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1989–90 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Lakers' 42nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th in the city of Los Angeles.[1] The Lakers drafted Yugoslavian center Vlade Divac with the 26th overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft.[2][3][4][5] Despite the retirement of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and an NBA Finals defeat in which they were swept in four games by the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers got off to a fast start winning ten of their first eleven games,[6] and holding a 35–11 record at the All-Star break,[7] on their way finishing the regular season with a league-best 63–19 record.[8]

Magic Johnson averaged 22.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while James Worthy averaged 21.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. In addition, Byron Scott provided the team with 15.5 points per game, while A.C. Green provided 12.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, sixth man Orlando Woolridge contributed 12.7 points per game, Mychal Thompson averaged 10.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and Divac contributed 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game off the bench, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.[9] Three members of the team, Johnson, Worthy and Green were all selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game in Miami, Florida, with head coach Pat Riley coaching the Western Conference.[10][11][12][13] Johnson won the All-Star MVP award, despite the Western Conference losing to the Eastern Conference, 130–113.[14][15][16][17][18] Riley was also named Coach of the Year for the first time.[19][20][21]

However, after defeating the Houston Rockets in four games in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs,[22][23][24][25] the Lakers were defeated in the Western Conference Semi-finals by the 5th-seeded Phoenix Suns in five games.[26][27][28][29] It was the first time in nine years that the Lakers did not reach the Western Conference finals, ending a run that started in 1982,[30] the longest series of consecutive NBA Conference finals appearances since Bill Russell's Boston Celtics in 1969.

Following the season, Riley resigned after nine seasons and was replaced by Mike Dunleavy.[31][32][33][34] He would return to coach the New York Knicks for the 1991–92 season.[35][36][37] Also following the season, Orlando Woolridge was traded to the Denver Nuggets,[38][39] and Michael Cooper was released to free agency, and left to play overseas in Italy.[40][41]

Johnson won the league's Most Valuable Player of the Year award (his third in four years) in a controversial voting over Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers. Johnson received fewer first-place votes (27 of the 92 cast) than Barkley (38), but totaled 636 points in the ballot compared to Barkley's 614.[42][43][44][45][46]

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1989-90 Los Angeles Lakers
  2. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 28, 1989). "Kings Take Ellison First in N.B.A. Draft; Clippers Pick Ferry". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  3. ^ McManis, Sam (June 28, 1989). "THE NBA DRAFT: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  4. ^ Hubbard, Jan (July 2, 1989). "NBA Notes: Lakers May Have a Gem in Vlade Divac". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "1989 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  6. ^ McManis, Sam (November 27, 1989). "Lakers Blast Spurs, Avenge Only Defeat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  7. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "1989–90 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "1989–90 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Barnes, Mike (January 25, 1990). "Green's a Starting All-Star Over Malone". United Press International. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  11. ^ McManis, Sam (January 26, 1990). "A.C. Green Boxes Out Unhappy Malone for Starting Berth: NBA All-Stars: Utah Player Says He Will Boycott Game. Magic and Worthy Make It Three Lakers on West Squad". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  13. ^ "Bird, Johnson Return Magic to All-Star Game". Sun Sentinel. February 11, 1990. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Brown, Clifton (February 12, 1990). "For Johnson, Honor and Awe". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  15. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 12, 1990). "East Stars Put It Together, But Magic Has Hardware: Pro Basketball: Laker Guard Earns MVP in Losing Effort as Rest of His West Teammates Are Shut Down, 130-113". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  16. ^ "1990 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  19. ^ "Lakers' Riley Voted Coach of the Year". Los Angeles Times. May 14, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  20. ^ "Riley Is Coach of Year". The New York Times. May 15, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  21. ^ "NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  22. ^ Luna, Richard (May 3, 1990). "Lakers 109, Rockets 88". United Press International. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  23. ^ "Worthy Helps Lakers Eliminate Rockets". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 4, 1990. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  24. ^ McManis, Sam (May 4, 1990). "Now Lakers Don't Have to Run for Cover, 109-88: NBA Playoffs: Pep Talk by Riley, Move to Straight-Up Defense Bear Fruit as Los Angeles Wins Playoff Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  25. ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  26. ^ Brady, Frank (May 16, 1990). "Suns Rally to Beat Lakers, Earning Trip to West Final". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  27. ^ McManis, Sam (May 16, 1990). "Lakers Let Season Trickle Away: Game 5: Magic Johnson Scores 43, But the Suns Come Back from 15-Point Deficit to Clinch Series, 106-103". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  28. ^ "NBA Playoffs: Shocked Lakers Bounced from Playoffs by Johnson-Led Suns". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 16, 1990. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  29. ^ "1990 NBA Western Conference semifinals: Suns vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  30. ^ "Los Angeles Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  31. ^ "Pat Riley Quits Lakers After 4 Titles, 9 Seasons". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. June 11, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  32. ^ McManis, Sam (June 12, 1990). "Laker Change a Smooth One: Pat Riley: He Decided to Resign 10 Days Ago, But Delay Was to Allow Lakers to Work Out Easy Transition, Unlike 1981". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  33. ^ Brady, Frank (June 12, 1990). "Dunleavy Replaces Riley as Coach of Lakers". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  34. ^ Springer, Steve (June 12, 1990). "Laker Change a Smooth One: Mike Dunleavy: Former Assistant for Milwaukee Bucks, 36, Again Manages to Get a Lucky Break". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  35. ^ Goldaper, Sam (May 31, 1991). "Knicks Win a Big One as They're Set to Sign Riley". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  36. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 1, 1991). "BASKETBALL; Now the Hard Part for Riley: Coaching Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  37. ^ Hudson, Maryann (June 1, 1991). "Riley Will Leave TV, Coach Knicks: NBA: Former Laker Coach Reportedly Will Get $6 Million Over Five Years in New York". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  38. ^ Heisler, Mark (August 4, 1990). "Lakers Send Woolridge to Denver: Pro Basketball: Trade Nets Second-Round Draft Picks for 1993 and '95, Helps Reduce Payroll". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  39. ^ "Nuggets Obtain Woolridge from Lakers". United Press International. August 3, 1990. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  40. ^ Springer, Steve (August 16, 1990). "Lakers Send Off Cooper: Pro Basketball: As He Requested, the Guard Is Waived, Opening the Door for Him to Go to the Italian League". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  41. ^ "After a Dozen Seasons and Five Championships..." Los Angeles Times. August 18, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  42. ^ McManis, Sam (May 22, 1990). "Magic Repeats in MVP Vote; Barkley Is 2nd: Pro Basketball: Johnson Is the First Back-to-Back Winner Since Larry Bird. Michael Jordan Finishes a Close Third". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  43. ^ Florence, Mal (May 23, 1990). "MVP Voting Is the Closest in 10 Years: Pro Basketball: Magic Johnson Wins It Again, Although Barkley Gets More First-Place Votes. Jordan Finishes Third". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  44. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; M.V.P. Controversy". The New York Times. May 23, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  45. ^ "NBA MVP & ABA Most Valuable Player Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  46. ^ "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.