# 1995–96 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Lakers' 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and 36th in the city of Los Angeles. It was also the highlight of retired All-Star guard, and Lakers legend Magic Johnson making a comeback at the age of 36. During the off-season, the team signed free agents Corie Blount and Derek Strong. The Lakers got off to a slow start losing three of their first four games, but soon recovered holding a 24–18 record before Johnson's arrival on January 30, 1996, in a 128–118 home victory over the Golden State Warriors; Magic had 19 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 steals in 27 minutes off the bench. The Lakers won ten of their twelve games in February, which included an 8-game winning streak, and held a 28–19 record at the All-Star break.
However, in March, after a game against the Seattle SuperSonics, scoring leader Cedric Ceballos missed the team's charter flight to Seattle without explanation, as the Lakers were scheduled to play the SuperSonics again; Ceballos went missing for a few days, but later on returned to the team, and was suspended without pay. Their troubles continued as Nick Van Exel shoved a referee during a road game against the Denver Nuggets on April 9, and was suspended for the final seven games of the regular season. Magic was also suspended for three games for bumping into a referee during a home game against the Phoenix Suns on April 14. The Lakers finished in second place in the Pacific Division with a 53–29 record.
Ceballos averaged 21.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while Van Exel provided the team with 14.9 points and 6.9 assists per game, and Johnson played a sixth man role moving into the power forward position, averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game off the bench in 32 games, starting in just nine of them; he also reached a milestone by passing his 10,000 career assist in a 102–89 road win over the Sacramento Kings on March 7, 1996. In addition, Elden Campbell averaged 13.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, while Vlade Divac provided with 12.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, and second-year guard Eddie Jones contributed 12.8 points and 1.8 steals per game. Off the bench, Anthony Peeler contributed 9.7 points per game, and Sedale Threatt provided with 7.3 points and 3.3 assists per game.
Johnson also finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and tied in twelfth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Campbell finished in seventh place in Most Improved Player voting.
However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Lakers lost to the 5th-seeded, and 2-time defending champion Houston Rockets in four games; after the defeat, Magic decided to retire for the second time and for good.
Also following the season, Divac was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for 1996 NBA draftee, and high school basketball star Kobe Bryant, while Peeler and George Lynch were both dealt to the Vancouver Grizzlies, Strong signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic, and Threatt was released to free agency.

## NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 2 | 37 | Frankie King | Guard | United States | Western Carolina |

## Regular season
### Magic's Comeback

In the 1995–96 NBA season, Johnson made a short-lived second comeback as a player from January 1996 to May 1996. In this time, he had bulked up from his self-reported weight of 235 lb in 1992, to 255 lb in order to play power forward, a much more physical position than his usual point guard role. At age 36, Johnson played the last 32 games of the season, averaging 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. The Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, and Johnson retired for good. Johnson explained his comeback with the words: "I'm going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992."

### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| c-Seattle SuperSonics | 64 | 18 | .780 | – | 38–3 | 26–15 | 21–3 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 11 | 30–11 | 23–18 | 17–7 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 20 | 26–15 | 18–23 | 11–13 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 41 | 41 | .500 | 23 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 9–15 |
| x-Sacramento Kings | 39 | 43 | .476 | 25 | 26–15 | 13–28 | 11–13 |
| Golden State Warriors | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28 | 23–18 | 13–28 | 7–17 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 29 | 53 | .354 | 35 | 19–22 | 10–31 | 7–17 |
Western Conferencevte :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c-Seattle SuperSonics * | 64 | 18 | .780 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs * | 59 | 23 | .720 | 5 | 82 |
| 3 | x-Utah Jazz | 55 | 27 | .671 | 9 | 82 |
| 4 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 11 | 82 |
| 5 | x-Houston Rockets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 16 | 82 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 20 | 82 |
| 7 | x-Phoenix Suns | 41 | 41 | .500 | 23 | 82 |
| 8 | x-Sacramento Kings | 39 | 43 | .476 | 25 | 82 |
| 9 | Golden State Warriors | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28 | 82 |
| 10 | Denver Nuggets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 29 | 82 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Clippers | 29 | 53 | .354 | 35 | 82 |
| 12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 26 | 56 | .317 | 38 | 82 |
| 13 | Dallas Mavericks | 26 | 56 | .317 | 38 | 82 |
| 14 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 15 | 67 | .183 | 49 | 82 |

### Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 0–4 | – | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Charlotte | 1–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| New Jersey | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| New York | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Orlando | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Philadelphia | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | – | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | – | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Vancouver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Game log
### Regular Season

