1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Los Angeles Lakers 1981 54 28 Pacific 2 3 Paul Westhead Bill Sharman Jerry Buss The Forum KHJ AM 570 KLAC First round(lost to Rockets 1–2) LAL thumb|right|280px|A ticket for a March 1981 game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. The 1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season was the Lakers' 33rd season in the NBA and the 21st season in Los Angeles. The Lakers were attempting to become the first team since 1969 to repeat as NBA Champions. Despite missing Magic Johnson for 45 games due to a knee injury, the Lakers still managed an impressive 54–28 record during the regular season, and they were the #3 seed heading into the Western Conference playoffs. However, the underdog Houston Rockets eliminated the Lakers in a best-of-three first round series two games to one. NBA draft The Lakers did not have a first-round pick in the 1980 Draft. Their first selection was Wayne Robinson, the 31st pick overall, but he never played a game for the Lakers. Future NBA Coach Butch Carter was their second selection at #37 overall. Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 2 31 Wayne Robinson Forward Virginia Tech 2 37 Butch Carter Guard Indiana Roster Los Angeles Lakers 1980–81 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar C 7 2 225 1947-04-16 UCLA 40 Jim Brewer basketball PF 6 9 210 1951-12-03 Minnesota 24 Butch Carter SF 6 5 180 1958-06-11 Indiana 9 Jim Chones PF 6 11 220 1949-11-30 Marquette 21 Michael Cooper SG 6 5 170 1956-04-15 New Mexico 25 Alan Hardy basketball SG 6 7 195 1957-05-25 Michigan 14 Brad Holland SG 6 3 180 1956-12-06 UCLA 32 Magic Johnson SG 6 9 215 1959-08-14 Michigan State 15 Eddie Jordan basketball PG 6 1 170 1955-01-29 Rutgers University 54 Mark Landsberger PF 6 8 215 1955-05-21 Arizona State 10 Norm Nixon PG 6 2 170 1955-10-11 Duquesne 52 Jamaal Wilkes SF 6 6 190 1953-05-02 UCLA Paul Westhead Pat Riley Mike Thibault https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1981.html December 2, 1980 Roster notes Shooting guard Magic Johnson missed 45 games during the season after suffering a torn cartilage in his left knee on November 18 during a game against the Kansas City Kings.https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/12/sports/with-johnson-out-the-lakers-are-having-their-problems.html#:~:text=Less%20than%20eight%20months%20ago,home%20with%20an%20injured%20ankle.&text=18%2C%20the%20night%20that%20Johnson,cartilage%20in%20his%20left%20knee. With Johnson Out, The Lakers Are Having Their Problems Los Angeles Times January 12, 1981 November 24, 2020 Regular season Season standings LAL LAL Notes z, y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Los Angeles Lakers 1981 Total: 54-28 (home: 30-11; road: 24-17) Los Angeles Lakers October yes 5 1 4 1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | October 10 | @ Seattle | W 99-98 | Jamaal Wilkes (22) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Magic Johnson (8) | Kingdome35,233 | 1–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | October 12 | Houston | W 114-103 | Magic Johnson (30) | Jim Chones (11) | Magic Johnson (10) | The Forum11,142 | 2–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | October 15 | @ Kansas City | W 112-107 (OT) | Jamaal Wilkes (31) | Magic Johnson (12) | Magic Johnson (14) | Kemper Arena5,753 | 3–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | October 17 | Phoenix | W 116-109 | Jamaal Wilkes (34) | Jim Chones (16) | Norm Nixon (9) | The Forum10,411 | 4–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | October 19 | Golden State | W 125-107 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Mark Landsberger (12) | Norm Nixon (9) | The Forum10,644 | 5–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | October 21 | @ Portland | L 103-107 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) | Magic Johnson (5) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 5–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | October 24 | Seattle | W 104-98 | Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (26) | Jim Chones (15) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum12,201 | 6–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | October 25 | @ Utah | W 127-99 | Magic Johnson (33) | Mark Landsberger (12) | Magic Johnson (6) | Salt Palace12,058 | 7–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | October 26 | San Antonio | L 102-108 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) | Magic Johnson (13) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum11,906 | 7–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | October 28 | @ San Diego | W 131-101 | Magic Johnson (29) | Abdul-Jabbar & Landsberger (10) | Magic Johnson (10) | San Diego Sports Arena8,663 | 8–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | October 31 | Cleveland | W 107-98 | Jamaal Wilkes (23) | Jim Chones (13) | Norm Nixon (8) | The Forum9,728 | 9–2 Los Angeles Lakers November 5 3 4 3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 12 | November 2 | Denver | L 121-123 | Jamaal Wilkes (26) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum11,661 | 9–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | November 4 | Portland | W 119-118 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Jim Chones (12) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum10,100 | 