2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season explained

The 2003–04 NBA season was the Lakers' 56th season in the National Basketball Association and 44th in the city of Los Angeles.^[1]

The Lakers entered the season following a disappointing second-round loss to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the 2003 playoffs. During the offseason, the Lakers signed star free agents Karl Malone and Gary Payton and re-signed free agent power forward Horace Grant.^{[2] [3]} Following these acquisitions, the Lakers became the instant favorites to win the NBA title.^{[4] [5]}

Despite major acquisitions, key moves, and becoming overnight title favorites, the Lakers would run into major setbacks to begin the season. During the 2003 off-season, superstar guard Kobe Bryant had been accused of sexual assault in Colorado. Media attention surrounding the case would prove to be an ongoing distraction for the team, and Bryant missed games during his trial. In addition, Bryant's feud with Shaquille O'Neal reached a peak during the season, as both players criticized each other in the media.^[6] Payton struggled with coach Phil Jackson's triangle offense, and Malone missed significant time due to injuries.^{[7] [8] [9]}

Despite the setbacks, the Lakers finished the season with a 56–26 overall record, good enough to clinch the second seed in the Western Conference en route to the playoffs.^[10] In the playoffs, they defeated the Houston Rockets, the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, and the Minnesota Timberwolves to earn the franchise its 28th appearance in the NBA Finals. The Lakers entered the Finals against the Detroit Pistons as favorites.^{[11] [12]} This was the third meeting between the Lakers and the Pistons in the NBA Finals, after both franchises met in 1988 and 1989. However, the underdog Pistons' strong defense and teamwork propelled them to their third championship in franchise history, and the star-studded Lakers would collapse in five games.^{[13] [14]} After the season, Jackson and the team mutually agreed to part ways^[15] and O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.^[16]

Draft picks

See main article: 2003 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	24	Brian Cook	F		Illinois
2	32	Luke Walton	F		Arizona

Regular season

Season standings

By conference

Record vs. opponents

2003-04 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MEM	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NOH	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	3–1	3–1	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–3	1–3	1–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–2	2–2
Boston	1–3	–	1–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	0–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	3–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	3–1
Chicago	1–3	2–1	–	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	1–3
Cleveland	3–1	1–3	2–2	–	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–2	3–1	4–0	2–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	2–2
Dallas	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	–	2–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–1
Denver	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	–	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	3–1	2–0
Detroit	3–1	3–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	3–0
Golden State	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	–	2–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–1
Houston	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	3–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–0
Indiana	4–0	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–0	1–3	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–1
L.A. Clippers	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	–	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–0	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	–	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–0
Memphis	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	0–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	–	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–3	2–0
Miami	3–1	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–3	2–0	0–2	1–1	–	1–2	0–2	3–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–1	1–1	4–0
Milwaukee	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–1	–	0–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	–	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	2–0
New Jersey	3–1	2–2	3–0	2–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–3	1–3	1–1	–	2–1	3–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	4–0
New Orleans	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–2	–	1–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	3–1
New York	3–0	3–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–1	–	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	4–0
Orlando	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	–	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–2	1–1	4–0
Philadelphia	2–1	1–3	4–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–2	–	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	2–2
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	–	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–3	1–1
Portland	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	0–4	2–2	1–1	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	–	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	2–2	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	4–0	4–0	2–2	–	4–0	2–0	4–0	2–0
Seattle	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	4–0	1–3	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	–	1–1	1–3	1–1
Toronto	3–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–2	1–3	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	–	1–1	1–3
Utah	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	3–1	1–1	–	1–1
Washington	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	—

