# 1979–80 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1979-80 NBA season was the Lakers' 32nd season in the NBA and the 20th season in Los Angeles. It featured a 20-year old rookie Magic Johnson leading the Lakers to their seventh NBA Championship (second in Los Angeles), defeating the Philadelphia 76ers led by Julius Erving in six games in the NBA Finals, which was the first NBA Finals with a three-point line. This was also the team's first season under the ownership of Jerry Buss. Magic's season represented the birth of the Showtime Lakers.
Only 13 games into his tenure, coach Jack McKinney suffered a near-fatal bicycling accident November 8. General manager Bill Sharman elevated assistant Paul Westhead to head coach and hired former Laker Pat Riley as assistant coach.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 1 | Magic Johnson | Guard | United States | Michigan State |
| 1 | 14 | Brad Holland | Guard | United States | UCLA |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 37–4 | 23–18 | 19–11 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4 | 33–8 | 23–18 | 18–12 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 5 | 37–5 | 18–22 | 19–11 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22 | 26–15 | 12–29 | 13–17 |
| San Diego Clippers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25 | 24–17 | 11–30 | 13–17 |
| Golden State Warriors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 | 15–26 | 9–32 | 8–22 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 60 | 22 | .732 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Kansas City Kings | 47 | 35 | .573 | 13 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22 |
| 7 | San Diego Clippers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25 |
| 8 | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30 |
| 9 | Denver Nuggets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 30 |
| 10 | Utah Jazz | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 36 |

