2004–05 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 2004–05 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 57th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 45th in the city of Los Angeles. The previous season had ended with a crushing defeat in five games to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, despite the Lakers being heavily favored. The 2004–05 season is best remembered as a tough one for the Lakers, winning only 34 games and missing the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. It was also the Lakers first season since 1995-96 without either center Shaquille O'Neal, who was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and future draft picks, or point guard Derek Fisher (who had signed a six year free agent contract with the Golden State Warriors), two instrumental players to the Lakers' previous three championship victories. The Lakers had the worst team defensive rating in the NBA.

Phil Jackson was also fired in the offseason and replaced by former Houston Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich. However, in February 2005, Tomjanovich's struggle with bladder cancer that had been diagnosed since 2003 forced him to resign after an 24–19 start and be replaced by Jackson's assistant coach Frank Hamblen for the rest of the year. In the offseason, Butler was traded to the Washington Wizards, Hamblen was fired as head coach and Vlade Divac retired.

For the season, the Lakers slightly changed their uniforms, adding the secondary logo to their shorts. They remained in use until 2018.

The Lakers would not miss the playoffs again until 2014. This was the first team since the 1998–99 Chicago Bulls and last until the 2014–15 Miami Heat to miss the playoffs after making a Finals appearance as well as the last until the 2014–15 Heat to miss the playoffs after losing the previous year's Finals.

Pre-season

 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 1
 * October 12
 * Seattle
 * L 80-87
 * Kobe Bryant (35)
 * Chris Mihm (7)
 * Tierre Brown (7)
 * Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA) 16,342
 * 0-1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2
 * October 17
 * Golden State
 * W 94-80
 * Kobe Bryant (23)
 * Lamar Odom (7)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Centennial Garden (Bakersfield, CA) 7,279
 * 1-1
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 3
 * October 19
 * Sacramento
 * W 105-80
 * Caron Butler (18)
 * 4 players tied (6)
 * 3 players tied (5)
 * Save Mart Center (Fresno, CA) 16,116
 * 2-1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4
 * October 21
 * Golden State
 * L 88-90 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (35)
 * Chris Mihm (13)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Staples Center 15,237
 * 2-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * October 22
 * L.A. Clippers
 * W 113-102
 * Kobe Bryant (25)
 * Lamar Odom (9)
 * Tierre Brown (5)
 * Staples Center 16,995
 * 3-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 6
 * October 24
 * Phoenix
 * W 111-103
 * Brian Grant (22)
 * Caron Butler (13)
 * Sasha Vujačić (8)
 * Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV) 14,535
 * 4-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 7
 * October 25
 * Seattle
 * W 117-91
 * Caron Butler (18)
 * Jumaine Jones (6)
 * Sasha Vujačić (8)
 * San Diego Sports Arena (San Diego, CA) 13,642
 * 5-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 8
 * October 28
 * Washington
 * W 97-87
 * Kobe Bryant (19)
 * Lamar Odom (9)
 * Tierre Brown (6)
 * Ford Center (Oklahoma City, OK) 8,979
 * 6-2

Regular season

 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 1
 * November 2
 * Denver
 * W 89-78
 * Kobe Bryant (25)
 * Lamar Odom (13)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 1-0
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 2
 * November 3
 * @ Utah
 * L 78-104
 * Kobe Bryant (38)
 * Lamar Odom (9)
 * Tierre Brown (2)
 * Delta Center 19,911
 * 1-1
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 3
 * November 5
 * San Antonio
 * L 96-105
 * Kobe Bryant (28)
 * Lamar Odom (11)
 * Bryant & Odom (4)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 1-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 4
 * November 7
 * Atlanta
 * W 106-90
 * Kobe Bryant (24)
 * Lamar Odom (11)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 2-2
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 5
 * November 9
 * @ New Orleans
 * W 106-98
 * Kobe Bryant (31)
 * Caron Butler (9)
 * Chucky Atkins (6)
 * New Orleans Arena 17,202
 * 3-2
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 6
 * November 10
 * @ Memphis
 * L 87-110
 * Kobe Bryant (20)
 * Lamar Odom (11)
 * Atkins & Bryant (4)
 * FedEx Forum 18,119
 * 3-3
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 7
 * November 12
 * @ Orlando
 * L 113-122
 * Kobe Bryant (41)
 * Lamar Odom (8)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * TD Waterhouse Centre 17,283
 * 3-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 8
 * November 13
 * @ Houston
 * W 84-79
 * Lamar Odom (20)
 * Lamar Odom (13)
 * Lamar Odom (5)
 * Toyota Center 18,181
 * 4-4
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 9
 * November 17
 * L.A. Clippers
 * W 103-89
 * Kobe Bryant (23)
 * Brian Grant (7)
 * Kobe Bryant (11)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 5-4
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 10
 * November 19
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 102-107
 * Kobe Bryant (29)
 * Lamar Odom (15)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * American West Arena 18,422
 * 5-5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 11
 * November 21
 * Chicago
 * W 102-93
 * Kobe Bryant (29)
 * Lamar Odom (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 6-5
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 12
 * November 23
 * Milwaukee
 * W 100-96
 * Kobe Bryant (30)
 * Lamar Odom (9)
 * Tierre Brown (6)
 * Staples Center 18,215
 * 7-5
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 13
 * November 26
 * Sacramento
 * L 106-109
 * Kobe Bryant (40)
 * Lamar Odom (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 7-6
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 14
 * November 28
 * New Orleans
 * W 89-76
 * Kobe Bryant (20)
 * Lamar Odom (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 8-6
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 15
 * November 30
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 95-90
 * Brian Cook (25)
 * Cook & Odom (11)
 * Kobe Bryant (11)
 * Bradley Center 14,975
 * 9-6