Game log

Pre-season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| October 7| Golden State| W 107-89| Shaquille O'Neal (16)| Devean George (7)| Gary Payton (7)| Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI)
10,300| 1-0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| October 8| Golden State| L 83-99| Gary Payton (11)| Shaquille O'Neal (8)| Shaquille O'Neal (5)| Stan Sheriff Center (Honolulu, HI)
10,300| 1-1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| October 14| Phoenix| L 86-104| Derek Fisher (14)| 3 players tied (6)| Gary Payton (4)| San Diego Sports Arena (San Diego, CA)
13,144| 1-2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| October 16| Cleveland| W 86-78| Karl Malone (18)| Karl Malone (13)| Malone & Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 2-2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| October 17| Phoenix| W 91-84| Derek Fisher (18)| Eric Chenowith (7)| Luke Walton (4)| Staples Center
18,997| 3-2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| October 19| Cleveland| L 87-102| Shaquille O'Neal (20)| Shaquille O'Neal (6)| Luke Walton (5)| Centennial Garden (Bakersfield, CA)
9,772| 3-3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7| October 23| L.A. Clippers| L 101-107| Shaquille O'Neal (18)| Shaquille O'Neal (9)| Gary Payton (7)| Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA)
18,298| 3-4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 8| October 24| Sacramento| L 87-93| Shaquille O'Neal (19)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Malone & O'Neal (5)| Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)
18,234| 3-5

