1979–80 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1979-80 NBA season was the Lakers' 32nd season in the NBA and the 20th season in Los Angeles. It featured a 20-year old rookie Magic Johnson leading the Lakers to their seventh NBA Championship (second in Los Angeles), defeating the Philadelphia 76ers led by Julius Erving in six games in the NBA Finals, which was the first NBA Finals with a three-point line. This was also the team's first season under the ownership of Jerry Buss. Magic's season represented the birth of the Showtime Lakers.

Only 13 games into his tenure, coach Jack McKinney suffered a near-fatal bicycling accident November 8. General manager Bill Sharman elevated assistant Paul Westhead to head coach and hired former Laker Pat Riley as assistant coach.

Regular season

 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * October 12
 * @ San Diego
 * W 103-102
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * 3 players tied (4)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 8,503
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * October 16
 * Chicago
 * W 105-96
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Johnson & Nixon (8)
 * The Forum
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 3
 * October 17
 * @ Seattle
 * L 110-112
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (9)
 * Norm Nixon (5)
 * Kingdome
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4
 * October 19
 * Portland
 * L 82-99
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * The Forum
 * 2-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * October 21
 * Seattle
 * W 106-97
 * 3 players tied (23)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum
 * 3–2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 6
 * October 23
 * Utah
 * W 102-87
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Cooper (17)
 * Jim Chones (16)
 * Cooper & Nixon (7)
 * The Forum
 * 4–2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 7
 * October 26
 * Kansas City
 * W 116-104
 * Magic Johnson (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum
 * 5–2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 8
 * October 28
 * Golden State
 * W 97-90
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum
 * 6–2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 9
 * October 30
 * @ Chicago
 * W 111-105
 * Magic Johnson (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Magic Johnson (6)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 7–2
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 10
 * October 31
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 106-110
 * Norm Nixon (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * MECCA Arena
 * 7–3


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 11
 * November 2
 * Phoenix
 * W 112-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum
 * 8–3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 12
 * November 6
 * San Diego
 * W 127-112
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum
 * 9–3
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 13
 * November 7
 * @ Golden State
 * L 109-126
 * Jamaal Wilkes (18)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
 * Magic Johnson (6)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 9–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 14
 * November 9
 * Denver
 * W 126-122 (OT)
 * Magic Johnson (31)
 * Spencer Haywood (12)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum
 * 10–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 15
 * November 11
 * Cleveland
 * W 140-126
 * Jamaal Wilkes (25)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * The Forum
 * 11–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 16
 * November 13
 * @ San Diego
 * W 137-91
 * Magic Johnson (22)
 * Ford & Haywood (8)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (6)
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * 12–4
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 17
 * November 15
 * @ Kansas City
 * L 108-114
 * Jamaal Wilkes (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Magic Johnson (7)
 * Municipal Auditorium
 * 12–5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 18
 * November 16
 * @ Denver
 * W 135-128 (OT)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (12)
 * Johnson & Nixon (11)
 * McNichols Sports Arena
 * 13–5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 19
 * November 18
 * Indiana
 * W 127-104
 * Jamaal Wilkes (21)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum
 * 14–5
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 20
 * November 20
 * @ Portland
 * L 99-114
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Norm Nixon (6)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 14–6
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 21
 * November 21
 * @ Seattle
 * L 110-119
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * Kingdome
 * 14–7
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 22
 * November 23
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 112-126
 * Magic Johnson (25)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (6)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 14–8
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 23
 * November 25
 * Kansas City
 * W 111-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * The Forum
 * 15–8
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 24
 * November 27
 * @ Utah
 * W 122-118
 * Jamaal Wilkes (29)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Salt Palace
 * 16–8
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 25
 * November 30
 * Chicago
 * L 100-107
 * Norm Nixon (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * The Forum
 * 16–9


