1995–96 Los Angeles Lakers season explained

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Lakers' 48th season in the National Basketball Association, and 36th in the city of Los Angeles.^[1] It was also the highlight of retired All-Star guard and Lakers legend Magic Johnson making a comeback.^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]} During the off-season, the team signed free agents Corie Blount and Derek Strong.^{[7] [8]} The Lakers got off to a slow start losing three of their first four games, but soon recovered holding a 24–18 record before Johnson's arrival on January 30, 1996, in a 128–118 home victory over the Golden State Warriors; Magic had 19 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 steals in 27 minutes off the bench.^{[9] [6] [10] [11] [12]} The Lakers won ten of their twelve games in February, which included an 8-game winning streak, and held a 28–19 record at the All-Star break.^[13]

However, in March, after a game against the Seattle SuperSonics, scoring leader Cedric Ceballos missed the team's charter flight to Seattle without explanation, as the Lakers were scheduled to play the Sonics again; Ceballos went missing for a few days, but later on returned to the team, and was suspended without pay.^{[14] [15] [16] [17]} Their troubles continued as Nick Van Exel shoved a referee during a road game against the Denver Nuggets on April 9, and was suspended for the final seven games of the regular season.^{[18] [19] [20] [21]} Magic was also suspended for three games for bumping into a referee during a home game against the Phoenix Suns on April 14.^{[22] [23] [24] [25]} The Lakers finished second in the Pacific Division with a 53–29 record.^[26]

Ceballos averaged 21.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while Van Exel provided the team with 14.9 points and 6.9 assists per game, and Johnson played a sixth man role moving into the power forward position,^{[27] [28]} averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game off the bench in 32 games, starting in just nine of them. He also reached a milestone by passing his 10,000 career assist in a 102–89 road win over the Sacramento Kings on March 7, 1996,^{[29] [30] [31]} and finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.^{[32] [33]} In addition, Elden Campbell averaged 13.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, while Vlade Divac provided with 12.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, and second-year guard Eddie Jones contributed 12.8 points and 1.8 steals per game. Off the bench, Anthony Peeler contributed 9.7 points per game, and Sedale Threatt provided with 7.3 points and 3.3 assists per game.^[34]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Lakers lost to the 5th-seeded, and 2-time defending champion Houston Rockets in four games;^{[35] [36] [37] [38]} after the defeat, Magic decided to retire for the second time and for good.^{[39] [40] [41] [42] [43]} Following the season, Divac was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for 1996 NBA draftee, and high school basketball star Kobe Bryant,^{[44] [45] [46] [47] [48]} while Peeler and George Lynch were both dealt to the Vancouver Grizzlies,^{[49] [50] [51]} Strong signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic,^{[52] [53]} and Threatt was released to free agency.

NBA draft

See main article: 1995 NBA draft.

Regular season

Magic's Comeback

In the 1995–96 NBA season, Johnson made a short-lived second comeback as a player from January 1996 to May 1996. In this time, he had bulked up from his self-reported weight of 235 lb in 1992,^[54] to 255 lb in order to play power forward, a much more physical position than his usual point guard role. At age 36, Johnson played the last 32 games of the season, averaging 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. The Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, and Johnson retired for good. Johnson explained his comeback with the words: "I'm going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992."^[55]

Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	4–0	3–1	0–4	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	2–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–3
Boston	0–4	–	2–2	0–3	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–2	0–4	1–3	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–2
Charlotte	1–3	2–2	–	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–3	3–0	0–4	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1
Chicago	4–0	3–0	3–1	–	4–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0	3–0	3–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	4–0
Cleveland	1–3	3–1	1–3	0–4	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	1–2	3–1	1–2	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Dallas	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	–	2–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2
Denver	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1
Detroit	2–2	1–2	3–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	4–0	0–4	1–3	4–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–2
Golden State	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	0–2	–	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	–	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
Indiana	3–1	4–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	–	2–0	1–1	3–0	3–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	3–0
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	–	0–4	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	1–1	4–0	–	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
Miami	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	0–3	1–1	0–2	–	3–0	1–1	5–0	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–1	0–2	1–1	2–2
Milwaukee	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–3	–	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–3
Minnesota	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	–	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–2
New Jersey	0–4	2–2	3–0	0–3	2–1	1–1	2–0	0–4	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–5	3–1	1–1	–	2–2	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–2
New York	1–2	4–0	0–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–2	–	1–3	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	3–1
Orlando	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	–	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Philadelphia	1–2	0–4	1–3	0–4	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	–	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–3
Phoenix	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	–	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Portland	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	0–2	3–1	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	–	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–3	2–2	0–2
Sacramento	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	–	1–3	0–4	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	4–0	0–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	3–1	–	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1
Seattle	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	0–2	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	4–0	2–2	–	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1
Toronto	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	1–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	–	0–2	1–1	3–1
Utah	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	2–0	–	4–0	1–1
Vancouver	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	–	0–2
Washington	3–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	0–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	0–4	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	—