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 16
 * December 1
 * @ Chicago
 * L 84-92
 * Kobe Bryant (28)
 * Lamar Odom (11)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * United Center 18,524
 * 9-7
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 17
 * December 3
 * Golden State
 * W 97-88
 * Caron Butler (27)
 * Kobe Bryant (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 10-7
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 18
 * December 8
 * Phoenix
 * L 110-113
 * Kobe Bryant (20)
 * Kobe Bryant (14)
 * Kobe Bryant (11)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 10-8
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 19
 * December 11
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * W 89-87
 * Kobe Bryant (37)
 * Lamar Odom (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (5)
 * Staples Center 19,697
 * 11-8
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 20
 * December 12
 * Orlando
 * W 105-98
 * Jones & Mihm (25)
 * Chris Mihm (14)
 * Tierre Brown (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 12-8
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 21
 * December 14
 * @ Seattle
 * L 93-108
 * Kobe Bryant (35)
 * Bryant & Odom (9)
 * Kobe Bryant (5)
 * KeyArena 17,072
 * 12-9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 22
 * December 16
 * @ Sacramento
 * W 115-99
 * Kobe Bryant (31)
 * Chris Mihm (8)
 * Kobe Bryant (12)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 13-9
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 23
 * December 17
 * Washington
 * L 116-120 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (36)
 * Bryant & Odom (10)
 * Kobe Bryant (14)
 * Staples Center 18,212
 * 13-10
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 24
 * December 20
 * Memphis
 * L 72-82
 * Caron Butler (16)
 * Lamar Odom (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 13-11
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 25
 * December 22
 * New Orleans
 * W 101-89
 * Chucky Atkins (30)
 * Chris Mihm (21)
 * 3 players tied (4)
 * Staples Center 18,477
 * 14-11
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 26
 * December 25
 * Miami
 * L 102-104 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (42)
 * Chris Mihm (14)
 * Chucky Atkins (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 14-12
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 27
 * December 28
 * Toronto
 * W 117-99
 * Kobe Bryant (48)
 * Lamar Odom (13)
 * Chucky Atkins (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 15-12


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 28
 * January 2
 * Denver
 * W 99-91
 * Kobe Bryant (42)
 * Lamar Odom (15)
 * 3 players tied (4)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 16-12
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 29
 * January 4
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 83-100
 * Kobe Bryant (17)
 * Lamar Odom (8)
 * Tierre Brown (5)
 * SBC Center 18,797
 * 16-13
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 30
 * January 5
 * @ Dallas
 * L 104-118
 * Kobe Bryant (32)
 * Jumaine Jones (13)
 * Chucky Atkins (7)
 * American Airlines Center 20,393
 * 16-14
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 31
 * January 7
 * Houston
 * W 111-104
 * Kobe Bryant (27)
 * Lamar Odom (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 17-14
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 32
 * January 10
 * @ Minnesota
 * W 105-96
 * Kobe Bryant (31)
 * Chris Mihm (17)
 * Chucky Atkins (7)
 * Target Center 19,356
 * 18-14
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 33
 * January 12
 * @ Denver
 * L 83-95
 * Caron Butler (18)
 * Lamar Odom (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (7)
 * Pepsi Center 18,171
 * 18-15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 34
 * January 13
 * Cleveland
 * W 98-94
 * Lamar Odom (24)
 * Caron Butler (11)
 * Lamar Odom (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 19-15
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 35
 * January 15
 * @ Golden State
 * W 104-102
 * Lamar Odom (27)
 * Mihm & Odom (12)
 * 3 players tied (3)
 * The Arena in Oakland 19,602
 * 20-15
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 36
 * January 17
 * Utah
 * L 94-102
 * Caron Butler (26)
 * Lamar Odom (10)
 * Lamar Odom (6)
 * Staples Center 18,111
 * 20-16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 37
 * January 19
 * Minnesota
 * W 93-90
 * Chucky Atkins (25)
 * Jumaine Jones (8)
 * Chucky Atkins (11)
 * Staples Center 18,417
 * 21-16
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 38
 * January 21
 * Golden State
 * W 105-101
 * Chucky Atkins (26)
 * Butler & Jones (9)
 * Chucky Atkins (10)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 22-16
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 39
 * January 25
 * Seattle
 * L 93-104
 * Odom & Walton (19)
 * Lamar Odom (13)
 * Lamar Odom (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 22-17
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 40
 * January 26
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * L 89-105
 * Chucky Atkins (17)
 * Jumaine Jones (7)
 * Chucky Atkins (4)
 * Staples Center 20,127
 * 22-18
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 41
 * January 28
 * New Jersey
 * L 103-109
 * Caron Butler (31)
 * Lamar Odom (13)
 * Lamar Odom (8)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 22-19
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 42
 * January 30
 * Charlotte
 * W 101-90
 * Atkins & Butler (20)
 * Chris Mihm (12)
 * Lamar Odom (7)
 * Staples Center 18,532
 * 23-19


