Pro basketball team season (won NBA championship)
NBA professional basketball team season
Championship parade, June 1987 The 1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers seasonNational 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
225 lb (102 kg)
1947-04-16
UCLA
SF 24
Branch, Adrian
185 lb (84 kg)
1963-11-17
Maryland
SG 21
Cooper, Michael
170 lb (77 kg)
1956-04-15
New Mexico
PF 45
Green, A.C.
220 lb (100 kg)
1963-10-04
Oregon State
PG 32
Johnson, Magic
215 lb (98 kg)
1959-08-14
Michigan State
PG 1
Matthews, Wes
170 lb (77 kg)
1959-08-24
Wisconsin
PF 31
Rambis, Kurt
213 lb (97 kg)
1958-02-25
Santa Clara
SG 4
Scott, Byron
195 lb (88 kg)
1961-03-28
Arizona State
C 52
Smrek, Mike
250 lb (113 kg)
1962-08-31
Canisius
SF 55
Thompson, Billy
195 lb (88 kg)
1963-12-01
Louisville
PF 00, 43
Thompson, Mychal
226 lb (103 kg)
1955-01-30
Minnesota
SF 42
Worthy, James
225 lb (102 kg)
1961-02-27
North Carolina
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) SuspendedRoster
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
November: 12–2 (home: 8–1; road: 4–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
1
November 1
@ Houston
L 102-112
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
Kurt Rambis (13)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Summit 0–1
2
November 4
@ Seattle
W 110-96
James Worthy (26)
Kurt Rambis (17)
Magic Johnson (10)
Seattle Center Coliseum 1-1
3
November 7
Denver
W 138-116
James Worthy (30)
Abdul-Jabbar & Brickowski (9)
Magic Johnson (18)
The Forum 2–1
4
November 9
New York
W 111-88
James Worthy (22)
Abdul-Jabbar & B. Thompson (6)
Magic Johnson (15)
The Forum 3–1
5
November 12
Seattle
W 122-97
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
Kurt Rambis (9)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 4–1
6
November 16
Sacramento
W 113-111
Magic Johnson (34)
Kurt Rambis (12)
Magic Johnson (12)
The Forum 5–1
7
November 18
@ Dallas
W 114-110
Magic Johnson (29)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
Magic Johnson (9)
Reunion Arena 6–1
8
November 19
@ San Antonio
W 117-108
Magic Johnson (25)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (13)
HemisFair Arena 7–1
9
November 21
New Jersey
W 111-95
James Worthy (26)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 8–1
10
November 23
Milwaukee
W 127-117
Magic Johnson (23)
Byron Scott (9)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 9–1
11
November 25
Atlanta
L 107-113
Magic Johnson (22)
A.C. Green (7)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)
The Forum 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 10–2
13
November 28
Chicago
W 110-103
Magic Johnson (30)
A.C. Green (12)
Magic Johnson (9)
The Forum 11–2
14
November 30
L.A. Clippers
W 137-115
Byron Scott (26)
Billy Thompson (13)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Forum 12–2
December: 10–4 (home: 5–0; road: 5–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
15
December 4
@ Golden State
L 106-116
Magic Johnson (28)
James Worthy (12)
Johnson & Scott (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12–3
16
December 5
Dallas
W 112-104
Magic Johnson (27)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 13–3
17
December 7
Golden State
W 132-100
Byron Scott (26)
A.C. Green (9)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Forum 14–3
18
December 9
@ New York
W 113-87
Magic Johnson (22)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8)
Magic Johnson (15)
Madison Square Garden 15–3
19
December 10
@ Milwaukee
L 93-116
James Worthy (24)
James Worthy (6)
Wes Matthews (6)
MECCA Arena 15–4
20
December 12
@ Boston
W 117-110
Magic Johnson (31)
A.C. Green (11)
Magic Johnson (8)
Boston Garden 16–4
21
December 13
@ Detroit
L 114-119
Magic Johnson (34)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 16–5
22
December 16
@ Cleveland
W 121-116
