The 1984–85 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 39th season of the franchise, 37th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 25th in Los Angeles. The Lakers entered the season as runner-ups of the 1984 NBA Finals, where they lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Boston Celtics in seven games, increasing their losing streak to the Celtics in the NBA Finals to 8 consecutive losses.
In the playoffs, the Lakers swept the Phoenix Suns in three games in the First Round, then defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in five games in the Semifinals, before defeating the Denver Nuggets in five games in the Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals for the fifth time in the 1980s, facing off against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals. This time, however, the Lakers were able to return to their championship ways and win their ninth NBA championship (their fourth in Los Angeles), avenging their NBA Finals loss and getting revenge on the Celtics, defeating them in six games, and marking the first time the Lakers had defeated the Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Lakers also became the first team to have defeated the Celtics in the NBA Finals while on the road, a feat that has since only been accomplished one other time by the Golden State Warriors in 2022. In 2024, HoopsHype would rank this squad as the team with the 22nd-easiest route to the NBA Finals championship (ahead of that year's Boston Celtics squad in terms of higher combined winning percentage of their opponents), with their first two opponents docking the overall percentage from the season there.
NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 23 Earl Jones Center District of Columbia1984 NBA draft
Transactions The Lakers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1984–1985 season.
Free Agent Additions
Player Former team Chuck Nevitt Houston Rockets Ronnie Lester Chicago Bulls
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Game log Regular season
| 1 | October 275:30p.m. PDT | @ San Antonio | L 112–113 | Magic Johnson (32) | McAdoo & Worthy (8) | Magic Johnson (8) | HemisFair Arena13,506 | 0–1 |- | 2 | October 285:00p.m. PST | @ Dallas | L 96–107 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) | Reunion Arena17,007 | 0–2 |- | 3 | October 307:30p.m. PST | Golden State | W 144-110 | McGee & Scott (26) | Magic Johnson (12) | Magic Johnson (10) | The Forum11,545 | 1–2
| 4 | November 17:30p.m. PST | @ Seattle | L 103-105 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) | Magic Johnson (10) | Magic Johnson (14) | Kingdome7,020 | 1–3 |- | 5 | November 27:30p.m. PST | San Antonio | W 119–100 | Mike McGee (21) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum13,550 | 2–3 |- | 6 | November 47:30p.m. PST | Portland | W 124–116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | James Worthy (14) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum14,148 | 3–3 |- | 7 | November 67:30p.m. PST | Denver | L 130–146 | Magic Johnson (19) | Mike McGee (8) | Magic Johnson (8) | The Forum11,272 | 3–4 |- | 8 | November 87:30p.m. PST | @ Golden State | L 106-122 | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (20) | Magic Johnson (9) | Magic Johnson (12) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum10,523 | 3–5 |- | 9 | November 97:30p.m. PST | @ Portland | W 130–126 | Byron Scott (27) | Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (7) | Magic Johnson (15) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 4–5 |- | 10 | November 117:30p.m. PST | New Jersey | W 121–111 | James Worthy (22) | James Worthy (9) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum13,257 | 5–5 |- | 11 | November 16 | Kansas City | W 128-116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) | Kurt Rambis (10) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum13,287 | 6–5 |- | 12 | November 187:30p.m. PST | Milwaukee | W 96–89 | James Worthy (24) | Michael Cooper (8) | Magic Johnson (11) | The Forum12,768 | 7–5 |- | 13 | November 207:30p.m. PST | Phoenix | W 130–108 | Magic Johnson (29) | James Worthy (9) | Johnson & Scott (10) | The Forum13,792 | 8–5 |- | 14 | November 216:30p.m. PST | @ Phoenix | W 102–97 | Byron Scott (21) | James Worthy (12) | Magic Johnson (8) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,671 | 9–5 |- | 15 | November 24 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 108-103 | James Worthy (27) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) | Magic Johnson (14) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena14,991 | 10–5 |- | 16 | November 257:30p.m. PST | Seattle | L 94-105 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14) | Michael Cooper (7) | The Forum12,270 | 10–6 |- | 17 | November 286:30p.m. PST | @ Utah | W 114–109 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) | James Worthy (17) | Magic Johnson (14) | Salt Palace11,331 | 11–6 |- | 18 | November 30 | Kansas City | W 130-121 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18) | James Worthy (8) | Magic Johnson (13) | The Forum12,766 | 12–6
| 19 | December 27:30p.m. PST | Chicago | L 112–113 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Johnson & Rambis (7) | Magic Johnson (16) | The Forum15,505 | 12–7 |- | 20 | December 44:30p.m. PST | @ Cleveland | W 116–112 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Magic Johnson (14) | Richfield Coliseum11,298 | 13–7 |- | 21 | December 54:30p.m. PST | @ New Jersey | W 104–93 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20) | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (6) | Magic Johnson (9) | Brendan Byrne Arena14,532 | 14–7 |- | 22 | December 75:00p.m. PST | @ Philadelphia | L 116–122 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) | James Worthy (10) | Magic Johnson (17) | The Spectrum17,921 | 14–8 |- | 23 | December 84:30p.m. PST | @ Washington | L 98–101 | Magic Johnson (23) | Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (9) | Magic Johnson (12) | Capital Centre19,105 | 14–9 |- | 24 | December 127:30p.m. PST | Golden State | W 131-107 | Mike McGee (17) | Kurt Rambis (13) | Magic Johnson (10) | The Forum12,476 | 15–9 |- | 25 | December 137:30p.m. PST | @ Seattle | L 122-124 (OT) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) | James Worthy (16) | Magic Johnson (15) | Kingdome8,491 | 15–10 |- | 26 | December 167:30p.m. PST | Washington | W 109–101 | James Worthy (26) | James Worthy (11) | Magic Johnson (18) | The Forum15,070 | 16–10 |- | 27 | December 184:30p.m. PST | @ Atlanta | W 117–116 | Magic Johnson (25) | Magic Johnson (14) | Magic Johnson (20) | Omni Coliseum9,844 | 17–10 |- | 28 | December 195:00p.m. PST | @ Houston | W 123–116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32) | Kurt Rambis (8) | Magic Johnson (20) | The Summit16,016 | 18–10 |- | 29 | December 217:30p.m. PST | Phoenix | W 119–105 | James Worthy (30) | James Worthy (14) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum14,764 | 19–10 |- | 30 | December 267:30p.m. PST | Seattle | W 101-97 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Magic Johnson (10) | The Forum15,582 | 20–10 |- | 31 | December 286:30p.m. PST | @ Denver | W 135–123 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) | Magic Johnson (11) | Magic Johnson (14) | McNichols Sports Arena17,022 | 21–10 |- | 32 | December 29 | L.A. Clippers | W 113-107 | James Worthy (25) | Magic Johnson (10) | Magic Johnson (16) | The Forum17,505 | 22–10
| 33 | January 47:30p.m. PST | Portland | W 120–95 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) | Michael Cooper (7) | The Forum14,979 | 23–10 |- | 34 | January 67:30p.m. PST | San Antonio | W 99–98 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) | Michael Cooper (14) | The Forum13,513 | 24–10 |- | 35 | January 87:30p.m. PST | Denver | L 124–126 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Michael Cooper (16) | The Forum13,024 | 24–11 |- | 36 | January 107:30p.m. PST | Utah | W 120–112 | Magic Johnson (20) | Kurt Rambis (11) | Magic Johnson (10) | The Forum14,547 | 25–11 |- | 37 | January 115:30p.m. PST | @ Dallas | W 121–102 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) | Byron Scott (6) | Reunion Arena17,007 | 26–11 |- | 38 | January 139:00a.m. PST | @ Detroit | L 98–121 | Johnson & McGee (22) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Magic Johnson (10) | Pontiac Silverdome23,475 | 26–12 |- | 39 | January 155:30p.m. PST | @ Milwaukee | L 105–115 | Magic Johnson (32) | James Worthy (11) | Magic Johnson (9) | MECCA Arena11,052 | 26–13 |- | 40 | January 