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 43
 * February 1
 * Portland
 * W 92-79
 * Atkins & Butler (19)
 * Butler & Mihm (10)
 * Tierre Brown (9)
 * Staples Center 18,116
 * 24-19
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 44
 * February 3
 * San Antonio
 * L 91-103
 * Lamar Odom (23)
 * Lamar Odom (13)
 * Luke Walton (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 24-20
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 45
 * February 6
 * @ Houston
 * L 102-103
 * Lamar Odom (22)
 * Jumaine Jones (13)
 * Lamar Odom (8)
 * Toyota Center 18,201
 * 24-21
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 46
 * February 7
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 108-114
 * Lamar Odom (28)
 * Brian Cook (10)
 * Chucky Atkins (5)
 * Philips Arena 15,633
 * 24-22
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 47
 * February 9
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 104-103 (OT)
 * Jumaine Jones (20)
 * Lamar Odom (19)
 * Lamar Odom (8)
 * Continental Airlines Arena 13,979
 * 25-22
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 48
 * February 10
 * @ Detroit
 * L 81-103
 * Lamar Odom (17)
 * Lamar Odom (9)
 * Chucky Atkins (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 25-23
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 49
 * February 13
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 89-103
 * Kobe Bryant (26)
 * Lamar Odom (9)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * Gund Arena 20,562
 * 25-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 50
 * February 15
 * Utah
 * W 102-95
 * Kobe Bryant (40)
 * Slava Medvedenko (9)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Staples Center 18,480
 * 26-24
 * - style="text-align:center;"
 * colspan="9" style="background:#bbcaff;"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 51
 * February 22
 * Boston
 * W 104-95
 * Bryant & Odom (21)
 * Chris Mihm (15)
 * Luke Walton (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 27-24
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 52
 * February 23
 * @ Portland
 * W 86-83
 * Kobe Bryant (31)
 * Lamar Odom (12)
 * Bryant & Odom (6)
 * Rose Garden 18,665
 * 28-24
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 53
 * February 25
 * Detroit
 * L 90-111
 * Kobe Bryant (20)
 * Lamar Odom (9)
 * Kobe Bryant (11)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 28-25
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 54
 * February 27
 * @ Toronto
 * L 102-108
 * Kobe Bryant (31)
 * Bryant & Odom (8)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Air Canada Centre 19,800
 * 28-26
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 55
 * February 28
 * @ New York
 * L 115-117 (OT)
 * Kobe Bryant (30)
 * Lamar Odom (15)
 * Kobe Bryant (8)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,763
 * 28-27


