The 2005–06 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 58th of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the 60th overall. The Lakers finished in third place of the Pacific Division and as the seventh seed of the Western Conference. The season ended with the team being eliminated in seven games against the Phoenix Suns in the First Round of the playoffs after holding a 3–1 series lead. After a year absence, the Lakers rehired Phil Jackson as their head coach. It was the final season that Kobe Bryant wore jersey number 8 before changing it to 24 the following season. Also memorable from this season was during a January 22, 2006 game vs. the Toronto Raptors where Bryant scored 81 points. This was the second highest total in NBA history for two decades until it was surpassed by Bam Adebayo on March 10, 2026.
After the playoffs, Bryant underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in July. This led to him missing the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
Draft picks
The Lakers had 3 picks going into the 2005 NBA draft. The Lakers picked seven footer Andrew Bynum as the 10th pick of the draft. Los Angeles also picked Ronny Turiaf and Von Wafer as the 37th and 39th picks respectively.
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 10 Andrew Bynum Center St. Joseph HS (New Jersey) 2 37 Ronny Turiaf Forward Gonzaga University 2 39 Von Wafer Guard Florida State University
Roster
Injuries Wednesday November 16, 2005: Slava Medvedenko was sidelined for the rest of the season after he suffered a herniated disc. SI.com Friday November 18, 2005: Kwame Brown strained his right hamstring and was sidelined for two weeks. Lakers' Brown sidelined two weeks Tuesday December 20, 2005: Laron Profit ruptured his Achilles' tendon during a game against the Dallas Mavericks. Lakers' Profit out 4-6 months after Achilles surgery He underwent surgery on December 23, 2005. He was unable to play for the rest of the season after the surgery.
Player salaries Rank Player Salary 1 Kobe Bryant$15,946,8752Lamar Odom$11,465,3343Kwame Brown$7,500,0004Devean George$5,000,6005Chris Mihm$3,796,8756Stanislav Medvedenko$3,000,0007Aaron McKie$2,500,0008Andrew Bynum$1,888,6809Luke Walton$1,250,00010Brian Cook$865,80011Sasha Vujačić$910,44012Smush Parker$745,24813Laron Profit$835,81014Devin Green$398,76215Von Wafer$398,762Los Angeles Lakers Roster | FOX Sports
Regular season
The Lakers opened the season with an overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets. 2005-2006 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results Despite dipping below .500 during the November, the team recovered and finished 2005 with a 15–14 record. The team went into the All Star Break with a 26–26 record The Lakers did not maintain any long winning streaks nor were they in long losing slumps; their longest winning streak of the season equalled their longest losing streak of 5 games. Los Angeles Lakers games in the 2005-2006 NBA season and playoffs The team finished the season with a 5-game winning streak, the longest of the season, and an overall 45–37 record. The Lakers finished third in the Pacific Division and qualified for the playoffs as the 7th seed in the Western Conference. In a January home game against the Toronto Raptors, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, the second most in a single game in NBA history, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100.