Game log

Regular Season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| November 3| Denver| W 98-96| Cedric Ceballos (26)| Vlade Divac (10)| Nick Van Exel (7)| Great Western Forum
16,345| 1-0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| November 4| @ Seattle| L 89-103| Elden Campbell (24)| Elden Campbell (14)| 3 players tied (2)| KeyArena
17,102| 1-1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| November 7| @ Minnesota| L 92-93| Cedric Ceballos (27)| 3 players tied (6)| Nick Van Exel (10)| Target Center
14,756| 1-2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| November 8| @ Utah| L 98-108| Cedric Ceballos (26)| Cedric Ceballos (10)| Nick Van Exel (7)| Delta Center
19,911| 1-3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| November 10| Seattle| W 100-97| Cedric Ceballos (32)| Cedric Ceballos (12)| Sedale Threatt (7)| Great Western Forum
15,542| 2-3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| November 11| @ Golden State| L 105-123| Cedric Ceballos (25)| Cedric Ceballos (15)| Nick Van Exel (6)| Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025| 2-4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 7| November 14| @ Sacramento| W 106-100| Cedric Ceballos (31)| Elden Campbell (12)| Sedale Threatt (8)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 3-4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8| November 15| Dallas| W 114-97| Cedric Ceballos (31)| Cedric Ceballos (13)| Nick Van Exel (12)| Great Western Forum
11,381| 4-4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 9| November 17| @ Vancouver| W 114-91| Nick Van Exel (25)| Cedric Ceballos (8)| Sedale Threatt (7)| General Motors Place
19,193| 5-4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 10| November 19| L.A. Clippers| W 109-88| Cedric Ceballos (25)| Cedric Ceballos (13)| Nick Van Exel (9)| Great Western Forum
15,617| 6-4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 11| November 21| Portland| L 108-109| Cedric Ceballos (38)| Vlade Divac (16)| Nick Van Exel (15)| Great Western Forum
10,836| 6-5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 12| November 24| Sacramento| L 98-99| Cedric Ceballos (23)| Cedric Ceballos (11)| Nick Van Exel (8)| Great Western Forum
16,343| 6-6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 13| November 25| @ Phoenix| L 113-114| Cedric Ceballos (34)| Elden Campbell (10)| Nick Van Exel (7)| American West Arena
19,023| 6-7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14| November 29| Phoenix| W 107-96| Cedric Ceballos (24)| 3 players tied (9)| 3 players tied (6)| Great Western Forum
13,484| 7-7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15| December 1| Vancouver| W 113-100| Cedric Ceballos (22)| Vlade Divac (13)| Nick Van Exel (16)| Great Western Forum
12,426| 8-7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16| December 3| Indiana| W 104-96| Nick Van Exel (26)| Elden Campbell (10)| Threatt & Van Exel (5)| Great Western Forum
14,223| 9-7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 17| December 5| @ San Antonio| L 89-117| Cedric Ceballos (16)| Cedric Ceballos (7)| 3 players tied (4)| Alamodome
14,551| 9-8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 18| December 6| @ Houston| L 99-112| Cedric Ceballos (27)| Cedric Ceballos (17)| Sedale Threatt (9)| The Summit
16,285| 9-9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 19| December 8| Toronto| W 120-103| Jones & Threatt (27)| Elden Campbell (12)| Eddie Jones (11)| Great Western Forum
12,982| 10-9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 20| December 10| Detroit| W 87-82| Cedric Ceballos (22)| Vlade Divac (13)| Divac & Van Exel (6)| Great Western Forum
16,176| 11-9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 21| December 12| @ New York| L 82-97| Cedric Ceballos (26)| Cedric Ceballos (9)| Nick Van Exel (9)| Madison Square Garden
19,763| 11-10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22| December 13| @ Detroit| W 101-98| Nick Van Exel (30)| Campbell & Ceballos (8)| Nick Van Exel (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
14,579| 12-10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 23| December 15| @ Washington| L 114-122| Cedric Ceballos (33)| Elden Campbell (8)| Nick Van Exel (9)| US Airways Arena
18,756| 12-11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 24| December 16| @ Chicago| L 88-108| Cedric Ceballos (27)| Cedric Ceballos (9)| Sedale Threatt (4)| United Center
23,824| 12-12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25| December 19| @ Milwaukee| W 109-105| Nick Van Exel (24)| Elden Campbell (9)| Nick Van Exel (7)| Bradley Center
14,488| 13-12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 26| December 20| @ Indiana| L 98-109| Nick Van Exel (20)| Vlade Divac (12)| Nick Van Exel (7)| Market Square Arena
15,870| 13-13|- style="background:#cfc;"| 27| December 22| Sacramento| W 116-83| Cedric Ceballos (27)| Elden Campbell (12)| Threatt & Van Exel (9)| Great Western Forum
