The 1973–74 NBA season was the Lakers' 26th season in the NBA and 14th season in Los Angeles.[1] Having lost to the New York Knicks in the previous season's NBA Finals, the Lakers would make it to the NBA Playoffs, posting a 47–35 record, only to lose to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.

Following the season, Jerry West retired after 14 seasons with the Lakers. He would later return to the Lakers as the head coach from 1976 to 1979, then served as general manager from 1982 to 2000.

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1973 NBA draft

Roster

1973–74 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F/C 32 Bridges, Bill 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 228 lb (103 kg) Kansas
C 31 Counts, Mel 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1941-10-16 Oregon State
G 25 Goodrich, Gail 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1943-04-23 UCLA
F 52 Hairston, Happy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1942-05-31 NYU
F/C 42 Hawkins, Connie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1942-07-17 Iowa
G/F 32 Hawthorne, Nate 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1950-01-15 Southern Illinois
F 34 Love, Stan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Oregon
PG 15 Price, Jim 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Louisville
G 12 Riley, Pat 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1945-03-20 Kentucky
C 3 Smith, Elmore 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1949-05-09 Kentucky State
F 24 Washington, Kermit 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1951-09-17 American
G 44 West, Jerry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1938-05-28 West Virginia
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 47 35 .573 – 30–11 17–24 – 14–12
Golden State Warriors 44 38 .537 3 23–18 20–20 1–0 15–11
Seattle SuperSonics 36 46 .439 11 22–19 14–27 – 12–14
Phoenix Suns 30 52 .366 17 24–17 6–34 0–1 11–15
Portland Trail Blazers 27 55 .329 20 22–19 5–34 0–2 13–13
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Milwaukee Bucks 59 23 .720 –
2 x-Chicago Bulls 54 28 .659 5
3 x-Detroit Pistons 52 30 .634 7
4 y-Los Angeles Lakers 47 35 .573 12
5 Golden State Warriors 44 38 .537 15
6 Seattle SuperSonics 36 46 .439 23
7 Kansas City–Omaha Kings 33 49 .402 26
8 Phoenix Suns 30 52 .366 29
9 Portland Trail Blazers 27 55 .329 32
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1973–74 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CAP CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA
Atlanta — 1–5 2–4 4–4 1–3 4–3 0–4 1–3 5–2 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–5 3–3 1–3 2–2 4–0
Boston 5–1 — 5–2 2–4 2–2 4–2 3–1 3–1 4–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 5–2 7–1 3–1 4–0 2–2
Buffalo 4–2 2–5 — 3–3 1–3 5–1 1–3 1–3 4–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–4 6–1 3–1 3–1 2–2
Capital 4–4 4–2 3–3 — 1–3 6–1 2–2 3–1 4–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–3 4–2 2–2 3–1 2–2
Chicago 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 — 4–0 5–2 4–2 4–0 5–2 1–5 3–3 2–2 3–1 4–2 4–2 4–2
Cleveland 3–4 2–4 1–5 1–6 0–4 — 2–2 0–4 4–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 1–5 5–1 1–3 4–0 2–2
Detroit 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–5 2–2 — 5–1 3–1 4–2 4–2 3–4 1–3 2–2 6–0 5–1 5–1
Golden State 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–4 4–0 1–5 — 4–0 3–3 4–2 3–3 1–3 3–1 5–2 3–4 3–3
Houston 2–5 2–4 2–4 3–4 0–4 4–4 1–3 0–4 — 2–2 2–2 0–4 4–2 4–2 2–2 3–1 1–3
Kansas City-Omaha 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–5 4–0 2–4 3–3 2–2 — 1–5 0–7 1–3 1–3 4–2 4–2 2–4
Los Angeles 0–4 2–2 4–0 2–2 5–1 1–3 2–4 2–4 2–2 5–1 — 4–2 2–2 4–0 4–2 4–3 4–3
Milwaukee 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–3 4–0 4–3 3–3 4–0 7–0 2–4 — 2–2 4–0 5–1 6–0 4–2
New York 5–1 2–5 4–4 3–3 2–2 5–1 3–1 3–1 2–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 — 4–3 3–1 2–2 4–0
Philadelphia 3–3 1–7 1–6 2–4 1–3 1–5 2–2 1–3 2–4 3–1 0–4 0–4 3–4 — 3–1 2–2 0–4
Phoenix 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–4 3–1 0–6 2–5 2–2 2–4 2–4 1–5 1–3 1–3 — 3–3 4–3
Portland 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 2–4 0–4 1–5 4–3 1–3 2–4 3–4 0–6 2–2 2–2 3–3 — 3–3
Seattle 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–4 2–2 1–5 3–3 3–1 4–2 3–4 2–4 0–4 4–0 3–4 3–3 —