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (25)
Magic Johnson (11)
Magic Johnson (14)
Richfield Coliseum 17–5
23
December 18
Portland
W 131-115
Byron Scott (27)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Magic Johnson (18)
The Forum 18–5
24
December 20
@ Dallas
L 119-130
Magic Johnson (34)
A.C. Green (15)
Magic Johnson (15)
Reunion Arena 18–6
25
December 21
@ Houston
W 103-96
Magic Johnson (38)
A.C. Green (16)
Magic Johnson (16)
The Summit 19–6
26
December 23
@ Sacramento
W 127-117 (OT)
Magic Johnson (46)
A.C. Green (16)
Magic Johnson (9)
ARCO Arena I 20–6
27
December 26
Houston
W 134-111
Magic Johnson (30)
Kurt Rambis (6)
Magic Johnson (15)
The Forum 21–6
28
December 28
Philadelphia
W 111-85
Magic Johnson (28)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
Magic Johnson (9)
The Forum 22–6
January: 12–4 (home: 6–0; road: 6–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
29
January 1
@ Portland
W 140-104
Byron Scott (31)
A.C. Green (9)
Magic Johnson (18)
Memorial Coliseum 23–6
30
January 2
Phoenix
W 155-118
Magic Johnson (32)
A.C. Green (12)
Magic Johnson (14)
The Forum 24–6
31
January 4
Utah
W 121-113
Magic Johnson (26)
Magic Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (11)
The Forum 25–6
32
January 7
Denver
W 147-109
Byron Scott (23)
A.C. Green (10)
Magic Johnson (12)
The Forum 26–6
33
January 8
@ Utah
L 101-107
Magic Johnson (25)
A.C. Green (14)
Magic Johnson (9)
Salt Palace 26–7
34
January 10
@ Golden State
L 109-124
Magic Johnson (38)
Green & Rambis (7)
Magic Johnson (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 26–8
35
January 11
San Antonio
W 111-109
James Worthy (30)
Kurt Rambis (6)
Magic Johnson (9)
The Forum 27–8
36
January 15
Golden State
W 129-109
Johnson & Worthy (31)
James Worthy (13)
Magic Johnson (12)
The Forum 28–8
37
January 18
@ Washington
W 115-101
Magic Johnson (26)
A.C. Green (10)
Magic Johnson (10)
Capital Centre 29–8
38
January 19
@ New Jersey
W 126-115
Magic Johnson (42)
Magic Johnson (11)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (7)
Brendan Byrne Arena 30–8
39
January 21
@ Atlanta
W 112-109
James Worthy (27)
Green & Worthy (11)
Magic Johnson (9)
Omni Coliseum 31–8
40
January 22
@ Indiana
W 118-108
Magic Johnson (29)
Johnson & Rambis (10)
Magic Johnson (11)
Market Square Arena 32–8
41
January 24
@ Dallas
L 117-132
Magic Johnson (25)
James Worthy (8)
Magic Johnson (12)
Reunion Arena 32–9
42
January 27
Portland
W 107-100
Byron Scott (21)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
Magic Johnson (11)
The Forum 33–9
43
January 28
@ Seattle
L 101-125
Magic Johnson (24)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (11)
Seattle Center Coliseum 33–10
44
January 30
@ Phoenix
W 114-102
A.C. Green (24)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
Magic Johnson (19)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 34–10
February: 10–4 (home: 5–2; road: 5–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
45
February 2
Dallas
L 99-103
Byron Scott (21)
A.C. Green (9)
Michael Cooper (10)
The Forum 34–11
46
February 4
Sacramento
W 128-92
Byron Scott (21)
A.C. Green (11)
Magic Johnson (17)
The Forum 35–11
47
February 5
@ Portland
L 104-105
Magic Johnson (26)
A.C. Green (16)
Magic Johnson (10)
Memorial Coliseum 35–12
All-Star Break
48
February 10
@ Sacramento
W 114-98
Byron Scott (30)
Kurt Rambis (11)
Magic Johnson (13)
ARCO Arena I 36–12
49
February 13
Indiana
W 113-108
Magic Johnson (40)
James Worthy (9)
Cooper & Johnson (7)
The Forum 37–12
50
February 15
Boston
W 106-103
Magic Johnson (39)
Johnson & Worthy (7)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 38–12
51
February 17
Washington
L 99-114
James Worthy (21)
Kurt Rambis (13)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 38–13
52
February 18
@ Denver
W 128-122
Magic Johnson (37)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (16)