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 26
 * December 2
 * Milwaukee
 * W 116-103
 * Norm Nixon (25)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * The Forum
 * 17–9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 27
 * December 4
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 127-121
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Johnson & Wilkes (9)
 * HemisFair Arena
 * 18–9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 28
 * December 5
 * @ Houston
 * W 116-114
 * Norm Nixon (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Summit
 * 19–9
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 29
 * December 7
 * San Diego
 * L 108-116
 * Magic Johnson (31)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * The Forum
 * 19–10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 30
 * December 9
 * Denver
 * W 131-118
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (9)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Forum
 * 20–10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * December 14
 * Detroit
 * W 138-122
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * The Forum
 * 21–10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 32
 * December 16
 * San Antonio
 * W 121-119
 * Nixon & Wilkes (27)
 * Jim Chones (11)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum
 * 22–10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 33
 * December 18
 * @ Chicago
 * W 129-118
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (39)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 23–10
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 34
 * December 19
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 112-119
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (8)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * Omni Coliseum
 * 23–11
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 35
 * December 21
 * Golden State
 * W 114-108
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum
 * 24–11
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 36
 * December 22
 * @ Denver
 * L 128-130
 * Jamaal Wilkes (24)
 * Jim Chones (8)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * McNichols Sports Arena
 * 24–12
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 37
 * December 23
 * Seattle
 * W 102-97
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum
 * 25–12
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 38
 * December 26
 * @ Kansas City
 * L 111-118
 * Johnson & Wilkes (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Municipal Auditorium
 * 25–13
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 39
 * December 27
 * @ Utah
 * W 124-116
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Salt Palace
 * 26–13
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 40
 * December 28
 * Boston
 * W 123-105
 * Magic Johnson (23)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (18)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 27–13
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 41
 * December 30
 * Phoenix
 * W 113-105
 * Jamaal Wilkes (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * The Forum
 * 28–13


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 42
 * January 2
 * @ Indiana
 * W 127-120
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Haywood (7)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (8)
 * Market Square Arena
 * 29–13
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 43
 * January 6
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 103-113
 * Jamaal Wilkes (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * MECCA Arena
 * 29–14
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 44
 * January 9
 * @ Washington
 * L 101-103
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Norm Nixon (6)
 * Capital Centre
 * 29–15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 45
 * January 11
 * @ Detroit
 * W 123-100
 * Jamaal Wilkes (27)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Magic Johnson (7)
 * Pontiac Silverdome
 * 30–15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 46
 * January 13
 * @ Boston
 * W 100-98
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * Boston Garden
 * 31–15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 47
 * January 15
 * Utah
 * W 112-99
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (10)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)
 * The Forum
 * 32–15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 48
 * January 16
 * @ Golden State
 * W 97-96
 * Jamaal Wilkes (27)
 * Spencer Haywood (11)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 33–15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 49
 * January 18
 * Atlanta
 * W 108-102
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum
 * 34–15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 50
 * January 21
 * New York
 * W 132-114
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum
 * 35–15
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 51
 * January 24
 * @ Portland
 * L 103-111
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 35–16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 52
 * January 25
 * Philadelphia
 * W 124-103
 * Jamaal Wilkes (30)
 * Michael Cooper (13)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * The Forum
 * 36–16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 53
 * January 27
 * Milwaukee
 * W 112-102
 * Magic Johnson (25)
 * Jim Chones (12)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * The Forum
 * 37–16
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 54
 * January 29
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 153-154 (4 OT)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Richfield Coliseum
 * 37–17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 55
 * January 31
 * @ Chicago
 * W 107-97
 * Jamaal Wilkes (28)
 * Jim Chones (12)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 38–17


