| Team: | Los Angeles Lakers |
| End Year: | 1970 |
| Wins: | 46 |
| Losses: | 36 |
| Division: | Western |
| Division Place: | 2 |
| Coach: | Joe Mullaney |
| Arena: | The Forum |
| Playoffs: | NBA Finals (lost to Knicks 3–4) |
| Bbr Team: | LAL |
The 1969–70 NBA season was the Lakers' 22nd season in the NBA and tenth season in Los Angeles.[1]
After the tumultuous previous two seasons under the fiery head coach Butch Van Breda Kolff, the Lakers replaced him with the low key Joe Mullaney.
See main article: article and 1969 NBA draft.
After barely losing the NBA title the previous season, the veteran Lakers had high hopes coming into the 1969–70 season. However, 9 games into the season, Wilt Chamberlain suffered a severe knee injury and it was thought he would miss the next 10–12 months. Elgin Baylor also missed 28 games due to injury, and Jerry West missed 8. They traded Bill Hewitt for double-double machine Happy Hairston midway through the season. 1st round draft pick Willie McCarter also missed almost the entire season. But the Lakers received key contributions from rookies Rick Roberson and Dick Garrett, and managed to battle the Atlanta Hawks for 1st place in the Western Division for most of the season. Chamberlain returned for the final few games, and while the Lakersfinished 2nd in the division to Atlanta by 2 games, they were at full strength for the playoffs.
x – clinched playoff spot
| 1969–70 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | CHI | CIN | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | SDR | SFW | SEA |
| Atlanta | – | 2–4 | 6–0 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 5–2 | 4–2 | |
| Baltimore | 4–2 | – | 5–2 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 5–1 | |
| Boston | 0–6 | 2–5 | – | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 1–6 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | |
| Chicago | 2–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 4–3 | |
| Cincinnati | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | – | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2–5 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | – | 3–3 | 1–6 | 1–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | |
| Los Angeles | 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 5–2 | 6–0 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–1 | 2–4 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 3–3 | – | 2–4 | 5–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | |
| New York | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 6–0 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | – | 5–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 2–5 | – | 4–2 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–6 | |
| Phoenix | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | – | 7–0 | 3–3 | 4–3 | |
| San Diego | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–7 | – | 5–2 | 4–2 | |
| San Francisco | 2–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–5 | – | 3–4 | |
| Seattle | 2–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–3 | — | |
| 1969–70 game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 17 | 126–131 | Jerry West (39) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 18 | 96–99 | Jerry West (42) | 0–2 | ||
| 3 | October 21 | 142–137 (OT) | Jerry West (39) | 1–2 | ||
| 4 | October 22 | 116–109 | Wilt Chamberlain (43) | 2–2 | ||
| 5 | October 24 | 112–123 | Elgin Baylor (26) | 3–2 | ||
| 6 | October 25 | 130–106 | Wilt Chamberlain (42) | 4–2 | ||
| 7 | October 26 | 125–129 | Wilt Chamberlain (37) | 5–2 | ||
| 8 | November 2 | Cincinnati | 124–116 | Jerry West (27) | 5–3 | |
| 9 | November 7 | 122–120 | Wilt Chamberlain (33) | 5–4 | ||
| 10 | November 9 | New York | 112–102 | Jerry West (28) | 5–5 | |
| 11 | November 11 | 110–102 | Jerry West (24) | 5–6 | ||
| 12 | November 14 | Phoenix | 112–127 | Elgin Baylor (31) | 6–6 | |
| 13 | November 15 | @ Phoenix | 111–114 | Elgin Baylor (30) | 6–7 | |
