1983–84 Los Angeles Lakers season

1983–84 Los Angeles Lakers season
1983–84 Los Angeles Lakers season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach	Pat Riley
Owners	Jerry Buss
Arena	The Forum
Results
Record	54–28 (.659)
Place	Division: 1st (Pacific); Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals; (Lost to Celtics 3–4)
	Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KHJ
Radio	AM 570 KLAC
< 1982–83	1984–85 >

The 1983–84 season for the Los Angeles Lakers saw them lose in the 1984 NBA Finals against Larry Bird's Boston Celtics in seven well-fought games. The Lakers were coming off of an NBA Finals loss to the Julius Erving and Moses Malone led Philadelphia 76ers, in which they were swept in four games. The Los Angeles Lakers, powered by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (who broke the NBA's all-time total points record) and Magic Johnson with his 13.1 assists per game (tops in '84), ended up winning 54 games in the 1983–84 NBA season. On April 5, 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a 12-foot shot over Mark Eaton of the Utah Jazz 1 to surpass Wilt Chamberlain as the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 31,421 points.^[1]

In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Kansas City Kings in the first round, Dallas Mavericks in the second, and the Phoenix Suns in the 1984 Western Conference Finals in order to advance to what is called the "greatest NBA Finals in history", against Larry Bird's formidable, 62–20 Boston Celtics. The Lakers' early step on the green team in the Championship caused Bird to label teammates "sissies". The words inspired the Celtics, and shot down the Lakers, and the C's won game 7 111–102, a Laker heartbreaker, and still, arguably, the most memorable Finals of the 1980s.

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College

Roster

1983–84 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
G	21	Cooper, Michael	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	1956-04-15	New Mexico
F	0	Garrett, Calvin	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	1956-07-11	Oral Roberts
G	32	Johnson, Magic	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	1959-08-14	Michigan State
G	15	Jordan, Eddie	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	1955-01-29	Rutgers
F	25	Kupchak, Mitch	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	1954-05-24	North Carolina
C	11	McAdoo, Bob	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1951-09-25	North Carolina
F	40	McGee, Mike	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	1959-07-29	Michigan
C	41	Nater, Swen	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	1950-01-14	UCLA
F	31	Rambis, Kurt	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	213 lb (97 kg)	1958-02-25	Santa Clara
G	4	Scott, Byron (R)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	1961-03-28	Arizona State
F	35	Spriggs, Larry	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	1959-09-08	Howard
F	52	Wilkes, Jamaal	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	1953-05-02	UCLA
F	42	Worthy, James	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	1961-02-27	North Carolina

Head coach

Pat Riley

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2013-07-30

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	54	28	.659	–	28–13	26–15	18–12
x-Portland Trail Blazers	48	34	.585	6	33–8	15–26	17–13
x-Seattle SuperSonics	42	40	.512	12	32–9	10–31	14–16
x-Phoenix Suns	41	41	.500	13	31–10	10–31	16–14
Golden State Warriors	37	45	.451	17	27–14	10–31	13–17
San Diego Clippers	30	52	.366	24	25–16	5–36	12–18

#	Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Los Angeles Lakers	54	28	.659	–
2	y-Utah Jazz	45	37	.549	9
3	x-Portland Trail Blazers	48	34	.585	6
4	x-Dallas Mavericks	43	39	.524	11
5	x-Seattle SuperSonics	42	40	.512	12
6	x-Phoenix Suns	41	41	.500	13
7	x-Denver Nuggets	38	44	.463	16
8	x-Kansas City Kings	38	44	.463	16

9	San Antonio Spurs	37	45	.451	17
10	Golden State Warriors	37	45	.451	17
11	San Diego Clippers	30	52	.366	24
12	Houston Rockets	29	53	.354	25