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| October 28| Dallas| W 109–93| Gary Payton (21)| Karl Malone (10)| Malone & Payton (9)| Staples Center
18,997| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| November 1| @ Phoenix| W 103–99| Shaquille O'Neal (24)| 3 players tied (12)| Gary Payton (9)| America West Arena
18,422| 2–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| November 2| Golden State| W 87–72| Kobe Bryant (21)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Gary Payton (11)| Staples Center
18,997| 3–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| November 4| @ Milwaukee| W 113–107| Kobe Bryant (31)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Kobe Bryant (8)| Bradley Center
18,717| 4–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| November 6| @ San Antonio| W 120–117 (2OT)| Kobe Bryant (37)| Shaquille O'Neal (20)| O'Neal & Payton (6)| SBC Center
18,717| 5–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| November 7| @ New Orleans| L 95–114| Shaquille O'Neal (21)| Malone & O'Neal (6)| Gary Payton (11)| New Orleans Arena
18,717| 5–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7| November 10| @ Memphis| L 95–105| Shaquille O'Neal (20)| Shaquille O'Neal (12)| Kobe Bryant (5)| Pyramid Arena
19,351| 5–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8| November 12| Toronto| W 94–79| Shaquille O'Neal (23)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Gary Payton (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 6–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 9| November 14| Detroit| W 94–89| O'Neal & Payton (21)| Shaquille O'Neal (15)| Shaquille O'Neal (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 7–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 10| November 16| Miami| W 99–77| Kobe Bryant (27)| Karl Malone (10)| Gary Payton (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 8–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 11| November 18| @ Detroit| L 96–106| Malone & O'Neal (20)| Shaquille O'Neal (10)| 3 players tied (5)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 8–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 12| November 19| @ New York| W 104–83| Shaquille O'Neal (23)| Karl Malone (14)| Bryant & Malone (4)| Madison Square Garden
19,763| 9–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 13| November 21| Chicago| W 101–94| Kobe Bryant (28)| Karl Malone (18)| Bryant & Payton (4)| Staples Center
18,997| 10–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14| November 23| Memphis| W 121–89| Kobe Bryant (28)| Slava Medvedenko (11)| Gary Payton (10)| Staples Center
18,997| 11–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15| November 26| Washington| W 120–99| Kobe Bryant (22)| Horace Grant (6)| Malone & Payton (5)| Staples Center
18,997| 12–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16| November 28| San Antonio| W 103–87| Devean George (19)| Karl Malone (11)| Karl Malone (10)| Staples Center
18,997| 13–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 17| November 30| Indiana| W 99–77| Shaquille O'Neal (23)| Karl Malone (15)| Kobe Bryant (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 14–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 18| December 3| @ San Antonio| W 90–86| Kobe Bryant (21)| Shaquille O'Neal (16)| Gary Payton (6)| SBC Center
18,841| 15–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 19| December 4| @ Dallas| W 114–103| Kobe Bryant (32)| Shaquille O'Neal (19)| Gary Payton (8)| American Airlines Center
20,596| 16–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 20| December 7| Utah| W 94–92| Bryant & O'Neal (19)| Shaquille O'Neal (15)| Shaquille O'Neal (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 17–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 21| December 9| New York| W 98–90| Kobe Bryant (21)| Shaquille O'Neal (15)| Kobe Bryant (9)| Staples Center
18,997| 18–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 22| December 12| Dallas| L 93–110| Shaquille O'Neal (25)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Kobe Bryant (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 18–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 23| December 13| @ Portland| L 108–112| Kobe Bryant (35)| Shaquille O'Neal (10)| Kobe Bryant (6)| Rose Garden
20,630| 18–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24| December 19| Denver| W 101–99| Shaquille O'Neal (26)| Shaquille O'Neal (11)| Gary Payton (11)| Staples Center
18,997| 19–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25| December 21| Phoenix| W 107–101| George & Payton (19)| Shaquille O'Neal (18)| Gary Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 20–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 26| December 23| @ Golden State| L 98–107| Kobe Bryant (23)| Devean George (9)| Gary Payton (13)| The Arena in Oakland