| 14 | November 16 | Philadelphia | 125–138 | Jerry West (45) | 7–7 | |
| 15 | November 18 | @ Detroit | 125–114 (OT) | Elgin Baylor (32) | 8–7 | |
| 16 | November 19 | @ Cincinnati | 116–103 | Jerry West (32) | 9–7 | |
| 17 | November 21 | 98–100 | Jerry West (37) | 10–7 | ||
| 18 | November 22 | 106–98 | Jerry West (40) | 11–7 | ||
| 19 | November 23 | Baltimore | 129–97 | Jerry West (38) | 11–8 | |
| 20 | November 25 | @ New York | 96–103 | Jerry West (41) | 11–9 | |
| 21 | November 26 | @ Milwaukee | 81–100 | Mel Counts (31) | 11–10 | |
| 22 | November 28 | San Francisco | 114–108 | Jerry West (43) | 11–11 | |
| 23 | November 30 | Chicago | 116–114 (OT) | Jerry West (38) | 11–12 | |
| 24 | December 4 | @ Phoenix | 109–119 | Happy Hairston (25) | 11–13 | |
| 25 | December 5 | Detroit | 109–128 | Jerry West (26) | 12–13 | |
| 26 | December 6 | @ San Diego | 128–115 | Jerry West (30) | 13–13 | |
| 27 | December 7 | 104–103 | Elgin Baylor (36) | 13–14 | ||
| 28 | December 9 | @ Philadelphia | 99–123 | Willie McCarter (21) | 13–15 | |
| 29 | December 10 | 99–111 | Elgin Baylor (29) | 13–16 | ||
| 30 | December 12 | @ Atlanta | 107–121 | Elgin Baylor (26) | 13–17 | |
| 31 | December 14 | Seattle | 127–131 | Elgin Baylor (37) | 14–17 | |
| 32 | December 19 | Cincinnati | 117–109 | Jerry West (30) | 14–18 | |
| 33 | December 21 | Philadelphia | 117–133 | Jerry West (33) | 15–18 | |
| 34 | December 23 | @ San Diego | 109–115 | Jerry West (30) | 15–19 | |
| 35 | December 26 | New York | 106–114 | Jerry West (40) | 16–19 | |
| 36 | December 28 | Boston | 99–109 | Jerry West (34) | 17–19 | |
| 37 | December 30 | @ San Francisco | 100–105 | Jerry West (34) | 17–20 | |
| 38 | January 2 | San Francisco | 95–125 | Jerry West (32) | 18–20 | |
| 39 | January 3 | @ Seattle | 126–109 | Jerry West (45) | 19–20 | |
| 40 | January 4 | Phoenix | 112–120 | Jerry West (35) | 20–20 | |
| 41 | January 6 | N Chicago | 100–105 | Jerry West (37) | 20–21 | |
| 42 | January 9 | @ Atlanta | 127–112 | Jerry West (26) | 21–21 | |
| 43 | January 10 | @ Chicago | 112–116 (OT) | Jerry West (36) | 21–22 | |
| 44 | January 14 | @ Milwaukee | 113–115 | Jerry West (34) | 21–23 | |
| 45 | January 16 | @ Boston | 108–103 | Jerry West (23) | 22–23 | |
| 46 | January 18 | @ Detroit | 100–106 | Jerry West (30) | 22–24 | |
| 47 | January 22 | N San Francisco | 108–122 | Jerry West (40) | 23–24 | |
| 48 | January 23 | Seattle | 100–128 | Happy Hairston (34) | 24–24 | |
| 49 | January 24 | @ Seattle | 122–121 (OT) | Jerry West (39) | 25–24 | |
| 50 | January 25 | Phoenix | 106–118 | Jerry West (38) | 26–24 | |
| 51 | January 27 | San Diego | 109–124 | Jerry West (41) | 27–24 | |
| 52 | January 28 | @ San Diego | 113–108 | Jerry West (36) | 28–24 | |
| 53 | January 30 | Atlanta | 87–102 | Keith Erickson (23) | 29–24 | |
| 54 | February 1 | @ Philadelphia | 113–112 | Elgin Baylor (33) | 30–24 | |
| 55 | February 3 | N Cincinnati | 124–114 | Jerry West (38) | 31–24 | |
| 56 | February 4 | @ Detroit | 109–125 | Happy Hairston (31) | 31–25 | |
| 57 | February 6 | Milwaukee | 118–105 | Elgin Baylor (27) | 31–26 | |
| 58 | February 7 | @ Phoenix | 117–121 (OT) | Elgin Baylor (41) | 31–27 | |
| 59 | February 8 | San Diego | 113–125 | Jerry West (34) | 32–27 | |
| 60 | February 10 | Baltimore | 111–106 | Jerry West (29) | 32–28 | |
| 61 | February 11 | @ San Francisco | 125–115 | Baylor, West (43) | 33–28 | |
| 62 | February 12 | Atlanta | 114–136 | Jerry West (42) | 34–28 | |
| 63 | February 14 | @ Chicago | 113–116 | Elgin Baylor (34) | 34–29 | |
| 64 | February 15 | @ Milwaukee | 98–96 | Jerry West (28) | 35–29 | |
| 65 | February 17 | @ New York | 93–114 | Elgin Baylor (18) | 35–30 | |
| 66 | February 18 | @ Baltimore | 103–117 | Jerry West (25) | 35–31 | |
| 67 | February 20 | Milwaukee | 114–119 | Jerry West (37) | 36–31 | |
| 68 | February 21 | @ San Diego | 106–121 | Happy Hairston (30) | 36–32 | |
| 69 | February 22 | Boston | 96–108 | Elgin Baylor (39) | 37–32 | |
| 70 | February 24 | Atlanta | 118–106 | Happy Hairston (24) | 37–33 | |