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1983–84 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	—	0–5	4–2	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	0–2	0–2	3–3	3–3	4–1	5–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2
Boston	5–0	—	5–0	6–0	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–0	0–2	5–1	4–2	3–3	2–4	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–2
Chicago	2–4	0–5	—	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4
Cleveland	3–3	0–6	4–2	—	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–3	1–5	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–1
Dallas	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	—	4–2	0–2	4–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	3–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2	2–3	4–2	4–1	1–4	4–2	0–2
Denver	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–4	—	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	4–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	3–3	3–2	2–3	3–3	0–2
Detroit	4–2	2–4	5–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	1–4	4–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3
Golden State	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	3–2	1–1	—	2–3	2–0	4–1	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–5	2–4	3–2	3–3	4–2	1–4	2–0
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	3–2	—	1–1	2–4	1–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	2–4	2–3	3–2	1–5	0–2
Indiana	2–4	1–5	3–3	4–2	0–2	2–0	2–4	0–2	1–1	—	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	0–5	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4
Kansas City	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–4	4–2	2–0	—	0–5	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–3	2–3	5–1	3–2	1–4	3–3	2–0
Los Angeles	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	4–1	1–1	3–3	4–1	1–1	5–0	—	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3	5–1	2–3	4–2	3–3	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	1–5	4–2	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–0	0–2	—	4–2	4–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
New Jersey	3–3	2–4	4–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	—	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
New York	1–4	3–3	4–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	2–0	1–4	3–3	—	2–4	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–2
Philadelphia	1–5	4–2	3–2	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–2	—	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–2
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	0–2	5–1	3–2	1–1	3–2	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	—	2–4	5–0	4–2	2–4	1–4	2–0
Portland	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–2	4–1	1–1	4–2	4–1	1–1	3–2	1–5	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	—	4–1	4–2	4–2	1–4	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	1–1	2–3	4–2	2–0	1–5	3–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–5	1–4	—	4–1	2–3	4–2	1–1
San Diego	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	0–2	3–3	3–2	1–1	2–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	1–4	—	3–3	2–3	1–1
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	1–1	2–4	2–3	1–1	4–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	—	1–4	1–1
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–4	3–3	1–1	4–1	5–1	1–1	3–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–1	4–1	2–4	3–2	4–1	—	1–1
Washington	2–4	2–4	4–2	1–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	0–2	2–0	4–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	2–4	2–4	2–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1983–84 game log
Total: 54–28 (Home: 28–13; Road: 26–15)

October: 2–0 (home: 0–0; road: 2–0)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

November: 10–4 (home: 7–1; road: 3–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
7	November 11	Phoenix	W 119–105				The Forum	5–2
9	November 15	Milwaukee	W 126–97				The Forum	7–2

December: 7–6 (home: 6–3; road: 1–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
21	December 15	@ Phoenix	L 104–114				Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	14–7

January: 8–6 (home: 4–3; road: 4–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
39	January 19	@ Phoenix	L 123–138				Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	24–15
41	January 24	Phoenix	W 116–110				The Forum	25–16

February: 11–4 (home: 4–1; road: 7–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
48	February 8	@ Boston	W 111–109				Boston Garden	32–16
55	February 24	Boston	W 116–108				The Forum	32–16

March: 11–4 (home: 4–3; road: 7–1)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
67	March 20	@ Milwaukee	W 99–94				MECCA Arena	45–22
73	March 31	@ Phoenix	W 119–97				Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	49–24

April: 5–4 (home: 3–2; road: 2–2)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
82	April 15	Phoenix	L 114–123				The Forum	54–28

1983–84 schedule

Playoffs

1984 playoff game log

Western Conference First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Series

Western Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Series

Western Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Series
1	May 12	Phoenix	W 110–94	The Forum	1–0
2	May 15	Phoenix	W 118–102	The Forum	2–0
3	May 18	@ Phoenix	L 127–135	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	2–1
4	May 20	@ Phoenix	W 126–115	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	3–1
5	May 23	Phoenix	L 121–126	The Forum	3–2
6	May 25	@ Phoenix	W 99–97	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	4–2

NBA Finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Series
1	May 27	@ Boston	W 115–109	Boston Garden	1–0
2	May 31	@ Boston	L 121–124 (OT)	Boston Garden	1–1
3	June 3	Boston	W 137–104	The Forum	2–1
4	June 6	Boston	L 125–129 (OT)	The Forum	2–2
5	June 8	@ Boston	L 103–121	Boston Garden	2–3
6	June 10	Boston	W 119–108	The Forum	3–3
7	June 12	@ Boston	L 102–111	Boston Garden	3–4