20,310| 20–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 27| December 25| Houston| L 87–99| Kobe Bryant (23)| Horace Grant (11)| Gary Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 20–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 28| December 28| Boston| W 105–82| Shaquille O'Neal (22)| Shaquille O'Neal (16)| Bryant & Payton (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 21–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 29| January 2| @ Seattle| L 109–111| Kobe Bryant (32)| Bryant & Grant (6)| Kobe Bryant (6)| KeyArena
17,072| 21–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 30| January 4| @ L.A. Clippers| L 98–101| Kobe Bryant (44)| Kobe Bryant (10)| Payton & Russell (4)| Staples Center
19,653| 21–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 31| January 6| @ Minnesota| L 90–106| Kobe Bryant (20)| Kobe Bryant (10)| Derek Fisher (5)| Target Center
20,095| 21–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 32| January 7| @ Denver| L 91–113| Kobe Bryant (27)| Brian Cook (8)| Kobe Bryant (6)| Pepsi Center
19,739| 21–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 33| January 9| Atlanta| W 113–67| Bryant & Medvedenko (26)| Slava Medvedenko (11)| Gary Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 22–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 34| January 12| Cleveland| W 89–79| Cook & Payton (13)| Devean George (12)| Fisher & Payton (4)| Staples Center
18,997| 23–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 35| January 14| Denver| W 97–71| Slava Medvedenko (22)| Horace Grant (11)| Gary Payton (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 24–11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 36| January 16| @ Sacramento| L 83–103| Kareem Rush (30)| Medvedenko & Sampson (9)| Luke Walton (5)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 24–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 37| January 17| L.A. Clippers| W 91–89| Slava Medvedenko (20)| Medvedenko & Sampson (10)| Gary Payton (15)| Staples Center
18,997| 25–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 38| January 19| Phoenix| L 85–88| Kareem Rush (18)| Payton & Sampson (8)| Gary Payton (9)| Staples Center
18,997| 25–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 39| January 21| @ Memphis| L 82–88| Gary Payton (24)| Slava Medvedenko (12)| Kareem Rush (5)| Pyramid Arena
19,351| 25–14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 40| January 22| @ Dallas| L 87–106| Devean George (24)| Luke Walton (7)| Gary Payton (5)| American Airlines Center
20,512| 25–15|- style="background:#cfc;"| 41| January 24| @ Utah| W 93–86| Slava Medvedenko (26)| Slava Medvedenko (12)| Bryant & Payton (6)| Delta Center
19,911| 26–15|- style="background:#cfc;"| 42| January 28| Seattle| W 96–82| Gary Payton (24)| Horace Grant (10)| Gary Payton (5)| Staples Center
18,997| 27–15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 43| January 30| Minnesota| L 84–97| Shaquille O'Neal (22)| Shaquille O'Neal (9)| Gary Payton (9)| Staples Center
18,997| 27–16|- style="background:#cfc;"| 44| February 1| @ Toronto| W 84–83| Shaquille O'Neal (36)| Horace Grant (9)| Shaquille O'Neal (5)| Air Canada Centre
20,116| 28–16|- style="background:#fcc;"| 45| February 2| @ Indiana| L 72–85| Slava Medvedenko (14)| Gary Payton (8)| Gary Payton (7)| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345| 28–17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 46| February 4| @ Cleveland| W 111–106 (OT)| Shaquille O'Neal (37)| Grant & O'Neal (12)| O'Neal & Payton (6)| Gund Arena
20,562| 29–17|- style="background:#fcc;"| 47| February 5| @ Philadelphia| L 73–96| Shaquille O'Neal (17)| Shaquille O'Neal (8)| Fisher & Walton (5)| Wachovia Center
20,965| 29–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 48| February 8| @ Orlando| W 98–96| Shaquille O'Neal (20)| Shaquille O'Neal (10)| Luke Walton (7)| TD Waterhouse Centre
17,283| 30–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 49| February 10| @ Miami| W 98–83| Shaquille O'Neal (25)| Devean George (11)| Fisher & Payton (6)| American Airlines Arena
16,500| 31–18|- style="background:#fcc;"| 50| February 11| @ Houston| L 87–102| Shaquille O'Neal (24)| Shaquille O'Neal (9)| Shaquille O'Neal (4)| Toyota Center
18,218| 31–19|- style="text-align:center;"| colspan="9" style="background:#bbcaff;"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"| 51| February 17| Portland| W 89–86| Kobe Bryant (31)| Shaquille O'Neal (11)| Kobe Bryant (10)| Staples Center
18,997| 32–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 52| February 18| @ Golden State| W 100–99| Kobe Bryant (35)| Shaquille O'Neal (16)| Kobe Bryant (8)| The Arena in Oakland
20,252| 33–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 53| February 20| Philadelphia| W 116–88| Shaquille O'Neal (29)| Shaquille O'Neal (13)| Bryant & Fisher (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 34–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 54| February 22| @ Phoenix| W 104–92| Kobe Bryant (40)| Bryant & Fox (7)| 3 players tied (5)| America West Arena
