1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1988–89 NBA season was the 43rd season for the Los Angeles Lakers as a franchise, their 41st season in the National Basketball Association, and 29th in Los Angeles, California.^[1] This would also be the final season for All-Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.^[2][3][4] During the off-season, the Lakers signed free agent Orlando Woolridge.^[5][6][7]

1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach	Pat Riley
General manager	Jerry West
Owners	Jerry Buss
Arena	Great Western Forum
Results
Record	57–25 (.695)
Place	Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals (lost to Pistons 0–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KHJ-TV Prime Ticket (Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)
Radio	KLAC (Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >

The Lakers entered the regular season as the 2-time defending NBA champions, winning 15 of their first 18 games, holding a 32–15 record at the All-Star break,^[8] finishing in first place in the Pacific Division with a 57–25 record, and earning the first seed in the Western Conference.^[9]

Magic Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 12.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year,^[10][11][12] and was also named to the All-NBA First Team, while James Worthy averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and Byron Scott provided the team with 19.6 points and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, A.C. Green provided with 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Abdul-Jabbar contributed 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Off the bench, Woolridge provided with 9.7 points per game, while Mychal Thompson averaged 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and defensive guard Michael Cooper contributed 7.3 points and 3.9 assists per game, and led the Lakers with 80 three-point field goals.^[13]

Johnson, Worthy and Abdul-Jabbar were all selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas, while head coach Pat Riley was selected to coach the Western Conference.^[14][15][16] However, Johnson did not participate due to a hamstring injury, as Abdul-Jabbar was selected as his replacement; it would also be the final All-Star appearance for Abdul-Jabbar.^[17] Riley finished tied in seventh place in Coach of the Year voting.^[18][19]

After going undefeated by sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers, 3–0 in the Western Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs,^[20][21][22] then sweeping the Seattle SuperSonics, 4–0 in the Western Conference Semi-finals,^[23][24][25] and sweeping the Phoenix Suns, 4–0 in the Western Conference Finals,^[26][27][28] the Lakers were seen as the favorites in the 1989 NBA Finals, in a rematch against the Detroit Pistons, who they defeated in last season's NBA Finals in a hard-fought seven games.^[29] However, after injuries to their starting backcourt of Johnson and Scott,^[30][31][32] the Lakers were swept by the Pistons in four straight games.

After the Finals concluded, Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement at age 42, after twenty seasons in the NBA.^[33][34][35] Also following the season, Tony Campbell signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves expansion team.^[36][37]

The 1988–89 season marked an end to a run of eight consecutive Western Conference finals appearances for the Lakers, the most since the 1968–69 Boston Celtics, as in the following season, the Lakers would lose in the conference semifinals to the Phoenix Suns in five games.^[38][39][40]

Draft picks

Main article: 1988 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	25	David Rivers	PG	United States	Notre Dame

Roster

1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1947–04–16 UCLA F 19 Tony Campbell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–05–07 Ohio State G 21 Michael Cooper 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1956–04–15 New Mexico F 45 A.C. Green 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–10–04 Oregon State G 32 Magic Johnson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959–08–14 Michigan State F 3 Jeff Lamp 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1959–03–09 Virginia C 31 Mark McNamara 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1959–06–08 California G 14 David Rivers 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–01–20 Notre Dame G 00, 4 Byron Scott 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1961–03–28 Arizona State C 43 Mychal Thompson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 226 lb (103 kg) 1955–01–30 University of Minnesota F 0 Orlando Woolridge 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959–12–16 Notre Dame F 42 James Worthy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–02–27 North Carolina

Head coach Pat Riley Assistant(s) Bill Bertka Randy Pfund Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	57	25	.695	–	35–6	22–19	25–9
x-Phoenix Suns	55	27	.671	2	35–6	20–21	23–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	10	31–10	16–25	20–14
x-Golden State Warriors	43	39	.524	14	29–12	14–27	15–19
x-Portland Trail Blazers	39	43	.476	18	28–13	11–30	17–17
Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	30	21–20	6–35	12–22
Los Angeles Clippers	21	61	.256	36	17–24	4–37	7–27

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Los Angeles Lakers	57	25	.695	–
2	y-Utah Jazz	51	31	.622	6
3	x-Phoenix Suns	55	27	.671	2
4	x-Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	10
5	x-Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	12
6	x-Denver Nuggets	44	38	.537	13
7	x-Golden State Warriors	43	39	.524	14
8	x-Portland Trail Blazers	39	43	.476	18
9	Dallas Mavericks	38	44	.463	19
10	Sacramento Kings	27	55	.329	30
11	San Antonio Spurs	21	61	.256	36
12	Los Angeles Clippers	21	61	.256	36
13	Miami Heat	15	67	.183	42

Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	4–1	4–2	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	6–0	4–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Boston	1–3	—	6–0	1–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	5–1	3–3	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–4
Charlotte	1–4	0–6	—	1–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–4	2–4	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–5
Chicago	2–4	3–1	4–1	—	0–6	2–0	1–1	0–6	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	6–0	2–2	3–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1
Cleveland	2–4	4–1	4–0	6–0	—	2–0	2–0	3–3	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3	4–0	2–2	3–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2
Dallas	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	—	3–3	0–2	1–3	1–5	1–1	3–1	0–4	6–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	5–1	2–2	4–2	1–1
Denver	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–3	—	1–1	3–1	4–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	5–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	3–3	2–2	3–3	1–1
Detroit	5–1	3–1	4–0	6–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–4	4–0	0–4	5–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–0
Golden State	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	—	1–3	1–1	5–1	2–3	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–4	2–3	3–1	2–4	2–2	1–1
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	5–1	2–4	1–1	3–1	—	2–0	2–2	1–3	4–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	6–0	2–2	2–4	0–2
Indiana	1–5	3–2	2–2	2–4	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–4	1–1	0–2	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–5	2–2	1–1	—	1–5	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5	1–5	2–3	3–1	1–4	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	3–2	3–1	2–0	5–1	—	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3	5–0	5–1	3–1	4–2	1–3	1–1
Miami	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–6	1–5	0–2	0–4	2–4	1–1	3–1	0–4	—	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–4	0–4	1–5	0–2
Milwaukee	0–6	2–2	4–0	0–6	3–3	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	—	4–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	1–4	1–5	4–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4	—	2–4	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–5
New York	2–2	3–3	4–2	2–3	2–2	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–2	—	2–4	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
Philadelphia	2–2	3–3	3–3	3–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	0–5	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–3	5–1	4–2	—	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2
Phoenix	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	4–2	3–1	1–1	5–1	3–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	—	2–3	5–1	3–1	4–1	2–2	2–0
Portland	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–2	1–3	0–2	5–1	0–5	4–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–2	—	3–3	4–0	2–4	0–4	1–1
Sacramento	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	3–2	2–2	1–1	3–2	1–5	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–5	3–3	—	2–2	1–5	1–3	0–2
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–5	3–3	0–2	1–3	0–6	0–2	1–3	1–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	2–2	—	0–4	1–5	1–1
Seattle	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	4–2	2–2	1–1	4–1	2–4	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	4–2	5–1	4–0	—	3–1	1–1
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	0–2	2–2	4–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	5–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	5–1	1–3	—	2–0
Washington	1–3	4–2	5–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–5	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–4	5–1	1–5	2–4	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1988–89 game log Total: 57–25 (home: 35–6; road: 22–19)
November: 10–3 (home: 4–0; road: 6–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 4 @ Dallas W 116-113 James Worthy (25) Johnson & Worthy (6) Magic Johnson (14) Reunion Arena 17,007 1–0 2 November 5 @ San Antonio L 107-122 Magic Johnson (21) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) Magic Johnson (14) HemisFair Arena 15,861 1-1 3 November 8 @ Golden State W 114–102 Scott (23) Green, Johnson, Thompson (7) Johnson (18) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 2–1 4 November 9 Denver W 128-110 Byron Scott (33) A.C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (19) Great Western Forum 17,505 3–1 5 November 11 Seattle W 114–103 Scott (29) Johnson (9) Johnson (16) The Forum 17,505 4–1 6 November 15 @ Denver W 148-146 (2OT) James Worthy (33) Mychal Thompson (10) Magic Johnson (13) McNichols Sports Arena 15,198 5–1 7 November 17 @ Seattle L 98–101 Johnson (28) Johnson, Thompson (10) Jhnson (6) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,576 5–2 8 November 18 Portland W 106-105 Magic Johnson (26) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) Magic Johnson (9) Great Western Forum 17,505 6–2 9 November 22 @ New York W 110–98 Worthy (29) Johnson (12) Johnson (13) Madison Square Garden 19,591 7–2 10 November 23 @ Miami W 138-91 Orlando Woolridge (22) Tony Campbell (9) Magic Johnson (17) Miami Arena 15,008 8–2 11 November 26 @ Detroit L 99–102 Scott (20) Green (14) Johnson (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 8–3 12 November 28 @ Philadelphia W 109-104 Magic Johnson (32) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (20) The Spectrum 18,168 9–3 13 November 30 Seattle W 110–106 Johnson (40) Thompson (11) Johnson (10) The Forum 17,505 10–3
December: 9–7 (home: 6–0; road: 3–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 14 December 2 Utah W 113-92 Byron Scott (32) Magic Johnson (12) Magic Johnson (15) Great Western Forum 17,505 11–3 15 December 4 Washington W 119-112 (OT) Magic Johnson (29) Mychal Thompson (9) Magic Johnson (17) Great Western Forum 17,505 12–3 16 December 6 @ L.A. Clippers W 111-102 Magic Johnson (25) Mychal Thompson (11) Magic Johnson (21) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,352 13–3 17 December 7 Phoenix W 125–111 Scott (27) Johnson (12) Johnson (18) Great Western Forum 17,353 14–3 18 December 10 @ Indiana W 112-105 Magic Johnson (32) Green & Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (13) Market Square Arena 16,912 15–3 19 December 11 @ Milwaukee L 94–95 Worthy (21) Green (6) Johnson (12) Bradley Center 18,633 15–4 20 December 13 @ Cleveland W 111-102 Magic Johnson (31) Magic Johnson (12) Magic Johnson (13) Richfield Coliseum 20,041 16–4 21 December 14 @ New Jersey L 113-118 (OT) Magic Johnson (35) A.C. Green (10) Magic Johnson (9) Brendan Byrne Arena 20,049 16–5 22 December 16 @ Boston L 96-110 Magic Johnson (31) A.C. Green (16) Magic Johnson (7) Boston Garden 14,890 16–6 23 December 18 @ Washington L 110-115 James Worthy (31) James Worthy (7) Magic Johnson (8) Capital Centre 18,643 16–7 24 December 20 @ Chicago L 103–116 Johnson (31) Thompson (9) Johnson (12) Chicago Stadium 18,676 16–8 25 December 23 Sacramento W 120-102 Magic Johnson (27) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (15) Great Western Forum 17,505 17–8 26 December 25 @ Utah L 87-101 Johnson & Worthy (18) Mychal Thompson (9) Magic Johnson (10) Salt Palace 12,444 17–9 27 December 26 @ Phoenix L 96–111 Scott (24) Green (11) Johnson (8) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 17–10 28 December 28 Philadelphia W 128-123 Johnson & Worthy (26) Magic Johnson (10) Magic Johnson (18) Great Western Forum 17,505 18–10 29 December 30 L.A. Clippers W 124-109 Magic Johnson (34) James Worthy (11) Magic Johnson (14) Great Western Forum 17,505 19–10
January: 11–3 (home: 8–1; road: 3–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 30 January 3 @ Seattle L 106–116 Green (27) Green (11) Johnson (9) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,645 19–11 31 January 4 Portland W 133-120 Mychal Thompson (27) Green & Thompson (11) Magic Johnson (15) Great Western Forum 17,505 20–11 32 January 6 Miami W 118-86 Orlando Woolridge (29) A.C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (11) Great Western Forum 17,505 21–11 33 January 8 San Antonio W 126-96 3 players tied (17) 3 players tied (8) Magic Johnson (17) Great Western Forum 17,505 22–11 34 January 10 @ Sacramento L 97-106 Johnson & Worthy (22) A.C. Green (12) Magic Johnson (12) ARCO Arena 16,517 22–12 35 January 13 Cleveland W 116-95 Magic Johnson (26) A.C. Green (15) Magic Johnson (11) Great Western Forum 17,505 23–12 36 January 15 @ L.A. Clippers W 116-95 Byron Scott (28) Green & Johnson (9) Magic Johnson (12) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,352 24–12 37 January 16 Houston W 124-113 James Worthy (26) Magic Johnson (13) Magic Johnson (18) Great Western Forum 17,505 25–12 38 January 18 L.A. Clippers W 111-90 Magic Johnson (19) James Worthy (15) Magic Johnson (13) Great Western Forum 17,301 26–12 39 January 20 Dallas W 115-99 Magic Johnson (30) James Worthy (10) Magic Johnson (11) Great Western Forum 17,505 27–12 40 January 24 New York L 117–122 Johnson, Worthy (26) Worthy (14) Johnson (11) Great Western Forum 17,505 27–13 41 January 27 Charlotte W 114-97 A.C. Green (24) A.C. Green (11) Cooper & Johnson (10) Great Western Forum 17,505 28–13 42 January 29 @ Dallas W 118-93 A.C. Green (25) James Worthy (12) Magic Johnson (9) Reunion Arena 17,007 29–13 43 January 31 @ Houston W 125-114 A.C. Green (24) Magic Johnson (11) Magic Johnson (10) The Summit 16,611 30–13
