The 2019–20 Los Angeles Lakers season was the franchise's 72nd season, its 71st season in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its 60th in Los Angeles. The Lakers were coached by Frank Vogel in his first year as team head coach. The team played its home games at Staples Center as members of the Western Conference's Pacific Division.
The team dedicated the season to retired Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. On March 6, 2020, the Lakers clinched their first playoff berth since the 2012–13 season. Five days later, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the season was suspended. On July 5, the NBA announced a return of the season in the NBA Bubble, with 22 teams playing eight seeding games followed by a full postseason. Play resumed on July 30, with all games being played in Orlando, Florida. On August 3, the Lakers clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since the 2009–10 season.
The Lakers finished the shortened season 52–19, with a winning percentage roughly equivalent to 60 wins in a full season. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets to advance to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Miami Heat (LeBron James' former team) in six games to earn the franchise's 17th NBA championship. The Lakers also became the first and only team in NBA history to be undefeated in a season when leading entering the fourth quarter, going a combined 57–0 record in the regular season and playoffs.
Previous season In the 2018–19 season the Lakers amassed a record of 37–45. The team finished in fourth place in the Pacific Division and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. The season marked the first time since 2005 that Lakers star LeBron James did not appear in the playoffs and first time since 2010 that he missed the Finals.
Offseason
Front office and coaching changes On April 9, 2019, Magic Johnson stepped down as president of basketball operations. Three days after that, coach Luke Walton and the team agreed to part ways. On May 13, the team hired Frank Vogel as their new head coach and Jason Kidd was named an assistant coach.
Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School / Club team14De'Andre HunterSFAmericanVirginia The Lakers held one first-round draft pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Lakers initially held the rights to two second-round picks in the 2019 draft as well, but later traded those picks to the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks, respectively. On the night of the NBA draft lottery, the Lakers received the fourth overall pick in the draft; the team had been projected to receive the 11th overall pick. The Lakers used the fourth overall draft pick to select De'Andre Hunter; the team later sent the rights to Hunter to the New Orleans Pelicans in a trade that brought Anthony Davis to Los Angeles.
Trades On June 15, 2019, the Lakers agreed to acquire six-time NBA All-Star power forward Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans. (The deal did not take full effect until July 6). In exchange for Davis, the Lakers gave up forward Brandon Ingram, guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, and three first-round picks (including De'Andre Hunter, the No. 4 draft overall selection in 2019). On June 27, the Washington Wizards joined the trade, obtaining Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, Jemerrio Jones, and a 2022 second-round pick from the Lakers in exchange for cash considerations.
Free agents During the offseason, the Lakers re-signed guard Rajon Rondo, guard Alex Caruso, guard/forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and center JaVale McGee. The Lakers also signed several veteran free agents to complement James and Davis; those veteran free agents included guard/forward Danny Green, guard Avery Bradley, and center Dwight Howard.
Preseason Game log
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | October 5 | @ Golden State | | Anthony Davis (22) | JaVale McGee (13) | LeBron James (8) | Chase Center 18,064 | 1–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | October 10 | Brooklyn | | LeBron James (20) | JaVale McGee (10) | Alex Caruso (8) | Mercedes-Benz Arena15,992 | 1–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | October 12 | Brooklyn | | Avery Bradley (14) | Howard, Caldwell-Pope (6) | Alex Caruso (5) | Universiade Sports Center17,396 | 1–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | October 14 | Golden State | | Zach Norvell Jr. (22) | Dwight Howard (13) | David Stockton (7) | Staples Center18,997 | 2–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | October 16 | Golden State | | James, Bradley (18) | Anthony Davis (10) | LeBron James (11) | Staples Center18,997 | 3–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | October 18 | @ Golden State | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (25) | Devontae Cacok (10) | Demetrius Jackson (9) | Chase Center18,064 | 3–3
Regular season
Standings Division
Conference
Game log
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 22 | @ L. A. Clippers | | Danny Green (28) | Anthony Davis (10) | LeBron James (8) | Staples Center19,068 | 0–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | October 25 | Utah | | LeBron James (32) | James, Davis, Howard (7) | LeBron James (10) | Staples Center18,997 | 1–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | October 27 | Charlotte | | Anthony Davis (29) | Anthony Davis (14) | LeBron James (12) | Staples Center18,997 | 2–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | October 29 | Memphis | | Anthony Davis (40) | Anthony Davis (20) | LeBron James (8) | Staples Center18,997 | 3–1