1995–96 game log Total: 53-29 (home: 30-11; road: 23–18) :
November: 7–7 (home: 5–2; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 3
Denver
W 98-96
Cedric Ceballos (26)
Vlade Divac (10)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum 16,345
1–0
2
November 4
@ Seattle
L 89-103
Elden Campbell (24)
Elden Campbell (14)
3 players tied (2)
KeyArena 17,102
1-1
3
November 7
@ Minnesota
L 92-93
Cedric Ceballos (27)
3 players tied (6)
Nick Van Exel (10)
Target Center 14,756
1–2
4
November 8
@ Utah
L 98-108
Cedric Ceballos (26)
Cedric Ceballos (10)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Delta Center 19,911
1–3
5
November 10
Seattle
W 100-97
Cedric Ceballos (32)
Cedric Ceballos (12)
Sedale Threatt (7)
Great Western Forum 15,542
2–3
6
November 11
@ Golden State
L 105-123
Cedric Ceballos (25)
Cedric Ceballos (15)
Nick Van Exel (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025
2–4
7
November 14
@ Sacramento
W 106-100
Cedric Ceballos (31)
Elden Campbell (12)
Sedale Threatt (8)
ARCO Arena 17,317
3–4
8
November 15
Dallas
W 114-97
Cedric Ceballos (31)
Cedric Ceballos (13)
Nick Van Exel (12)
Great Western Forum 11,381
4-4
9
November 17
@ Vancouver
W 114-91
Nick Van Exel (25)
Cedric Ceballos (8)
Sedale Threatt (7)
General Motors Place 19,193
5–4
10
November 19
L.A. Clippers
W 109-88
Cedric Ceballos (25)
Cedric Ceballos (13)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 15,617
6–4
11
November 21
Portland
L 108-109
Cedric Ceballos (38)
Vlade Divac (16)
Nick Van Exel (15)
Great Western Forum 10,836
6–5
12
November 24
Sacramento
L 98-99
Cedric Ceballos (23)
Cedric Ceballos (11)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 16,343
6-6
13
November 25
@ Phoenix
L 113-114
Cedric Ceballos (34)
Elden Campbell (10)
Nick Van Exel (7)
American West Arena 19,023
6–7
14
November 29
Phoenix
W 107-96
Cedric Ceballos (24)
3 players tied (9)
3 players tied (6)
Great Western Forum 13,484
7-7 :
December: 9–8 (home: 6–1; road: 3–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
15
December 1
Vancouver
W 113-100
Cedric Ceballos (22)
Vlade Divac (13)
Nick Van Exel (16)
Great Western Forum 12,426
8–7
16
December 3
Indiana
W 104-96
Nick Van Exel (26)
Elden Campbell (10)
Threatt & Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 14,223
9–7
17
December 5
@ San Antonio
L 89-117
Cedric Ceballos (16)
Cedric Ceballos (7)
3 players tied (4)
Alamodome 14,551
9–8
18
December 6
@ Houston
L 99-112
Cedric Ceballos (27)
Cedric Ceballos (17)
Sedale Threatt (9)
The Summit 16,285
9-9
19
December 8
Toronto
W 120-103
Jones & Threatt (27)
Elden Campbell (12)
Eddie Jones (11)
Great Western Forum 12,982
10–9
20
December 10
Detroit
W 87-82
Cedric Ceballos (22)
Vlade Divac (13)
Divac & Van Exel (6)
Great Western Forum 16,176
11–9
21
December 12
@ New York
L 82-97
Cedric Ceballos (26)
Cedric Ceballos (9)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
11–10
22
December 13
@ Detroit
W 101-98
Nick Van Exel (30)
Campbell & Ceballos (8)
Nick Van Exel (7)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,579
12–10
23
December 15
@ Washington
L 114-122
Cedric Ceballos (33)
Elden Campbell (8)
Nick Van Exel (9)
US Airways Arena 18,756
12–11
24
December 16
@ Chicago
L 88-108
Cedric Ceballos (27)
Cedric Ceballos (9)
Sedale Threatt (4)
United Center 23,824
12-12
25
December 19
@ Milwaukee
W 109-105
Nick Van Exel (24)
Elden Campbell (9)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Bradley Center 14,488
13–12
26
December 20
@ Indiana
L 98-109
Nick Van Exel (20)
Vlade Divac (12)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Market Square Arena 15,870
13-13
27
December 22
Sacramento
W 116-83
Cedric Ceballos (27)
Elden Campbell (12)
Threatt & Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 16,189