10–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | November 7 | @ Dallas | W 126-102 | Magic Johnson (32) | Johnson & Landsberger (9) | Norm Nixon (10) | Reunion Arena17,481 | 11–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | November 8 | @ San Antonio | L 109-112 | Magic Johnson (28) | Chones & Johnson (10) | Norm Nixon (15) | HemisFair Arena16,114 | 11–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | November 11 | @ Atlanta | W 126-97 | Jamaal Wilkes (22) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8) | Omni Coliseum11,373 | 12–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 17 | November 12 | @ Houston | L 104-107 | Jamaal Wilkes (28) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Summit11,527 | 12–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | November 14 | San Diego | W 113-100 | Jamaal Wilkes (22) | Jim Chones (12) | Magic Johnson (10) | The Forum11,808 | 13–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 | November 16 | Dallas | W 110-102 | Magic Johnson (24) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) | Magic Johnson (8) | The Forum10,893 | 14–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 20 | November 18 | Kansas City | W 107-94 | Jamaal Wilkes (32) | Jim Chones (18) | Norm Nixon (14) | The Forum10,169 | 15–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 21 | November 20 | @ Phoenix | L 99-102 | Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (29) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) | Norm Nixon (7) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 15–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | November 21 | Phoenix | W 116-88 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20) | Norm Nixon (7) | The Forum14,164 | 16–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 23 | November 23 | Milwaukee | L 94-110 | Jamaal Wilkes (27) | Jim Chones (13) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) | The Forum14,814 | 16–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 | November 27 | @ Golden State | W 128-119 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40) | Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (11) | Norm Nixon (12) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena12,564 | 17–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 | November 29 | @ Denver | W 124-123 (2OT) | Jamaal Wilkes (30) | Jim Chones (15) | Norm Nixon (7) | McNichols Sports Arena14,811 | 18–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | November 30 | Chicago | L 108-122 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | 3 players tied (9) | Eddie Jordan (9) | The Forum13,605 | 18–8 Los Angeles Lakers December 5 2 3 5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 | December 3 | San Diego | L 114-120 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) | Jim Chones (13) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7) | The Forum9,346 | 18–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 28 | December 6 | @ Golden State | L 103-119 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) | Jim Chones (9) | Norm Nixon (11) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena13,329 | 18–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 | December 7 | Utah | W 113-100 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) | The Forum11,564 | 19–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 30 | December 9 | @ Dallas | W 103-92 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (11) | Norm Nixon (10) | Reunion Arena9,313 | 20–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 | December 10 | @ Houston | W 109-108 | Jamaal Wilkes (32) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Norm Nixon (8) | The Summit10,632 | 21–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | December 12 | @ Seattle | W 113-107 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Kingdome22,448 | 22–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | December 14 | Golden State | W 122-113 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Jim Chones (11) | Norm Nixon (14) | The Forum11,643 | 23–10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 34 | December 16 | @ San Diego | L 92-97 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Norm Nixon (8) | San Diego Sports Arena9,044 | 23–11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 35 | December 19 | Portland | L 106-110 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) | Jim Chones (13) | Norm Nixon (10) | The Forum12,190 | 23–12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | December 21 | San Antonio | W 135-122 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Norm Nixon (10) | The Forum12,341 | 24–12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 37 | December 23 | @ Portland | L 102-108 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Eddie Jordan (6) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 24–13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | December 26 | Indiana | W 116-115 | Jamaal Wilkes (33) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) | Norm Nixon (12) | The Forum14,345 | 25–13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 39 | December 27 | @ Phoenix | L 106-116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) | Jim Chones (10) | Norm Nixon (10) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 25–14 