1978–79 Los Angeles Lakers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Los Angeles Lakers 1979 47 35 Pacific 3 5 Jerry West Bill Sharman Jack Kent Cooke The Forum Conference semifinals(lost to SuperSonics 1–4) LAL KHJ-TV KLAC The 1978–79 Los Angeles Lakers season was the Lakers' 31st season in the NBA and 19th season in Los Angeles.1978-79 Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers improved their win total from the prior year to 47–35, but lost once again in the postseason to division rival Seattle, who would win the title that year. It was the final season for the team under the ownership of Jack Kent Cooke, who sold the team to Jerry Buss the following summer. It was also the final season for former Laker legend Jerry West as coach; he returned to the organization three years later as general manager. Offseason Draft picks 1978 NBA draft Round Pick Player Nationality College 2 26 Ron Carter Virginia Military 2 38 Lew Massey North Carolina 3 60 Michael Cooper New Mexico 4 82 Harold Robertson Lincoln University 5 104 Carlos Terry Winston-Salem 6 126 Kim Stewart Washington 7 147 Larry Paige Colorado Roster Los Angeles Lakers 1978–79 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar C 7 2 225 1947-04-16 UCLA 24 Ron Boone SG 6 2 200 1946-09-06 Idaho State University 2 Kenny Carr PF 6 7 220 1955-08-15 NC State 15 Ron Carter basketball SG 6 5 190 1956-08-31 Virginia Military Institute 21 Michael Cooper SG 6 5 170 1956-04-15 New Mexico 4 Adrian Dantley SF 6 5 208 1955-02-28 Notre Dame 35 Don Ford PF 6 9 215 1952-12-31 Santa Barbara 23 Lou Hudson SG 6 5 210 1944-07-11 Minnesota 10 Norm Nixon PG 6 2 170 1955-10-11 Duquesne 5 Jim Price basketball PG 6 3 195 1949-11-27 Louisville 40 Dave Robisch C 6 10 235 1949-12-22 Kansas 52 Jamaal Wilkes SF 6 6 190 1953-05-02 UCLA Jerry West Stan Albeck Jack McCloskey https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1979.html October 27, 1978 Regular season Season standings LAL LAL z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Playoffs Los Angeles Lakers 1979 yes Los Angeles Lakers First Round yes yes no 1 0 1 1 |- | 1 | April 10 | @ Denver | L 105–110 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Norm Nixon (11) | McNichols Sports Arena16,011 | 0–1 |- | 2 | April 13 | Denver | W 121–109 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Jamaal Wilkes (13) | Norm Nixon (16) | The Forum14,182 | 1–1 |- | 3 | April 16 | @ Denver | W 112–111 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16) | Norm Nixon (12) | McNichols Sports Arena16,181 | 2–1 |- Los Angeles Lakers Conference semifinals yes no 1 1 0 3 |- | 1 | April 17 | @ Seattle | L 101–112 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) | Norm Nixon (7) | Kingdome26,377 | 0–1 |- | 2 | April 18 | @ Seattle | L 103–108 (OT) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) | Norm Nixon (10) | Kingdome26,862 | 0–2 |- | 3 | April 20 | Seattle | W 118–112 (OT) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Jamaal Wilkes (9) | Norm Nixon (11) | The Forum17,505 | 1–2 |- | 4 | April 22 | Seattle | L 115–117 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Norm Nixon (19) | The Forum17,505 | 1–3 |- | 5 | April 25 | @ Seattle | L 100–106 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14) | Abdul-Jabbar, Nixon (8) | Seattle Center Coliseum14,098 | 1–4 |- LAL 1979 yes Awards and records Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, All-NBA Second Team Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA All-Defensive First Team Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA All-Star Game References External links 1978–79 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats at basketball-reference.com Category:Los Angeles Lakers seasons Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers Los Angle