,016 0-1 2 November 4 @ Seattle W 110-96 James Worthy (26) Kurt Rambis (17) Magic Johnson (10) Seattle Center Coliseum 10,426 1-1 3 November 7 Denver W 138-116 James Worthy (30) Abdul-Jabbar & Brickowski (9) Magic Johnson (18) The Forum 15,872 2-1 4 November 9 New York W 111-88 James Worthy (22) Abdul-Jabbar & B. Thompson (6) Magic Johnson (15) The Forum 17,505 3-1 5 November 12 Seattle W 122-97 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) Kurt Rambis (9) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 13,694 4-1 6 November 16 Sacramento W 113-111 Magic Johnson (34) Kurt Rambis (12) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum 13,421 5-1 7 November 18 @ Dallas W 114-110 Magic Johnson (29) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (9) Reunion Arena 17,007 6-1 8 November 19 @ San Antonio W 117-108 Magic Johnson (25) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (13) HemisFair Arena 10,581 7-1 9 November 21 New Jersey W 111-95 James Worthy (26) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 14,918 8-1 10 November 23 Milwaukee W 127-117 Magic Johnson (23) Byron Scott (9) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 16,251 9-1 11 November 25 Atlanta L 107-113 Magic Johnson (22) A.C. Green (7) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8) The Forum 17,505 9-2 12 November 26 @ L.A. Clippers W 126-92 A.C. Green (19) A.C. Green (7) Magic Johnson (14) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12,110 10-2 13 November 28 Chicago W 110-103 Magic Johnson (30) A.C. Green (12) Magic Johnson (9) The Forum 17,505 11-2 14 November 30 L.A. Clippers W 137-115 Byron Scott (26) Billy Thompson (13) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum 13,099 12-2
December: 10–4 (home: 5–0; road: 5–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 December 4 @ Golden State L 106-116 Magic Johnson (28) James Worthy (12) Johnson & Scott (6) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 12-3 16 December 5 Dallas W 112-104 Magic Johnson (27) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 15,896 13-3 17 December 7 Golden State W 132-100 Byron Scott (26) A.C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum 14,937 14-3 18 December 9 @ New York W 113-87 Magic Johnson (22) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8) Magic Johnson (15) Madison Square Garden 19,320 15-3 19 December 10 @ Milwaukee L 93-116 James Worthy (24) James Worthy (6) Wes Matthews (6) MECCA Arena 11,052 15-4 20 December 12 @ Boston W 117-110 Magic Johnson (31) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (8) Boston Garden 14,890 16-4 21 December 13 @ Detroit L 114-119 Magic Johnson (34) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (9) Pontiac Silverdome 33,447 16-5 22 December 16 @ Cleveland W 121-116 Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (25) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (14) Richfield Coliseum 17,755 17-5 23 December 18 Portland W 131-115 Byron Scott (27) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14) Magic Johnson (18) The Forum 15,007 18-5 24 December 20 @ Dallas L 119-130 Magic Johnson (34) A.C. Green (15) Magic Johnson (15) Reunion Arena 17,007 18-6 25 December 21 @ Houston W 103-96 Magic Johnson (38) A.C. Green (16) Magic Johnson (16) The Summit 16,016 19-6 26 December 23 @ Sacramento W 127-117 (OT) Magic Johnson (46) A.C. Green (16) Magic Johnson (9) ARCO Arena I 10,333 20-6 27 December 26 Houston W 134-111 Magic Johnson (30) Kurt Rambis (6) Magic Johnson (15) The Forum 17,505 21-6 28 December 28 Philadelphia W 111-85 Magic Johnson (28) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Magic Johnson (9) The Forum 17,505 22-6
January: 12–4 (home: 6–0; road: 6–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 29 January 1 @ Portland W 140-104 Byron Scott (31) A.C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (18) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 23-6 30 January 2 Phoenix W 155-118 Magic Johnson (32) A.C. Green (12) Magic Johnson (14) The Forum 17,505 24-6 31 January 4 Utah W 121-113 Magic Johnson (26) Magic Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 17,505 25-6 32 January 7 Denver W 147-109 Byron Scott (23) A.C. Green (10) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum 15,777 26-6 33 January 8 @ Utah L 101-107 Magic Johnson (25) A.C. Green (14) Magic Johnson (9) Salt Palace 12,212 26-7 34 January 10 @ Golden State L 109-124 Magic Johnson (38) Green & Rambis (7) Magic Johnson (7) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 26-8 35 January 11 San Antonio W 111-109 James Worthy (30) Kurt Rambis (6) Magic Johnson (9) The Forum 15,294 27-8 36 January 15 Golden State W 129-109 Johnson & Worthy (31) James Worthy (13) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum 17,505 28-8 37 January 18 @ Washington W 115-101 Magic Johnson (26) A.C. Green (10) Magic Johnson (10) Capital Centre 19,411 29-8 38 January 19 @ New Jersey W 126-115 Magic Johnson (42) Magic Johnson (11) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (7) Brendan Byrne Arena 14,197 30-8 39 January 21 @ Atlanta W 112-109 James Worthy (27) Green & Worthy (11) Magic Johnson (9) Omni Coliseum 16,522 31-8 40 January 22 @ Indiana W 118-108 Magic Johnson (29) Johnson & Rambis (10) Magic Johnson (11) Market Square Arena 16,912 32-8 41 January 24 @ Dallas L 117-132 Magic Johnson (25) James Worthy (8) Magic Johnson (12) Reunion Arena 17,007 32-9 42 January 27 Portland W 107-100 Byron Scott (21) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 15,989 33-9 43 January 28 @ Seattle L 101-125 Magic Johnson (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (11) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,634 33-10 44 January 30 @ Phoenix W 114-102 A.C. Green (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Magic Johnson (19) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 34-10
