2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 2000–01 NBA season was the Lakers' 53rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 41st in the city of Los Angeles. The Lakers entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals in six games, winning their twelfth NBA championship. During the off-season, the Lakers acquired Horace Grant from the Seattle SuperSonics. Grant won three championships with the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s. The team also signed free agent Isaiah Rider, who was released by the Atlanta Hawks during the previous season due to off the court troubles, and signed Greg Foster, who had two NBA Finals appearances with the Utah Jazz. Derek Fisher only played just 20 games due to a stress fracture in his right foot, which forced him to miss the first 62 games of the regular season. The Lakers held a 31–16 record at the All-Star break, and won their final eight games, finishing the regular season with a 56–26 record, and won the Pacific Division over the rival Sacramento Kings by one game.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were both selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game,  but O'Neal did not play due to a foot injury. The Lakers clinched the #2 seed in the playoffs. O’Neal averaged 28.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Bryant averaged 28.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, Fisher provided the team with 11.5 points and 4.4 assists per game, while Rick Fox contributed 9.6 points per game, and Grant provided with 8.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Both O'Neal and Bryant were also selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, as O'Neal finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting with 7 first-place votes.

In the playoffs, the Lakers swept the Portland Trail Blazers in three straight games in the Western Conference First Round,   swept the 3rd-seeded Kings in four straight games in the Western Conference Semi-finals,    then swept the top–seeded San Antonio Spurs also in four straight games in the Western Conference Finals. They went on to win the NBA Finals, 4–1 against regular season MVP Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers, earning the franchise its 13th NBA championship. O'Neal was named Finals MVP for the second straight year. It was the second of the Lakers' three-peat championships to begin the millennium. The Lakers would finish with the then-best postseason record in NBA history, posting a 15–1 record, suffering their only loss in a Game 1 overtime home loss to the 76ers in the NBA Finals, 107–101. That record would last for 16 years until the Golden State Warriors went 16–1 in the 2017 playoffs.

Following the season, Grant re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Orlando Magic, while Rider signed with the Denver Nuggets,  Tyronn Lue signed with the Washington Wizards,  Foster was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,  and Ron Harper, who only played just 47 games due to knee injuries, retired.

Pre-season

 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 1
 * October 11
 * Charlotte
 * L 90-103
 * Kobe Bryant (19)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (9)
 * Tyronn Lue (5)
 * Lakefront Arena (New Orleans, LA) 16,994
 * 0-1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 2
 * October 12
 * Washington
 * L 87-90
 * Kobe Bryant (19)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (6)
 * Shawn Respert (4)
 * Pyramid Arena (Memphis, TN) 16,529
 * 0-2
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 3
 * October 17
 * Phoenix
 * L 78-86
 * Shaquille O'Neal (28)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * Isaiah Rider (4)
 * Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA) 16,512
 * 0-3
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4
 * October 19
 * Cleveland
 * L 84-91
 * Kobe Bryant (18)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (8)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (4)
 * Staples Center 15,717
 * 0-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * October 20
 * Seattle
 * W 103-98
 * Kobe Bryant (22)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (19)
 * Fox & Rider (4)
 * Staples Center 15,570
 * 1-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 6
 * October 22
 * Golden State
 * W 94-87
 * Kobe Bryant (25)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (10)
 * Kobe Bryant (5)
 * San Diego Sports Arena (San Diego, CA) 13,252
 * 2-4
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 7
 * October 23
 * Sacramento
 * L 111-118
 * Kobe Bryant (29)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (10)
 * Ron Harper (4)
 * Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV) 17,561
 * 2-5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 8
 * October 26
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 98-84
 * Kobe Bryant (22)
 * Horace Grant (11)
 * Rick Fox (7)
 * American West Arena 17,308
 * 3-5

Regular season

 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * October 31
 * @ Portland
 * W 96–86
 * Shaquille O'Neal (36)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * Ron Harper (6)
 * Rose Garden 20,270
 * 1–0


