NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
A ticket for a March 1981 game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks . The 1980-81 NBA 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.
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.
1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers 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 PF 8, 40 Brewer, Jim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1951-12-03 Minnesota SF 24 Carter, Butch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1958-06-11 Indiana PF 9 Chones, Jim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1949-11-30 Marquette SG 21 Cooper, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1956-04-15 New Mexico SG 25 Hardy, Alan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1957-05-25 Michigan SG 14 Holland, Brad 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1956-12-06 UCLA SG 32 Johnson, Magic 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959-08-14 Michigan State PG 15 Jordan, Eddie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955-01-29 Rutgers PF 54 Landsberger, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1955-05-21 Arizona State PG 10 Nixon, Norm 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955-10-11 Duquesne SF 52 Wilkes, Jamaal 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1953-05-02 UCLA
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: December 2, 1980
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 .[ 1] Notes
z , y – division champions x – clinched playoff spot Record vs. opponents [ edit ] 1980-81 NBA Records Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS Atlanta — 2–4 2–4 1–5 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 1–1 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–2 2–4 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–4 Boston 4–2 — 5–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 1–1 2–0 3–3 6–0 5–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1 Chicago 4–2 1–5 — 5–1 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 3–3 3–2 3–3 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 Cleveland 5–1 1–4 1–5 — 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 2–4 0–2 0–2 0–6 3–3 0–5 0–6 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 — 3–3 0–2 2–3 0–6 0–2 0–6 0–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–4 1–5 2–3 1–4 1–5 0–2 Denver 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 2–0 3–2 2–4 1–1 4–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–4 2–3 2–4 3–2 3–2 2–4 0–2 Detroit 2–4 1–4 1–5 3–3 2–0 0–2 — 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 1–5 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 Golden State 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 — 3–2 1–1 5–0 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 1–4 2–4 3–3 4–1 1–1 Houston 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 6–0 4–2 1–1 2–3 — 1–1 2–4 2–3 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–4 3–2 3–3 1–4 4–1 4–2 0–2 Indiana 5–1 3–3 2–3 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 0–2 2–4 5–1 3–2 0–6 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–2 Kansas City 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 6–0 2–4 1–1 0–5 4–2 0–2 — 0–5 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–2 3–2 2–4 3–2 2–3 5–1 1–1 Los Angeles 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–3 2–0 5–1 3–2 2–0 5–0 — 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 2–3 3–3 6–0 3–2 1–1 Milwaukee 5–1 3–3 3–3 6–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 2–0 — 5–1 3–3 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–1 New Jersey 2–3 0–6 2–3 3–3 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 1–5 0–2 0–2 1–5 — 0–6 1–5 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 New York 4–2 1–5 3–3 5–0 1–1 2–0 5–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 6–0 — 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2 Philadelphia 5–1 3–3 4–2 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–0 1–1 2–3 5–1 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2 Phoenix 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 4–1 2–0 4–2 4–1 1–1 2–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 3–3 3–2 6–0 5–1 5–0 1–1 Portland 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 2–0 4–2 2–3 2–0 2–3 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 — 2–3 4–2 4–2 2–3 2–0 San Antonio 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 4–1 3–3 0–2 4–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–3 3–2 — 4–1 3–2 5–1 1–1 San Diego 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 4–2 4–1 1–1 2–3 3–3 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–6 2–4 1–4 — 5–1 3–2 0–2 Seattle 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 2–3 2–0 3–3 1–4 2–0 3–2 0–6 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 2–4 2–3 1–5 — 4–1 1–1 Utah 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 5–1 4–2 2–0 1–4 2–4 1–1 1–5 2–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–5 3–2 1–5 2–3 1–4 — 0–2 Washington 4–1 1–5 1–5 2–4 2–0 2–0 5–1 1–1 2–0 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 3–3 2–4 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 —
