From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
Draft picks
Roster
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
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
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
—
Game log
Regular season
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
Playoffs
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
Player statistics
Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game
Season
Playoffs
Award winners
Transactions
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(February 2013 )
References
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1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s