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | November 1 | @ Dallas | | LeBron James (39) | LeBron James (12) | LeBron James (16) | American Airlines Center20,358 | 4–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | November 3 | @ San Antonio | | Anthony Davis (25) | Dwight Howard (13) | LeBron James (13) | AT&T Center18,610 | 5–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | November 5 | @ Chicago | | LeBron James (30) | LeBron James (10) | LeBron James (11) | United Center21,193 | 6–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 8 | Miami | | Anthony Davis (26) | JaVale McGee (10) | Anthony Davis (7) | Staples Center18,997 | 7–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | November 10 | Toronto | | Anthony Davis (27) | LeBron James (13) | LeBron James (15) | Staples Center18,997 | 7–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | November 12 | @ Phoenix | | Anthony Davis (24) | Anthony Davis (12) | LeBron James (11) | Talking Stick Resort Arena18,055 | 8–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | November 13 | Golden State | | LeBron James (23) | JaVale McGee (17) | LeBron James (12) | Staples Center18,997 | 9–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | November 15 | Sacramento | | LeBron James (29) | Howard, McGee (7) | LeBron James (11) | Staples Center18,997 | 10–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | November 17 | Atlanta | | LeBron James (33) | Dwight Howard (9) | LeBron James (12) | Staples Center18,997 | 11–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | November 19 | Oklahoma City | | Anthony Davis (34) | LeBron James (11) | James, Rondo (10) | Staples Center18,997 | 12–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 | November 22 | @ Oklahoma City | | Anthony Davis (33) | Anthony Davis (11) | LeBron James (14) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 13–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | November 23 | @ Memphis | | LeBron James (30) | Dwight Howard (9) | Rajon Rondo (6) | FedExForum17,794 | 14–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | November 25 | @ San Antonio | | LeBron James (33) | Anthony Davis (12) | LeBron James (14) | AT&T Center18,498 | 15–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | November 27 | @ New Orleans | | Anthony Davis (41) | Anthony Davis (9) | LeBron James (11) | Smoothie King Center18,626 | 16–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 | November 29 | Washington | | Anthony Davis (26) | Anthony Davis (13) | LeBron James (11) | Staples Center18,997 | 17–2
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | December 1 | Dallas | | Anthony Davis (27) | Davis, McGee (10) | LeBron James (8) | Staples Center18,997 | 17–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 | December 3 | @ Denver | | Davis, James (25) | Anthony Davis (10) | LeBron James (9) | Pepsi Center19,658 | 18–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | December 4 | @ Utah | | Anthony Davis (26) | Howard, Rondo (9) | James, Rondo (12) | Vivint Smart Home Arena18,306 | 19–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 | December 6 | @ Portland | | Anthony Davis (39) | Dwight Howard (10) | LeBron James (8) | Moda Center19,912 | 20–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 | December 8 | Minnesota | | Anthony Davis (50) | Danny Green (8) | LeBron James (13) | Staples Center18,997 | 21–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 | December 11 | @ Orlando | | LeBron James (25) | Anthony Davis (12) | LeBron James (10) | Amway Center18,846 | 22–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 | December 13 | @ Miami | | Anthony Davis (33) | Davis, McGee (10) | LeBron James (12) | American Airlines Arena20,013 | 23–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | December 15 | @ Atlanta | | LeBron James (32) | Davis, James (13) | LeBron James (7) | State Farm Arena16,962 | 24–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 28 | December 17 | @ Indiana | | Howard, James (20) | LeBron James (9) | LeBron James (9) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse17,923 | 24–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 29 | December 19 | @ Milwaukee | | Anthony Davis (36) | LeBron James (12) | LeBron James (11) | Fiserv Forum18,051 | 24–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | December 22 | Denver | | Anthony Davis (32) | Anthony Davis (11) | Rajon Rondo (8) | Staples Center18,997 | 24–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | December 25 | L. A. Clippers | | Kyle Kuzma (25) | Howard, James (9) | LeBron James (10) | Staples Center18,997 | 24–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | December 28 | @ Portland | | Kyle Kuzma (24) | Anthony Davis (9) | LeBron James (16) | Moda Center19,960 | 25–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | December 29 | Dallas | | Anthony Davis (23) | Anthony Davis (9) | LeBron James (13) | Staples Center18,997 | 26–7
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | January 1 | Phoenix | | LeBron James (31) | LeBron James (13) | LeBron James (12) | Staples Center18,997 | 27–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 | January 3 | New Orleans | | Anthony Davis (46) | Anthony Davis (13) | LeBron James (15) | Staples Center18,997 | 28–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | January 5 | Detroit | | Anthony Davis (24) | LeBron James (14) | LeBron James (11) | Staples Center18,997 | 29–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | January 7 | New York | | LeBron James (31) | Dwight Howard (13) | Rajon Rondo (10) | Staples Center18,997 | 30–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | January 10 | @ Dallas | | LeBron James (35) | LeBron James (16) | LeBron James (7) | American Airlines Center20,542 | 31–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 39 | January 11 | @ Oklahoma City | | Kyle Kuzma (36) | Dwight Howard (14) | Rajon Rondo (8) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 32–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 | January 13 | Cleveland | | LeBron James (31) | Dwight Howard (15) | LeBron James (8) | Staples Center18,997 | 33–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 41 | January 15 | Orlando | | Quinn Cook (22) | Dwight Howard (16) | LeBron James (19) | Staples Center18,997 | 33–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 42 | January 18 | @ Houston | | LeBron James (31) | Dwight Howard (10) | LeBron James (12) | Toyota Center18,502 | 34–8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 43 | January 20 | @ Boston | | JaVale McGee (18) | Dwight Howard (10) | LeBron James (13) | TD Garden19,156 | 34–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 22 | @ New York | | Anthony Davis (28) | Dwight Howard (12) | Davis, James (5) | Madison Square Garden19,812 | 35–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | January 23 | @ Brooklyn | | LeBron James (27) | Howard, James (12) | James, Rondo (10) | Barclays Center17,732 | 36–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 | January 25 | @ Philadelphia | | Anthony Davis (31) | Davis, James (7) | LeBron James (8) | Wells Fargo Center21,109 | 36–10 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — | January 28 | LA Clippers