| Team: | Los Angeles Lakers |
| End Year: | 1969 |
| Divisionwin: | yes |
| Wins: | 55 |
| Losses: | 27 |
| Division: | Western |
| Division Place: | 1 |
| Coach: | Butch van Breda Kolff |
| Gm: | Fred Schaus |
| Owner: | Jack Kent Cooke |
| Arena: | The Forum |
| Playoffs: | NBA Finals (lost to Celtics 3–4) |
| Bbr Team: | LAL |
| Television: | KTLA |
| Radio: | KNX |
The 1968–69 NBA season was the Lakers' 21st season in the NBA and ninth season in Los Angeles. This season saw the Lakers acquire Wilt Chamberlain from the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade that sent Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark, and Darrall Imhoff to the 76ers. The team also lost future star Gail Goodrich to the Phoenix Suns via expansion draft.
The Lakers would make it to the NBA Finals, but would lose to the Boston Celtics in seven games despite being the heavy favorites. This marked the Lakers' seventh consecutive defeat to the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Jerry West, who averaged nearly 38 points per game in the Finals, became the inaugural recipient of the Finals Most Valuable Player award. To date he is the only player in NBA history to win the award as a member of the losing team.
| 1968-69 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | CHI | CIN | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | SDR | SFW | SEA |
| Atlanta | – | 2–4 | 3–3 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 4–2 | |
| Baltimore | 4–2 | – | 5–2 | 6–0 | 4–3 | 7–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | |
| Boston | 3–3 | 2–5 | – | 4–2 | 5–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–6 | 5–2 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | |
| Chicago | 1–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | – | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 4–3 | |
| Cincinnati | 2–4 | 3–4 | 2–5 | 5–1 | – | 3–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | |
| Detroit | 0–6 | 0–7 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–3 | – | 3–3 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | |
| Los Angeles | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 6–0 | 7–0 | 4–3 | 5–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | – | 0–6 | 0–6 | 6–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–5 | |
| New York | 4–2 | 4–3 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 6–0 | – | 4–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | |
| Philadelphia | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 3–4 | – | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 6–0 | |
| Phoenix | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–6 | 1–5 | 1–5 | – | 1–7 | 2–4 | 3–3 | |
| San Diego | 4–3 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 0–7 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 7–1 | – | 3–3 | 3–3 | |
| San Francisco | 3–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 4–3 | |
| Seattle | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 5–3 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–4 | — | |
| 1968–69 game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 18 | 96–114 | Elgin Baylor (36) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 19 | 118–96 | Wilt Chamberlain (29) | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 22 | 103–107 | Elgin Baylor (35) | 1–2 | ||
| 4 | October 23 | 110–117 | Elgin Baylor (31) | 1–3 | ||
| 5 | October 25 | 111–117 | Jerry West (34) | 2–3 | ||
| 6 | October 27 | 116–152 | Elgin Baylor (32) | 3–3 | ||
| 7 | October 29 | 124–125 | Elgin Baylor (28) | 4–3 | ||
| 8 | November 1 | 114–101 | Wilt Chamberlain (29) | 4–4 | ||
| 9 | November 3 | 127–109 | Elgin Baylor (40) | 5–4 | ||
| 10 | November 5 | @ Chicago | 112–109 (OT) | Elgin Baylor (31) | 6–4 | |
| 11 | November 6 | 115–128 | Elgin Baylor (33) | 7–4 | ||
| 12 | November 8 | New York | 100–102 | Jerry West (29) | 8–4 | |
| 13 | November 10 | New York | 109–130 | Elgin Baylor (26) | 9–4 | |