February: 7–4 (home: 5–2; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 1 @ Phoenix L 97–114 Johnson (17) Johnson (12) Johnson (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 30–14 45 February 3 Portland W 140-129 Magic Johnson (29) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (8) Great Western Forum 17,505 31–14 46 February 5 New Jersey W 134-116 Magic Johnson (27) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) Magic Johnson (13) Great Western Forum 17,505 32–14 47 February 8 Golden State L 118–121 Worthy (30) Johnson, Woolridge (8) Johnson (12) Great Western Forum 17,505 32–15 All-Star Break 48 February 14 Detroit L 103–111 Worthy (33) Green (11) Cooper (8) Great Western Forum 17,505 32–16 49 February 16 @ Portland W 110-101 James Worthy (28) Mychal Thompson (12) Michael Cooper (7) Memorial Coliseum 12,848 33–16 50 February 19 Boston W 119-110 Byron Scott (35) A.C. Green (11) Michael Cooper (13) Great Western Forum 17,505 34–16 51 February 20 @ Sacramento W 100-97 Byron Scott (33) A.C. Green (10) Cooper & Worthy (7) ARCO Arena 16,517 35–16 52 February 22 @ Utah L 79-105 Byron Scott (14) A.C. Green (9) Michael Cooper (7) Salt Palace 12,444 35–17 53 February 24 Sacramento W 115-103 Byron Scott (31) A.C. Green (15) Magic Johnson (8) Great Western Forum 17,505 36–17 54 February 26 Phoenix W 134–122 Scott (29) Green (11) Johnson (19) Great Western Forum 17,505 37–17
March: 11–4 (home: 6–2; road: 5–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 55 March 1 Golden State W 142–121 Johnson (35) Johnspn (14) Johnson (8) Great Western Forum 17,505 38–17 56 March 3 Indiana W 139-117 A.C. Green (24) A.C. Green (11) Magic Johnson (16) Great Western Forum 17,505 39–17 57 March 5 @ Houston L 83-88 James Worthy (19) A.C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (15) The Summit 16,611 39–18 58 March 7 @ Atlanta W 106-97 James Worthy (24) A.C. Green (13) Magic Johnson (15) Omni Coliseum 16,371 40–18 59 March 8 @ Miami W 127-87 Tony Campbell (19) Mark McNamara (13) Magic Johnson (10) Miami Arena 15,008 41–18 60 March 10 @ Charlotte W 123-90 Byron Scott (25) A.C. Green (15) Magic Johnson (14) Charlotte Coliseum 23,388 42–18 61 March 12 @ Golden State W 126–115 Scott (32) Abdul-Jabbar (11) Johnson (10) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 43–18 62 March 13 Houston W 97-96 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (21) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) Magic Johnson (11) Great Western Forum 17,505 44–18 63 March 17 Dallas W 106-103 Magic Johnson (31) A.C. Green (15) Magic Johnson (13) Great Western Forum 17,505 45–18 64 March 19 Atlanta L 111-113 Magic Johnson (29) A.C. Green (14) Magic Johnson (13) Great Western Forum 17,505 45–19 65 March 21 Chicago L 103–104 Johnson (20) Johnson (8) Johnson (12) Great Western Forum 17,505 45–20 66 March 23 @ Sacramento W 115-92 Magic Johnson (25) A.C. Green (15) Magic Johnson (14) ARCO Arena 16,517 46–20 67 March 26 Phoenix W 118–116 Johnson (34) Green (12) Johnson (18) Great Western Forum 17,505 47–20 68 March 28 @ Phoenix L 104–127 Worthy (24) Worthy (11) Johnson (14) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 47–21 69 March 30 San Antonio W 138-98 Byron Scott (35) Magic Johnson (9) Magic Johnson (10) Great Western Forum 17,505 48–21
April: 9–4 (home: 6–1; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 70 April 1 @ Denver L 108-114 (OT) James Worthy (25) Magic Johnson (17) Magic Johnson (15) McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 48–22 71 April 2 Milwaukee W 118–117 Scott (32) Green (10) Johnson (11) Great Western Forum 17,505 49–22 72 April 4 @ Seattle W 115–97 Green (33) Green (10) Johnson (18) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,810 50–22 73 April 7 Utah L 97-99 Johnson & Worthy (24) James Worthy (9) Magic Johnson (10) Great Western Forum 17,505 50–23 74 April 8 @ Golden State L 116-122 Johnson (24) Johnson (9) Johnson (12) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 50–24 75 April 10 L.A. Clippers W 133-116 Magic Johnson (24) A.C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (13) Great Western Forum 17,505 51–24 76 April 12 @ San Antonio W 107-100 Magic Johnson (24) A.C. Green (12) Magic Johnson (7) HemisFair Arena 15,861 52–24 77 April 15 @ L.A. Clippers L 107-119 Magic Johnson (26) A.C. Green (8) Magic Johnson (13) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,352 52–25 78 April 16 Miami W 121-108 Magic Johnson (24) Mychal Thompson (9) Magic Johnson (7) Great Western Forum 17,505 53–25 79 April 18 Denver W 142-118 James Worthy (26) Magic Johnson (17) Magic Johnson (17) Great Western Forum 17,505 54–25 80 April 20 Sacramento W 118-115 James Worthy (38) A.C. Green (9) Magic Johnson (16) Great Western Forum 17,505 55–25 81 April 21 @ Portland W 121-114 Magic Johnson (23) A.C. Green (12) Magic Johnson (10) Memorial Coliseum 12,880 56–25 82 April 23 Seattle W 121–117 Johnson (29) Green (10) Johnson (21) Great Western Forum 17,505 57–25
1988–89 schedule