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 2
 * November 1
 * Utah
 * L 92–97
 * Shaquille O'Neal (34)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * Isaiah Rider (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 1–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * November 4
 * @ Vancouver
 * W 98–89
 * Shaquille O'Neal (27)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * 3 players tied (5)
 * General Motors Place 18,183
 * 2–1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 4
 * November 5
 * L.A. Clippers
 * W 108–103
 * Shaquille O'Neal (39)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 3–1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 5
 * November 7
 * @ Houston
 * L 74–84
 * Shaquille O'Neal (24)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (7)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (5)
 * Compaq Center 14,473
 * 3–2
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 6
 * November 8
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 81–91
 * Kobe Bryant (32)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (17)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Alamodome 26,065
 * 3–3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 7
 * November 12
 * Houston
 * W 105–99
 * Kobe Bryant (37)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * Brian Shaw (4)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 4–3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 8
 * November 14
 * Denver
 * W 119–103
 * Shaquille O'Neal (34)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (19)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 5–3
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 9
 * November 16
 * @ Sacramento
 * W 112–110 (OT)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (33)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (16)
 * Brian Shaw (9)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 6–3
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 10
 * November 18
 * @ Denver
 * L 86–87
 * Kobe Bryant (32)
 * Horace Grant (12)
 * 4 players tied (4)
 * Pepsi Center 19,513
 * 6–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 11
 * November 19
 * Chicago
 * W 104–96
 * Kobe Bryant (22)
 * Kobe Bryant (12)
 * Brian Shaw (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 7–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 12
 * November 22
 * Golden State
 * W 111–91
 * Kobe Bryant (31)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Staples Center 18,208
 * 8–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 13
 * November 24
 * Minnesota
 * W 115–108
 * Kobe Bryant (29)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (16)
 * Bryant & O'Neal (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 9–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 14
 * November 27
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * W 98–83
 * Kobe Bryant (29)
 * 3 players tied (7)
 * Rick Fox (5)
 * Staples Center 20,039
 * 10–4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 15
 * November 28
 * Indiana Pacers
 * W 124–107
 * Kobe Bryant (37)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Fox & O'Neal (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 11–4
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 16
 * November 30
 * @ Seattle
 * L 88–121
 * Shaquille O'Neal (23)
 * Horace Grant (9)
 * Rick Fox (5)
 * KeyArena 17,072
 * 11–5


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 17
 * December 1
 * San Antonio
 * W 109–100
 * Kobe Bryant (43)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (16)
 * Bryant & Shaw (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 12–5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 18
 * December 3
 * Dallas
 * W 99–97
 * Kobe Bryant (38)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 13–5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 19
 * December 5
 * Philadelphia
 * W 96–85
 * Kobe Bryant (36)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (20)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 14–5
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 20
 * December 6
 * @ Golden State
 * L 122–125 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (51)
 * Harper & O'Neal (10)
 * Ron Harper (10)
 * The Arena in Oakland 19,273
 * 14–6
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 21
 * December 8
 * Seattle
 * L 95–103
 * Shaquille O'Neal (26)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (17)
 * Grant & O'Neal (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 14–7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 22
 * December 10
 * Detroit
 * W 112–88
 * Bryant & O'Neal (26)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (12)
 * Bryant & Fox (9)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 15–7
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 23
 * December 12
 * Milwaukee
 * L 105–109
 * Shaquille O'Neal (26)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (17)
 * Bryant & O'Neal (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 15–8
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 24
 * December 13
 * @ Portland
 * L 86–96
 * Kobe Bryant (35)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (13)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * Rose Garden 20,491
 * 15–9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 25
 * December 15
 * Vancouver
 * W 98–76
 * Horace Grant (19)
 * Horace Grant (13)
 * Grant & Harper (5)
 * Staples Center 18,211
 * 16–9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 26
 * December 17
 * @ Toronto
 * W 104–101 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (40)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (8)
 * Rick Fox (5)
 * Air Canada Centre 19,800
 * 17–9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 27
 * December 19
 * @ Miami
 * W 81–79
 * Kobe Bryant (23)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * American Airlines Arena 19,600
 * 18–9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 28
 * December 21
 * @ Houston
 * W 99–94
 * Kobe Bryant (45)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (12)
 * Brian Shaw (7)
 * Compaq Center 16,285
 * 19–9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 29
 * December 22
 * @ Dallas
 * W 108–103
 * Kobe Bryant (35)
 * Rick Fox (12)
 * Isaiah Rider (5)
 * Reunion Arena 18,201
 * 20–9
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 30
 * December 25
 * Portland
 * L 104–109
 * Shaquille O'Neal (32)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 20–10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * December 28
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 115–78
 * Kobe Bryant (38)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (4)
 * America West Arena 19,023
 * 21–10
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 32
 * December 30
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * W 116–114 (OT)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (29)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * Rick Fox (9)
 * Staples Center 20,327
 * 22–10