1984 schedule

Playoffs

West First Round

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Kansas City Kings: Lakers win series 3–0

Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 18): Los Angeles 116, Kansas City 105
Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 20): Los Angeles 109, Kansas City 102
Game 3 @ Kemper Arena, Kansas City (April 22): Los Angeles 108, Kansas City 102

Last Playoff Meeting: 1955 Western Division Semifinals (Lakers won 2–1; Lakers were in Minneapolis, Kings were in Rochester, New York as the Royals)

West Conference Semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks: Lakers win series 4–1

Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (April 28): Los Angeles 134, Dallas 91
Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 1): Los Angeles 117, Dallas 101
Game 3 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 4): Dallas 125, Los Angeles 115
Game 4 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 6)*: Los Angeles 122, Dallas 115 (OT)
Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 8): Los Angeles 115, Dallas 99

Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Lakers and Mavericks.

West Conference Finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4–2

Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 12): Los Angeles 110, Phoenix 94
Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 15): Los Angeles 118, Phoenix 102
Game 3 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 18): Phoenix 135, Los Angeles 127 (OT)
Game 4 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 20): Los Angeles 126, Phoenix 115
Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 23): Phoenix 126, Los Angeles 121
Game 6 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 25): Los Angeles 99, Phoenix 97

Last Playoff Meeting: 1982 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4–0)

NBA Finals

Game	Home team	Score	Road Team	Series
Game 1	Boston Celtics	109–115	Los Angeles Lakers	LA 1–0
Game 2	Boston Celtics	124–121*	Los Angeles Lakers	TIED 1–1
Game 3	Los Angeles Lakers	137–104	Boston Celtics	LA 2–1
Game 4	Los Angeles Lakers	125–129*	Boston Celtics	TIED 2–2
Game 5	Boston Celtics	121–103	Los Angeles Lakers	BOS 3–2
Game 6	Los Angeles Lakers	119–108	Boston Celtics	TIED 3–3
Game 7	Boston Celtics	111–102	Los Angeles Lakers	BOS 4–3

*overtime

Boston beats Los Angeles 4–3

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

References

^ Numbelivable!, p.160, Michael X. Ferraro and John Veneziano, Triumph Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2007, ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0

Lakers History

The 1984 NBA Finals|Celtics.com

NBA.com: Larry's Celtics Edge Magic's Lakers in 7

[1] Numbelivable!, p.160, Michael X. Ferraro and John Veneziano, Triumph Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2007, ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0

[1]

v t e Los Angeles Lakers
Founded in 1948 Played in Minneapolis (1948–1960) Based in Los Angeles, California
Franchise	History All-time roster Draft history Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Minneapolis Auditorium Minneapolis Armory Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Kia Forum Crypto.com Arena
Personnel	Ownership Jeanie, Jim, and Johnny Buss (majority) Anschutz Entertainment Group, Ed Roski Jr., Patrick Soon-Shiong (minority) President Jeanie Buss General manager Rob Pelinka Head coach Darvin Ham
G League affiliate	South Bay Lakers
Retired numbers	8 13 16 22 24 25 32 33 34 42 44 52 99 MIC
NBA championships	1949 1950 1952 1953 1954 1972 1980 1982 1985 1987 1988 2000 2001 2002 2009 2010 2020
NBA Cup championships	2023
Rivalries	Boston Celtics Detroit Pistons Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings San Antonio Spurs
Culture and lore	Broadcasters radio network Jack Kent Cooke Jerry Buss Showtime Shaq–Kobe feud Laker Girls Laker Band Chick Hearn Flea Lawrence Tanter Jack Nicholson Dancing Barry Backstage: Lakers Fletch "It Was a Good Day" Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs Bulls vs Lakers and the NBA Playoffs The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty 2020 Calabasas helicopter crash Murals of Kobe Bryant