1980–81 game log Total: 54-28 (home: 30-11; road: 24-17) October: 9–2 (home: 5–1; road: 4–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 10 @ Seattle W 99-98 Jamaal Wilkes (22) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Magic Johnson (8) Kingdome 35,233 1-0 2 October 12 Houston W 114-103 Magic Johnson (30) Jim Chones (11) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 11,142 2-0 3 October 15 @ Kansas City W 112-107 (OT) Jamaal Wilkes (31) Magic Johnson (12) Magic Johnson (14) Kemper Arena 5,753 3-0 4 October 17 Phoenix W 116-109 Jamaal Wilkes (34) Jim Chones (16) Norm Nixon (9) The Forum 10,411 4-0 5 October 19 Golden State W 125-107 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Mark Landsberger (12) Norm Nixon (9) The Forum 10,644 5-0 6 October 21 @ Portland L 103-107 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) Magic Johnson (5) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 5-1 7 October 24 Seattle W 104-98 Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (26) Jim Chones (15) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum 12,201 6-1 8 October 25 @ Utah W 127-99 Magic Johnson (33) Mark Landsberger (12) Magic Johnson (6) Salt Palace 12,058 7-1 9 October 26 San Antonio L 102-108 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Magic Johnson (13) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 11,906 7-2 10 October 28 @ San Diego W 131-101 Magic Johnson (29) Abdul-Jabbar & Landsberger (10) Magic Johnson (10) San Diego Sports Arena 8,663 8-2 11 October 31 Cleveland W 107-98 Jamaal Wilkes (23) Jim Chones (13) Norm Nixon (8) The Forum 9,728 9-2
November: 9–6 (home: 5–3; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 12 November 2 Denver L 121-123 Jamaal Wilkes (26) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 11,661 9-3 13 November 4 Portland W 119-118 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Jim Chones (12) Magic Johnson (12) The Forum 10,100 10-3 14 November 7 @ Dallas W 126-102 Magic Johnson (32) Johnson & Landsberger (9) Norm Nixon (10) Reunion Arena 17,481 11-3 15 November 8 @ San Antonio L 109-112 Magic Johnson (28) Chones & Johnson (10) Norm Nixon (15) HemisFair Arena 16,114 11-4 16 November 11 @ Atlanta W 126-97 Jamaal Wilkes (22) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (8) Omni Coliseum 11,373 12-4 17 November 12 @ Houston L 104-107 Jamaal Wilkes (28) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (11) The Summit 11,527 12-5 18 November 14 San Diego W 113-100 Jamaal Wilkes (22) Jim Chones (12) Magic Johnson (10) The Forum 11,808 13-5 19 November 16 Dallas W 110-102 Magic Johnson (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Magic Johnson (8) The Forum 10,893 14-5 20 November 18 Kansas City W 107-94 Jamaal Wilkes (32) Jim Chones (18) Norm Nixon (14) The Forum 10,169 15-5 21 November 20 @ Phoenix L 99-102 Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (29) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) Norm Nixon (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 15-6 22 November 21 Phoenix W 116-88 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20) Norm Nixon (7) The Forum 14,164 16-6 23 November 23 Milwaukee L 94-110 Jamaal Wilkes (27) Jim Chones (13) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) The Forum 14,814 16-7 24 November 27 @ Golden State W 128-119 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40) Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (11) Norm Nixon (12) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12,564 17-7 25 November 29 @ Denver W 124-123 (2OT) Jamaal Wilkes (30) Jim Chones (15) Norm Nixon (7) McNichols Sports Arena 14,811 18-7 26 November 30 Chicago L 108-122 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) 3 players tied (9) Eddie Jordan (9) The Forum 13,605 18-8
December: 8–7 (home: 5–2; road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 27 December 3 San Diego L 114-120 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) Jim Chones (13) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7) The Forum 9,346 18-9 28 December 6 @ Golden State L 103-119 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Jim Chones (9) Norm Nixon (11) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,329 18-10 29 December 7 Utah W 113-100 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) The Forum 11,564 19-10 30 December 9 @ Dallas W 103-92 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (11) Norm Nixon (10) Reunion Arena 9,313 20-10 31 December 10 @ Houston W 109-108 Jamaal Wilkes (32) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Norm Nixon (8) The Summit 10,632 21-10 32 December 12 @ Seattle W 113-107 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Kingdome 22,448 22-10 33 December 14 Golden State W 122-113 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Jim Chones (11) Norm Nixon (14) The Forum 11,643 23-10 34 December 16 @ San Diego L 92-97 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Norm Nixon (8) San Diego Sports Arena 9,044 23-11 35 December 19 Portland L 106-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) Jim Chones (13) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 12,190 23-12 36 December 21 San Antonio W 135-122 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 12,341 24-12 37 December 23 @ Portland L 102-108 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Eddie Jordan (6) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 24-13 38 December 26 Indiana W 116-115 Jamaal Wilkes (33) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) Norm Nixon (12) The Forum 14,345 25-13 39 December 27 @ Phoenix L 106-116 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Jim Chones (10) Norm Nixon (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 25-14 40 December 28 Philadelphia W 122-116 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 17,505 26-14 41 December 30 @ Utah L 100-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Jim Chones (12) Eddie Jordan (6) Salt Palace 12,393 26-15