 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 56
 * February 5
 * @ New York
 * W 116-105
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (17)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 39–17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 57
 * February 8
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 125-120 (OT)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Johnson & Nixon (13)
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * 40–17
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 58
 * February 10
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 104-105
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (8)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Spectrum
 * 40–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 59
 * February 13
 * Portland
 * W 129-100
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * The Forum
 * 41–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 60
 * February 15
 * Kansas City
 * W 114-100
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (10)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * The Forum
 * 42–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 61
 * February 17
 * Washington
 * W 111-107
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum
 * 43–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 62
 * February 20
 * @ Denver
 * W 116-103
 * Magic Johnson (30)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Norm Nixon (6)
 * McNichols Sports Arena
 * 44–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 63
 * February 22
 * New Jersey
 * W 132-110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (22)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Chones (14)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * The Forum
 * 45–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 64
 * February 24
 * Houston
 * W 112-100
 * Jamaal Wilkes (29)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * The Forum
 * 46–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 65
 * February 26
 * Seattle
 * W 131-108
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Wilkes (11)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * The Forum
 * 47–18
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 66
 * February 29
 * Milwaukee
 * L 117-126 (OT)
 * Norm Nixon (30)
 * 3 players tied (11)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * The Forum
 * 47–19


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 67
 * March 2
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 115-123
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 47–20
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 68
 * March 4
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 127-124
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * MECCA Arena
 * 48–20
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 69
 * March 5
 * @ Kansas City
 * W 117-101
 * Magic Johnson (28)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7)
 * Kemper Arena
 * 49–20
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 70
 * March 7
 * Chicago
 * W 101-99
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Magic Johnson (18)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * The Forum
 * 50–20
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 71
 * March 9
 * @ Portland
 * L 121-142
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 50–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 72
 * March 11
 * @ San Diego
 * W 123-106
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (12)
 * Magic Johnson (8)
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * 51–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 73
 * March 12
 * Portland
 * W 102-94
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Forum
 * 52–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 74
 * March 14
 * Denver
 * W 132-126
 * Jamaal Wilkes (27)
 * Mark Landsberger (16)
 * Michael Cooper (8)
 * The Forum
 * 53–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 75
 * March 16
 * Phoenix
 * W 128-106
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * The Forum
 * 54–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 76
 * March 18
 * Golden State
 * W 118-100
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (23)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (11)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * The Forum
 * 55–21
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 77
 * March 19
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 108-112
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (29)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 55–22
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 78
 * March 22
 * @ Seattle
 * W 97-92
 * Norm Nixon (23)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
 * Norm Nixon (10)
 * Kingdome
 * 56–22
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 79
 * March 23
 * Utah
 * W 101-96
 * Jamaal Wilkes (22)
 * Jamaal Wilkes (11)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum
 * 57–22
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 80
 * March 27
 * @ Utah
 * W 97-95
 * Jamaal Wilkes (21)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (11)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * Salt Palace
 * 58–22
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 81
 * March 28
 * San Diego
 * W 126-88
 * Magic Johnson (22)
 * Mark Landsberger (10)
 * 3 players tied (5)
 * The Forum
 * 59–22
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 82
 * March 30
 * @ Golden State
 * W 95-93
 * Norm Nixon (18)
 * Magic Johnson (12)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 60–22

Playoffs

 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * April 8
 * Phoenix
 * W 119–110
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (30)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (12)
 * Magic Johnson (16)
 * The Forum 15,892
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * April 9
 * Phoenix
 * W 131–128 (OT)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (32)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum 14,286
 * 2–0
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * April 11
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 108–105
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (37)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
 * 3–0
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4
 * April 13
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 101–127
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (13)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
 * 3–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * April 15
 * Phoenix
 * W 126–101
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (35)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Norm Nixon (13)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 4–1


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 1
 * April 22
 * Seattle
 * L 107–108
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26)
 * 3 players tied (8)
 * Norm Nixon (11)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 0–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * April 23
 * Seattle
 * W 108–99
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16)
 * Norm Nixon (12)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 1–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * April 25
 * @ Seattle
 * W 104–100
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
 * Cooper & Johnson (10)
 * Hec Edmundson Pavilion 8,524
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 4
 * April 27
 * @ Seattle
 * W 98–93
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25)
 * Johnson & Wilkes (13)
 * Norm Nixon (8)
 * Hec Edmundson Pavilion 8,524
 * 3–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * April 30
 * Seattle
 * W 111–105
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 4–1