McNichols Sports Arena 39–13
53
February 20
@ Chicago
W 110-100
Magic Johnson (28)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)
Magic Johnson (16)
Chicago Stadium 40–13
54
February 22
@ Philadelphia
W 112-110 (OT)
James Worthy (24)
A.C. Green (10)
Magic Johnson (18)
The Spectrum 41–13
55
February 24
@ Phoenix
W 97-93
Cooper & Scott (21)
A.C. Green (15)
Michael Cooper (7)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 42–13
56
February 25
Phoenix
W 99-91
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (9)
Michael Cooper (8)
The Forum 43–13
57
February 27
Golden State
W 121-109
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
A.C. Green (11)
Magic Johnson (15)
The Forum 44–13
58
February 28
@ Utah
L 100-107
Magic Johnson (24)
A.C. Green (9)
Magic Johnson (14)
Salt Palace 44–14
March: 13–1 (home: 10–0; road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
59
March 3
@ Golden State
W 114-109
Byron Scott (26)
A.C. Green (12)
Magic Johnson (17)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 45–14
60
March 4
Seattle
W 138-124
Magic Johnson (31)
A.C. Green (11)
Magic Johnson (19)
The Forum 46–14
61
March 7
Cleveland
W 122-118
James Worthy (31)
3 players tied (8)
Magic Johnson (17)
The Forum 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 48–14
63
March 10
Denver
W 143-107
James Worthy (23)
Kurt Rambis (15)
Magic Johnson (20)
The Forum 49–14
64
March 12
Portland
W 125-116
Magic Johnson (25)
Cooper & Rambis (7)
Magic Johnson (16)
The Forum 50–14
65
March 15
L.A. Clippers
W 115-101
Magic Johnson (20)
Kurt Rambis (18)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 51–14
66
March 18
Utah
W 111-97
Magic Johnson (27)
A.C. Green (13)
Magic Johnson (19)
The Forum 52–14
67
March 20
San Antonio
W 147-115
Byron Scott (22)
A.C. Green (17)
Magic Johnson (11)
The Forum 53–14
68
March 22
Sacramento
W 129-121
Magic Johnson (33)
Magic Johnson (12)
Magic Johnson (19)
The Forum 54–14
69
March 24
@ Phoenix
L 93-108
James Worthy (23)
A.C. Green (11)
Michael Cooper (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 54–15
70
March 26
Detroit
W 128-111
Byron Scott (25)
A.C. Green (14)
Magic Johnson (15)
The Forum 55–15
71
March 28
@ Houston
W 123-109
Magic Johnson (31)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Summit 56–15
72
March 31
Houston
W 111-96
Magic Johnson (21)
Magic Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Forum 57–15
April: 8–2 (home: 3–1; road: 5–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location
Record
73
April 2
@ Seattle
W 117-114
Magic Johnson (34)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (13)
Seattle Center Coliseum 58–15
74
April 3
@ Portland
W 127-121
Magic Johnson (35)
Magic Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (11)
Memorial Coliseum 59–15
75
April 5
@ Denver
W 126-118
Magic Johnson (23)
A.C. Green (12)
Magic Johnson (10)
McNichols Sports Arena 60–15
76
April 6
L.A. Clippers
W 135-112
James Worthy (20)
A.C. Green (10)
Magic Johnson (16)
The Forum 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 62–15
78
April 10
San Antonio
W 131-121
James Worthy (24)
A.C. Green (14)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Forum 63–15
79
April 12
Phoenix
W 119-104
James Worthy (26)
A.C. Green (11)
Magic Johnson (19)
The Forum 64–15
80
April 16
@ Utah
W 110-97
Magic Johnson (31)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (10)
Magic Johnson (8)
Salt Palace 65–15
81
April 17
@ San Antonio
L 103-115
Mychal Thompson (20)
Kurt Rambis (7)
Johnson & Worthy (6)
HemisFair Arena 65–16
82
April 19
Seattle
L 104-110
Byron Scott (25)
Mychal Thompson (12)
Magic Johnson (7)
The Forum 65–17
1986–87 schedule
Playoffs
1987 playoff game log
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
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
United States
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