16,189| 14-13|- style="background:#cfc;"| 28| December 23| @ Portland| W 102-99| Cedric Ceballos (24)| Cedric Ceballos (11)| Peeler & Threatt (5)| Rose Garden
21,401| 15-13|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29| December 26| Boston| W 102-91| Eddie Jones (19)| Vlade Divac (11)| Nick Van Exel (9)| Great Western Forum
14,324| 16-13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 30| December 28| San Antonio| L 99-107| Elden Campbell (25)| Elden Campbell (9)| Eddie Jones (9)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 16-14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 31| December 30| @ Utah| L 82-99| Cedric Ceballos (18)| Derek Strong (11)| Eddie Jones (7)| Delta Center
19,911| 16-15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 32| January 2| Philadelphia| L 89-90| Nick Van Exel (27)| Vlade Divac (14)| Nick Van Exel (9)| Great Western Forum
11,874| 16-16|- style="background:#cfc;"| 33| January 5| Utah| W 116-100| Cedric Ceballos (28)| Divac & Jones (7)| Jones & Van Exel (8)| Great Western Forum
16,369| 17-16|- style="background:#fcc;"| 34| January 7| Denver| L 93-96| Vlade Divac (21)| Campbell & Divac (9)| Nick Van Exel (10)| Great Western Forum
13,845| 17-17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 35| January 9| Minnesota| W 106-104| Cedric Ceballos (29)| Corie Blount (9)| Nick Van Exel (9)| Great Western Forum
10,755| 18-17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 36| January 12| Houston| W 101-100| Vlade Divac (25)| Vlade Divac (11)| Nick Van Exel (11)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 19-17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 37| January 15| Miami| W 96-88| Eddie Jones (20)| Vlade Divac (17)| Nick Van Exel (6)| Great Western Forum
14,109| 20-17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 38| January 19| @ L.A. Clippers| W 106-100| Cedric Ceballos (25)| George Lynch (7)| 3 players tied (4)| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
14,018| 21-17|- style="background:#fcc;"| 39| January 20| Cleveland| L 82-93| Nick Van Exel (17)| George Lynch (9)| Nick Van Exel (5)| Great Western Forum
15,380| 21-18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 40| January 24| @ Boston| W 124-107| Elden Campbell (26)| Vlade Divac (11)| Divac & Van Exel (5)| Fleet Center
18,624| 22-18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 41| January 26| @ Philadelphia| W 100-88| Cedric Ceballos (31)| Elden Campbell (18)| Vlade Divac (7)| CoreStates Spectrum
16,129| 23-18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 42| January 27| @ New Jersey| W 100-98| Cedric Ceballos (29)| Elden Campbell (13)| Nick Van Exel (13)| Continental Airlines Arena
20,049| 24-18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 43| January 30| Golden State| W 128-118| Cedric Ceballos (33)| Campbell & Divac (9)| Magic Johnson (10)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 25-18|- style="background:#fcc;"| 44| February 2| Chicago| L 84-99| Cedric Ceballos (23)| Elden Campbell (11)| Nick Van Exel (11)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 25-19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 45| February 4| Utah| W 110-103| Magic Johnson (21)| Vlade Divac (11)| Nick Van Exel (9)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 26-19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 46| February 6| @ Denver| W 99-78| Cedric Ceballos (27)| Vlade Divac (12)| Magic Johnson (12)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,171| 27-19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 47| February 7| New Jersey| W 106-96| Elden Campbell (19)| Elden Campbell (10)| Nick Van Exel (9)| Great Western Forum
16,481| 28-19|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"|- style="background:#cfc;"| 48| February 14| Atlanta| W 87-86| Elden Campbell (20)| Magic Johnson (10)| Magic Johnson (13)| Great Western Forum
16,792| 29-19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 49| February 16| Dallas| W 119-114| Magic Johnson (30)| Cedric Ceballos (11)| Magic Johnson (11)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 30-19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 50| February 20| L.A. Clippers| W 121-104| Vlade Divac (29)| Cedric Ceballos (10)| Nick Van Exel (11)| Great Western Forum
17,037| 31-19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 51| February 21| @ L.A. Clippers| W 112-108| Cedric Ceballos (23)| Elden Campbell (10)| Nick Van Exel (7)| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
16,021| 32-19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 52| February 23| @ Dallas| W 114-88| Cedric Ceballos (27)| Vlade Divac (18)| Nick Van Exel (10)| Reunion Arena
17,502| 33-19|- style="background:#fcc;"| 53| February 24| @ Houston| L 94-96| Cedric Ceballos (26)| Vlade Divac (12)| Nick Van Exel (7)| The Summit