| 14 | November 15 | San Diego | 119–127 | Jerry West (34) | 10–4 | |
| 15 | November 16 | 119–112 | Jerry West (37) | 11–4 | ||
| 16 | November 17 | 94–105 | Elgin Baylor (26) | 12–4 | ||
| 17 | November 19 | 106–116 | Elgin Baylor (30) | 13–4 | ||
| 18 | November 22 | San Francisco | 100–98 | Jerry West (23) | 13–5 | |
| 19 | November 24 | Chicago | 100–103 | Elgin Baylor (35) | 14–5 | |
| 20 | November 26 | @ New York | 100–104 | Wilt Chamberlain (23) | 14–6 | |
| 21 | November 28 | @ Philadelphia | 107–122 | Elgin Baylor (32) | 14–7 | |
| 22 | November 29 | @ Boston | 93–92 | Elgin Baylor (19) | 15–7 | |
| 23 | December 1 | Milwaukee | 112–119 | Elgin Baylor (34) | 16–7 | |
| 24 | December 3 | Phoenix | 108–122 | Wilt Chamberlain (35) | 17–7 | |
| 25 | December 5 | @ Baltimore | 90–108 | Jerry West (20) | 17–8 | |
| 26 | December 6 | @ Atlanta | 99–94 | Elgin Baylor (30) | 18–8 | |
| 27 | December 7 | @ Chicago | 81–90 | Jerry West (27) | 18–9 | |
| 28 | December 8 | San Diego | 118–132 | Wilt Chamberlain (35) | 19–9 | |
| 29 | December 13 | Atlanta | 105–103 | Elgin Baylor (25) | 19–10 | |
| 30 | December 14 | @ Seattle | 136–120 | Johnny Egan (26) | 20–10 | |
| 31 | December 15 | Seattle | 114–115 | Jerry West (28) | 21–10 | |
| 32 | December 17 | Cincinnati | 108–112 | Jerry West (36) | 22–10 | |
| 33 | December 20 | San Francisco | 101–133 | Elgin Baylor (25) | 23–10 | |
| 34 | December 22 | Philadelphia | 99–102 | Jerry West (27) | 24–10 | |
| 35 | December 25 | @ Phoenix | 119–99 | Jerry West (26) | 25–10 | |
| 36 | December 26 | @ Detroit | 95–94 | Jerry West (29) | 26–10 | |
| 37 | December 28 | @ Chicago | 86–93 | Jerry West (27) | 26–11 | |
| 38 | December 29 | Detroit | 108–111 | Jerry West (34) | 27–11 | |
| 39 | December 30 | @ San Diego | 131–126 (OT) | Jerry West (40) | 28–11 | |
| 40 | December 31 | Detroit | 127–107 | Jerry West (29) | 28–12 | |
| 41 | January 3 | @ Philadelphia | 101–130 | Keith Erickson (20) | 28–13 | |
| 42 | January 4 | @ Atlanta | 121–111 | Keith Erickson (30) | 29–13 | |
| 43 | January 7 | @ Baltimore | 100–93 | Elgin Baylor (30) | 30–13 | |
| 44 | January 10 | @ Boston | 82–88 | Elgin Baylor (21) | 30–14 | |
| 45 | January 11 | @ Atlanta | 100–104 | Elgin Baylor (25) | 30–15 | |
| 46 | January 17 | Cincinnati | 107–128 | Chamberlain, West (27) | 31–15 | |
| 47 | January 19 | Cincinnati | 117–132 | Elgin Baylor (34) | 32–15 | |
| 48 | January 21 | @ Milwaukee | 122–105 | Jerry West (44) | 33–15 | |
| 49 | January 22 | @ Detroit | 115–116 | Jerry West (28) | 33–16 | |
| 50 | January 24 | @ Atlanta | 106–110 | Elgin Baylor (34) | 33–17 | |
| 51 | January 26 | N Cincinnati | 126–113 | Wilt Chamberlain (60) | 34–17 | |
| 52 | January 28 | Chicago | 118–125 | Jerry West (28) | 35–17 | |
| 53 | January 29 | @ San Diego | 122–120 | Wilt Chamberlain (30) | 36–17 | |
| 54 | January 31 | Milwaukee | 104–105 | Elgin Baylor (33) | 37–17 | |
| 55 | February 1 | @ San Francisco | 106–101 (OT) | Elgin Baylor (34) | 38–17 | |
| 56 | February 2 | San Francisco | 122–117 (3OT) | Mel Counts (31) | 38–18 | |
| 57 | February 3 | @ Seattle | 107–114 | Wilt Chamberlain (33) | 38–19 | |
| 58 | February 7 | Philadelphia | 109–106 | Jerry West (34) | 38–20 | |
| 59 | February 8 | @ Phoenix | 122–104 | Elgin Baylor (30) | 39–20 | |
| 60 | February 9 | Phoenix | 116–134 | Wilt Chamberlain (66) | 40–20 | |
| 61 | February 12 | @ Seattle | 109–92 | Wilt Chamberlain (32) | 41–20 | |
| 62 | February 14 | San Diego | 109–115 | Johnny Egan (28) | 42–20 | |
| 63 | February 16 | @ Milwaukee | 97–106 | Wilt Chamberlain (29) | 42–21 | |
| 64 | February 18 | @ New York | 113–109 | Wilt Chamberlain (31) | 43–21 | |
| 65 | February 19 | @ Baltimore | 88–110 | Wilt Chamberlain (26) | 43–22 | |
| 66 | February 21 | Boston | 124–102 | Wilt Chammberlain (35) | 43–23 | |
| 67 | February 23 | Philadelphia | 125–121 | Wilt Chamberlain (36) | 43–24 | |