Season standings
Game log Pre-season
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | October 11 | Golden State | W 101-93 | Kobe Bryant (28) | Chris Mihm (9) | Kobe Bryant (5) | Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI)7,307 | 1–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | October 12 | Golden State | L 81-112 | 3 players tied (11) | Lamar Odom (9) | Odom & Parker (3) | Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI)7,646 | 1-1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | October 18 | Washington | W 111-108 (OT) | Kobe Bryant (28) | Lamar Odom (8) | Lamar Odom (6) | Rabobank Arena (Bakersfield, CA)6,536 | 2–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | October 20 | Denver | L 94-105 | Kwame Brown (16) | Lamar Odom (9) | Lamar Odom (7) | Staples Center15,047 | 2-2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | October 21 | Charlotte | W 109-93 | Kobe Bryant (25) | Kwame Brown (7) | Laron Profit (6) | Staples Center15,568 | 3–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | October 23 | Charlotte | W 98-97 | Kobe Bryant (25) | Chris Mihm (11) | Lamar Odom (6) | iPayOne Center (San Diego, CA)7,058 | 4–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | October 25 | Utah | W 95-85 | Kobe Bryant (20) | Kwame Brown (9) | Odom & Parker (4) | Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA)15,253 | 5–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | October 28 | Sacramento | W 105-103 | Kobe Bryant (24) | Brown & Odom (7) | McKie & Parada (3) | Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)14,759 | 6–2
Regular season
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | November 2 | @ Denver | W 99-97 (OT) | Kobe Bryant (33) | Lamar Odom (9) | Lamar Odom (7) | Pepsi Center19,245 | 1–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | November 3 | Phoenix | L 112-122 | Kobe Bryant (39) | Lamar Odom (16) | Lamar Odom (8) | Staples Center18,997 | 1-1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | November 6 | Denver | W 112-92 | Kobe Bryant (37) | Chris Mihm (13) | Bryant & Parker (5) | Staples Center18,997 | 2–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | November 8 | @ Atlanta | W 103-97 | Kobe Bryant (37) | Lamar Odom (11) | Lamar Odom (6) | Philips Arena19,523 | 3–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | November 9 | @ Minnesota | L 74-88 | Kobe Bryant (28) | Kwame Brown (13) | Kobe Bryant (4) | Target Center15,192 | 3–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | November 11 | @ Philadelphia | L 81-85 | Chris Mihm (20) | Lamar Odom (12) | Kobe Bryant (7) | Wachovia Center20,292 | 3-3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 7 | November 14 | @ Memphis | L 73-85 | Kobe Bryant (18) | Chris Mihm (10) | Lamar Odom (4) | FedEx Forum16,671 | 3–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 16 | New York | W 97-92 | Kobe Bryant (42) | Mihm & Odom (9) | Lamar Odom (6) | Staples Center18,997 | 4-4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | November 18 | L.A. Clippers | L 91-97 | Kobe Bryant (36) | Chris Mihm (9) | Bryant & Odom (5) | Staples Center18,997 | 4–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 10 | November 20 | Chicago | L 93-96 | Kobe Bryant (43) | Lamar Odom (10) | Lamar Odom (5) | Staples Center18,997 | 4–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | November 24 | Seattle | W 108-96 | Kobe Bryant (34) | Lamar Odom (12) | Lamar Odom (6) | Staples Center18,070 | 5–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 12 | November 27 | New Jersey | L 96-102 (OT) | Kobe Bryant (46) | Mihm & Odom (10) | Odom & Walton (5) | Staples Center18,528 | 5–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 | November 29 | @ San Antonio | L 84-90 | Lamar Odom (27) | Lamar Odom (16) | 3 players tied (3) | SBC Center18,797 | 5–8
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | December 1 | @ Utah | W 105-101 (OT) | Kobe Bryant (30) | Lamar Odom (13) | Lamar Odom (9) | Delta Center18,008 | 6–8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | December 2 | Minnesota | L 108-113 | Lamar Odom (24) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Bryant & Odom (8) | Staples Center18,997 | 6–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | December 4 | Charlotte | W 99-98 | Kobe Bryant (29) | Lamar Odom (10) | Lamar Odom (11) | Staples Center18,506 | 7–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | December 6 | @ Milwaukee | W 111-92 | Kobe Bryant (33) | Lamar Odom (9) | Lamar Odom (8) | Bradley Center15,185 | 8–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | December 7 | @ Toronto | W 102-91 | Lamar Odom (19) | George & Mihm (8) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Air Canada Centre18,821 | 9-9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 | December 9 | @ Chicago | W 93-80 | Kobe Bryant (23) | Kobe Bryant (9) | Kobe Bryant (8) | United Center22,410 | 