16,285| 33-20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 54| February 26| New York| W 114-96| Cedric Ceballos (27)| Elden Campbell (10)| Nick Van Exel (9)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 34-20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 55| February 28| @ Vancouver| W 99-80| Cedric Ceballos (23)| Vlade Divac (17)| Elden Campbell (8)| General Motors Place
19,193| 35-20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 56| March 1| Washington| W 100-95| Cedric Ceballos (27)| Elden Campbell (12)| Nick Van Exel (4)| Great Western Forum
16,943| 36-20|- style="background:#fcc;"| 57| March 3| Houston| L 107-111| Nick Van Exel (21)| Elden Campbell (11)| Magic Johnson (5)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 36-21|- style="background:#cfc;"| 58| March 7| @ Sacramento| W 102-89| Elden Campbell (29)| Elden Campbell (11)| Magic Johnson (7)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 37-21|- style="background:#cfc;"| 59| March 8| @ Phoenix| W 119-97| Nick Van Exel (28)| Vlade Divac (14)| Nick Van Exel (13)| American West Arena
19,023| 38-21|- style="background:#fcc;"| 60| March 12| Portland| L 99-105| Elden Campbell (26)| Elden Campbell (11)| Johnson & Van Exel (8)| Great Western Forum
16,971| 38-22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 61| March 14| @ Golden State| W 106-103| Magic Johnson (21)| Cedric Ceballos (9)| Nick Van Exel (7)| Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15,025| 39-22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 62| March 15| Milwaukee| W 117-95| Magic Johnson (20)| Vlade Divac (15)| Magic Johnson (8)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 40-22|- style="background:#fcc;"| 63| March 17| Orlando| L 97-98| Campbell & Van Exel (22)| Elden Campbell (10)| Johnson & Van Exel (5)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 40-23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 64| March 19| Seattle| W 94-71| Eddie Jones (26)| Elden Campbell (10)| Magic Johnson (10)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 41-23|- style="background:#fcc;"| 65| March 21| @ Seattle| L 93-104| Nick Van Exel (26)| Vlade Divac (9)| Vlade Divac (4)| KeyArena
17,072| 41-24|- style="background:#fcc;"| 66| March 24| Charlotte| L 94-103| Magic Johnson (28)| Campbell & Johnson (8)| Nick Van Exel (7)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 41-25|- style="background:#cfc;"| 67| March 26| @ Orlando| W 113-91| Nick Van Exel (22)| Elden Campbell (10)| Magic Johnson (7)| Orlando Arena
17,248| 42-25|- style="background:#cfc;"| 68| March 27| @ Miami| W 106-95| Magic Johnson (27)| Vlade Divac (12)| Magic Johnson (9)| Miami Arena
15,200| 43-25|- style="background:#cfc;"| 69| March 29| @ Atlanta| W 102-89| Anthony Peeler (25)| Magic Johnson (10)| Magic Johnson (9)| Omni Coliseum
16,378| 44-25|- style="background:#cfc;"| 70| March 31| @ Toronto| W 111-106| Vlade Divac (20)| Vlade Divac (19)| Magic Johnson (6)| SkyDome
36,046| 45-25|- style="background:#fcc;"| 71| April 2| @ Charlotte| L 97-102| Cedric Ceballos (35)| Cedric Ceballos (11)| Magic Johnson (10)| Charlotte Coliseum
24,042| 45-26|- style="background:#fcc;"| 72| April 3| @ Cleveland| L 89-105| Magic Johnson (26)| Magic Johnson (8)| Nick Van Exel (8)| Gund Arena
20,562| 45-27|- style="background:#cfc;"| 73| April 5| Vancouver| W 104-94| Eddie Jones (26)| Vlade Divac (10)| Vlade Divac (13)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 46-27|- style="background:#cfc;"| 74| April 7| San Antonio| W 107-97| Divac & Jones (19)| Vlade Divac (11)| Magic Johnson (7)| Great Western Forum
17,130| 47-27|- style="background:#fcc;"| 75| April 9| @ Denver| L 91-98| Vlade Divac (19)| Vlade Divac (9)| 3 players tied (4)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,171| 47-28|- style="background:#cfc;"| 76| April 10| @ Minnesota| W 111-90| Elden Campbell (28)| Magic Johnson (10)| Magic Johnson (11)| Target Center
19,006| 48-28|- style="background:#cfc;"| 77| April 12| Golden State| W 94-81| Vlade Divac (26)| Vlade Divac (10)| Magic Johnson (9)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 49-28|- style="background:#cfc;"| 78| April 14| Phoenix| W 118-114| Cedric Ceballos (23)| Vlade Divac (13)| Jones & Threatt (7)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 50-28|- style="background:#cfc;"| 79| April 16| @ Dallas| W 113-95| Cedric Ceballos (23)| Elden Campbell (9)| Elden Campbell (9)| Reunion Arena
17,502| 51-28|- style="background:#fcc;"| 80| April 18| @ San Antonio| L 100-103| Elden Campbell (27)| Vlade Divac (10)| Sedale Threatt (8)| Alamodome
22,184| 51-29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 81| April 20| Minnesota| W 106-82| Cedric Ceballos (36)| Derek Strong (10)| Eddie Jones (8)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 52-29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 82| April 21| @ Portland| W 92-88| Jones & Peeler (20)| Cedric Ceballos (7)| Magic Johnson (10)| Rose Garden
21,401| 53-29