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 33
 * January 3
 * Utah
 * W 82–71
 * Kobe Bryant (31)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (17)
 * Bryant & Fox (4)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 23–10
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 34
 * January 7
 * L.A. Clippers
 * L 95–118
 * Shaquille O'Neal (33)
 * Horace Grant (10)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 23–11
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 35
 * January 12
 * Cleveland
 * W 101–98
 * Shaquille O'Neal (34)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (23)
 * Bryant & Shaw (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 24–11
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 36
 * January 13
 * @ Utah
 * L 103–111
 * Shaquille O'Neal (30)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (12)
 * Harper & O'Neal (5)
 * Delta Center 19,911
 * 24–12
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 37
 * January 15
 * Vancouver
 * W 113–112 (OT)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (31)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * Kobe Bryant (11)
 * Staples Center 18,318
 * 25–12
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 38
 * January 19
 * Houston
 * W 114–101
 * Shaquille O'Neal (41)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * Brian Shaw (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 26–12
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 39
 * January 21
 * Miami
 * L 92–103
 * Kobe Bryant (34)
 * Bryant & O'Neal (8)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (3)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 26–13
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 40
 * January 23
 * @ Seattle
 * L 80–91
 * Shaquille O'Neal (29)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (9)
 * Kobe Bryant (5)
 * KeyArena 17,072
 * 26–14
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 41
 * January 26
 * New Jersey
 * W 113–101
 * Bryant & O'Neal (26)
 * Bryant & O'Neal (9)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 27–14
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 42
 * January 28
 * @ New York
 * L 81–91
 * Kobe Bryant (33)
 * Bryant & Horry (11)
 * Tyronn Lue (4)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,763
 * 27–15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 43
 * January 30
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 102–96
 * Kobe Bryant (47)
 * Horace Grant (14)
 * Bryant & Harper (3)
 * Gund Arena 20,253
 * 28–15
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 44
 * January 31
 * @ Minnesota
 * L 83–96
 * Kobe Bryant (24)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Bryant & Horry (5)
 * Target Center 19,006
 * 28–16


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 45
 * February 2
 * Charlotte
 * W 93–87
 * Kobe Bryant (44)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Brian Shaw (4)
 * Staples Center 18,710
 * 29–16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 46
 * February 4
 * Sacramento
 * W 100–94
 * Kobe Bryant (26)
 * Kobe Bryant (11)
 * Fox & Grant (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 30–16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 47
 * February 7
 * Phoenix
 * W 85–83
 * Kobe Bryant (32)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 31–16
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 48
 * February 13
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 113–110 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (38)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Fox & O'Neal (6)
 * Continental Airlines Arena 20,049
 * 32–16
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 49
 * February 14
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 97–112
 * Shaquille O'Neal (29)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * First Union Center 21,005
 * 32–17
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 50
 * February 16
 * @ Charlotte
 * W 99–94
 * Shaquille O'Neal (38)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * Charlotte Coliseum 19,925
 * 33–17
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 51
 * February 18
 * @ Indiana
 * L 109–110
 * Shaquille O'Neal (35)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Conseco Fieldhouse 18,345
 * 33–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 52
 * February 20
 * @ Dallas
 * W 119–109
 * Shaquille O'Neal (29)
 * Horace Grant (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Reunion Arena 18,287
 * 34–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 53
 * February 21
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 101–99
 * Shaquille O'Neal (22)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (10)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (7)
 * Alamodome 29,849
 * 35–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 54
 * February 23
 * Atlanta
 * W 113–106
 * Shaquille O'Neal (30)
 * Horry & O'Neal (8)
 * Fox & O'Neal (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 36–18
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 55
 * February 25
 * Orlando
 * W 106–100
 * Shaquille O'Neal (37)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (19)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 37–18
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 56
 * February 28
 * @ Denver
 * L 101–107
 * Kobe Bryant (38)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * Rick Fox (8)
 * Pepsi Center 19,566
 * 37–19