| 71 | February 27 | Chicago | 101–111 | Elgin Baylor (42) | 38–33 | |
| 72 | March 1 | @ Boston | 120–114 | Jerry West (33) | 39–33 | |
| 73 | March 3 | @ Atlanta | 93–101 | Elgin Baylor (21) | 39–34 | |
| 74 | March 4 | @ Baltimore | 94–91 | Jerry West (32) | 40–34 | |
| 75 | March 6 | Baltimore | 105–100 | Jerry West (35) | 40–35 | |
| 76 | March 8 | Cincinnati | 116–144 | Jerry West (31) | 41–35 | |
| 77 | March 10 | San Francisco | 104–106 | Jerry West (42) | 42–35 | |
| 78 | March 13 | Philadelphia | 117–128 | Jerry West (43) | 43–35 | |
| 79 | March 15 | New York | 101–106 | Jerry West (38) | 44–35 | |
| 80 | March 18 | Boston | 137–122 | Jerry West (36) | 44–36 | |
| 81 | March 20 | Detroit | 111–117 | Jerry West (34) | 45–36 | |
| 82 | March 22 | Seattle | 118–121 | Wilt Chamberlain (21) | 46–36 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 25| Phoenix| W 128–112| Elgin Baylor (32)| Wilt Chamberlain (19)| Elgin Baylor (10)| The Forum
15,046| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| March 29| Phoenix| L 101–114| Jerry West (33)| Wilt Chamberlain (25)| Jerry West (11)| The Forum
17,501| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 2| @ Phoenix| L 98–112| Jerry West (31)| Wilt Chamberlain (12)| Chamberlain, West (7)| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,324| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 4| @ Phoenix| L 102–112| Wilt Chamberlain (29)| Wilt Chamberlain (19)| Keith Erickson (6)| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,356| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 5| Phoenix| W 138–121| Chamberlain, West (36)| Mel Counts (17)| Jerry West (18)| The Forum
17,475| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 7| @ Phoenix| W 104–93| Jerry West (35)| Wilt Chamberlain (26)| Wilt Chamberlain (11)| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,386| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| April 9| Phoenix| W 129–94| Wilt Chamberlain (30)| Wilt Chamberlain (27)| Jerry West (15)| The Forum
17,519| 4–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 12| @ Atlanta| W 119–115| Jerry West (38)| Wilt Chamberlain (17)| Wilt Chamberlain (8)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,197| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 14| @ Atlanta| W 105–94| Chamberlain, West (24)| Wilt Chamberlain (24)| Keith Erickson (7)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,197| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 17| Atlanta| W 115–114 (OT)| Jerry West (35)| Wilt Chamberlain (26)| Jerry West (13)| The Forum
17,183| 3–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 19| Atlanta| W 133–114| Jerry West (39)| Wilt Chamberlain (21)| Jerry West (12)| The Forum
17,410| 4–0|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 24| @ New York| L 112–124| Jerry West (33)| Wilt Chamberlain (24)| Wilt Chamberlain (5)| Madison Square Garden
19,500| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 27| @ New York| W 105–103| Jerry West (34)| Wilt Chamberlain (24)| Garrett, Erickson (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,500| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 29| New York| L 108–111 (OT)| Jerry West (34)| Wilt Chamberlain (26)| Elgin Baylor (11)| The Forum
17,500| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 1| New York| W 121–115 (OT)| Jerry West (37)| Wilt Chamberlain (25)| Jerry West (18)| The Forum
17,509| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| May 4| @ New York| L 100–107| Wilt Chamberlain (22)| Wilt Chamberlain (19)| Keith Erickson (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,500| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| May 6| New York| W 135–113| Wilt Chamberlain (45)| Wilt Chamberlain (27)| Jerry West (13)| The Forum
17,509| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| May 8| @ New York| L 99–113| Jerry West (28)| Wilt Chamberlain (24)| Keith Erickson (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,500| 3–4|-