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 56
 * March 2
 * @ Boston
 * L 101-104
 * Chucky Atkins (29)
 * Lamar Odom (13)
 * Lamar Odom (4)
 * Fleet Center 18,624
 * 28-28
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 57
 * March 4
 * Dallas
 * W 108-103
 * Kobe Bryant (40)
 * Lamar Odom (11)
 * Chucky Atkins (10)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 29-28
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 58
 * March 6
 * Indiana
 * W 103-94
 * Kobe Bryant (37)
 * Bryant & Mihm (10)
 * Lamar Odom (7)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 30-28
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 59
 * March 8
 * L.A. Clippers
 * L 101-110
 * Kobe Bryant (41)
 * Jumaine Jones (8)
 * Chucky Atkins (6)
 * Staples Center 18,225
 * 30-29
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 60
 * March 10
 * @ Dallas
 * W 100-95
 * Kobe Bryant (36)
 * Lamar Odom (14)
 * Lamar Odom (7)
 * American Airlines Center 20,411
 * 31-29
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 61
 * March 12
 * @ Charlotte
 * W 117-116
 * Kobe Bryant (32)
 * Lamar Odom (11)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Charlotte Coliseum 23,319
 * 32-29
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 62
 * March 14
 * @ Washington
 * L 81-95
 * Caron Butler (20)
 * Caron Butler (11)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * MCI Center 20,173
 * 32-30
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 63
 * March 15
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 91-108
 * Kobe Bryant (20)
 * Slava Medvedenko (9)
 * Sasha Vujačić (5)
 * Wachovia Center 20,778
 * 32-31
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 64
 * March 17
 * @ Miami
 * L 89-102
 * Kobe Bryant (26)
 * Lamar Odom (11)
 * Chucky Atkins (6)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,272
 * 32-32
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 65
 * March 18
 * @ Indiana
 * L 97-103
 * Chucky Atkins (23)
 * Caron Butler (10)
 * Kobe Bryant (4)
 * Conseco Fieldhouse 18,345
 * 32-33
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 66
 * March 20
 * Seattle
 * L 100-102
 * Kobe Bryant (30)
 * Slava Medvedenko (7)
 * Chucky Atkins (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 32-34
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 67
 * March 22
 * @ Utah
 * L 107-115
 * Kobe Bryant (43)
 * Brian Grant (8)
 * Caron Butler (5)
 * Delta Center 18,746
 * 32-35
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 68
 * March 24
 * @ Denver
 * L 96-117
 * Caron Butler (22)
 * Butler & Jones (9)
 * 3 players tied (4)
 * Pepsi Center 19,866
 * 32-36
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 69
 * March 27
 * Philadelphia
 * L 89-96
 * Kobe Bryant (34)
 * Chris Mihm (11)
 * Kobe Bryant (5)
 * Staples Center 18,347
 * 32-37
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 70
 * March 29
 * New York
 * W 117-107
 * Kobe Bryant (32)
 * Chris Mihm (8)
 * Bryant & Walton (5)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 33-37
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 71
 * March 31
 * Minnesota
 * L 96-105
 * Kobe Bryant (26)
 * Chris Mihm (10)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 33-38


 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 72
 * April 2
 * @ San Antonio
 * L 94-95
 * Caron Butler (27)
 * Bryant & Jones (8)
 * Kobe Bryant (6)
 * SBC Center 18,797
 * 33-39
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 73
 * April 3
 * @ Memphis
 * L 82-102
 * Caron Butler (18)
 * Jumaine Jones (10)
 * Atkins & Butler (5)
 * FedEx Forum 18,119
 * 33-40
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 74
 * April 5
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 99-125
 * Caron Butler (30)
 * Butler & Vujačić (7)
 * Chucky Atkins (8)
 * American West Arena 18,422
 * 33-41
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 75
 * April 7
 * Houston
 * L 100-114
 * Caron Butler (24)
 * Caron Butler (12)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * Staples Center 18,212
 * 33-42
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 76
 * April 8
 * @ Seattle
 * W 117-94
 * Kobe Bryant (42)
 * Jumaine Jones (12)
 * Bryant & Jones (5)
 * KeyArena 17,072
 * 34-42
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 77
 * April 10
 * @ Sacramento
 * L 105-124
 * Kobe Bryant (18)
 * Butler & Grant (5)
 * Chucky Atkins (9)
 * ARCO Arena 17,317
 * 34-43
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 78
 * April 11
 * Phoenix
 * L 97-108
 * Kobe Bryant (20)
 * Caron Butler (11)
 * Kobe Bryant (10)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 34-44
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 79
 * April 15
 * Sacramento
 * L 106-115
 * Caron Butler (34)
 * Luke Walton (12)
 * Luke Walton (9)
 * Staples Center 18,997
 * 34-45
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 80
 * April 17
 * Dallas
 * L 112-114
 * Kobe Bryant (33)
 * Jumaine Jones (9)
 * Kobe Bryant (9)
 * Staples Center 18,237
 * 34-46
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 81
 * April 18
 * @ Golden State
 * L 99-126
 * Kobe Bryant (22)
 * Jumaine Jones (11)
 * Sasha Vujačić (7)
 * The Arena in Oakland 20,024
 * 34-47
 * - style="background:#fcc;"
 * 82
 * April 20
 * @ Portland
 * L 103-106
 * Kobe Bryant (37)
 * Chris Mihm (10)
 * Atkins & Vujačić (7)
 * Rose Garden 19,818
 * 34-48

Awards and records

 * Kobe Bryant, All-NBA Third Team

Transactions

 * Kareem Rush was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats on December 6, 2004, for a 2005 2nd round draft pick and a 2009 2nd round draft pick.