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * May 4
 * Philadelphia
 * W 109–102
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 1–0
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 2
 * May 7
 * Philadelphia
 * L 104–107
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Magic Johnson (11)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 1–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * May 10
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 111–101
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (14)
 * Norm Nixon (7)
 * The Spectrum 18,726
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4
 * May 11
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 102–105
 * Magic Johnson (28)
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11)
 * Magic Johnson (9)
 * The Spectrum 18,726
 * 2–2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * May 14
 * Philadelphia
 * W 108–103
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40)
 * Abdul-Jabbar & Johnson (15)
 * Magic Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 3–2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 6
 * May 16
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 123–107
 * Magic Johnson (42)
 * Magic Johnson (15)
 * Norm Nixon (9)
 * The Spectrum 18,726
 * 4–2

Magic Johnson
Having won everything possible at the college level, Johnson decided to leave college two years early and declared himself eligible for the 1979 NBA draft. The New Orleans Jazz originally had the first draft pick, but they had traded the pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for NBA star Gail Goodrich. As a result, the Lakers drafted Johnson with the first overall pick, signing him for a sizable salary of US$600,000 a year.

Johnson joined a franchise which had gone through major changes. The Lakers featured a new coach in Jack McKinney, a new owner in Jerry Buss, and several new players. However, Johnson was most excited about the prospect of playing with his personal idol, the 7–2 center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who would go on to become the second leading scorer in NBA history. From the first game, Johnson displayed his trademark enthusiasm for the game. When Abdul-Jabbar hit a last-second free throw line hook shot to win against the San Diego Clippers, Johnson ran around the court, high-fiving and hugging everybody, causing concern that the "Buck" (as Johnson was called by Lakers announcer Chick Hearn for his youth) would burn himself out. However, in that 1979–80 NBA season, the rookie proved them wrong. Johnson introduced an uptempo style of basketball which the NBA described as a mix of "no-look passes off the fastbreak, pinpoint alley-oops from halfcourt, spinning feeds and overhand bullets under the basket through triple teams". Fellow Lakers guard Michael Cooper even stated that: "There have been times when he [Johnson] has thrown passes and I wasn't sure where he was going. Then one of our guys catches the ball and scores, and I run back up the floor convinced that he must've thrown it through somebody." This style of basketball became known as "Showtime". Given Johnson was also a prolific scorer and rebounder, he soon led the league in triple-doubles, racking up 10-points-10-rebounds-10-assists games in a rate only second to NBA Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson. In addition, he expressed a raw, childlike enthusiasm which further endeared him to the fans.

Johnson's average of 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game was enough to make the All-Rookie Team and become a starter on the All-Star Team, even though the NBA Rookie of the Year Award went to his rival Larry Bird, who had joined the Boston Celtics. The Lakers compiled a 60–22 win–loss record, and with Paul Westhead replacing coach McKinney as a coach after a serious bicycle accident 13 games into the season, the Lakers reached the 1980 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Against the fierce resistance of Sixers Hall-of-Fame forward Julius "Doctor J" Erving and Darryl Dawkins, the Lakers took a 3–2 lead before Abdul-Jabbar went down with a sprained ankle. Coach Westhead decided to put point guard Johnson at pivot instead, and on the Sixers' home court, the rookie dominated with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, lifting the Lakers to a 123–107 win and winning the NBA Finals MVP award. The NBA regards Johnson's clutch performance as one of the finest individual games ever. Although only twenty years old, he had already won every trophy at the high school, college and professional levels. Johnson also became one of only four players to win NCAA and NBA championships in consecutive years.

Regular season
* Stats after being traded to the Lakers. †Stats before being traded from the Lakers.

Awards and records

 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
 * Magic Johnson, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, All-NBA First Team
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA All-Defensive First Team
 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA All-Star Game
 * Magic Johnson, NBA All-Star Game
 * Magic Johnson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team