| 68 | February 25 | Seattle | 111–114 (OT) | Mel Counts (23) | 44–24 | |
| 69 | February 28 | Phoenix | 117–121 | Elgin Baylor (31) | 45–24 | |
| 70 | March 1 | @ San Diego | 119–113 | Elgin Baylor (37) | 46–24 | |
| 71 | March 2 | San Francisco | 92–107 | Jerry West (20) | 47–24 | |
| 72 | March 4 | Baltimore | 116–108 | Jerry West (29) | 47–25 | |
| 73 | March 7 | Boston | 99–105 (OT) | Elgin Baylor (34) | 48–25 | |
| 74 | March 9 | Baltimore | 109–120 | Jerry West (34) | 49–25 | |
| 75 | March 11 | Detroit | 101–137 | Wilt Chamberlain (34) | 50–25 | |
| 76 | March 12 | @ San Francisco | 85–97 | Jerry West (28) | 50–26 | |
| 77 | March 14 | Milwaukee | 103–111 | Jerry West (23) | 51–26 | |
| 78 | March 16 | @ Boston | 108–73 | Bill Hewitt (19) | 52–26 | |
| 79 | March 18 | @ Chicago | 93–92 | Jerry West (28) | 53–26 | |
| 80 | March 19 | @ Cincinnati | 128–136 (OT) | Baylor, West (28) | 53–27 | |
| 81 | March 21 | Atlanta | 103–116 | Elgin Baylor (21) | 54–27 | |
| 82 | March 23 | New York | 111–128 | Jerry West (34) | 55–27 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| March 26| San Francisco| L 94–99| Jerry West (36)| Wilt Chamberlain (30)| Jerry West (7)| The Forum
10,697| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| March 28| San Francisco| L 101–107| Jerry West (36)| Wilt Chamberlain (17)| Jerry West (11)| The Forum
15,119| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| March 31| @ San Francisco| W 115–98| Jerry West (25)| Wilt Chamberlain (28)| Jerry West (9)| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13,221| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 2| @ San Francisco| W 103–88| Jerry West (36)| Wilt Chamberlain (14)| Jerry West (5)| Cow Palace
14,812| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 4| San Francisco| W 103–98| Jerry West (29)| Wilt Chamberlain (27)| Jerry West (13)| The Forum
17,309| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 5| @ San Francisco| W 118–78| Jerry West (29)| Wilt Chamberlain (25)| Jerry West (8)| Cow Palace
8,924| 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 11| @ Atlanta| W 95–93| Jerry West (25)| Wilt Chamberlain (29)| Baylor, Egan (6)| The Forum
16,190| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 13| Atlanta| W 104–102| Wilt Chamberlain (23)| Wilt Chamberlain (29)| Johnny Egan (11)| The Forum
15,136| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 15| @ Atlanta| L 86–99| Johnny Egan (19)| Wilt Chamberlain (22)| West, Baylor (4)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,140| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 17| @ Atlanta| W 100–85| Wilt Chamberlain (25)| Wilt Chamberlain (19)| Jerry West (5)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,140| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 20| Atlanta| W 104–96| Elgin Baylor (29)| Wilt Chamberlain (29)| Elgin Baylor (12)| The Forum
16,273| 4–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 23| Boston| W 120–118| Jerry West (53)| Wilt Chamberlain (23)| Jerry West (10)| The Forum
17,554| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 25| Boston| W 118–112| Jerry West (41)| Wilt Chamberlain (19)| Egan, West (8)| The Forum
17,559| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 27| @ Boston| L 105–111| Jerry West (24)| Wilt Chamberlain (26)| Jerry West (6)| Boston Garden
14,037| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 29| @ Boston| L 88–89| Jerry West (40)| Wilt Chamberlain (31)| West, Baylor (4)| Boston Garden
15,128| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 1| Boston| W 117–104| Jerry West (39)| Wilt Chamberlain (31)| Jerry West (9)| The Forum
17,553| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| May 3| @ Boston| L 90–99| West, Baylor (26)| Wilt Chamberlain (18)| Wilt Chamberlain (4)| Boston Garden
15,128| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| May 5| Boston| L 106–108| Jerry West (42)| Wilt Chamberlain (27)| Jerry West (12)| The Forum
17,568| 3–4|-