18,422| 35–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 55| February 25| @ Denver| W 112–111| Kobe Bryant (35)| Shaquille O'Neal (8)| Kobe Bryant (10)| Pepsi Center
19,812| 36–19|- style="background:#fcc;"| 56| February 26| Sacramento| L 101–103| Kobe Bryant (35)| Kobe Bryant (11)| Bryant & Payton (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 36–20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 57| February 28| @ Washington| W 122–110| Shaquille O'Neal (19)| Kobe Bryant (14)| Kobe Bryant (10)| MCI Center
20,173| 37–20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 58| February 29| @ New Jersey| W 100–83| Shaquille O'Neal (19)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Kobe Bryant (10)| Continental Airlines Arena
19,968| 38–20|- style="background:#fcc;"| 59| March 2| @ Atlanta| L 93–94| O'Neal & Payton (23)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Gary Payton (10)| Philips Arena
19,445| 38–21|- style="background:#cfc;"| 60| March 3| @ Houston| W 96–93| Shaquille O'Neal (28)| Kobe Bryant (8)| Kobe Bryant (13)| Toyota Center
18,172| 39–21|- style="background:#cfc;"| 61| March 5| Seattle| W 99–91| Shaquille O'Neal (32)| Luke Walton (9)| Fox & Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 40–21|- style="background:#cfc;"| 62| March 7| New Jersey| W 94–88| Shaquille O'Neal (32)| O'Neal & Payton (9)| Rick Fox (5)| Staples Center
18,997| 41–21|- style="background:#fcc;"| 63| March 8| @ Utah| L 83–88| Gary Payton (21)| Shaquille O'Neal (10)| Gary Payton (7)| Delta Center
19,911| 41–22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 64| March 10| @ Boston| W 117–109| Shaquille O'Neal (28)| Shaquille O'Neal (17)| Kobe Bryant (10)| FleetCenter
18,624| 42–22|- style="background:#fcc;"| 65| March 12| @ Minnesota| L 86–96| Shaquille O'Neal (24)| Shaquille O'Neal (13)| Fox & Payton (6)| Target Center
20,391| 42–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 66| March 13| @ Chicago| W 88–81| Kobe Bryant (35)| Shaquille O'Neal (15)| Karl Malone (7)| United Center
23,067| 43–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 67| March 15| Orlando| W 113–110 (OT)| Kobe Bryant (38)| Shaquille O'Neal (23)| Bryant & Malone (4)| Staples Center
18,997| 44–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 68| March 17| @ L.A. Clippers| W 106–103| Kobe Bryant (27)| Shaquille O'Neal (11)| Gary Payton (7)| Staples Center
19,668| 45–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 69| March 19| L.A. Clippers| W 106–100| Kobe Bryant (27)| Shaquille O'Neal (10)| Fox & O'Neal (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 46–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 70| March 21| Milwaukee| W 104–103 (OT)| Shaquille O'Neal (31)| Shaquille O'Neal (26)| Gary Payton (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 47–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 71| March 24| Sacramento| W 115–91| Kobe Bryant (36)| Shaquille O'Neal (16)| Bryant & O'Neal (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 48–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 72| March 26| Minnesota| W 90–73| Kobe Bryant (35)| Shaquille O'Neal (18)| Kobe Bryant (5)| Staples Center
18,997| 49–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 73| March 28| Utah| W 91–84| Kobe Bryant (34)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Kobe Bryant (4)| Staples Center
18,997| 50–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 74| March 30| New Orleans| W 107–88| Kobe Bryant (23)| Shaquille O'Neal (9)| Karl Malone (9)| Staples Center
18,997| 51–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 75| April 1| Houston| W 93–85| Kobe Bryant (26)| Karl Malone (14)| Karl Malone (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 52–23|- style="background:#cfc;"| 76| April 2| @ Seattle| W 97–86| Kobe Bryant (25)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Rick Fox (6)| KeyArena
17,072| 53–23|- style="background:#fcc;"| 77| April 4| San Antonio| L 89–95| Kobe Bryant (28)| Malone & O'Neal (9)| Malone & O'Neal (4)| Staples Center
18,997| 53–24|- style="background:#fcc;"| 78| April 6| Portland| L 80–91| Shaquille O'Neal (17)| Shaquille O'Neal (12)| Kobe Bryant (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 53–25|- style="background:#cfc;"| 79| April 9| Memphis| W 103–95| Kobe Bryant (33)| Shaquille O'Neal (12)| Bryant & Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 54–25|- style="background:#fcc;"| 80| April 11| @ Sacramento| L 85–102| Gary Payton (15)| Karl Malone (11)| Fisher & George (5)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 54–26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 81| April 13| Golden State| W 109–104| Kobe Bryant (45)| Shaquille O'Neal (13)| Kobe Bryant (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 55–26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 82| April 14| @ Portland| W 105–104 (2OT)| Kobe Bryant (37)| Medvedenko & O'Neal (14)| Fisher & Payton (6)| Rose Garden
20,609| 56–26