14–13
28
December 23
@ Portland
W 102-99
Cedric Ceballos (24)
Cedric Ceballos (11)
Peeler & Threatt (5)
Rose Garden 21,401
15–13
29
December 26
Boston
W 102-91
Eddie Jones (19)
Vlade Divac (11)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 14,324
16–13
30
December 28
San Antonio
L 99-107
Elden Campbell (25)
Elden Campbell (9)
Eddie Jones (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
16–14
31
December 30
@ Utah
L 82-99
Cedric Ceballos (18)
Derek Strong (11)
Eddie Jones (7)
Delta Center 19,911
16–15 :
January: 9–3 (home: 5–3; road: 4–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 2
Philadelphia
L 89-90
Nick Van Exel (27)
Vlade Divac (14)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 11,874
16-16
33
January 5
Utah
W 116-100
Cedric Ceballos (28)
Divac & Jones (7)
Jones & Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 16,369
17–16
34
January 7
Denver
L 93-96
Vlade Divac (21)
Campbell & Divac (9)
Nick Van Exel (10)
Great Western Forum 13,845
17-17
35
January 9
Minnesota
W 106-104
Cedric Ceballos (29)
Corie Blount (9)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 10,755
18–17
36
January 12
Houston
W 101-100
Vlade Divac (25)
Vlade Divac (11)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
19–17
37
January 15
Miami
W 96-88
Eddie Jones (20)
Vlade Divac (17)
Nick Van Exel (6)
Great Western Forum 14,109
20–17
38
January 19
@ L.A. Clippers
W 106-100
Cedric Ceballos (25)
George Lynch (7)
3 players tied (4)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 14,018
21–17
39
January 20
Cleveland
L 82-93
Nick Van Exel (17)
George Lynch (9)
Nick Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 15,380
21–18
40
January 24
@ Boston
W 124-107
Elden Campbell (26)
Vlade Divac (11)
Divac & Van Exel (5)
Fleet Center 18,624
22–18
41
January 26
@ Philadelphia
W 100-88
Cedric Ceballos (31)
Elden Campbell (18)
Vlade Divac (7)
CoreStates Spectrum 16,129
23–18
42
January 27
@ New Jersey
W 100-98
Cedric Ceballos (29)
Elden Campbell (13)
Nick Van Exel (13)
Continental Airlines Arena 20,049
24–18
43
January 30
Golden State
W 128-118
Cedric Ceballos (33)
Campbell & Divac (9)
Magic Johnson (10)
Great Western Forum 17,505
25–18 :
February: 10–2 (home: 6–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 2
Chicago
L 84-99
Cedric Ceballos (23)
Elden Campbell (11)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
25–19
45
February 4
Utah
W 110-103
Magic Johnson (21)
Vlade Divac (11)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
26–19
46
February 6
@ Denver
W 99-78
Cedric Ceballos (27)
Vlade Divac (12)
Magic Johnson (12)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,171
27–19
47
February 7
New Jersey
W 106-96
Elden Campbell (19)
Elden Campbell (10)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 16,481
28–19
All-Star Break
48
February 14
Atlanta
W 87-86
Elden Campbell (20)
Magic Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (13)
Great Western Forum 16,792
29–19
49
February 16
Dallas
W 119-114
Magic Johnson (30)
Cedric Ceballos (11)
Magic Johnson (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
30–19
50
February 20
L.A. Clippers
W 121-104
Vlade Divac (29)
Cedric Ceballos (10)
Nick Van Exel (11)
Great Western Forum 17,037
31–19
51
February 21
@ L.A. Clippers
W 112-108
Cedric Ceballos (23)
Elden Campbell (10)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 16,021
32–19
52
February 23
@ Dallas
W 114-88
Cedric Ceballos (27)
Vlade Divac (18)
Nick Van Exel (10)
Reunion Arena 17,502
33–19
53
February 24
@ Houston
L 94-96
Cedric Ceballos (26)
Vlade Divac (12)
Nick Van Exel (7)
The Summit 16,285
33–20
54
February 26
New York
W 114-96
Cedric Ceballos (27)
Elden Campbell (10)
Nick Van Exel (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