Game log

1973–74 game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 9 @ Chicago 117–97 Jerry West (28) 1–0
2 October 11 @ Atlanta 102–129 Gail Goodrich (23) 1–1
3 October 13 @ Buffalo 125–122 Jerry West (35) 2–1
4 October 19 Seattle 91–118 Gail Goodrich (28) 3–1
5 October 21 Atlanta 119–100 Jerry West (22) 3–2
6 October 23 @ Houston 107–98 Gail Goodrich (29) 4–2
7 October 24 @ Kansas City–Omaha 92–91 Bill Bridges (28) 5–2
8 October 26 Detroit 92–94 Gail Goodrich (34) 6–2
9 October 28 Portland 98–111 Gail Goodrich (49) 7–2
10 October 30 @ Portland 112–114 Gail Goodrich (35) 7–3
11 November 2 New York 106–91 Gail Goodrich (26) 7–4
12 November 4 Houston 93–106 Jerry West (30) 8–4
13 November 6 @ Cleveland 96–115 Jerry West (21) 8–5
14 November 7 @ Milwaukee 92–109 Happy Hairston (19) 8–6
15 November 9 @ Seattle 118–111 Gail Goodrich (36) 9–6
16 November 16 Chicago 102–118 Gail Goodrich (38) 10–6
17 November 17 @ Phoenix 130–110 Happy Hairston (25) 11–6
18 November 18 Cleveland 100–102 Gail Goodrich (30) 12–6
19 November 20 @ New York 89–105 Price, Smith (20) 12–7
20 November 21 @ Capital 106–97 Gail Goodrich (24) 13–7
21 November 24 @ Portland 113–108 Gail Goodrich (33) 14–7
22 November 25 Portland 109–137 Gail Goodrich (40) 15–7
23 November 30 Kansas City–Omaha 107–123 Gail Goodrich (30) 16–7
24 December 1 @ Portland 115–134 Jerry West (26) 16–8
25 December 2 Detroit 114–108 Gail Goodrich (29) 16–9
26 December 4 Phoenix 103–120 Jerry West (26) 17–9
27 December 7 Seattle 115–111 Jerry West (27) 17–10
28 December 8 @ Golden State 111–135 Connie Hawkins (23) 17–11
29 December 9 Capital 110–96 Jim Price (18) 17–12
30 December 11 @ Cleveland 100–101 (OT) Jerry West (32) 17–13
31 December 12 @ Detroit 96–114 Gail Goodrich (31) 17–14
32 December 14 @ Chicago 100–97 Gail Goodrich (29) 18–14
33 December 16 Boston 115–110 Gail Goodrich (24) 18–15
34 December 18 Milwaukee 107–109 Gail Goodrich (40) 19–15
35 December 21 Philadelphia 107–116 Gail Goodrich (27) 20–15
36 December 25 @ Phoenix 100–135 Pat Riley (17) 20–16
37 December 26 @ Seattle 105–129 Gail Goodrich (26) 20–17
38 December 28 Phoenix 107–119 Connie Hawkins (26) 21–17
39 December 29 @ Golden State 100–102 Gail Goodrich (37) 21–18
40 December 30 Buffalo 105–108 Jim Price (27) 22–18
41 January 4 Golden State 111–114 Gail Goodrich (29) 23–18
42 January 6 Kansas City–Omaha 105–109 Gail Goodrich (28) 24–18
43 January 8 @ Capital 92–94 Gail Goodrich (27) 24–19
44 January 9 @ Detroit 94–123 Pat Riley (20) 24–20
45 January 11 @ Boston 111–103 Goodrich, Hawkins (22) 25–20
46 January 12 @ Philadelphia 108–101 Gail Goodrich (23) 26–20
47 January 18 @ Kansas City–Omaha 116–115 Gail Goodrich (28) 27–20
48 January 20 @ Milwaukee 90–94 Gail Goodrich (29) 27–21