Playoffs

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| April 17| Houston| W 72–71| Shaquille O'Neal (20)| Shaquille O'Neal (17)| Kobe Bryant (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| April 19| Houston| W 98–84| Kobe Bryant (36)| Karl Malone (8)| Gary Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 2–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| April 23| @ Houston| L 91–102| Shaquille O'Neal (25)| Malone & O'Neal (11)| Gary Payton (7)| Toyota Center
18,226| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| April 25| @ Houston| W 92–88 (OT)| Karl Malone (30)| Karl Malone (13)| Gary Payton (7)| Toyota Center
18,219| 3–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| April 28| Houston| W 97–78| Kobe Bryant (31)| Malone & O'Neal (9)| Kobe Bryant (10)| Staples Center
18,997| 4–1|-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| May 2| @ San Antonio| L 78–88| Kobe Bryant (31)| Shaquille O'Neal (13)| Karl Malone (5)| SBC Center
18,797| 0–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| May 5| @ San Antonio| L 85–95| Shaquille O'Neal (32)| Shaquille O'Neal (15)| Kobe Bryant (8)| SBC Center
18,797| 0–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| May 9| San Antonio| W 105–81| Shaquille O'Neal (28)| Shaquille O'Neal (15)| Gary Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 1–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| May 11| San Antonio| W 98–90| Kobe Bryant (42)| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Karl Malone (6)| Staples Center
18,997| 2–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| May 13| @ San Antonio| W 74–73| Kobe Bryant (22)| Karl Malone (12)| Gary Payton (7)| SBC Center
18,797| 3–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6| May 15| San Antonio| W 88–76| Kobe Bryant (26)| Shaquille O'Neal (19)| Bryant & Payton (7)| Staples Center
18,997| 4–2|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 21| @ Minnesota| W 97–88| Shaquille O'Neal (27)| Shaquille O'Neal (18)| Bryant & Fisher (6)| Target Center
19,552| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| May 23| @ Minnesota| L 71–89| Kobe Bryant (27)| Shaquille O'Neal (16)| Kobe Bryant (6)| Target Center
19,707| 1–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| May 25| Minnesota| W 100–89| Bryant & O'Neal (22)| Shaquille O'Neal (17)| Gary Payton (9)| Staples Center
18,997| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| May 27| Minnesota| W 92–85| Kobe Bryant (31)| Shaquille O'Neal (19)| Kobe Bryant (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 3–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5| May 29| @ Minnesota| L 96–98| Kobe Bryant (23)| Shaquille O'Neal (13)| Kobe Bryant (7)| Target Center
20,109| 3–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6| May 31| Minnesota| W 96–90| Shaquille O'Neal (25)| Shaquille O'Neal (11)| Gary Payton (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 4–2|-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| June 6| Detroit| L 75–87| Shaquille O'Neal (34)| Malone & O'Neal (11)| Kobe Bryant (4)| Staples Center
18,997| 0–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| June 8| Detroit| W 99–91 (OT)| Kobe Bryant (33)| Karl Malone (9)| Luke Walton (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 1–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| June 10| @ Detroit| L 68–88| Shaquille O'Neal (14)| Medvedenko & O'Neal (8)| Gary Payton (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| June 13| @ Detroit| L 80–88| Shaquille O'Neal (36)| Shaquille O'Neal (20)| Rick Fox (6)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5| June 15| @ Detroit| L 87–100| Kobe Bryant (24)| Shaquille O'Neal (8)| Luke Walton (5)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–4|-

NBA Finals

See also: 2004 NBA Finals.

Series summary

align=left width=28%	Team/Game	width=10%	1	width=10%	2 (OT)	width=10%	3	width=10%	4	width=10%	5	width=10%	Wins
Los Angeles	75	99	68	80	87	1
Detroit	87	91	88	88	100	4

• (OT) denotes a game that required overtime.

The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 format, where the first two and last two games are held at the venue of the team with home court advantage. This was only used in the Finals.

Background

The Lakers had a star-studded lineup that included offseason acquisitions Karl Malone and Gary Payton as well as mainstays Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Malone and Payton were perennial All-Stars; Payton had led the Seattle SuperSonics to the Finals in 1996, while Malone's Utah Jazz reached the Finals in 1997 and 1998.^[17] However, both had been defeated by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. By 2003, Malone and Payton were in the latter stages of their respective careers and were no longer playing on championship-contending teams.^[18] Both Malone and Payton took pay cuts to sign with the Lakers in an effort to win a championship.^[19]

Game One

Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the Staples Center.

Detroit stunned Los Angeles with imposing defense.^[20] They held the Lakers to 39% shooting. Outside of O'Neal and Bryant, the rest of the Lakers only managed to score 16 points.

The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41–40 at halftime, but a 10–4 surge in the third quarter gave them the lead and they never relinquished it. By the fourth quarter, their lead had increased to 13.

Box Score

align=left width=16%	Team	width=6%	1st Qt.	width=6%	2nd Qt.	width=6%	3rd Qt.	width=6%	4th Qt.	width=6%	Total
Detroit	22	18	24	23	87
Los Angeles	19	22	17	17	75

Game Two

Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.

