1991–92 Los Angeles Lakers season

Draft picks

Main article: 1991 NBA draft

Roster

• Mike Dunleavy Sr.
• Bill Bertka
• Jim Eyen
• Randy Pfund

Regular season

Season standings

:y - clinched division title :x - clinched playoff spot

:z - clinched division title :y - clinched division title :x - clinched playoff spot

Season summary

The Lakers were the first team in NBA history to start the season with three straight overtime games, with their season opener being a double-overtime loss to the Houston Rockets. They went 1-2 during that time. After a third loss, to the Phoenix Suns, they went on a nine-game winning streak to finish November with an 11–4 record, which would be their longest winning streak of the season. They struggled in February, going 3–9, with a seven-game losing streak. They would finish the season with a 43–39 record, placing sixth in the Pacific Division and clinching the eighth and final seed for the playoffs.

Game log

Regular season

|- | 1 | November 1 | @ Houston | L 121-126 (2OT) | James Worthy (37) | A.C. Green (16) | James Worthy (7) | The Summit 16,611

Playoffs

|- | 1 | April 23 | @ Portland | L 102–115 | Scott & Teagle (22) | A.C. Green (10) | Byron Scott (5) | Memorial Coliseum 12,888

Player statistics

Regular season

|- | 36 || 2 || 10.6 || .466 || .000 || .610 || 2.1 || .6 || .3 || .2 || 3.8 |- | 7 || 0 || 8.3 || .222 || .200 || .667 || .7 || 1.7 || .1 || .0 || 1.6 |- | 81 || 47 || 23.2 || .448 || .000 || .619 || 5.2 || .7 || .7 || 2.0 || 7.1 |- | 36 || 18 || 27.2 || .495 || .263 || .768 || 6.9 || 1.7 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 11.3 |- | 82 || 53 || 35.4 || .476 || .214 || .744 || 9.3 || 1.4 || 1.1 || .4 || 13.6 |- | 49 || 9 || 8.0 || .369 || || .483 || 1.9 || .1 || .1 || .2 || 1.6 |- | 20 || 0 || 4.0 || .281 || || .800 || .8 || .2 || .3 || .2 || 1.3 |- | 63 || 63 || 37.0 || .450 || .217 || .817 || 8.8 || 2.2 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 16.5 |- | 9 || 0 || 8.7 || .407 || .000 || .875 || 2.1 || 1.0 || .6 || .0 || 3.2 |- | 82 || 82 || 32.7 || .458 || .344 || .838 || 3.8 || 2.8 || 1.3 || .3 || 14.9 |- | 63 || 0 || 13.0 || .399 || .000 || .653 || 1.2 || 1.7 || .6 || .1 || 4.4 |- | 42 || 0 || 11.2 || .399 || .154 || .615 || .6 || 1.9 || .3 || .1 || 3.0 |- | 82 || 0 || 19.5 || .452 || .250 || .766 || 2.2 || 1.4 || .8 || .1 || 10.7 |- | 82 || 82 || 37.4 || .489 || .323 || .831 || 3.1 || 7.2 || 2.0 || .2 || 15.1 |- | 54 || 54 || 39.0 || .447 || .209 || .814 || 5.6 || 4.7 || 1.4 || .4 || 19.9 |}

Playoffs

|- | 3 || 0 || 14.7 || .421 || .000 || .500 || 3.7 || .7 || .0 || .7 || 6.3 |- | 4 || 2 || 29.3 || .378 || || .667 || 6.3 || 1.5 || .8 || 1.5 || 10.0 |- | 4 || 4 || 35.8 || .349 || .000 || .900 || 5.5 || 3.8 || 1.3 || .8 || 9.8 |- | 4 || 4 || 38.3 || .410 || || .826 || 9.0 || 1.8 || 1.8 || .0 || 12.8 |- | 2 || 0 || 6.0 || .250 || || || .5 || .5 || .0 || .0 || 1.0 |- | 3 || 0 || 8.0 || .300 || || .625 || 2.0 || .3 || 1.0 || .3 || 3.7 |- | 4 || 4 || 37.0 || .500 || .583 || .889 || 2.5 || 3.5 || 1.5 || .3 || 18.8 |- | 4 || 0 || 10.0 || .300 || .000 || .500 || .5 || 1.3 || 1.0 || .0 || 1.8 |- | 3 || 0 || 5.3 || .250 || || .750 || .3 || 1.3 || .3 || .0 || 1.7 |- | 4 || 2 || 31.5 || .491 || || .800 || 3.3 || 2.0 || 1.3 || .5 || 17.5 |- | 4 || 4 || 40.5 || .522 || .667 || .750 || 2.0 || 4.3 || .5 || .0 || 14.8 |}

• † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Lakers only.