February: 10–4 (home: 5–2; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 2 Dallas L 99-103 Byron Scott (21) A.C. Green (9) Michael Cooper (10) The Forum 17,505 34-11 46 February 4 Sacramento W 128-92 Byron Scott (21) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (17) The Forum 14,729 35-11 47 February 5 @ Portland L 104-105 Magic Johnson (26) A.C. Green (16) Magic Johnson (10) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 35-12 All-Star Break 48 February 10 @ Sacramento W 114-98 Byron Scott (30) Kurt Rambis (11) Magic Johnson (13) ARCO Arena I 10,333 36-12 49 February 13 Indiana W 113-108 Magic Johnson (40) James Worthy (9) Cooper & Johnson (7) The Forum 17,505 37-12 50 February 15 Boston W 106-103 Magic Johnson (39) Johnson & Worthy (7) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 17,505 38-12 51 February 17 Washington L 99-114 James Worthy (21) Kurt Rambis (13) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 17,505 38-13 52 February 18 @ Denver W 128-122 Magic Johnson (37) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (16) McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 39-13 53 February 20 @ Chicago W 110-100 Magic Johnson (28) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7) Magic Johnson (16) Chicago Stadium 18,079 40-13 54 February 22 @ Philadelphia W 112-110 (OT) James Worthy (24) A.C. Green (10) Magic Johnson (18) The Spectrum 17,967 41-13 55 February 24 @ Phoenix W 97-93 Cooper & Scott (21) A.C. Green (15) Michael Cooper (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,686 42-13 56 February 25 Phoenix W 99-91 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (9) Michael Cooper (8) The Forum 16,416 43-13 57 February 27 Golden State W 121-109 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (15) The Forum 17,505 44-13 58 February 28 @ Utah L 100-107 Magic Johnson (24) A.C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (14) Salt Palace 12,212 44-14
March: 13–1 (home: 10–0; road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 3 @ Golden State W 114-109 Byron Scott (26) A.C. Green (12) Magic Johnson (17) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 45-14 60 March 4 Seattle W 138-124 Magic Johnson (31) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (19) The Forum 17,505 46-14 61 March 7 Cleveland W 122-118 James Worthy (31) 3 players tied (8) Magic Johnson (17) The Forum 17,505 47-14 62 March 9 @ L.A. Clippers W 136-114 Byron Scott (30) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (15) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12,067 48-14 63 March 10 Denver W 143-107 James Worthy (23) Kurt Rambis (15) Magic Johnson (20) The Forum 17,505 49-14 64 March 12 Portland W 125-116 Magic Johnson (25) Cooper & Rambis (7) Magic Johnson (16) The Forum 17,505 50-14 65 March 15 L.A. Clippers W 115-101 Magic Johnson (20) Kurt Rambis (18) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 17,505 51-14 66 March 18 Utah W 111-97 Magic Johnson (27) A.C. Green (13) Magic Johnson (19) The Forum 17,505 52-14 67 March 20 San Antonio W 147-115 Byron Scott (22) A.C. Green (17) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 17,505 53-14 68 March 22 Sacramento W 129-121 Magic Johnson (33) Magic Johnson (12) Magic Johnson (19) The Forum 17,505 54-14 69 March 24 @ Phoenix L 93-108 James Worthy (23) A.C. Green (11) Michael Cooper (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,907 54-15 70 March 26 Detroit W 128-111 Byron Scott (25) A.C. Green (14) Magic Johnson (15) The Forum 17,505 55-15 71 March 28 @ Houston W 123-109 Magic Johnson (31) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Magic Johnson (13) The Summit 16,279 56-15 72 March 31 Houston W 111-96 Magic Johnson (21) Magic Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum 17,505 57-15
April: 8–2 (home: 3–1; road: 5–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 73 April 2 @ Seattle W 117-114 Magic Johnson (34) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (13) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,739 58-15 74 April 3 @ Portland W 127-121 Magic Johnson (35) Magic Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (11) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 59-15 75 April 5 @ Denver W 126-118 Magic Johnson (23) A.C. Green (12) Magic Johnson (10) McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 60-15 76 April 6 L.A. Clippers W 135-112 James Worthy (20) A.C. Green (10) Magic Johnson (16) The Forum 14,777 61-15 77 April 9 @ L.A. Clippers W 118-100 Magic Johnson (28) Kurt Rambis (10) Magic Johnson (11) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 13,801 62-15 78 April 10 San Antonio W 131-121 James Worthy (24) A.C. Green (14) Magic Johnson (13) The Forum 17,505 63-15 79 April 12 Phoenix W 119-104 James Worthy (26) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (19) The Forum 17,505 64-15 80 April 16 @ Utah W 110-97 Magic Johnson (31) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (10) Magic Johnson (8) Salt Palace 12,212 65-15 81 April 17 @ San Antonio L 103-115 Mychal Thompson (20) Kurt Rambis (7) Johnson & Worthy (6) HemisFair Arena 12,872 65-16 82 April 19 Seattle L 104-110 Byron Scott (25) Mychal Thompson (12) Magic Johnson (7) The Forum 17,505 65-17
1986–87 schedule
1987 playoff game log Total: 15–3 (Home: 10–0; Road: 5–3) First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
NBA Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
1987 schedule
Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game
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(February 2013 )
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