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 | December 28 | Philadelphia | W 122-116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Norm Nixon (10) | The Forum17,505 | 26–14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 41 | December 30 | @ Utah | L 100-110 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) | Jim Chones (12) | Eddie Jordan (6) | Salt Palace12,393 | 26–15 Los Angeles Lakers January 8 0 2 3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 42 | January 2 | @ San Antonio | L 112-118 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (36) | Jim Chones (11) | Norm Nixon (15) | HemisFair Arena14,722 | 26–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 | January 6 | Washington | W 107-98 | Norm Nixon (30) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16) | Norm Nixon (12) | The Forum11,033 | 27–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 9 | Seattle | W 92-87 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16) | Norm Nixon (9) | The Forum12,596 | 28–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | January 11 | Detroit | W 117-108 | Jamaal Wilkes (33) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Norm Nixon (10) | The Forum11,195 | 29–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 46 | January 13 | @ Cleveland | W 108-104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Abdul-Jabbar & Brewer (8) | Norm Nixon (9) | Richfield Coliseum7,316 | 30–16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 47 | January 14 | @ Washington | L 104-114 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (10) | Norm Nixon (7) | Capital Centre10,372 | 30–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 | January 16 | @ New Jersey | W 113-111 | Jamaal Wilkes (32) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) | Norm Nixon (13) | Brendan Byrne Arena8,462 | 31–17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 49 | January 18 | @ Boston | L 96-98 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Eddie Jordan (5) | Boston Garden15,320 | 31–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 | January 21 | Atlanta | W 116-106 | Jamaal Wilkes (26) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) | Michael Cooper (9) | The Forum10,389 | 32–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 51 | January 23 | Denver | W 110-105 | Jamaal Wilkes (30) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) | Norm Nixon (9) | The Forum14,813 | 33–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 | January 26 | Portland | W 124-112 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Norm Nixon (18) | The Forum10,681 | 34–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 | January 27 | Utah | W 111-104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) | Jim Chones (13) | Norm Nixon (12) | The Forum10,453 | 35–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 54 | January 29 | Kansas City | W 118-104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Cooper & Nixon (10) | The Forum11,058 | 36–18 Los Angeles Lakers February 3 2 5 2 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- style="background:#cfc;" | 55 | February 4 | @ Indiana | W 102-96 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16) | Michael Cooper (9) | Market Square Arena15,966 | 37–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 56 | February 6 | @ Detroit | W 111-102 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14) | Eddie Jordan (12) | Pontiac Silverdome12,205 | 38–18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 57 | February 8 | @ Philadelphia | L 99-102 | Jamaal Wilkes (28) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (5) | The Spectrum18,276 | 38–19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 58 | February 11 | Boston | L 91-105 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Michael Cooper (11) | Norm Nixon (10) | The Forum17,505 | 38–20 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 | February 13 | @ Houston | W 114-105 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Norm Nixon (10) | The Summit13,985 | 39–20 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 | February 15 | Dallas | W 107-99 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Norm Nixon (9) | The Forum11,920 | 40–20 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 61 | February 17 | New York | W 96-87 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Michael Cooper (11) | Michael Cooper (9) | The Forum13,279 | 41–20 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 62 | February 20 | Houston | L 107-110 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (36) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Norm Nixon (12) | The Forum14,470 | 41–21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 63 | February 22 | @ New York | W 96-93 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Cooper & Landsberger (9) | Cooper & Nixon (7) | Madison Square Garden19,591 | 42–21 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 64 | February 24 | @ Chicago | W 107-97 | Norm Nixon (24) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) | Norm Nixon (13) | Chicago Stadium16,518 | 43–21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 65 | February 25 | @ Milwaukee | L 108-126 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Norm Nixon (8) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 43–22 