Playoffs

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| April 25| Houston| L 83–87| Cedric Ceballos (22)| Magic Johnson (13)| Nick Van Exel (8)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 0–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| April 27| Houston| W 104–94| Magic Johnson (26)| Vlade Divac (12)| Magic Johnson (5)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 1–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| April 30| @ Houston| L 98–104| Elden Campbell (18)| Elden Campbell (10)| Magic Johnson (13)| The Summit
16,285| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| May 2| @ Houston| L 94–102| Cedric Ceballos (25)| Cedric Ceballos (12)| Nick Van Exel (11)| The Summit
16,285| 1–3|-

Player statistics

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 57 || 2 || 12.5 || .473 || .000 || .568 || 3.0 || .7 || .4 || .6 || 3.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 82 || 32.9 || .503 || .000 || .713 || 7.6 || 2.2 || 1.1 || 2.6 || 13.9|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 78 || 71 || 33.7 || .530 || .277 || .804 || 6.9 || 1.5 || 1.2 || .3 || 21.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 79 || 79 || 31.3 || .513 || .167 || .641 || 8.6 || 3.3 || 1.0 || 1.7 || 12.9|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 32 || 9 || 29.9 || .466 || .379 || .856 || 5.7 || 6.9 || .8 || .4 || 14.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 70 || 66 || 31.2 || .492 || .366 || .739 || 3.3 || 3.5 || 1.8 || .6 || 12.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 6 || 0 || 3.3 || .273 || .000 || .333 || .3 || .3 || .3 || .0 || 1.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 76 || 6 || 13.3 || .430 || .308 || .663 || 2.8 || .7 || .6 || .1 || 3.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 27 || 0 || 4.6 || .429 || .000 || .600 || .9 || .1 || .1 || .0 || 1.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 73 || 12 || 22.0 || .452 || .413 || .709 || 1.9 || 1.6 || .8 || .1 || 9.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 33 || 1 || 9.6 || .495 || .286 || .786 || 1.4 || .8 || .5 || .1 || 3.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 63 || 0 || 11.8 || .426 || .111 || .812 || 2.8 || .5 || .3 || .2 || 3.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 8 || 20.6 || .458 || .355 || .761 || 1.2 || 3.3 || .8 || .1 || 7.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 74 || 74 || 34.0 || .417 || .357 || .799 || 2.4 || 6.9 || .9 || .1 || 14.9|}

Playoffs

|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 4 || 4 || 32.3 || .513 || .000 || .500 || 8.0 || 2.0 || .3 || 2.3 || 12.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 4 || 4 || 35.5 || .484 || .313 || .917 || 8.3 || 1.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 19.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 4 || 4 || 28.8 || .429 || .200 || .625 || 7.5 || 2.0 || .0 || 1.3 || 9.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 4 || 0 || 33.8 || .385 || .333 || .848 || 8.5 || 6.5 || .0 || .0 || 15.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 4 || 4 || 38.8 || .551 || .526 || .625 || 5.3 || 1.5 || 2.0 || .3 || 17.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 2 || 0 || 7.5 || .500 || .000 || || 1.5 || .5 || .0 || .0 || 2.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 3 || 0 || 24.0 || .333 || .429 || 1.000 || 2.7 || 1.0 || 2.0 || .0 || 9.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 1 || 0 || 3.0 || .000 || || || 3.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 4 || 0 || 14.3 || .222 || .182 || || .8 || 1.0 || .5 || .0 || 2.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 4 || 4 || 34.3 || .296 || .313 || .769 || 4.0 || 6.8 || .5 || .0 || 11.8|}