10–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | December 10 | @ Minnesota | L 82-95 | Kobe Bryant (35) | Chris Mihm (11) | Lamar Odom (4) | Target Center18,739 | 10-10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 | December 12 | @ Dallas | W 109-106 | Kobe Bryant (43) | Lamar Odom (11) | Lamar Odom (5) | American Airlines Center19,680 | 11–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | December 14 | @ Memphis | W 94-79 | Kobe Bryant (27) | Bryant & Mihm (8) | Odom & Walton (5) | FedEx Forum16,591 | 12–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 | December 16 | Washington | W 97-91 | Kobe Bryant (41) | Lamar Odom (11) | Luke Walton (6) | Staples Center18,997 | 13–10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | December 18 | Houston | L 74-76 | Kobe Bryant (24) | Lamar Odom (7) | Kobe Bryant (6) | Staples Center18,997 | 13–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 | December 20 | Dallas | W 112-90 | Kobe Bryant (62) | 3 players tied (8) | Luke Walton (5) | Staples Center18,997 | 14–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 | December 23 | @ Orlando | W 104-88 | Kobe Bryant (21) | Kwame Brown (9) | Kobe Bryant (9) | TD Waterhouse Centre17,283 | 15–11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 | December 25 | @ Miami | L 92-97 | Kobe Bryant (37) | Lamar Odom (16) | Bryant & Odom (6) | American Airlines Arena20,277 | 15–12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 28 | December 26 | @ Washington | L 91-94 | Kobe Bryant (31) | Chris Mihm (9) | Lamar Odom (7) | MCI Center20,173 | 15–13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 29 | December 28 | Memphis | L 99-100 (OT) | Kobe Bryant (45) | Lamar Odom (15) | Odom & Parker (5) | Staples Center18,997 | 15–14
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | January 1 | Utah | L 94-98 | Brian Cook (19) | Lamar Odom (12) | Lamar Odom (8) | Staples Center18,310 | 15-15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | January 3 | @ Utah | L 80-90 | Lamar Odom (25) | Lamar Odom (8) | Odom & Parker (4) | Delta Center19,013 | 15–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | January 6 | Philadelphia | W 119-93 | Kobe Bryant (48) | Kobe Bryant (10) | Lamar Odom (12) | Staples Center18,997 | 16-16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | January 7 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 112-109 | Kobe Bryant (50) | 3 players tied (10) | Kobe Bryant (8) | Staples Center20,154 | 17–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | January 9 | Indiana | W 96-90 | Kobe Bryant (45) | Lamar Odom (12) | Kobe Bryant (5) | Staples Center18,997 | 18–16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 35 | January 11 | @ Portland | L 103-113 | Kobe Bryant (41) | Chris Mihm (7) | Lamar Odom (5) | Rose Garden16,421 | 18–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | January 12 | Cleveland | W 99-98 | Kobe Bryant (27) | Lamar Odom (10) | Lamar Odom (9) | Staples Center18,997 | 19–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | January 14 | @ Golden State | W 110-104 | Kobe Bryant (38) | Brown & Parker (12) | Kobe Bryant (7) | Oakland Arena20,179 | 20–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | January 16 | Miami | W 100-92 | Kobe Bryant (37) | Lamar Odom (10) | Lamar Odom (9) | Staples Center18,997 | 21–17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 39 | January 19 | @ Sacramento | L 109-118 (OT) | Kobe Bryant (51) | Lamar Odom (10) | Lamar Odom (6) | ARCO Arena17,317 | 21–18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 40 | January 20 | @ Phoenix | L 93-106 | Kobe Bryant (37) | Lamar Odom (12) | Lamar Odom (4) | American West Arena18,422 | 21–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | January 22 | Toronto | W 122-104 | Kobe Bryant (81) | Brown & Odom (10) | Lamar Odom (7) | Staples Center18,997 | 22–19 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 42 | January 27 | Golden State | W 106-105 (OT) | Kobe Bryant (30) | 3 players tied (9) | Kobe Bryant (8) | Staples Center18,997 | 23–19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 43 | January 29 | @ Detroit | L 93-102 | Kobe Bryant (39) | Chris Mihm (14) | 3 players tied (3) | The Palace of Auburn Hills22,076 | 23–20 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 31 | @ New York | W 130-97 | Kobe Bryant (40) | Lamar Odom (13) | Smush Parker (5) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 24–20
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 45 | February 1 | @ Indiana | L 79-105 | Kobe Bryant (26) | Lamar Odom (7) | Luke Walton (3) | Conseco Fieldhouse16,127 | 24–21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 | February 3 | @ Charlotte | L 102-112 | Kobe Bryant (35) | Bryant & Mihm (9) | Bryant & Walton (5) | Charlotte Bobcats Arena19,026 | 24–22 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 47 | February 4 | @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City