# 1980–81 Los Angeles Lakers season

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.

## NBA draft

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.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 2 | 31 | Wayne Robinson | Forward | United States | Virginia Tech |
| 2 | 37 | Butch Carter | Guard | United States | Indiana |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* 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.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Phoenix Suns | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 36–5 | 21–20 | 22–8 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3.0 | 30–11 | 24–17 | 19–11 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12.0 | 30–11 | 15–26 | 18–12 |
| Golden State Warriors | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18.0 | 26–15 | 13–28 | 10–20 |
| San Diego Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21.0 | 22–19 | 14–27 | 14–16 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23.0 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 7–23 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Phoenix Suns | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 17 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 |
| 8 | Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 20 |
| 9 | San Diego Clippers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 |
| 10 | Seattle SuperSonics | 34 | 48 | .415 | 23 |
| 11 | Utah Jazz | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 |
| 12 | Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

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 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1980–81 game log Total: 54-28 (home: 30-11; road: 24-17) :
October: 9–2 (home: 5–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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 :

### Playoffs

1981 playoff game log Total: 1–2 (home: 0–2; road: 1–0) :
First Round: 1–2 (home: 0–2; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 1
Houston
L 107–111
Magic Johnson (26)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
Norm Nixon (10)
The Forum 15,517
0–1
2
April 3
@ Houston
W 111–106
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27)
Magic Johnson (18)
Norm Nixon (11)
The Summit 16,121
1–1
3
April 5
Houston
L 86–89
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18)
Magic Johnson (9)
The Forum 14,813
1–2 :
1981 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
| Player | GP | MPG | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | PPG |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 80 | 37.2 | 821 | 272 | 59 | 228 | 2095 | 26.2 |
| Jamaal Wilkes | 81 | 37.4 | 435 | 235 | 121 | 29 | 1827 | 22.6 |
| Norm Nixon | 79 | 37.5 | 232 | 696 | 146 | 11 | 1350 | 17.1 |
| Jim Chones | 82 | 31.2 | 657 | 153 | 39 | 96 | 882 | 10.8 |
| Magic Johnson | 37 | 37.1 | 320 | 317 | 127 | 27 | 798 | 21.6 |
| Michael Cooper | 81 | 32.4 | 336 | 332 | 133 | 78 | 763 | 9.4 |
| Mark Landsberger | 69 | 15.7 | 377 | 27 | 19 | 6 | 390 | 5.7 |
| Eddie Jordan | 60 | 16.5 | 80 | 195 | 74 | 7 | 306 | 5.1 |
| Butch Carter | 54 | 12.4 | 65 | 52 | 23 | 1 | 301 | 5.6 |
| Jim Brewer | 78 | 14.2 | 281 | 55 | 43 | 58 | 217 | 2.8 |
| Brad Holland | 41 | 7.2 | 29 | 23 | 21 | 1 | 130 | 3.2 |
| Alan Hardy | 22 | 5.0 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 51 | 2.3 |
| Myles Patrick | 3 | 3.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1.7 |
| Tony Jackson | 2 | 7.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.0 |

## Award winners/Honors

* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, First Team All-NBA, First Team All-Defense, All-Star
* Michael Cooper, Second Team All-Defense
* Jamaal Wilkes, All-Star