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 | February 27 | New Jersey | W 107-103 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (11) | Cooper & Nixon (7) | The Forum17,505 | 44–22 Los Angeles Lakers March 4 3 6 3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 67 | March 1 | Phoenix | L 96-101 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Magic Johnson (10) | Norm Nixon (9) | The Forum17,505 | 44–23 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 68 | March 3 | @ Kansas City | W 99-98 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) | 3 players tied (8) | Norm Nixon (8) | Kemper Arena12,208 | 45–23 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 69 | March 4 | @ Denver | L 114-123 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) | Mark Landsberger (10) | Norm Nixon (7) | McNichols Sports Arena14,840 | 45–24 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 70 | March 10 | San Antonio | W 118-104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) | Magic Johnson (16) | Norm Nixon (13) | The Forum16,703 | 46–24 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 71 | March 12 | @ San Diego | W 122-116 | Jamaal Wilkes (29) | Magic Johnson (9) | Magic Johnson (7) | San Diego Sports Arena13,043 | 47–24 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 72 | March 13 | Kansas City | W 116-101 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Mark Landsberger (11) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum17,505 | 48–24 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 73 | March 15 | San Diego | L 118-122 | Jamaal Wilkes (27) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Norm Nixon (12) | The Forum15,560 | 48–25 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 74 | March 17 | @ Dallas | W 114-109 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Magic Johnson (9) | Johnson & Nixon (7) | Reunion Arena17,828 | 49–25 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 75 | March 18 | @ Phoenix | L 114-126 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) | Magic Johnson (8) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 49–26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 76 | March 20 | Seattle | W 133-119 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) | Norm Nixon (10) | The Forum17,505 | 50–26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 77 | March 21 | @ Portland | W 117-111 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19) | Norm Nixon (15) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 51–26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 78 | March 22 | @ Golden State | W 120-118 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Magic Johnson (8) | Norm Nixon (15) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena13,239 | 52–26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 79 | March 24 | Golden State | W 110-103 | Johnson & Nixon (24) | Magic Johnson (9) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum17,505 | 53–26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 80 | March 27 | @ Seattle | W 97-90 | Jamaal Wilkes (24) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) | Magic Johnson (9) | Kingdome22,494 | 54–26 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 81 | March 28 | @ Utah | L 110-112 (OT) | Magic Johnson (41) | Johnson & Landsberger (12) | Magic Johnson (11) | Salt Palace12,383 | 54–27 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 82 | March 29 | Denver | L 146-148 (OT) | Magic Johnson (33) | Magic Johnson (15) | Magic Johnson (17) | The Forum17,505 | 54–28 LAL 1981 Playoffs Los Angeles Lakers yes 1981 Total: 1–2 (home: 0–2; road: 1–0) Los Angeles Lakers First Round yes yes no 0 2 1 0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | April 1 | Houston | L 107–111 | Magic Johnson (26) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) | Norm Nixon (10) | The Forum15,517 | 0–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | April 3 | @ Houston | W 111–106 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) | Magic Johnson (18) | Norm Nixon (11) | The Summit16,121 | 1–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | April 5 | Houston | L 86–89 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18) | Magic Johnson (9) | The Forum14,813 | 1–2 |- LAL 1981 yes Player statistics Note: GP= Games played; MPG= Minutes per Game; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; PPG = Points per Game Player GP MPG REB AST STL BLK PTS PPG Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 37.2 821 272 59 228 2095 26.2 Jamaal Wilkes 81 37.4 435 235 121 29 1827 22.6 Norm Nixon 79 37.5 232 696 146 11 1350 17.1 Jim Chones 82 31.2 657 153 39 96 882 10.8 Magic Johnson 37 37.1 320 317 127 27 798 21.6 Michael Cooper 81 32.4 336 332 133 78 763 9.4 Mark Landsberger 69 15.7 377 27 19 6 390 5.7 Eddie Jordan 60 16.5 80 195 74 7 306 5.1 Butch Carter 54 12.4 65 52 23 1 301 5.6 Jim Brewer 78 14.2 281 55 43 58 217 2.8 Brad Holland 41 7.2 29 23 21 1 130 3.2 Alan Hardy 22 5.0 19 3 1 9 51 2.3 Myles Patrick 3 3.0 2 1 0 0 5 1.7 Tony Jackson 2 7.0 2 2 2 0 2 1.0 Award winners/Honors Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, First Team All-NBA, First Team All-Defense, All-Star Michael Cooper, Second Team All-Defense Jamaal Wilkes, All-Star References Lakers on Database Basketball Lakers on 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