Salaries

Player	Salary
	$3,333,000
	$2,400,000
	$2,245,000
	$2,200,000
	$1,900,000
	$1,760,000
	$1,600,000
	$1,330,000
	$1,040,000
	$1,000,000
	$1,000,000
	$550,000
	$225,000
	$200,000

Player Salaries Citation:^[56]

References

• Lakers on Database Basketball
• Lakers on Basketball Reference

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1996.html 1995-96 Los Angeles Lakers
2. News: Associated Press . Magic's Return Reportedly Signed and Set for Tuesday . Deseret News . January 29, 1996 . March 5, 2023.
3. News: Friend . Tom . BASKETBALL; Johnson Finally Says the Magic Words: 'It's On' . The New York Times . January 30, 1996 . April 26, 2022.
4. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . MAGIC REAPPEARS: It's 'Go Time': Magic Moment Finally Happens . Los Angeles Times . January 30, 1996 . September 24, 2022.
5. News: Claiborne . William . Magic Johnson Returns to NBA . The Washington Post . January 30, 1996 . June 27, 2022.
6. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Simply Magical: Johnson Makes Emotional --and Hugely Successful--Return in Laker Victory . Los Angeles Times . January 31, 1996 . June 19, 2021.
7. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Lakers Acquire Corie Blount from Bulls . Los Angeles Times . July 1, 1995 . November 10, 2022.
8. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . THE NBA: 1995-96: Greater Expectations: Lakers May Have Accomplished a Lot, But Now They're Really Thinking Big . Los Angeles Times . November 3, 1995 . November 10, 2022.
9. News: Friend . Tom . PRO BASKETBALL; The Stars Are Out: It's Showtime Again for Lakers . The New York Times . January 31, 1996 . January 15, 2022.
10. News: Aldridge . David . For Lakers, It's Magic In the Air . The Washington Post . January 31, 1996 . June 30, 2022.
11. News: Reilly . Rick . Welcome Back! Magic Johnson Raised Goose Bumps, and Took His Lumps in an Electrifying Return to the NBA . Sports Illustrated Vault . February 12, 1996 . April 6, 2023.
12. News: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, January 30, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . October 10, 2022.
13. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . July 18, 2022.
14. News: Associated Press . Ceballos Is Missing, Suspended . Los Angeles Times . March 22, 1996 . November 1, 2016.
15. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Ceballos Returns, Blames Absence on Family Crisis . Los Angeles Times . March 25, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
16. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Lakers Give Ceballos a Cold Shoulder . The New York Times . March 26, 1996 . May 14, 2022.
17. News: Taylor . Phil . ON SPRING BREAK: Cedric Ceballos's Unauthorized Vacation Threatened to Destroy the Chemistry That Had Made the Lakers a Contender Since Magic Johnson's Return . Sports Illustrated Vault . April 1, 1996 . June 22, 2023.
18. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Van Exel Delivers Blow to Referee in Loss by Lakers . Los Angeles Times . April 10, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
19. News: Litsky . Frank . PRO BASKETBALL; Van Exel Receives 7-Game Suspension . The New York Times . April 11, 1996 . June 27, 2022.
20. News: Associated Press . Hitting Referee Costs Van Exel $187,000 . Los Angeles Times . April 11, 1996 . February 24, 2017.
21. News: Van Exel Shoves Ref, Nuggets Win . The Washington Post . April 10, 1996 . June 22, 2023.
22. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Magic Gets Into the Act, Bumps Referee, Faces Ban . Los Angeles Times . April 15, 1996 . June 27, 2022.
23. News: Litsky . Frank . PRO BASKETBALL; Lakers' Johnson Is Banned, Fined and Apologetic . The New York Times . April 16, 1996 . January 15, 2022.
24. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Magic's Bump Rap: Three Games . Los Angeles Times . April 16, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
25. News: Cotton . Anthony . Magic Johnson Suspended for Run-In with Referee . The Washington Post . April 16, 1996 . June 22, 2023.