The Lakers led by eight after the first half. However, Detroit scored 30 points in the third quarter to keep the game close. With 2.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant hit a three-point shot to tie the score at 89. The game went to overtime and the Lakers outscored the Pistons 10–2 to win their only game of the series.

align=left width=16%	Team	width=6%	1st Qt.	width=6%	2nd Qt.	width=6%	3rd Qt.	width=6%	4th Qt.	width=6%	OT	width=6%	Total
Detroit	16	20	30	23	2	91
Los Angeles	18	26	24	21	10	99

Game Three

Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons beat the Lakers by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1990^[21] to take a 2–1 lead in the series. Karl Malone sprained his knee and was limited to 18 minutes. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a franchise record for the fewest points scored in a playoff game. The previous night, a group of overzealous Pistons fans made it difficult for the Lakers to get their rest by harassing them until 4am at their hotel in nearby Birmingham. Fans were screaming outside the building until hotel management called the police.^[22]

align=left width=16%	Team	width=6%	1st Qt.	width=6%	2nd Qt.	width=6%	3rd Qt.	width=6%	4th Qt.	width=6%	Total
Los Angeles	16	16	19	17	68
Detroit	24	15	24	25	88

Game Four

Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons defeated the Lakers, this time by eight, to take a 3–1 series advantage. Shaquille O'Neal scored 36 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, but the rest of the Lakers shot 17/57 from the field. ^[23]

align=left width=16%	Team	width=6%	1st Qt.	width=6%	2nd Qt.	width=6%	3rd Qt.	width=6%	4th Qt.	width=6%	Total
Los Angeles	22	17	17	24	80
Detroit	21	20	15	32	88

Game Five

Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990 and Larry Brown won his first title as an NBA coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Lakers offense, winning the game by 13 and the series 4-1. In four of the five games, the Lakers were held to less than 90 points.

After the series, Phil Jackson stepped down as coach (he would return for the 2005-06 season). Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami. Gary Payton and Rick Fox were traded to Boston. Karl Malone, who did not dress for Game 5, would have surgery on his knee and eventually retired the following February.

align=left width=16%	Team	width=6%	1st Qt.	width=6%	2nd Qt.	width=6%	3rd Qt.	width=6%	4th Qt.	width=6%	Total
Los Angeles	24	21	14	28	87
Detroit	25	30	27	18	100

Player stats

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	65	64	37.6	.438	.327	.852	5.5	5.1	1.7	.4	24.0
	4	0	12.5	.357	.333	.917	.8	.5	.0	.0	5.5
	35	2	12.6	.475	.000	.750	2.9	.6	.5	.5	4.4
	82	3	21.6	.352	.291	.797	1.9	2.3	1.3	.0	7.1
	38	34	22.3	.392	.246	.733	2.7	2.6	.8	.1	4.8
	82	48	23.8	.408	.349	.760	4.0	1.4	1.0	.5	7.4
	55	10	20.1	.411	.000	.722	4.2	1.3	.4	.4	4.1
	42	42	32.7	.483	.000	.747	8.7	3.9	1.2	.5	13.2
	68	38	21.2	.441	.000	.767	5.0	.8	.6	.3	8.3
	67	67	36.8	.584	.	.490	11.5	2.9	.5	2.5	21.5
	13	0	4.8	.375	.500	.	.5	.8	.2	.0	1.1
	82	82	34.5	.471	.333	.714	4.2	5.5	1.2	.2	14.6
	72	15	17.3	.440	.348	.596	1.3	.8	.5	.3	6.4
	72	1	13.1	.402	.384	.769	2.0	1.0	.4	.2	4.0
	10	2	13.0	.478	.	.583	5.2	.7	.2	.4	2.9
	4	0	7.0	.333	.000	.500	1.3	.5	.5	.3	2.0
	72	2	10.1	.425	.333	.705	1.8	1.6	.4	.1	2.4