January: 10–3 (home: 8–0; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 42 January 2 @ San Antonio L 112-118 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (36) Jim Chones (11) Norm Nixon (15) HemisFair Arena 14,722 26-16 43 January 6 Washington W 107-98 Norm Nixon (30) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16) Norm Nixon (12) The Forum 11,033 27-16 44 January 9 Seattle W 92-87 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16) Norm Nixon (9) The Forum 12,596 28-16 45 January 11 Detroit W 117-108 Jamaal Wilkes (33) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 11,195 29-16 46 January 13 @ Cleveland W 108-104 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Abdul-Jabbar & Brewer (8) Norm Nixon (9) Richfield Coliseum 7,316 30-16 47 January 14 @ Washington L 104-114 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (10) Norm Nixon (7) Capital Centre 10,372 30-17 48 January 16 @ New Jersey W 113-111 Jamaal Wilkes (32) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Norm Nixon (13) Brendan Byrne Arena 8,462 31-17 49 January 18 @ Boston L 96-98 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Eddie Jordan (5) Boston Garden 15,320 31-18 50 January 21 Atlanta W 116-106 Jamaal Wilkes (26) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Michael Cooper (9) The Forum 10,389 32-18 51 January 23 Denver W 110-105 Jamaal Wilkes (30) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15) Norm Nixon (9) The Forum 14,813 33-18 52 January 26 Portland W 124-112 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Norm Nixon (18) The Forum 10,681 34-18 53 January 27 Utah W 111-104 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Jim Chones (13) Norm Nixon (12) The Forum 10,453 35-18 54 January 29 Kansas City W 118-104 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Cooper & Nixon (10) The Forum 11,058 36-18
February: 8–4 (home: 3–2; road: 5–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record All-Star Break 55 February 4 @ Indiana W 102-96 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16) Michael Cooper (9) Market Square Arena 15,966 37-18 56 February 6 @ Detroit W 111-102 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14) Eddie Jordan (12) Pontiac Silverdome 12,205 38-18 57 February 8 @ Philadelphia L 99-102 Jamaal Wilkes (28) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Abdul-Jabbar & Nixon (5) The Spectrum 18,276 38-19 58 February 11 Boston L 91-105 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Michael Cooper (11) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 17,505 38-20 59 February 13 @ Houston W 114-105 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Norm Nixon (10) The Summit 13,985 39-20 60 February 15 Dallas W 107-99 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Norm Nixon (9) The Forum 11,920 40-20 61 February 17 New York W 96-87 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Michael Cooper (11) Michael Cooper (9) The Forum 13,279 41-20 62 February 20 Houston L 107-110 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (36) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Norm Nixon (12) The Forum 14,470 41-21 63 February 22 @ New York W 96-93 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) Cooper & Landsberger (9) Cooper & Nixon (7) Madison Square Garden 19,591 42-21 64 February 24 @ Chicago W 107-97 Norm Nixon (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) Norm Nixon (13) Chicago Stadium 16,518 43-21 65 February 25 @ Milwaukee L 108-126 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Norm Nixon (8) MECCA Arena 11,052 43-22 66 February 27 New Jersey W 107-103 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (11) Cooper & Nixon (7) The Forum 17,505 44-22
March: 10–6 (home: 4–3; road: 6–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 67 March 1 Phoenix L 96-101 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Magic Johnson (10) Norm Nixon (9) The Forum 17,505 44-23 68 March 3 @ Kansas City W 99-98 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) 3 players tied (8) Norm Nixon (8) Kemper Arena 12,208 45-23 69 March 4 @ Denver L 114-123 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) Mark Landsberger (10) Norm Nixon (7) McNichols Sports Arena 14,840 45-24 70 March 10 San Antonio W 118-104 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) Magic Johnson (16) Norm Nixon (13) The Forum 16,703 46-24 71 March 12 @ San Diego W 122-116 Jamaal Wilkes (29) Magic Johnson (9) Magic Johnson (7) San Diego Sports Arena 13,043 47-24 72 March 13 Kansas City W 116-101 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Mark Landsberger (11) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 17,505 48-24 73 March 15 San Diego L 118-122 Jamaal Wilkes (27) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Norm Nixon (12) The Forum 15,560 48-25 74 March 17 @ Dallas W 114-109 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) Magic Johnson (9) Johnson & Nixon (7) Reunion Arena 17,828 49-25 75 March 18 @ Phoenix L 114-126 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) Magic Johnson (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 49-26 76 March 20 Seattle W 133-119 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) Norm Nixon (10) The Forum 17,505 50-26 77 March 21 @ Portland W 117-111 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19) Norm Nixon (15) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 51-26 78 March 22 @ Golden State W 120-118 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) Magic Johnson (8) Norm Nixon (15) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,239 52-26 79 March 24 Golden State W 110-103 Johnson & Nixon (24) Magic Johnson (9) Magic Johnson (11) The Forum 17,505 53-26 80 March 27 @ Seattle W 97-90 Jamaal Wilkes (24) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) Magic Johnson (9) Kingdome 22,494 54-26 81 March 28 @ Utah L 110-112 (OT) Magic Johnson (41) Johnson & Landsberger (12) Magic Johnson (11) Salt Palace 12,383 54-27 82 March 29 Denver L 146-148 (OT) Magic Johnson (33) Magic Johnson (15) Magic Johnson (17) The Forum 17,505 54-28
1980–81 schedule
1981 playoff game log Total: 1–2 (home: 0–2; road: 1–0) First Round: 1–2 (home: 0–2; road: 1–0)
1981 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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