Player statistics citation:

Magic’s retirement

Starting point guard Magic Johnson missed the first three games with an unspecified "stomach ailment". On November 7, 1991, Johnson announced that he had tested positive for HIV and would immediately retire. Johnson discovered his condition after attempting to purchase life insurance, and failing the HIV test conducted by Lakers team doctor. During the press conference, he stated that his wife Cookie and unborn child were HIV negative, and that he would become an advocate for HIV education and prevention. The NBA world was shocked; U. S. president George H. W. Bush said: "For me, Magic is a hero, a hero for anyone who loves sports." Johnson was still listed on the roster, as an injured reserve, and continued to be paid.

Johnson was voted in on the West team for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. Columnists and other people speculated on whether he would play. Because HIV is spread through blood, some players voiced concerns about being infected if Johnson were to get a bleeding wound and touch them. Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone was the most vocal player to express concern. Nevertheless, Johnson played in the All-Star Game, leading the West to a 153–113 win and being named the All-Star Most Valuable Player (MVP). The game ended with 14.5 seconds remaining; when Johnson drained a last-minute three-pointer, other players ran on the court to congratulate Johnson and exchange high-fives. It would be Johnson's last game until he made a brief return at the end of the 1995–96 season.

Magic and the Dream Team

Despite being HIV positive, Johnson was chosen for the U.S. team for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. The squad was quickly dubbed the Dream Team because of its abundance of NBA stars such as Jordan, Karl Malone and Bird, but Johnson was the main attraction. At the Olympic Opening Ceremony, German tennis player Steffi Graf ordered colleague Barbara Rittner to photograph her with Johnson, and in the match against Spain, Spanish captain Juan Antonio San Epifanio and his squad demonstratively hugged him, showing that his HIV infection did not matter to them. During the tournament, Johnson struggled with knee problems and played for only a fraction of the games. The point guard position was mostly run by Utah Jazz all-time assist leader John Stockton, but Johnson's presence alone was enough to provoke standing ovations from the crowd. He used the spotlight to attempt to inspire HIV positive people in several interviews.

Awards and records

• The Lakers with Magic Johnson on the team would win the 1991 McDonald's Open by winning games against France's Limoges CSP and Spain's Montigalà Joventut.

All-Star

• Magic Johnson was given the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award after his return from retirement at the 1992 NBA All-Star Game.

Season

• Magic Johnson was given the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