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	22	22	44.2	.413	.247	.813	4.7	5.5	1.9	.3	24.5
	13	0	3.5	.333	.	1.000	.9	.1	.1	.0	.9
	22	0	23.0	.405	.418	.657	2.5	2.2	.8	.0	7.5
	16	3	9.1	.400	.143	.500	1.4	1.1	.2	.1	1.1
	22	19	21.4	.430	.373	.650	2.3	.5	1.0	.4	5.5
	21	21	38.0	.450	.000	.630	8.8	3.4	1.1	.1	11.5
	21	1	11.3	.440	.	.810	2.5	.5	.2	.2	4.0
	22	22	41.7	.593	.	.429	13.2	2.5	.3	2.8	21.5
	22	22	35.1	.366	.250	.750	3.3	5.3	1.0	.2	7.8
	22	0	14.3	.385	.400	.667	.7	.8	.5	.1	3.7
	6	0	2.7	.000	.000	.	.2	.3	.2	.0	.0
	17	0	7.9	.345	.385	.700	1.3	1.5	.4	.1	1.9

Award winners

• Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA First Team
• Kobe Bryant, All-NBA First Team
• Kobe Bryant, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Shaquille O'Neal, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award

External links

• Lakers on Database Basketball
• Lakers on Basketball Reference

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference.com.
2. Web site: Lakers Sign Free Agents Gary Payton and Karl Malone. July 16, 2003. April 20, 2011. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
3. Book: Lazenby, Roland . Roland Lazenby . The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It . 422 . 2006 . . . 978-0-07-143034-0 . registration .
4. Web site: Pro Basketball; With Bryant Absent, Lakers Begin Practicing. October 4, 2003. April 20, 2011. The New York Times. Mike. Wise.
5. Web site: Lakers are a lock -- for turmoil. October 28, 2003. April 20, 2011. The Boston Globe. Peter. May.
6. Web site: Buerge. Daniel. A Complete Timeline of the Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant Feud. Lakers Nation. 2 April 2013.
7. News: DuPree . David . Changing of guard not easy . May 4, 2004 . USA Today . https://web.archive.org/web/20140618070416/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/playoffs/2004-05-04-payton-triangle_x.htm . June 18, 2014 . live .
8. News: Adande . J. A. . West Side: Mike Brown's O is working . November 6, 2012 . ESPN.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20121109074847/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/8599363/west-side-princeton-offense-working-some-los-angeles-lakers-stars . November 9, 2012 . live .
9. News: Brown. Tim. Malone Out for a While. 29 January 2004. Los Angeles Times.
10. Web site: Bryant, Lakers on the Rise. April 15, 2004. Los Angeles Times.
11. Web site: Top Moments: Pistons shock NBA world, win championship in 2004. NBA.com.
12. Web site: Billups: Pistons 'ready to shock the world'. June 5, 2004. ESPN.com.
13. Web site: Youth and Defense Should Be Lakers' Mantra. June 17, 2004. Los Angeles Times.
14. Web site: PISTONS ARE A REAL CHAMPIONSHIP T-E-A-M. Ira. Winderman. Sun-Sentinel.com.
15. News: Coach could move to another Lakers job. 21 June 2004. ESPN. Associated Press.
16. News: Kobe remains with Lakers. 16 July 2004. ESPN. Associated Press.
17. Web site: Utah Jazz. CBS Sports. 2007-09-04.
18. Web site: Seattle Supersonics. CBS Sports. 2007-09-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20070826231320/http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/SEA. 26 August 2007 . live.
19. Web site: Lakers deal Payton, Fox to Celtics. Associated Press. August 7, 2004. Deseret News.
20. Web site: NBA. Billups, Pistons Swipe Home-Court Advantage. Led by their trademark daunting defense. 2007-09-04.
21. Web site: DETROIT PISTONS HISTORY. Basketball Tickets. 2007-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20070806215319/http://www.tickets-nba-basketball.com/pistons/history.htm. 2007-08-06. dead.
22. News: Lakers Facing Uphill Battle. Associated Press. 2004-06-13. Los Angeles Times. 2017-02-13. en-US. 0458-3035.
23. Web site: 2004 NBA Finals Game 4: Lakers vs Pistons, June 13, 2004. Basketball-Reference.com. 9 April 2023.