34–20
55
February 28
@ Vancouver
W 99-80
Cedric Ceballos (23)
Vlade Divac (17)
Elden Campbell (8)
General Motors Place 19,193
35–20 :
March: 10–5 (home: 3–4; road: 7–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
56
March 1
Washington
W 100-95
Cedric Ceballos (27)
Elden Campbell (12)
Nick Van Exel (4)
Great Western Forum 16,943
36–20
57
March 3
Houston
L 107-111
Nick Van Exel (21)
Elden Campbell (11)
Magic Johnson (5)
Great Western Forum 17,505
36–21
58
March 7
@ Sacramento
W 102-89
Elden Campbell (29)
Elden Campbell (11)
Magic Johnson (7)
ARCO Arena 17,317
37–21
59
March 8
@ Phoenix
W 119-97
Nick Van Exel (28)
Vlade Divac (14)
Nick Van Exel (13)
American West Arena 19,023
38–21
60
March 12
Portland
L 99-105
Elden Campbell (26)
Elden Campbell (11)
Johnson & Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 16,971
38–22
61
March 14
@ Golden State
W 106-103
Magic Johnson (21)
Cedric Ceballos (9)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025
39–22
62
March 15
Milwaukee
W 117-95
Magic Johnson (20)
Vlade Divac (15)
Magic Johnson (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
40–22
63
March 17
Orlando
L 97-98
Campbell & Van Exel (22)
Elden Campbell (10)
Johnson & Van Exel (5)
Great Western Forum 17,505
40–23
64
March 19
Seattle
W 94-71
Eddie Jones (26)
Elden Campbell (10)
Magic Johnson (10)
Great Western Forum 17,505
41–23
65
March 21
@ Seattle
L 93-104
Nick Van Exel (26)
Vlade Divac (9)
Vlade Divac (4)
KeyArena 17,072
41–24
66
March 24
Charlotte
L 94-103
Magic Johnson (28)
Campbell & Johnson (8)
Nick Van Exel (7)
Great Western Forum 17,505
41–25
67
March 26
@ Orlando
W 113-91
Nick Van Exel (22)
Elden Campbell (10)
Magic Johnson (7)
Orlando Arena 17,248
42–25
68
March 27
@ Miami
W 106-95
Magic Johnson (27)
Vlade Divac (12)
Magic Johnson (9)
Miami Arena 15,200
43–25
69
March 29
@ Atlanta
W 102-89
Anthony Peeler (25)
Magic Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (9)
Omni Coliseum 16,378
44–25
70
March 31
@ Toronto
W 111-106
Vlade Divac (20)
Vlade Divac (19)
Magic Johnson (6)
SkyDome 36,046
45–25 :
April: 8–4 (home: 5–0; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
71
April 2
@ Charlotte
L 97-102
Cedric Ceballos (35)
Cedric Ceballos (11)
Magic Johnson (10)
Charlotte Coliseum 24,042
45–26
72
April 3
@ Cleveland
L 89-105
Magic Johnson (26)
Magic Johnson (8)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Gund Arena 20,562
45–27
73
April 5
Vancouver
W 104-94
Eddie Jones (26)
Vlade Divac (10)
Vlade Divac (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
46–27
74
April 7
San Antonio
W 107-97
Divac & Jones (19)
Vlade Divac (11)
Magic Johnson (7)
Great Western Forum 17,130
47–27
75
April 9
@ Denver
L 91-98
Vlade Divac (19)
Vlade Divac (9)
3 players tied (4)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,171
47–28
76
April 10
@ Minnesota
W 111-90
Elden Campbell (28)
Magic Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (11)
Target Center 19,006
48–28
77
April 12
Golden State
W 94-81
Vlade Divac (26)
Vlade Divac (10)
Magic Johnson (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
49–28
78
April 14
Phoenix
W 118-114
Cedric Ceballos (23)
Vlade Divac (13)
Jones & Threatt (7)
Great Western Forum 17,505
50–28
79
April 16
@ Dallas
W 113-95
Cedric Ceballos (23)
Elden Campbell (9)
Elden Campbell (9)
Reunion Arena 17,502
51–28
80
April 18
@ San Antonio
L 100-103
Elden Campbell (27)
Vlade Divac (10)
Sedale Threatt (8)
Alamodome 22,184
51–29
81
April 20
Minnesota
W 106-82
Cedric Ceballos (36)
Derek Strong (10)
Eddie Jones (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
52–29
82
April 21
@ Portland
W 92-88
Jones & Peeler (20)
Cedric Ceballos (7)
Magic Johnson (10)
Rose Garden 21,401
53–29 :
1995–96 schedule :