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 57
 * March 3
 * @ Vancouver
 * W 98–88
 * Shaquille O'Neal (34)
 * Horace Grant (15)
 * Brian Shaw (9)
 * General Motors Place 19,193
 * 38–19
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 58
 * March 4
 * Golden State
 * W 110–95
 * Shaquille O'Neal (26)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * Kobe Bryant (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 39–19
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 59
 * March 6
 * @ Golden State
 * W 97–85
 * Kobe Bryant (29)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (17)
 * Brian Shaw (9)
 * The Arena in Oakland 20,181
 * 40–19
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 60
 * March 7
 * Toronto
 * W 97–85
 * Kobe Bryant (29)
 * 3 players tied (10)
 * Bryant & Shaw (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 41–19
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 61
 * March 9
 * San Antonio
 * L 89–93 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (38)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (16)
 * 4 players tied (2)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 41–20
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 62
 * March 11
 * Seattle
 * L 97–109 (OT)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (29)
 * Brian Shaw (10)
 * Brian Shaw (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 41–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 63
 * March 13
 * Boston
 * W 112–107
 * Shaquille O'Neal (28)
 * Brian Shaw (12)
 * Derek Fisher (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 42–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 64
 * March 15
 * @ Detroit
 * W 125–119 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (39)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (10)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 43–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 65
 * March 16
 * @ Washington
 * W 101–89
 * Kobe Bryant (26)
 * Robert Horry (9)
 * Derek Fisher (6)
 * MCI Center 20,674
 * 44–21
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 66
 * March 18
 * @ Orlando
 * W 95–90
 * Shaquille O'Neal (33)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (17)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * TD Waterhouse Centre 17,248
 * 45–21
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 67
 * March 19
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 106–108
 * Bryant & O'Neal (27)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (13)
 * Derek Fisher (6)
 * Philips Arena 17,248
 * 45–22
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 68
 * March 21
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 100–107
 * Shaquille O'Neal (36)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (13)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Bradley Center 18,717
 * 45–23
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 69
 * March 23
 * Washington
 * W 104–91
 * Shaquille O'Neal (40)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (17)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 46–23
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 70
 * March 25
 * @ Sacramento
 * W 84–72
 * Shaquille O'Neal (23)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * Fox & Shaw (4)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 47–23
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 71
 * March 26
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 83–104
 * Shaquille O'Neal (27)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (12)
 * O'Neal & Shaw (3)
 * America West Arena 19,023
 * 47–24
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 72
 * March 28
 * Sacramento
 * L 84–108
 * Shaquille O'Neal (33)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * Rick Fox (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 47–25
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 73
 * March 30
 * Dallas
 * W 98–89
 * Shaquille O'Neal (35)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (13)
 * Rick Fox (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 48–25


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 74
 * April 1
 * New York
 * L 78–79
 * Shaquille O'Neal (31)
 * Horace Grant (12)
 * Rick Fox (4)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 48–26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 75
 * April 3
 * @ Utah
 * W 96–88
 * Shaquille O'Neal (31)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * 3 players tied (5)
 * Delta Center 19,911
 * 49–26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 76
 * April 5
 * @ Chicago
 * W 100–88
 * Shaquille O'Neal (39)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (10)
 * Derek Fisher (7)
 * United Center 23,217
 * 50–26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 77
 * April 6
 * @ Boston
 * W 100–96
 * Shaquille O'Neal (39)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Brian Shaw (9)
 * FleetCenter 18,624
 * 51–26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 78
 * April 8
 * @ Minnesota
 * W 104–99
 * Shaquille O'Neal (34)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * Brian Shaw (7)
 * Target Center 20,099
 * 52–26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 79
 * April 10
 * Phoenix
 * W 106–80
 * Shaquille O'Neal (32)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (13)
 * Brian Shaw (10)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 53–26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 80
 * April 12
 * Minnesota
 * W 119–102
 * Shaquille O'Neal (31)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 54–26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 81
 * April 15
 * Portland
 * W 105–100
 * Shaquille O'Neal (33)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (18)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 55–26
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 82
 * April 17
 * Denver
 * W 108–91
 * Shaquille O'Neal (33)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (13)
 * Kobe Bryant (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 56–26

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 22
 * Portland
 * W 106–93
 * Kobe Bryant (28)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (20)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 26
 * Portland
 * W 106–88
 * Shaquille O'Neal (32)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 29
 * @ Portland
 * W 99–86
 * Shaquille O'Neal (25)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (15)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Rose Garden 20,580
 * 3–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 6
 * Sacramento
 * W 108–105
 * Shaquille O'Neal (44)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (21)
 * Kobe Bryant (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 8
 * Sacramento
 * W 96–90
 * Shaquille O'Neal (43)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (20)
 * Rick Fox (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 11
 * @ Sacramento
 * W 103–81
 * Kobe Bryant (36)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (18)
 * Brian Shaw (6)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 13
 * @ Sacramento
 * W 119–113
 * Kobe Bryant (48)
 * Kobe Bryant (16)
 * Brian Shaw (5)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 4–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 19
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 104–90
 * Kobe Bryant (45)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (11)
 * Horace Grant (6)
 * Alamodome 36,068
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 21
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 88–81
 * Kobe Bryant (28)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * Alamodome 35,574
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 25
 * San Antonio
 * W 111–72
 * Kobe Bryant (36)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (17)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 27
 * San Antonio
 * W 111–82
 * Derek Fisher (28)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (10)
 * Kobe Bryant (11)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 4–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * June 6
 * Philadelphia
 * L 101–107 (OT)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (44)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (20)
 * 3 players tied (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * June 8
 * Philadelphia
 * W 98–89
 * Kobe Bryant (31)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (20)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (9)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * June 10
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 96–91
 * Kobe Bryant (32)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (12)
 * 4 players tied (3)
 * First Union Center 20,900
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * June 13
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 100–86
 * Shaquille O'Neal (34)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * First Union Center 20,896
 * 3–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * June 15
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 108–96
 * Shaquille O'Neal (29)
 * Shaquille O'Neal (13)
 * Bryant & Fox (6)
 * First Union Center 20,890
 * 4–1

NBA Finals

 * By winning the Finals MVP award, Shaquille O'Neal joined the list of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win the award at least twice. Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard have since joined the list. Jordan, Olajuwon, O'Neal, Bryant, James, and Durant are the only six to win the award in back-to-back years.
 * The Lakers at the time had achieved the best ever NBA postseason record of 15-1, sweeping the Western Conference and then sweeping the 76ers after their Game 1 loss in the Finals. On June 12, 2017, the Golden State Warriors had surpassed this feat, as they would go 16-1, after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals. The Lakers' postseason record was made before the first round of playoffs was extended to be the best-of-7 format which was implemented in the 2003 NBA Playoffs.
 * This Laker team still holds the title of best road record in a single postseason, at 8-0.

Summary
The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.

∗ denotes a game that required overtime.

Award winners

 * Kobe Bryant, All-NBA Second Team
 * Kobe Bryant, All-NBA Defensive Second Team
 * Shaquille O'Neal, Center, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
 * Shaquille O'Neal, League Leader, FG%, 57.2
 * Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA First Team
 * Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA Defensive Second Team