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1969–70  Los Angeles Lakers season
Head coach Joe Mullaney
Arena The Forum
Results
Record46–36 (.561)
PlaceDivision: 2nd ( Western)
Playoff finish NBA Finals
(lost to Knicks 3–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
< 1968–69 1970–71 >

The 1969–70 NBA season was the Lakers' 22nd season in the NBA and tenth season in Los Angeles. [1]

Offseason

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.[ citation needed]

Draft picks

  • 1st round, 12th pick – Willie McCarter, G, Drake University
  • 1st round, 15th pick – Rick Roberson, C, University of Cincinnati
  • 2nd round, 27th pick – Dick Garrett, G, Southern Illinois University

Roster

1969–70 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SF 22 Baylor, Elgin (C) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1934-09-16 Seattle
C 13 Chamberlain, Wilt (C) 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1936-08-21 Kansas
C 31 Counts, Mel 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1941-10-16 Oregon State
PG 21 Egan, Johnny 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1939-01-31 Providence
SF 24 Erickson, Keith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1944-04-19 UCLA
SG 20 Garrett, Dick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1947-01-31 Southern Illinois
PF 52 Hairston, Happy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1942-05-31 NYU
PF 30 Hewitt, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1944-08-08 USC
SF 33 Lynn, Mike 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1945-11-25 UCLA
SG 15 McCarter, Willie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1946-07-26 Drake
C 35 Roberson, Rick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 231 lb (105 kg) 1947-07-07 Cincinnati
PF 14 Tresvant, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1939-11-06 Seattle
PG 44 West, Jerry (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1938-05-28 West Virginia
Head coach

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: January 23, 1970

Regular season

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 Lakers finished 2nd in the division to Atlanta by 2 games, they were at full strength for the playoffs.

Season standings

W L PCT GB
x- Atlanta Hawks 48 34 .585
x- Los Angeles Lakers 46 36 .561 2
x- Chicago Bulls 39 43 .476 9
x- Phoenix Suns 39 43 .476 9
Seattle SuperSonics 36 46 .439 12
San Francisco Warriors 30 52 .366 18
San Diego Rockets 27 55 .329 21
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1969–70 NBA Records
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

Game log

1969–70 game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 17 @ Philadelphia 126–131 Jerry West (39) 0–1
2 October 18 @ New York 96–99 Jerry West (42) 0–2
3 October 21 @ Baltimore 142–137 (OT) Jerry West (39) 1–2
4 October 22 @ Cincinnati 116–109 Wilt Chamberlain (43) 2–2
5 October 24 Milwaukee 112–123 Elgin Baylor (26) 3–2
6 October 25 @ Seattle 130–106 Wilt Chamberlain (42) 4–2
7 October 26 Chicago 125–129 Wilt Chamberlain (37) 5–2
8 November 2 Cincinnati 124–116 Jerry West (27) 5–3
9 November 7 Phoenix 122–120 Wilt Chamberlain (33) 5–4
10 November 9 New York 112–102 Jerry West (28) 5–5
11 November 11 Detroit 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 San Diego 98–100 Jerry West (37) 10–7
18 November 22 @ San Francisco 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 Atlanta 104–103 Elgin Baylor (36) 13–14
28 December 9 @ Philadelphia 99–123 Willie McCarter (21) 13–15
29 December 10 @ Boston 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

Playoffs

1970 playoff game log
Division Semi-finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 March 25 Phoenix W 128–112 Elgin Baylor (32) Wilt Chamberlain (19) Elgin Baylor (10) The Forum
15,046
1–0
2 March 29 Phoenix L 101–114 Jerry West (33) Wilt Chamberlain (25) Jerry West (11) The Forum
17,501
1–1
3 April 2 @ Phoenix L 98–112 Jerry West (31) Wilt Chamberlain (12) Chamberlain, West (7) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,324
1–2
4 April 4 @ Phoenix L 102–112 Wilt Chamberlain (29) Wilt Chamberlain (19) Keith Erickson (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,356
1–3
5 April 5 Phoenix W 138–121 Chamberlain, West (36) Mel Counts (17) Jerry West (18) The Forum
17,475
2–3
6 April 7 @ Phoenix W 104–93 Jerry West (35) Wilt Chamberlain (26) Wilt Chamberlain (11) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12,386
3–3
7 April 9 Phoenix W 129–94 Wilt Chamberlain (30) Wilt Chamberlain (27) Jerry West (15) The Forum
17,519
4–3
Division finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 12 @ Atlanta W 119–115 Jerry West (38) Wilt Chamberlain (17) Wilt Chamberlain (8) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,197
1–0
2 April 14 @ Atlanta W 105–94 Chamberlain, West (24) Wilt Chamberlain (24) Keith Erickson (7) Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,197
2–0
3 April 17 Atlanta W 115–114 (OT) Jerry West (35) Wilt Chamberlain (26) Jerry West (13) The Forum
17,183
3–0
4 April 19 Atlanta W 133–114 Jerry West (39) Wilt Chamberlain (21) Jerry West (12) The Forum
17,410
4–0
NBA Finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 April 24 @ New York L 112–124 Jerry West (33) Wilt Chamberlain (24) Wilt Chamberlain (5) Madison Square Garden
19,500
0–1
2 April 27 @ New York W 105–103 Jerry West (34) Wilt Chamberlain (24) Garrett, Erickson (6) Madison Square Garden
19,500
1–1
3 April 29 New York L 108–111 (OT) Jerry West (34) Wilt Chamberlain (26) Elgin Baylor (11) The Forum
17,500
1–2
4 May 1 New York W 121–115 (OT) Jerry West (37) Wilt Chamberlain (25) Jerry West (18) The Forum
17,509
2–2
5 May 4 @ New York L 100–107 Wilt Chamberlain (22) Wilt Chamberlain (19) Keith Erickson (6) Madison Square Garden
19,500
2–3
6 May 6 New York W 135–113 Wilt Chamberlain (45) Wilt Chamberlain (27) Jerry West (13) The Forum
17,509
3–3
7 May 8 @ New York L 99–113 Jerry West (28) Wilt Chamberlain (24) Keith Erickson (6) Madison Square Garden
19,500
3–4
1970 schedule

Awards and records

References