References

References

1. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1991.html 1990-91 Los Angeles Lakers]
2. Stevenson, Richard W.. (November 8, 1991). "BASKETBALL; Magic Johnson Ends His Career, Saying He Has AIDS Infection". The New York Times.
3. Heisler, Mark. (November 8, 1991). "Magic Johnson's Career Ended by HIV-Positive Test: Sports: The Announcement Stuns His Public. The Lakers Star Emphasizes That He Does Not Have AIDS. "I Plan to Go on Living for a Long Time", He Says". Los Angeles Times.
4. (November 9, 1991). "Johnson's HIV Caused by Sex". The Washington Post.
5. Heisler, Mark. (October 3, 1991). "Lakers Acquire Seattle's Threatt: NBA: They Trade Three Second-Round Picks for Veteran Guard. Drew, Thompson Waived". Los Angeles Times.
6. (October 5, 1991). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; An Expensive Rookie". The New York Times.
7. (20 October 1991). "Lakers Get the Better of a Close Call, 116-114 : Pro basketball: The NBA remains unbeaten in McDonald’s Open, but it gets by with a little help from its friends". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
8. (21 October 1991). "LA Lakers bring the NBA's flair to Paris". San Angelo Standard-Times.
9. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1992". Basketball-Reference.
10. "1991–92 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
11. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/ Los Angeles Lakers Franchise Index at basketball-reference.com]
12. (March 4, 1992). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Lakers Lose Worthy". The New York Times.
13. Harvey, Randy. (March 19, 1992). "Worthy to Have Knee Surgery". Los Angeles Times.
14. (March 21, 1992). "Worthy Out for Season After Knee Surgery". The Washington Post.
15. Heisler, Mark. (November 13, 1991). "Lakers' Pain Is Real, Too: Pro Basketball: Lingering Injuries to Divac, Smith Add to the Team's Emotional Burden. No Trades Are Expected Soon". Los Angeles Times.
16. Heisler, Mark. (November 28, 1991). "Divac Out for at Least Six Weeks". Los Angeles Times.
17. "1991–92 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
18. Almond, Elliott. (January 24, 1992). "Opponents Weigh the Risk of Playing Against Magic: Basketball: AIDS Researchers Say Chances of Transmitting Disease Minor. But Chaney Says Johnson, Voted to the All-Star Team, Shouldn't Play". Los Angeles Times.
19. Heisler, Mark. (February 9, 1992). "Comeback or Farewell, a Magical All-Star Game". Los Angeles Times.
20. (September 13, 2021). "1992 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
21. Brown, Clifton. (February 10, 1992). "For One Stirring Afternoon, Magic Johnson Dazzles Again". The New York Times.
22. Howard-Cooper, Scott. (February 10, 1992). "Who Else Could Have Been MVP?: Pro Basketball: Players, Coaches Are Moved by Johnson's Presence Before the Game, and by His Three-Point Punctuation to History". Los Angeles Times.
23. "1992 NBA All-Star Game: West 153, East 113". Basketball-Reference.
24. "1991–92 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
25. (May 2, 1992). "KING CASE AFTERMATH: A CITY IN CRISIS: A Status Report". Los Angeles Times.
26. (May 2, 1992). "Riots Force Lakers, Clippers From L.A.". Tampa Bay Times.
27. Markazi, Arash. (April 26, 2012). "1992 L.A. Riots: Chaos, Hope and Hoops". ESPN.
28. (May 4, 1992). "PRO BASKETBALL; Long Lakers Season Comes to a Close". The New York Times.
29. Heisler, Mark. (May 4, 1992). "Lakers Haven't the Vegas Idea How to Slow Runnin' Blazers: Game 4: Portland Is Simply Too Much for L.A. to Handle as Lakers' Strange Season Comes to an End, 102-76". Los Angeles Times.
30. "1992 NBA Western Conference First Round: Lakers vs. Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference.
31. Brown, Clifton. (June 15, 1992). "With Jordan Starring, Bulls Make It a Rerun". The New York Times.
32. Heisler, Mark. (June 15, 1992). "Bull Reserves Take Title by Horns: Game 6: Along with Pippen, They Go on a Late 14-2 Run That Carries Chicago to a 97-93 Victory". Los Angeles Times.
33. "1992 NBA Finals: Trail Blazers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference.
34. Cherwa, John. (May 12, 1992). "Bucks Reportedly Hire Dunleavy: Pro Basketball: Laker Coach for Two Seasons Said to Be Leaving to Become Milwaukee Coach and General Manager". Los Angeles Times.
35. (May 19, 1992). "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Pfund Chosen to Succeed Dunleavy". The New York Times.
36. (November 13, 1991). "Magic Blames Weakness in Numbers: HIV: He Says He Can't Pinpoint When He Was Infected, Because There Were Many Women. He Says He Had No Homosexual Experiences". Los Angeles Times.
37. (November 9, 1991). "On Capitol Hill, the Battle for AIDS Funds Heats Up". [[The New York Times]].
38. Bork (1994), pp. 90-94
39. (January 30, 1996). "Johnson Finally Says the Magic Words: 'It's On'". [[The New York Times]].
40. Brown, Clifton. (September 22, 1991). "BASKETBALL; U.S., in No Surprise, Will Go with the Best". The New York Times.