165:00p.m. PST | @ Boston | L 102–104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) | 3 players tied (7) | Magic Johnson (13) | Boston Garden14,890 | 26–14 |- | 41 | January 187:30p.m. PST | Dallas | W 110–92 | James Worthy (19) | Kurt Rambis (7) | Magic Johnson (18) | The Forum17,505 | 27–14 |- | 42 | January 198:00p.m. PST | @ Golden State | W 139-109 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22) | James Worthy (7) | Magic Johnson (13) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum13,295 | 28–14 |- | 43 | January 22 | L.A. Clippers | W 123-114 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23) | Kurt Rambis (12) | Magic Johnson (13) | The Forum15,274 | 29–14 |- | 44 | January 258:30p.m. PST | Philadelphia | W 109–104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Magic Johnson (15) | The Forum17,505 | 30–14 |- | 45 | January 266:30p.m. PST | @ Utah | L 83–96 | Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (19) | Magic Johnson (8) | Magic Johnson (6) | Salt Palace12,675 | 30–15 |- | 46 | January 297:30p.m. PST | @ Portland | W 122–106 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Magic Johnson (13) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 31–15 |- | 47 | January 307:30p.m. PST | Houston | L 113–116 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Magic Johnson (10) | The Forum17,505 | 31–16
| 48 | February 1 | New York | W 105-104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum14,064 | 32–16 |- | 49 | February 2 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 105-96 | James Worthy (21) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14) | Magic Johnson (17) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena15,371 | 33–16 |- | 50 | February 3 | Indiana | W 122-100 | James Worthy (18) | Kurt Rambis (15) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum13,320 | 34–16 |- | 51 | February 55:00p.m. CST | @ Houston | W 113–104 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40) | James Worthy (10) | Magic Johnson (19) | The Summit16,016 | 35–16 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- | 52 | February 12 | L.A. Clippers | 121-110 | Byron Scott (25) | Bob McAdoo (8) | Magic Johnson (12) | The Forum16,125 | 36–16 |- | 53 | February 157:30p.m. PST | Atlanta | W 120–111 | Magic Johnson (23) | Kurt Rambis (10) | Magic Johnson (16) | The Forum13,852 | 37–16 |- | 54 | February 1712:30p.m. PST | Boston | W 117–111 | Magic Johnson (37) | Kurt Rambis (12) | Magic Johnson (13) | The Forum17,505 | 38–16 |- | 55 | February 195:30p.m. PST | @ Chicago | W 127–117 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9) | Magic Johnson (12) | Chicago Stadium19,052 | 39–16 |- | 56 | February 21 | @ Kansas City | W 123-117 | James Worthy (26) | Magic Johnson (10) | Magic Johnson (17) | Kemper Arena9,606 | 40–16 |- | 57 | February 22 | @ Indiana | L 113-122 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28) | Abdul-Jabbar & Rambis (7) | Magic Johnson (11) | Market Square Arena16,511 | 40–17 |- | 58 | February 24 | @ New York | W 119-114 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (39) | Rambis & Worthy (11) | Magic Johnson (15) | Madison Square Garden16,287 | 41–17 |- | 59 | February 267:30p.m. PST | Houston | W 100–94 | Abdul-Jabbar & Worthy (19) | Magic Johnson (11) | Magic Johnson (18) | The Forum17,505 | 42–17 |- | 60 | February 286:30p.m. PST | @ Phoenix | L 105–117 | James Worthy (22) | James Worthy (8) | Michael Cooper (9) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14,660 | 42–18
| 61 | March 25:30p.m. PST | @ Dallas | W 125–106 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12) | Magic Johnson (16) | Reunion Arena17,007 | 43–18 |- | 62 | March 67:30p.m. PST | Golden State | W 145-119 | Mike McGee (29) | Kupchak & McGee (7) | Ronnie Lester (10) | The Forum15,371 | 44–18 |- | 63 | March 98:00p.m. PST | Cleveland | W 133–106 | Byron Scott (26) | Kurt Rambis (10) | Magic Johnson (13) | The Forum17,505 | 45–18 |- | 64 | March 127:30p.m. PST | Utah | W 123–108 | 3 players tied (18) | Kurt Rambis (13) | Magic Johnson (13) | The Forum17,505 | 46–18 |- | 65 | March 136:30p.m. PST | @ Utah | W 120–105 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10) | Magic Johnson (11) | Salt Palace10,158 | 47–18 |- | 66 | March 157:30p.m. PST