26. Web site: 1995–96 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
27. News: MacMullan . Jackie . Lakers Envision Johnson in Sixth-Man Role; Pricing Some Coveted Free Agents; Hawks Soar With Mookie . Sports Illustrated Vault . February 5, 1996 . October 12, 2023.
28. News: Cotton . Anthony . As Lakers Try to Go Forward, Magic Misses the Point . The Washington Post . May 2, 1996 . October 12, 2023.
29. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Magic Reaches Big Milestone on Little Pass . Los Angeles Times . March 8, 1996 . October 12, 2023.
30. News: Associated Press . Jordan Rips Pistons for a Cool 53 . Deseret News. March 8, 1996 . October 12, 2023.
31. News: Staff Writer . This Day in Lakers History: Magic Johnson Reaches 10,000 Career Assists . Lakers Nation . March 7, 2023 . October 12, 2023.
32. News: 1995–96 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2022.
33. News: 1995-96 Regular Season Award Winners . Eskimo.com . October 7, 2022.
34. Web site: 1995–96 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
35. News: Friend . Tom . NBA PLAYOFFS; Rockets Move On. Magic Might, Too . The New York Times . May 3, 1996 . June 24, 2021 .
36. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Show's Over . Los Angeles Times . May 3, 1996 . June 4, 2022.
37. News: Cotton . Anthony . In Houston, No Magic Moment . The Washington Post . May 3, 1996 . November 25, 2022.
38. News: 1996 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Lakers . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
39. News: Associated Press . Online Document: Magic Johnson Retires Again . Deseret News . May 14, 1996 . April 4, 2023.
40. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; Leaving on His Terms, Johnson Retires Again . The New York Times . May 15, 1996 . January 15, 2022.
41. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Pooof!: Johnson Retires on His Terms This Time . Los Angeles Times . May 15, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
42. News: Adande . J.A. . Magic Retires from Lakers . The Washington Post . May 15, 1996 . January 8, 2023.
43. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Magic: This Is for Good . Los Angeles Times . May 16, 1996 . September 24, 2022.
44. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Kiss Vlade Goodbye? . Los Angeles Times . June 27, 1996 . December 1, 2022.
45. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; With the Draft Over, Trading Season Begins . The New York Times . June 28, 1996 . May 24, 2022.
46. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Divac Agrees to a Trade with Charlotte . The New York Times . July 2, 1996 . June 21, 2023.
47. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Divac-for-Bryant Deal Done, Freeing Money for O'Neal . Los Angeles Times . July 12, 1996 . July 25, 2022.
48. News: Heisler . Mark . A New Day for Vlade . Los Angeles Times . July 21, 1996 . July 26, 2021.
49. News: Associated Press . Laker Trade May Signal Big Deal . Los Angeles Times . July 17, 1996 . January 1, 2022.
50. News: Associated Press . L.A. Trades for $$$, Not for New Talent . Deseret News . July 17, 1996 . October 4, 2022.
51. News: Wire Reports . Lakers Sweeten Deal, Offer Shaq $120 Million . The Spokesman-Review . July 18, 1996 . December 12, 2022.
52. News: Povtak . Tim . Magic Add Strong, Delete Wolf . Orlando Sentinel . August 27, 1996 . November 10, 2022.
53. News: Furthermore . The Washington Post . August 27, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
54. NY Times, Johnson, Unbowed by H.I.V., Will Return to Pro Basketball , accessed June 1, 2007.
55. Web site: Larry . Schwartz . Magic made Showtime a show . ESPN.com. 2007-09-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20070912095951/http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016111.html. 12 September 2007 . live.
56. News: 1995–96 Los Angeles Lakers Salaries . Basketball-Reference . January 19, 2022.