49 January 22 Cleveland 111–110 (OT) Jim Price (24) 27–22
50 January 25 Capital 124–143 Gail Goodrich (41) 28–22
51 January 27 Milwaukee 92–99 Jim Price (20) 29–22
52 February 1 Phoenix 110–121 Gail Goodrich (29) 30–22
53 February 2 @ Phoenix 112–119 Jerry West (24) 30–23
54 February 3 Portland 91–124 Jim Price (24) 31–23
55 February 5 @ Houston 112–116 (OT) Gail Goodrich (44) 31–24
56 February 6 @ Atlanta 103–107 Gail Goodrich (28) 31–25
57 February 10 @ Chicago 86–96 Gail Goodrich (24) 31–26
58 February 12 Houston 129–119 Jim Price (28) 31–27
59 February 15 Seattle 96–112 Gail Goodrich (28) 32–27
60 February 17 Atlanta 113–110 Gail Goodrich (35) 32–28
61 February 19 @ Kansas City–Omaha 86–92 Happy Hairston (23) 32–29
62 February 20 @ Detroit 110–112 Jim Price (31) 32–30
63 February 22 Philadelphia 103–104 Connie Hawkins (26) 33–30
64 February 23 @ Seattle 118–116 Gail Goodrich (28) 34–30
65 February 24 Chicago 90–100 Gail Goodrich (28) 35–30
66 February 26 @ Buffalo 119–112 Gail Goodrich (25) 36–30
67 February 27 @ Milwaukee 110–108 Happy Hairston (22) 37–30
68 March 1 Kansas City–Omaha 100–107 Gail Goodrich (26) 38–30
69 March 3 Golden State 104–108 Jim Price (26) 39–30
70 March 5 @ Portland 102–107 Happy Hairston (19) 39–31
71 March 6 Boston 111–116 Gail Goodrich (39) 40–31
72 March 8 Detroit 113–129 Goodrich, Price (31) 41–31
73 March 10 @ Boston 82–94 Gail Goodrich (19) 41–32
74 March 12 @ New York 109–102 Gail Goodrich (34) 42–32
75 March 13 @ Philadelphia 121–100 Gail Goodrich (38) 43–32
76 March 15 Golden State 112–107 Elmore Smith (25) 43–33
77 March 16 @ Golden State 105–135 Elmore Smith (25) 43–34
78 March 17 New York 114–126 Jim Price (25) 44–34
79 March 20 Milwaukee 114–120 Gail Goodrich (27) 45–34
80 March 22 Chicago 93–99 Elmore Smith (29) 46–34
81 March 24 Buffalo 124–150 Elmore Smith (37) 47–34
82 March 26 Seattle 121–115 Gail Goodrich (21) 47–35

Playoffs

1974 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 29 @ Milwaukee L 95–99 Gail Goodrich (31) Connie Hawkins (14) Gail Goodrich (6) Milwaukee Arena
10,938 		0–1
2 March 31 @ Milwaukee L 90–109 Gail Goodrich (21) Happy Hairston (10) Happy Hairston (7) Milwaukee Arena
10,938 		0–2
3 April 2 Milwaukee W 98–96 Elmore Smith (30) Elmore Smith (17) Gail Goodrich (12) The Forum
17,505 		1–2
4 April 4 Milwaukee L 90–112 Elmore Smith (20) Elmore Smith (13) Connie Hawkins (5) The Forum 1–3
5 April 7 @ Milwaukee L 92–114 Gail Goodrich (22) Happy Hairston (11) Gail Goodrich (6) Milwaukee Arena
10,938 		1–4
1974 schedule

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ 1973–74 Los Angeles Lakers
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973%E2%80%9374_Los_Angeles_Lakers_season
No tags for this post.