### Record vs. opponents

1979–80 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 4–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1979–80 game log Total: 60–22 (Home: 37–4; Road: 23–18) :
October: 7–3 (home: 5–1; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 12
@ San Diego
W 103-102
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
3 players tied (4)
San Diego Sports Arena 8,503
1–0
2
October 16
Chicago
W 105-96
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
Johnson & Nixon (8)
The Forum
2–0
3
October 17
@ Seattle
L 110-112
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)
Jamaal Wilkes (9)
Norm Nixon (5)
Kingdome
2–1
4
October 19
Portland
L 82-99
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
Norm Nixon (7)
The Forum
2–2
5
October 21
Seattle
W 106-97
3 players tied (23)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20)
Norm Nixon (9)
The Forum
3–2
6
October 23
Utah
W 102-87
Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (17)
Jim Chones (16)
Cooper & Nixon (7)
The Forum
4–2
7
October 26
Kansas City
W 116-104
Magic Johnson (26)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
Norm Nixon (10)
The Forum
5–2
8
October 28
Golden State
W 97-90
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
Magic Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum
6–2
9
October 30
@ Chicago
W 111-105
Magic Johnson (24)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
Magic Johnson (6)
Chicago Stadium
7–2
10
October 31
@ Milwaukee
L 106-110
Norm Nixon (24)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18)
Norm Nixon (12)
MECCA Arena
7–3 :
November: 9–6 (home: 6–1; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
11
November 2
Phoenix
W 112-110
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum
8–3
12
November 6
San Diego
W 127-112
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Norm Nixon (9)
The Forum
9–3
13
November 7
@ Golden State
L 109-126
Jamaal Wilkes (18)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
Magic Johnson (6)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
9–4
14
November 9
Denver
W 126-122 (OT)
Magic Johnson (31)
Spencer Haywood (12)
Norm Nixon (9)
The Forum
10–4
15
November 11
Cleveland
W 140-126
Jamaal Wilkes (25)
Magic Johnson (16)
Magic Johnson (12)
The Forum
11–4
16
November 13
@ San Diego
W 137-91
Magic Johnson (22)
Ford & Haywood (8)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (6)
San Diego Sports Arena
12–4
17
November 15
@ Kansas City
L 108-114
Jamaal Wilkes (28)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
Magic Johnson (7)
Municipal Auditorium
12–5
18
November 16
@ Denver
W 135-128 (OT)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
Jamaal Wilkes (12)
Johnson & Nixon (11)
McNichols Sports Arena
13–5
19
November 18
Indiana
W 127-104
Jamaal Wilkes (21)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
Norm Nixon (10)
The Forum
14–5
20
November 20
@ Portland
L 99-114
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
Magic Johnson (11)
Norm Nixon (6)
Memorial Coliseum
14–6
21
November 21
@ Seattle
L 110-119
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
Norm Nixon (11)
Kingdome
14–7
22
November 23
@ Phoenix
L 112-126
Magic Johnson (25)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (6)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14–8
23
November 25
Kansas City
W 111-110
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
Magic Johnson (9)
The Forum
15–8
24
November 27
@ Utah
W 122-118
Jamaal Wilkes (29)
Magic Johnson (8)
Magic Johnson (8)
Salt Palace
16–8
25
November 30
Chicago
L 100-107
Norm Nixon (30)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19)
Norm Nixon (8)
The Forum
16–9 :
December: 12–4 (home: 8–1; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
26
December 2
Milwaukee
W 116-103
Norm Nixon (25)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Forum
17–9
27
December 4
@ San Antonio
W 127-121
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Johnson & Wilkes (9)
HemisFair Arena
18–9
28
December 5
@ Houston
W 116-114
Norm Nixon (26)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
Norm Nixon (10)
The Summit
19–9
29
December 7
San Diego
L 108-116
Magic Johnson (31)
Magic Johnson (13)
Norm Nixon (11)
The Forum
19–10
30
December 9
Denver
W 131-118
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (9)
Magic Johnson (11)
The Forum
20–10
31
December 14
Detroit
W 138-122
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (9)
The Forum
21–10
32
December 16
San Antonio
W 121-119
Nixon & Wilkes (27)
Jim Chones (11)
Norm Nixon (9)
The Forum
22–10
33
December 18
@ Chicago
W 129-118
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (39)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
Magic Johnson (13)
Chicago Stadium
23–10
34
December 19
@ Atlanta
L 112-119
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (8)
Norm Nixon (10)
Omni Coliseum
23–11
35
December 21
Golden State
W 114-108
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum
24–11
36
December 22
@ Denver
L 128-130
Jamaal Wilkes (24)
Jim Chones (8)
Magic Johnson (9)
McNichols Sports Arena
24–12
37
December 23
Seattle
W 102-97
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum
25–12
38
December 26
@ Kansas City
L 111-118
Johnson & Wilkes (24)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
Municipal Auditorium
25–13
39
December 27
@ Utah
W 124-116
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
Magic Johnson (11)
Salt Palace
26–13
40
December 28
Boston
W 123-105
Magic Johnson (23)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18)
Norm Nixon (8)
The Forum 17,505
27–13
41
December 30
Phoenix
W 113-105
Jamaal Wilkes (30)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Norm Nixon (8)
The Forum
28–13 :
January: 10–4 (home: 5–0; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
42
January 2
@ Indiana
W 127-120
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
Abdul-Jabbar & Haywood (7)
Jamaal Wilkes (8)
Market Square Arena
29–13
43
January 6
@ Milwaukee
L 103-113
Jamaal Wilkes (24)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
Norm Nixon (8)
MECCA Arena
29–14
44
January 9
@ Washington
L 101-103
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Norm Nixon (6)
Capital Centre
29–15
45
January 11
@ Detroit
W 123-100
Jamaal Wilkes (27)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Magic Johnson (7)
Pontiac Silverdome
30–15
46
January 13
@ Boston
W 100-98
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
Norm Nixon (9)
Boston Garden
31–15
47
January 15
Utah
W 112-99
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
Jamaal Wilkes (10)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)
The Forum
32–15
48
January 16
@ Golden State
W 97-96
Jamaal Wilkes (27)
Spencer Haywood (11)
Norm Nixon (9)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
33–15
49
January 18
Atlanta
W 108-102
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
Norm Nixon (12)
The Forum
34–15
50
January 21
New York
W 132-114
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Norm Nixon (9)
The Forum
35–15
51
January 24
@ Portland
L 103-111
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
Norm Nixon (7)
Memorial Coliseum
35–16
52
January 25
Philadelphia
W 124-103
Jamaal Wilkes (30)
Michael Cooper (13)
Norm Nixon (11)
The Forum
36–16
53
January 27
Milwaukee
W 112-102
Magic Johnson (25)
Jim Chones (12)
Norm Nixon (8)
The Forum
37–16
54
January 29
@ Cleveland
L 153-154 (4 OT)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17)
Magic Johnson (8)
Richfield Coliseum
37–17
55
January 31
@ Chicago
W 107-97
Jamaal Wilkes (28)
Jim Chones (12)
Magic Johnson (11)
Chicago Stadium
38–17 :
February: 9–2 (home: 5–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
All-Star Break
56
February 5
@ New York
W 116-105
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17)
Magic Johnson (11)
Madison Square Garden
39–17
57
February 8
@ New Jersey
W 125-120 (OT)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
Magic Johnson (13)
Johnson & Nixon (13)
Rutgers Athletic Center
40–17
58
February 10
@ Philadelphia
L 104-105
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38)
Jamaal Wilkes (8)
Norm Nixon (10)
The Spectrum
40–18
59
February 13
Portland
W 129-100
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
Magic Johnson (9)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
The Forum
41–18
60
February 15
Kansas City
W 114-100
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
Jamaal Wilkes (10)
Norm Nixon (10)
The Forum
42–18
61
February 17
Washington
W 111-107
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
Magic Johnson (12)
Norm Nixon (9)
The Forum
43–18
62
February 20
@ Denver
W 116-103
Magic Johnson (30)
Magic Johnson (12)
Norm Nixon (6)
McNichols Sports Arena
44–18
63
February 22
New Jersey
W 132-110
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)
Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (14)
Norm Nixon (7)
The Forum
45–18
64
February 24
Houston
W 112-100
Jamaal Wilkes (29)
Magic Johnson (8)
Norm Nixon (11)
The Forum
46–18
65
February 26
Seattle
W 131-108
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (11)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Forum
47–18
66
February 29
Milwaukee
L 117-126 (OT)
Norm Nixon (30)
3 players tied (11)
Norm Nixon (13)
The Forum
47–19 :
March: 13–3 (home: 7–0; road: 6–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
67
March 2
@ Phoenix
L 115-123
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
Norm Nixon (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
47–20
68
March 4
@ Milwaukee
W 127-124
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
Norm Nixon (11)
MECCA Arena
48–20
69
March 5
@ Kansas City
W 117-101
Magic Johnson (28)
Magic Johnson (16)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)
Kemper Arena
49–20
70
March 7
Chicago
W 101-99
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
Magic Johnson (18)
Magic Johnson (9)
The Forum
50–20
71
March 9
@ Portland
L 121-142
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
Magic Johnson (12)
Magic Johnson (8)
Memorial Coliseum
50–21
72
March 11
@ San Diego
W 123-106
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (12)
Magic Johnson (8)
San Diego Sports Arena
51–21
73
March 12
Portland
W 102-94
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
Magic Johnson (16)
Norm Nixon (9)
The Forum
52–21
74
March 14
Denver
W 132-126
Jamaal Wilkes (27)
Mark Landsberger (16)
Michael Cooper (8)
The Forum
53–21
75
March 16
Phoenix
W 128-106
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
Magic Johnson (13)
Magic Johnson (13)
The Forum
54–21
76
March 18
Golden State
W 118-100
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)
Jamaal Wilkes (11)
Norm Nixon (8)
The Forum
55–21
77
March 19
@ Phoenix
L 108-112
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Norm Nixon (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
55–22
78
March 22
@ Seattle
W 97-92
Norm Nixon (23)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
Norm Nixon (10)
Kingdome
56–22
79
March 23
Utah
W 101-96
Jamaal Wilkes (22)
Jamaal Wilkes (11)
Norm Nixon (12)
The Forum
57–22
80
March 27
@ Utah
W 97-95
Jamaal Wilkes (21)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (11)
Norm Nixon (7)
Salt Palace
58–22
81
March 28
San Diego
W 126-88
Magic Johnson (22)
Mark Landsberger (10)
3 players tied (5)
The Forum
59–22
82
March 30
@ Golden State
W 95-93
Norm Nixon (18)
Magic Johnson (12)
Magic Johnson (10)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
60–22 :
1979–80 schedule :

### Playoffs

1980 playoff game log Total: 12–4 (Home: 7–2; Road: 5–2) :
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 8
Phoenix
W 119–110
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (12)
Magic Johnson (16)
The Forum 15,892
1–0
2
April 9
Phoenix
W 131–128 (OT)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
Magic Johnson (13)
Norm Nixon (12)
The Forum 14,286
2–0
3
April 11
@ Phoenix
W 108–105
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (37)
Magic Johnson (13)
Norm Nixon (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
3–0
4
April 13
@ Phoenix
L 101–127
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (13)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
3–1
5
April 15
Phoenix
W 126–101
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
Norm Nixon (13)
The Forum 17,505
4–1 :
Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 22
Seattle
L 107–108
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
3 players tied (8)
Norm Nixon (11)
The Forum 17,505
0–1
2
April 23
Seattle
W 108–99
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
Norm Nixon (12)
The Forum 17,505
1–1
3
April 25
@ Seattle
W 104–100
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
Cooper & Johnson (10)
Hec Edmundson Pavilion 8,524
2–1
4
April 27
@ Seattle
W 98–93
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
Johnson & Wilkes (13)
Norm Nixon (8)
Hec Edmundson Pavilion 8,524
3–1
5
April 30
Seattle
W 111–105
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 17,505
4–1 :
NBA Finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 4
Philadelphia
W 109–102
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 17,505
1–0
2
May 7
Philadelphia
L 104–107
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Magic Johnson (11)
The Forum 17,505
1–1
3
May 10
@ Philadelphia
W 111–101
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
Norm Nixon (7)
The Spectrum 18,726
2–1
4
May 11
@ Philadelphia
L 102–105
Magic Johnson (28)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Magic Johnson (9)
The Spectrum 18,726
2–2
5
May 14
Philadelphia
W 108–103
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40)
Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (15)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Forum 17,505
3–2
6
May 16
@ Philadelphia
W 123–107
Magic Johnson (42)
Magic Johnson (15)
Norm Nixon (9)
The Spectrum 18,726
4–2 :
1980 schedule :

## Magic Johnson

Having won everything possible at the college level, Johnson decided to leave college two years early and declared himself eligible for the 1979 NBA draft. The New Orleans Jazz originally had the first draft pick, but they had traded the pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for NBA star Gail Goodrich. As a result, the Lakers drafted Johnson with the first overall pick, signing him for a sizable salary of US$600,000 a year.
Johnson joined a franchise which had gone through major changes. The Lakers featured a new coach in Jack McKinney, a new owner in Jerry Buss, and several new players. However, Johnson was most excited about the prospect of playing with his personal idol, the 7'2" center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who would go on to become the second leading scorer in NBA history. From the first game, Johnson displayed his trademark enthusiasm for the game. When Abdul-Jabbar hit a last-second free throw line hook shot to win against the San Diego Clippers, Johnson ran around the court, high-fiving and hugging everybody, causing concern that the "Buck" (as Johnson was called by Lakers announcer Chick Hearn for his youth) would burn himself out. However, in that 1979–80 NBA season, the rookie proved them wrong. Johnson introduced an uptempo style of basketball which the NBA described as a mix of "no-look passes off the fastbreak, pinpoint alley-oops from halfcourt, spinning feeds and overhand bullets under the basket through triple teams". Fellow Lakers guard Michael Cooper even stated that: "There have been times when he [Johnson] has thrown passes and I wasn't sure where he was going. Then one of our guys catches the ball and scores, and I run back up the floor convinced that he must've thrown it through somebody." This style of basketball became known as "Showtime". Given Johnson was also a prolific scorer and rebounder, he soon led the league in triple-doubles, racking up 10-points-10-rebounds-10-assists games in a rate only second to NBA Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson. In addition, he expressed a raw, childlike enthusiasm which further endeared him to the fans.
Johnson's average of 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game was enough to make the All-Rookie Team and become a starter on the All-Star Team, even though the NBA Rookie of the Year Award went to his rival Larry Bird, who had joined the Boston Celtics. The Lakers compiled a 60–22 win–loss record, and with Paul Westhead replacing coach McKinney as a coach after a serious bicycle accident 13 games into the season, the Lakers reached the 1980 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Against the fierce resistance of Sixers Hall-of-Fame forward Julius "Doctor J" Erving and Darryl Dawkins, the Lakers took a 3–2 lead before Abdul-Jabbar went down with a sprained ankle. Coach Westhead decided to put point guard Johnson at pivot instead, and on the Sixers' home court, the rookie dominated with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, lifting the Lakers to a 123–107 win and winning the NBA Finals MVP award. The NBA regards Johnson's clutch performance as one of the finest individual games ever. Although only twenty years old, he had already won every trophy at the high school, college and professional levels. Johnson also became one of only four players to win NCAA and NBA championships in consecutive years.

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 82 | 38.3 | .604 | .000 | .765 | 10.8 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 24.8 |
| Ron Boone† | 6 | 17.7 | .350 | NA | .857 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.7 |
| Marty Byrnes | 32 | 6.1 | .500 | NA | .867 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Kenny Carr† | 6 | 17.7 | .438 | NA | 1.000 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 3.2 |
| Jim Chones | 82 | 29.2 | .489 | .000 | .740 | 6.9 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 10.6 |
| Michael Cooper | 82 | 24.1 | .524 | .250 | .776 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 8.8 |
| Don Ford† | 52 | 11.2 | .508 | .000 | .821 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
| Spencer Haywood | 76 | 20.3 | .487 | .250 | .772 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 9.7 |
| Brad Holland | 38 | 5.2 | .423 | .200 | .938 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.8 |
| Magic Johnson | 77 | 36.3 | .530 | .226 | .810 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 18.0 |
| Mark Landsberger* | 23 | 16.3 | .482 | NA | .518 | 7.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 7.0 |
| Butch Lee* | 11 | 2.8 | .308 | NA | .857 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
| Ollie Mack† | 27 | 5.7 | .420 | .000 | .500 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| Norm Nixon | 82 | 39.3 | .516 | .125 | .779 | 2.8 | 7.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 17.6 |
| Jamaal Wilkes | 82 | 37.9 | .535 | .176 | .808 | 6.4 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 20.0 |
*Stats after being traded to the Lakers. †Stats before being traded from the Lakers.

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 15 | 41.2 | .572 | NA | .790 | 12.1 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 31.9 |
| Marty Byrnes | 4 | 2.0 | .333 | NA | .667 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| Jim Chones | 16 | 27.4 | .407 | NA | .676 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 7.4 |
| Michael Cooper | 16 | 29.0 | .407 | .000 | .861 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 9.1 |
| Spencer Haywood | 11 | 13.2 | .472 | .000 | .813 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 5.7 |
| Brad Holland | 9 | 3.6 | .500 | .000 | 1.000 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.6 |
| Magic Johnson | 16 | 41.1 | .518 | .250 | .802 | 10.5 | 9.4 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 18.3 |
| Mark Landsberger | 16 | 12.2 | .362 | .000 | .833 | 4.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 3.4 |
| Butch Lee | 3 | 2.0 | NA | NA | 1.000 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| Norm Nixon | 16 | 40.5 | .477 | .200 | .804 | 3.5 | 7.8 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 16.9 |
| Jamaal Wilkes | 16 | 40.8 | .535 | .176 | .815 | 8.0 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 20.3 |

## Awards and records

* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
* Magic Johnson, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, All-NBA First Team
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA All-Defensive First Team
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA All-Star Game
* Magic Johnson, NBA All-Star Game
* Magic Johnson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team