Playoffs

1989 playoff game log Total: 11–4 (home: 6–2; road: 5–2)
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 1 April 27 Portland W 128–108 Magic Johnson (30) Abdul-Jabbar & Scott (8) Magic Johnson (16) Great Western Forum 17,505 1–0 2 April 30 Portland W 113–105 Magic Johnson (35) A.C. Green (13) Magic Johnson (12) Great Western Forum 17,505 2–0 3 May 3 @ Portland W 116–108 Byron Scott (25) A.C. Green (13) Magic Johnson (7) Memorial Coliseum 12,880 3–0
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 7 Seattle W 113–102 Worthy (28) Worthy (12) Johnson (14) Great Western Forum 17,505 1–0 2 May 10 Seattle W 130–108 Worthy (30) Green (8) Johnson (12) Great Western Forum 17,505 2–0 3 May 12 @ Seattle W 91–86 Worthy (20) Johnson (9) Johnson (14) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,541 3–0 4 May 14 @ Seattle W 97–95 Worthy (33) Green (10) Johnson (9) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,006 4–0
Western Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 20 Phoenix W 127–119 Worthy (32) Green (10) Johnson (12) Great Western Forum 17,505 1–0 2 May 23 Phoenix W 101–95 Scott (30) Johnson (9) Johnson (14) Great Western Forum 17,505 2–0 3 May 26 @ Phoenix W 110–107 Worthy (29) Worthy (12) Johnson (11) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 3–0 4 May 28 @ Phoenix W 122–117 Scott (35) Green (11) Johnson (20) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 4–0
NBA Finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 June 6 @ Detroit L 97–109 Johnson, Worthy (17) Green (8) Johnson (14) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 0–1 2 June 8 @ Detroit L 105–108 Cooper, Worthy (19) Green (9) Johnson (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 0–2 3 June 11 Detroit L 110–114 Worthy (26) Abdul-Jabbar (13) Cooper (13) Great Western Forum 17,505 0–3 4 June 13 Detroit L 97–105 Worthy (40) Green (12) Cooper (9) Great Western Forum 17,505 0–4
1989 schedule

• On June 28, 1989, after twenty professional seasons, Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement. On his "retirement tour" he received standing ovations at all the games, home and away.

Game officials

Pre season

Regular season

Game	Date	Opponent	Officials
11	11–26–1988	@ Detroit	No. 30 Gary Benson, No. 43 Dan Crawford, No. 4 Ed T. Rush
48	2–14–1989	Detroit	No. 21 Bill Oakes, No. 24 Bill Saar, No. 56 Don Vaden

Playoffs

Game	Round	Date	Opponent	Officials	Alternate
1	NBA Finals	6–6–1989	@ Detroit	No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 14 Jack Madden, No. 11 Jake O'Donnell
2	NBA Finals	6–8–1989	@ Detroit	No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 10 Darell Garretson, No. 42 Hue Hollins
3	NBA Finals	6–11–1989	Detroit	No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 4 Ed T. Rush
4	NBA Finals	6–13–1989	Detroit	No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 14 Jack Madden, No. 12 Earl Strom

Awards and honors

• A.C. Green, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Magic Johnson, NBA Most Valuable Player
• Magic Johnson, NBA All-First Team

Transactions