### Playoffs

1996 playoff game log Total: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2) :
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 25
Houston
L 83–87
Cedric Ceballos (22)
Magic Johnson (13)
Nick Van Exel (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
0–1
2
April 27
Houston
W 104–94
Magic Johnson (26)
Vlade Divac (12)
Magic Johnson (5)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–1
3
April 30
@ Houston
L 98–104
Elden Campbell (18)
Elden Campbell (10)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Summit 16,285
1–2
4
May 2
@ Houston
L 94–102
Cedric Ceballos (25)
Cedric Ceballos (12)
Nick Van Exel (11)
The Summit 16,285
1–3 :
1996 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

Los Angeles Lakers statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Corie Blount | 57 | 2 | 12.5 | .473 | .000 | .568 | 3.0 | .7 | .4 | .6 | 3.2 |
| Elden Campbell | 82 | 82 | 32.9 | .503 | .000 | .713 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 13.9 |
| Cedric Ceballos | 78 | 71 | 33.7 | .530 | .277 | .804 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 1.2 | .3 | 21.2 |
| Vlade Divac | 79 | 79 | 31.3 | .513 | .167 | .641 | 8.6 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 12.9 |
| Magic Johnson | 32 | 9 | 29.9 | .466 | .379 | .856 | 5.7 | 6.9 | .8 | .4 | 14.6 |
| Eddie Jones | 70 | 66 | 31.2 | .492 | .366 | .739 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 1.8 | .6 | 12.8 |
| Frankie King | 6 | 0 | 3.3 | .273 | .000 | .333 | .3 | .3 | .3 | .0 | 1.2 |
| George Lynch | 76 | 6 | 13.3 | .430 | .308 | .663 | 2.8 | .7 | .6 | .1 | 3.8 |
| Anthony Miller | 27 | 0 | 4.6 | .429 | .000 | .600 | .9 | .1 | .1 | .0 | 1.3 |
| Anthony Peeler | 73 | 12 | 22.0 | .452 | .413 | .709 | 1.9 | 1.6 | .8 | .1 | 9.7 |
| Fred Roberts | 33 | 1 | 9.6 | .495 | .286 | .786 | 1.4 | .8 | .5 | .1 | 3.7 |
| Derek Strong | 63 | 0 | 11.8 | .426 | .111 | .812 | 2.8 | .5 | .3 | .2 | 3.4 |
| Sedale Threatt | 82 | 8 | 20.6 | .458 | .355 | .761 | 1.2 | 3.3 | .8 | .1 | 7.3 |
| Nick Van Exel | 74 | 74 | 34.0 | .417 | .357 | .799 | 2.4 | 6.9 | .9 | .1 | 14.9 |

### Playoffs

Los Angeles Lakers statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Elden Campbell | 4 | 4 | 32.3 | .513 | .000 | .500 | 8.0 | 2.0 | .3 | 2.3 | 12.0 |
| Cedric Ceballos | 4 | 4 | 35.5 | .484 | .313 | .917 | 8.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .3 | 19.0 |
| Vlade Divac | 4 | 4 | 28.8 | .429 | .200 | .625 | 7.5 | 2.0 | .0 | 1.3 | 9.0 |
| Magic Johnson | 4 | 0 | 33.8 | .385 | .333 | .848 | 8.5 | 6.5 | .0 | .0 | 15.3 |
| Eddie Jones | 4 | 4 | 38.8 | .551 | .526 | .625 | 5.3 | 1.5 | 2.0 | .3 | 17.3 |
| George Lynch | 2 | 0 | 7.5 | .500 | .000 | | 1.5 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Anthony Peeler | 3 | 0 | 24.0 | .333 | .429 | 1.000 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | .0 | 9.3 |
| Fred Roberts | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | .000 | | | 3.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Sedale Threatt | 4 | 0 | 14.3 | .222 | .182 | | .8 | 1.0 | .5 | .0 | 2.5 |
| Nick Van Exel | 4 | 4 | 34.3 | .296 | .313 | .769 | 4.0 | 6.8 | .5 | .0 | 11.8 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Lakers only.
Player Statistics Citation:

## Salaries

| Player | Salary |
| Vlade Divac | $3,333,000 |
| Sedale Threatt | $2,400,000 |
| Cedric Ceballos | $2,245,000 |
| Elden Campbell | $2,200,000 |
| Nick Van Exel | $1,900,000 |
| George Lynch | $1,760,000 |
| Eddie Jones | $1,600,000 |
| Anthony Peeler | $1,330,000 |
| Corie Blount | $1,040,000 |
| Derek Strong | $1,000,000 |
| Magic Johnson | $1,000,000 |
| Anthony Miller | $550,000 |
| Fred Roberts | $225,000 |
| Frankie King | $200,000 |
Player Salaries Citation: