Lakers-Celtics
The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is not only the greatest team rivalry in pro basketball, but also the greatest championship rivalry in America. The Lakers and Celtics have met for the championship 12 times - a record across all major sports. One, or both, of them has been in 41 of the 74 NBA Finals all-time.
In addition to the team's rivalry, basketball's two greatest one-on-one rivalries played out on the Lakers-Celtics stage. The Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell rivalry largely took place while Wilt played for the Warriors and 76ers, but the final chapter was written in the 1969 NBA Finals. The Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry returned the teams back to the Finals spotlight and rejuvenated the fledgling NBA. Lastly, jump down to the All-Team Teams for both franchises.
NBA Finals
| 1959 | 1962 |
1963 |
| Boston 4 Minneapolis 0 Lakers 115, Celtics 118 Lakers 108, Celtics 128 Celtics 122, Lakers 110 Celtics 118, Lakers 113 Composite Box Score |
Boston 4 Los Angeles 3 Lakers 108, Celtics 122 Lakers 129, Celtics 122 Celtics 115, Lakers 117 Celtics 115, Lakers 103 Lakers 126, Celtics 121 Celtics 119, Lakers 105 Lakers 107, Celtics 110 OT Composite Box Score |
Boston 4 Los Angeles 2 Lakers 106, Celtics 113 Lakers 114, Celtics 117 Celtics 99, Lakers 119 Celtics 108, Lakers 105 Lakers 126, Celtics 119 Celtics 112, Lakers 109 Composite Box Score |
| 1965 |
1966 | 1968 |
| Boston 4 Los Angeles 1 Lakers 110, Celtics 142 Lakers 123, Celtics 129 Celtics 105, Lakers 126 Celtics 112, Lakers 99 Lakers 96, Celtics 129 Composite Box Score |
Boston 4 Los Angeles 3 Lakers 133, Celtics 129 OT Lakers 109, Celtics 129 Celtics 120, Lakers 106 Celtics 122, Lakers 117 Lakers 121, Celtics 117 Celtics 115, Lakers 123 Lakers 93, Celtics 95 Composite Box Score |
Boston 4 Los Angeles 2 Lakers 101, Celtics 107 Lakers 123, Celtics 113 Celtics 127, Lakers 119 Celtics 105, Lakers 118 Lakers 117, Celtics 120 OT Celtics 124, Lakers 109 Composite Box Score |
| 1969 |
1984 |
1985 |
| Boston 4 Los Angeles 3 Celtics 118, Lakers 120 Celtics 112, Lakers 120 Lakers 112, Celtics 120 Lakers 88, Celtics 89 Celtics 104, Lakers 117 Lakers 90, Celtics 99 Celtics 108, Lakers 106 Composite Box Score |
Boston 4 Los Angeles 3 Lakers 115, Celtics 109 Lakers 121, Celtics 124 OT Celtics 104, Lakers 137 Celtics 129, Lakers 125 OT Lakers 103, Celtics 121 Celtics 108, Lakers 119 Lakers 102, Celtics 111 Composite Box Score |
Los Angeles 4 Boston 2 Lakers 114, Celtics 148 Lakers 109, Celtics 102 Celtics 111, Lakers 136 Celtics 107, Lakers 105 Celtics 111, Lakers 120 Lakers 111, Celtics 100 Composite Box Score |
| 1987 |
2008 |
2010 |
|
| Los Angeles 4 Boston 2 Celtics 113, Lakers 126 Celtics 122, Lakers 141 Lakers 103, Celtics 109 Lakers 107, Celtics 106 Lakers 108, Celtics 123 Celtics 93, Lakers 106 Composite Box Score |
Boston 4 Los Angeles 2 Lakers 88, Celtics 98 Lakers 102, Celtics 108 Celtics 81, Lakers 87 Celtics 97, Lakers 91 Celtics 98, Lakers 103 Lakers 92, Celtics 131 Composite Box Score |
Los Angeles 4 Boston 3 Celtics 89, Lakers 102 Celtics 103, Lakers 94 Lakers 91, Celtics 84 Lakers 89, Celtics 96 Lakers 86, Celtics 92 Celtics 67, Lakers 89 Celtics 79, Lakers 83 Composite Box Score |
|
| Finals Notes | ||
| Lakers | Celtics | |
 |
|
 |
| 3 | Series Won |
9 |
| 31 | Games Won |
43 |
| 20-16 | Home Record | 27-11 |
| 8121 109.7 pg |
Points | 8242 111.4 pg |
| 1 | Game 7 Wins | 4 |
| Near Finals Match-Ups (One Team Made Finals, Other Lost in Conference Finals) |
|||
| 1953 | Celtics lost to Knicks 3-1 | 1980 | Celtics lost to 76ers 4-1 |
| 1954 | Celtics lost to Nat'ls 2-0 | 1982 | Celtics lost to 76ers 4-3 |
| 1957 | Lakers lost to Hawks 3-0 | 1986 | Lakers lost to Rockets 4-1 |
| 1960 | Lakers lost to Hawks 4-3 | 1988 | Celtics lost to Pistons 4-2 |
| 1961 | Lakers lost to Hawks 4-3 | 2002 |
Celtics lost to Nets 4-2 |
| 1972 | Celtics lost to Knicks 4-1 | 2020 | Celtics lost to Heat 4-2 |
| 1973 | Celtics lost to Knicks 4-3 | ||
| Regular Season Notes | |
| 2019-20 Season | |
| Jan 20 - LA 107 @Bos 139 |
Feb 23 - Bos 112 @LA 114 |
| Lakers | All-Time | Celtics |
| 131 | Wins |
161 |
| 37 | Lakers in Minneapolis |
54 |
| 94 | Lakers in Los Angeles |
107 |
| 77-53 | Home Record | 81-49 |
| 5 | Neutral Site Wins | 27 |
| 30,438 104.2 ppg |
Points | 31,068 106.4 ppg |
| 8 | Overtime Wins | 7 |
| 5 3 Times |
Longest Winning Streak | 18 11/6/1957-3/3/59 |
| 141 2/11/1968 |
Most Points Scored | 173 2/27/1959 |
| Highest Scoring Game: 312 Points (Celtics 173-139, 2/27/59) |
||
| Longest Game: 2 OT (Lakers 98-96, 3/11/51) |
||
| Wins by Decade | |||
| 1948-59 | Celtics 46-36 | 1989-99 | Lakers 10-8 |
| 1959-69 | Celtics 57-31 | 1999-09 |
Lakers 13-7 |
| 1969-79 | Celtics 24-18 | 2009-19 | Lakers 11-9 |
| 1979-89 | Lakers 11-9 | 2019-29 |
Tied 1-1 |
| Totals | Celtics 161-131 | ||
| Season Series Records | |||
| 1948-59 | Lakers 5-4-2 | 1989-99 | Lakers 2-1-6 |
| 1959-69 | Celtics 8-2-0 | 1999-09 |
Lakers 5-2-3 |
| 1969-79 | Celtics 5-4-1 | 2009-19 | Lakers 2-1-7 |
| 1979-89 | Lakers 4-3-3 | 2019-29 |
Tied 0-0-1 |
| Totals | Tied 24-24-23 | ||
| Franchise Histories | |
| (NBA Rank); Through 2019-20 | |
 |
 |
| First Year : 1949 |
First Year : 1947 |
| Wins : 3385 (2) | Wins : 3426 (1) |
| Win Pct : .595 (2) | Win Pct : .591 (3) |
| Playoff Appearances : 61 (1) |
Playoff Appearances : 57 (2) |
| Playoff Series : 113-44 (1) |
Playoff Series : 85-40 (2) |
| Finals Appearances : 32 (1) |
Finals Appearances : 21 (2) |
| Championships : 17 (T1) |
Championships : 17 (T1) |
| All-Stars : 140 (2) |
All-Stars : 146 (1) |
| MVPs : 8 (2) |
MVPs : 10 (1) |
| Hall of Famers : 27 (2) |
Hall of Famers : 36 (1) |
Lakers vs Celtics, and the Struggle for the Soul of the NBA
1947-48: Beginnings
The Boston Celtics were one of eleven teams in the inaugural season of the BAA, which would later become the NBA after the 1949 season. Their franchise began with four straight losing seasons; they would then go two decades before recording their fifth.
1949-54: Mikan, Minneapolis, and the League’s First Dynasty
The Minneapolis Lakers joined the league prior to the 1949 season. With George Mikan at center, the Lakers became the league’s first dynasty, winning five championships in six years from 1949-54. Mikan was the first NBA superstar, dominating on both ends of the court. The 1951 season was a landmark for Boston as Bob Cousy became their point guard and Red Auerbach their head coach.
Championships: Lakers 5, Celtics 0
1955-60: Minneapolis’ Decline and Boston’s Ascendance
Mikan’s retirement after the 1954 season ushered in a period of decline for Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Boston was ascendant under Auerbach. At the 1956 Draft, Boston traded their star center, Ed Macauley, for incoming rookie Bill Russell. In Russell’s first season, 1957, the Celtics won their first championship. They would do so again in 1959 and ’60, becoming the league’s second dynasty. The 1959 title came at the expense of the Lakers and rookie Elgin Baylor.
Mikan’s retirement after the 1954 season ushered in a period of decline for Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Boston was ascendant under Auerbach. At the 1956 Draft, Boston traded their star center, Ed Macauley, for incoming rookie Bill Russell. In Russell’s first season, 1957, the Celtics won their first championship. They would do so again in 1959 and ’60, becoming the league’s second dynasty. The 1959 title came at the expense of the Lakers and rookie Elgin Baylor.
Championships: Lakers 5, Celtics 3
1961-66: Auerbach’s Dynasty and West’s Devastation
The Celtics won their third straight championship in 1961. Before that season, the Lakers drafted Jerry West and then relocated to Los Angeles, putting the two franchises on a collision course for the rest of the decade. The two teams met in the 1962 Finals and played an epic seven-game series - one of the greatest in NBA history. They would meet again in 1963, ’65, and ’66 (this series going seven games), with Boston claiming victory every time. The 1966 season was Auerbach’s last as coach, ending an era.
The Celtics won their third straight championship in 1961. Before that season, the Lakers drafted Jerry West and then relocated to Los Angeles, putting the two franchises on a collision course for the rest of the decade. The two teams met in the 1962 Finals and played an epic seven-game series - one of the greatest in NBA history. They would meet again in 1963, ’65, and ’66 (this series going seven games), with Boston claiming victory every time. The 1966 season was Auerbach’s last as coach, ending an era.
Championships: Celtics 9, Lakers 5
1967-69: Russell’s Will and the Wilt Trade
Bill Russell took over as player-coach and continued his dominance of the league. They beat the Lakers for the championship again in 1968. The Lakers responded by trading for Wilt Chamberlain, setting the stage for a classic confrontation with the Celtics in 1969. That Finals would go seven games and be the last battle between Chamberlain and Russell, who retired after the series. Russell won 11 titles in 13 years, seven of which were at the expense of the Lakers.
Bill Russell took over as player-coach and continued his dominance of the league. They beat the Lakers for the championship again in 1968. The Lakers responded by trading for Wilt Chamberlain, setting the stage for a classic confrontation with the Celtics in 1969. That Finals would go seven games and be the last battle between Chamberlain and Russell, who retired after the series. Russell won 11 titles in 13 years, seven of which were at the expense of the Lakers.
Championships: Celtics 11, Lakers 5
1970-73: Los Angeles Finally Gets Over the Hump
Jerry West and the Lakers suffered a couple more playoff losses before finally winning their first Los Angeles championship in 1972 – a season which included a record 33-game winning streak and a then-record 69 wins. Several players and fans felt it was bittersweet since it did not come at the expense of their nemesis, Boston. The Celtics took a couple steps back in those years following Russell’s retirement, but soon returned to contention behind the play of John Havlicek and Dave Cowens.
Jerry West and the Lakers suffered a couple more playoff losses before finally winning their first Los Angeles championship in 1972 – a season which included a record 33-game winning streak and a then-record 69 wins. Several players and fans felt it was bittersweet since it did not come at the expense of their nemesis, Boston. The Celtics took a couple steps back in those years following Russell’s retirement, but soon returned to contention behind the play of John Havlicek and Dave Cowens.
Championships: Celtics 11, Lakers 6
1974-79: Celtics Rebound; Kareem Traded
Boston returned to the top of the mountain with championships in 1974 and ’76. With Chamberlain’s retirement in 1973 and West’s in ’74, the Lakers were without a star player for the first time since coming to Los Angeles. Then, before the 1976 season, they traded for the best player in basketball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Boston returned to the top of the mountain with championships in 1974 and ’76. With Chamberlain’s retirement in 1973 and West’s in ’74, the Lakers were without a star player for the first time since coming to Los Angeles. Then, before the 1976 season, they traded for the best player in basketball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Championships: Celtics 13, Lakers 6
1980-83: Bird vs Magic – Prologue
The entire sports world watched Bird vs Magic in the 1979 NCAA championship game, and with Bird in Boston and Magic in Los Angeles, it looked like the ‘80s would be another decade dominated by the league’s two premiere franchises. The Lakers won the title in 1980 and ’82, while the Celtics won in ’81, yet the epic Finals showdown remained elusive. Fans began to wonder not when, but if, the two would ever meet in the Finals.
The entire sports world watched Bird vs Magic in the 1979 NCAA championship game, and with Bird in Boston and Magic in Los Angeles, it looked like the ‘80s would be another decade dominated by the league’s two premiere franchises. The Lakers won the title in 1980 and ’82, while the Celtics won in ’81, yet the epic Finals showdown remained elusive. Fans began to wonder not when, but if, the two would ever meet in the Finals.
Championships: Celtics 14, Lakers 8
1984-87: Bird vs Magic – Trilogy
In 1984 the stars aligned and the NBA world was captivated by the first Finals match-up between Boston and LA in fifteen years. The seven-game epic saw the same result as in the previous iteration, with Boston holding the trophy. The Lakers would finally defeat the Celtics in 1985, and then do so again in ’87 (with Boston beating Houston for the title in ’86). Magic’s Lakers won two of the three series against Bird’s Celtics, and the two teams ushered in a new era of interest in the NBA, arguably saving the league from demise.
In 1984 the stars aligned and the NBA world was captivated by the first Finals match-up between Boston and LA in fifteen years. The seven-game epic saw the same result as in the previous iteration, with Boston holding the trophy. The Lakers would finally defeat the Celtics in 1985, and then do so again in ’87 (with Boston beating Houston for the title in ’86). Magic’s Lakers won two of the three series against Bird’s Celtics, and the two teams ushered in a new era of interest in the NBA, arguably saving the league from demise.
Championships: Celtics 16, Lakers 10
1988-91: Bird vs Magic – Epilogue
The Lakers continued to role, winning another championship in 1988 (becoming the first team to win back-to-back since the Russell Celtics) and making the Finals in ’89. Even with Jabbar’s retirement after that season, Magic kept them competitive, getting them to the 1991 Finals. The Celtics, on the other hand, were slowed by age and injuries, and they lacked the young star to take up the mantle after the devastating death of Len Bias in 1986.
The Lakers continued to role, winning another championship in 1988 (becoming the first team to win back-to-back since the Russell Celtics) and making the Finals in ’89. Even with Jabbar’s retirement after that season, Magic kept them competitive, getting them to the 1991 Finals. The Celtics, on the other hand, were slowed by age and injuries, and they lacked the young star to take up the mantle after the devastating death of Len Bias in 1986.
Championships: Celtics 16, Lakers 11
1992-96: Dark Times
Magic Johnson was forced to retire before the 1992 season after being diagnosed with HIV. Larry Bird, playing the last several years of his career in great pain, retired one year later. Celtics budding-star Reggie Lewis then tragically died one year after that. In 1994, for the first time since the Lakers entered the league, both teams missed the playoffs. In another first for the league, the Lakers and the Celtics had finally given over the reigns of the NBA to another franchise: Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
Magic Johnson was forced to retire before the 1992 season after being diagnosed with HIV. Larry Bird, playing the last several years of his career in great pain, retired one year later. Celtics budding-star Reggie Lewis then tragically died one year after that. In 1994, for the first time since the Lakers entered the league, both teams missed the playoffs. In another first for the league, the Lakers and the Celtics had finally given over the reigns of the NBA to another franchise: Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
1997-99: Lakers Retool and Celtics Crater
While Jordan’s run of dominance continued, Los Angeles and Boston looked for answers. The Celtics suffered through a string of losing seasons, with a franchise-low coming in 1997. Before that very season, the Lakers signed Shaquille O’Neal in free agency and traded for the rights to incoming high school phenom Kobe Bryant.
While Jordan’s run of dominance continued, Los Angeles and Boston looked for answers. The Celtics suffered through a string of losing seasons, with a franchise-low coming in 1997. Before that very season, the Lakers signed Shaquille O’Neal in free agency and traded for the rights to incoming high school phenom Kobe Bryant.
2000-04: Shaq and Kobe
The Lakers stood atop the league once again as the duo of Shaq and Kobe led them to three championships in a row to start the new millennium. The Celtics found their way back to the playoffs in 2002 and narrowly missed out on facing the Lakers in the Finals. After losing the 2004 Finals, Shaq and Kobe could no longer play together and O’Neal was traded away.
The Lakers stood atop the league once again as the duo of Shaq and Kobe led them to three championships in a row to start the new millennium. The Celtics found their way back to the playoffs in 2002 and narrowly missed out on facing the Lakers in the Finals. After losing the 2004 Finals, Shaq and Kobe could no longer play together and O’Neal was traded away.
Championships: Celtics 16, Lakers 14
2005-07: Mediocrity
Both teams entered a period of mediocrity. The Lakers had Bryant and the Celtics had Paul Pierce, but there wasn’t enough talent around either to make their teams contenders.
Both teams entered a period of mediocrity. The Lakers had Bryant and the Celtics had Paul Pierce, but there wasn’t enough talent around either to make their teams contenders.
2008-13: Four* Trades Renew the Rivalry (KG, Allen, Pau, and NOT Kobe)
The offseason before the 2008 season was seismic for the rivalry. Bryant had requested a trade, which was denied. The Lakers tried instead to bolster the team and entered a bidding war with the Celtics for Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett. Boston won out, trading for Garnett (and also Ray Allen) to team with Pierce. LA’s midseason trade for Pau Gasol set up the first Finals matchup between the two in twenty-one years. Boston won that series in 2008, while Los Angeles won the rematch in seven games in '10 (and also won in '09 over Orlando). Both aging teams would continue to compete for a few more seasons, but neither made it back to the Finals.
The offseason before the 2008 season was seismic for the rivalry. Bryant had requested a trade, which was denied. The Lakers tried instead to bolster the team and entered a bidding war with the Celtics for Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett. Boston won out, trading for Garnett (and also Ray Allen) to team with Pierce. LA’s midseason trade for Pau Gasol set up the first Finals matchup between the two in twenty-one years. Boston won that series in 2008, while Los Angeles won the rematch in seven games in '10 (and also won in '09 over Orlando). Both aging teams would continue to compete for a few more seasons, but neither made it back to the Finals.
Championships: Celtics 17, Lakers 16
2014-18: Rebuilding – Two Different Paths
The Celtics traded away their aging talent before the 2014 season. An injury to Bryant that season doomed the Lakers and neither team made the playoffs for only the second time in league history. Thus began two differing approaches to rebuilding. The Celtics began acquiring assets – young talent and draft picks with eyes toward either developing a star or trading for one. The Lakers, meanwhile, tried to lure all-star players in free agency. Boston built a sustainable winner with a bright future while Los Angeles repeatedly struck out.
The Celtics traded away their aging talent before the 2014 season. An injury to Bryant that season doomed the Lakers and neither team made the playoffs for only the second time in league history. Thus began two differing approaches to rebuilding. The Celtics began acquiring assets – young talent and draft picks with eyes toward either developing a star or trading for one. The Lakers, meanwhile, tried to lure all-star players in free agency. Boston built a sustainable winner with a bright future while Los Angeles repeatedly struck out.
2019-Present: Return to Glory
Before the 2019 season, the Lakers finally landed a franchise player when LeBron James joined the team. Both teams were then in competition to trade for Anthony Davis, a star in his prime. The Celtics, with all of their assets, were unable to make it happen (Davis had said he preferred to sign with LA) and the Lakers completed the trade before the 2020 season. James and Davis then led Los Angeles back to the promised land in their first year together.
Before the 2019 season, the Lakers finally landed a franchise player when LeBron James joined the team. Both teams were then in competition to trade for Anthony Davis, a star in his prime. The Celtics, with all of their assets, were unable to make it happen (Davis had said he preferred to sign with LA) and the Lakers completed the trade before the 2020 season. James and Davis then led Los Angeles back to the promised land in their first year together.
Championships: Celtics 17, Lakers 17
|
Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell ushered in a new era in the NBA. Before they arrived, basketball was dominantly a white, jump-shooting sport. Enter Russell, and especially Chamberlain, and a new level of athleticism. These two big men helped expand the popularity of the NBA nationwide. Wilt was so far ahead of his time, only Babe Ruth rivals his individual dominance of a sport. But it was Russell's Celtics who dominated the league, winning 11 titles in 13 years. This was a classic match-up of a singular, dominant force consistantly losing out to a team-oriented, defensive leader who, it should be said, was almost always surrounded by teammates with superior talent. Most of these battles were between Russell's Celtics and Chamberlain's Warriors and 76ers, but the finals chapter was written in the 1969 season when Wilt was traded to the Lakers and the two teams met in an epic NBA Finals. Irresistible offensive force versus immovable defensive object, always guarding each other, Wilt-Russell is the greatest head-to-head rivalry in all of team sports.
NBA box scores from this era generally only tracked field goals, free throws, and points. Additional head-to-head stats were taken from this ESPN article. |
| Playoff Match Ups | ||||||||
| 1964 NBA Finals - Boston Celtics 4, San Francisco Warriors 1 | ||||||||
| FG | FG% | FT | FT% | AST | REB | PTS | ||
| Chamberlain |
62-120 |
.517 |
22-53 |
.415 |
2.4 |
27.6 |
29.2 |
|
| Russell |
22-57 |
.386 |
12-25 |
.480 |
5.0 |
25.2 |
11.2 |
|
| 1969 NBA Finals - Boston Celtics 4, Los Angeles Lakers 3 | ||||||||
| FG | FG% | FT | FT% | AST | REB | PTS | ||
| Chamberlain |
29-58 |
.500 |
24-64 |
.375 |
3.0 |
25.0 |
11.7 |
|
| Russell |
25-63 |
.397 |
14-24 |
.583 |
5.1 |
21.1 |
9.1 |
|
| Chamberlain | Eastern Conference Finals | Russell | ||||||
| FG | FT | FT% | PTS | FG | FT | FT% | PTS | |
| 74 |
35 |
30.5 |
1960 - Celtics 4, Warriors 2 |
54 |
16 |
20.7 |
||
| 88 |
59 |
33.6 |
1962 - Celtics 4, Warriors 3 |
59 |
36 |
22.0 |
||
| 81 |
49-84 |
.583 |
30.1 |
1965 - Celtics 4, 76ers 3 |
46 |
17-36 |
.472 |
15.6 |
| 56 |
28-68 |
.412 |
28.0 |
1966 - Celtics 4, 76ers 1 |
25 |
20-36 |
.560 |
14.0 |
| 40 |
28-54 |
.519 |
21.6 |
1967 - 76ers 4, Celtics 1 |
19 |
19-28 |
.680 |
11.4 |
| 58 |
39-92 |
.424 |
22.1 |
1968 - Celtics 4, 76ers 3 |
37 |
22-37 |
.590 |
13.7 |
| Totals | ||||||||
| Playoffs | Regular Season | |||||||
| Series Won | Games Won | REB | PTS | Wins | REB | PTS | ||
| Chamberlain |
1 |
20 |
28.0 |
25.7 |
37 |
28.2 |
30.0 |
|
| Russell |
7 |
29 |
24.7 |
14.9 |
57 |
22.9 |
14.2 |
|
| Giants of the Game: Russell and Chamberlain Part 2 |
Classic Confrontations: Rivalry for the Ages |
| Season Comparisons | ||||||||||||
| Wilt Chamberlain | Bill Russell | |||||||||||
| AGE | PTS | REB | AST | REC | MVP | AGE | PTS | REB | AST | REC | MVP | |
| 1956-57 |
22 |
14.7 |
19.6 |
1.8 |
44-28 |
7th |
||||||
| 1957-58 |
23 |
16.6 |
22.7 |
2.9 |
49-23 |
1st |
||||||
| 1958-59 |
24 |
16.7 |
23.0 |
3.2 |
52-20 |
2nd |
||||||
| 23 |
37.6 |
27.0 |
2.3 |
49-26 |
1st/ROY |
1959-60 |
25 |
18.2 |
24.0 |
3.7 |
59-16 |
2nd |
| 24 |
38.4 |
27.2 |
1.9 |
46-33 |
4th |
1960-61 |
26 |
16.9 |
23.9 |
3.4 |
57-22 |
1st |
| 25 |
50.4 |
25.7 |
2.4 |
49-31 |
2nd |
1961-62 |
27 |
18.9 |
23.6 |
4.5 |
60-20 |
1st |
| 26 |
44.8 |
24.3 |
3.4 |
31-49 |
7th |
1962-63 |
28 |
16.8 |
23.6 |
4.5 |
58-22 |
1st |
| 27 |
36.9 |
22.3 |
5.0 |
48-32 |
2nd |
1963-64 |
29 |
15.0 |
24.7 |
4.7 |
59-21 |
3rd |
| 28 |
34.7 |
22.9 |
3.4 |
40-40 |
5th |
1964-65 |
30 |
14.1 |
24.1 |
5.3 |
62-18 |
1st |
| 29 |
33.5 |
24.6 |
5.2 |
55-25 |
1st |
1965-66 |
31 |
12.9 |
22.8 |
4.8 |
54-26 |
4th |
| 30 |
24.1 |
24.2 |
7.8 |
68-13 |
1st |
1966-67 |
32 |
13.3 |
21.0 |
5.8 |
60-21 |
3rd |
| 31 |
24.3 |
23.8 |
8.6 |
62-20 |
1st |
1967-68 |
33 |
12.5 |
18.6 |
4.6 |
54-28 |
- |
| 32 |
20.5 |
21.1 |
4.5 |
55-27 |
- |
1968-69 |
34 |
9.9 |
19.3 |
4.9 |
48-34 |
4th |
| 33 |
27.3 |
18.4 |
4.1 |
46-36 |
12 gms |
1969-70 |
||||||
| 34 |
20.7 |
18.2 |
4.3 |
48-34 |
- |
1970-71 |
||||||
| 35 |
14.8 |
19.2 |
4.0 |
69-13 |
3rd |
1971-72 |
||||||
| 36 |
13.2 |
18.6 |
4.5 |
60-22 |
4th |
1972-73 |
||||||
| 30.1 |
22.9 |
4.4 |
2-4 Finals |
4 MVPs |
Totals |
15.1 |
22.5 |
4.3 |
11-1 Finals |
5 MVPs |
||
| 1979 NCAA Championship | ||
| Magic's Michigan State 75, Bird's Indiana State 64 - Magic MOP | ||
| Magic | Bird | |
| 24 |
Points |
19 |
| 7 |
Rebounds |
13 |
| 5 |
Assists |
2 |
| 1 |
Steals |
5 |
| 0 |
Blocks |
1 |
| 8-15 |
Field Goals |
7-21 |
| 8-10 |
Free Throws |
5-8 |
| 1985 NBA Finals | ||
| Lakers 4, Celtics 2 | ||
| Magic | Bird | |
| 18.3 |
Points |
23.8 |
| 6.8 |
Rebounds |
8.8 |
| 14.0 |
Assists |
5.0 |
| 2.2 |
Steals |
1.8 |
| 0.0 |
Blocks |
0.7 |
| 41-83 |
Field Goals |
53-118 |
| .494 |
Field Goal % |
.449 |
| 1-2 |
3-Pointers |
3-9 |
| .500 |
3-Point % |
.333 |
| 27-31 |
Free Throws |
34-40 |
| .871 |
Free Throw % |
.850 |
| 1984 NBA Finals | ||
| Celtics 4, Lakers 3 - Bird Finals MVP | ||
| Magic | Bird | |
| 18.0 |
Points |
27.4 |
| 7.7 |
Rebounds |
14.0 |
| 13.6 |
Assists |
3.6 |
| 2.0 |
Steals |
2.1 |
| 0.9 |
Blocks |
1.1 |
| 47-84 |
Field Goals |
62-128 |
| .560 |
Field Goal % |
.484 |
| 0-1 |
3-Pointers |
4-6 |
| .000 |
3-Point % |
.667 |
| 32-43 |
Free Throws |
64-76 |
| .744 |
Free Throw % |
.842 |
| 1987 NBA Finals | ||
| Lakers 4, Celtics 2 - Magic Finals MVP | ||
| Magic | Bird | |
| 26.2 |
Points |
24.2 |
| 8.0 |
Rebounds |
10.0 |
| 13.0 |
Assists |
5.5 |
| 2.3 |
Steals |
1.2 |
| 0.3 |
Blocks |
1.2 |
| 66-122 |
Field Goals |
53-119 |
| .541 |
Field Goal % |
.445 |
| 1-2 |
3-Pointers |
4-8 |
| .500 |
3-Point % |
.500 |
| 24-25 |
Free Throws |
35-38 |
| .960 |
Free Throw % |
.921 |
| Totals | |||||||||||
| NBA Finals Totals - Magic won 11-8 | |||||||||||
| FG | FG% | 3P | 3P% | FT | FT% | BLK | STL | AST | REB | PTS | |
| Magic | 154-289 | .533 | 2-5 | .400 | 83-99 | .838 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 13.5 | 7.5 | 20.7 |
| Bird | 168-365 | .460 | 11-23 | .478 | 133-154 | .864 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 11.1 | 25.3 |
| Regular Season Meetings - Magic won 10-7 | |||||||||||
| FG | FG% | 3P | 3P% | FT | FT% | BLK | STL | AST | REB | PTS | |
| Magic | 121-244 | .496 | 6-19 | .316 | 101-118 | .856 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 12.2 | 7.1 | 20.5 |
| Bird | 158-316 | .500 | 9-19 | .474 | 66-81 | .815 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 6.5 | 11.6 | 23.0 |
| HBO's "Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals" |
February 17, 1985 - Lakers 117, Celtics 111 One of the greatest duels between the two - and best I've found on YouTube. It was their first game after the epic 1984 Finals and both players brought their best. Magic: 37 Pts (10-16 FG, 17-19 FT), 13 Asts, 3 Rebs Bird: 33 Pts (14-22 FG, 4-5 FT), 15 Rebs, 3 Asts |
| Season Comparisons | ||||||||||||
| Magic Johnson | Larry Bird | |||||||||||
| AGE | PTS | REB | AST | REC | MVP | AGE | PTS | REB | AST | REC | MVP | |
| 20 |
18.0 |
7.7 |
7.3 |
60-22 |
- |
1979-80 |
23 |
21.3 |
10.4 |
4.5 |
61-21 |
4th/ROY |
| 21 |
21.6 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
54-28 |
37 gms |
1980-81 |
24 |
21.2 |
10.9 |
5.5 |
62-20 |
2nd |
| 22 |
18.6 |
9.6 |
9.5 |
57-25 |
8th |
1981-82 |
25 |
22.9 |
10.9 |
5.8 |
63-19 |
2nd |
| 23 |
16.8 |
8.6 |
10.5 |
58-24 |
3rd |
1982-83 |
26 |
23.6 |
11.0 |
5.8 |
56-26 |
2nd |
| 24 |
17.6 |
7.3 |
13.1 |
54-28 |
3rd |
1983-84 |
27 |
24.2 |
10.1 |
6.6 |
62-20 |
1st |
| 25 |
18.3 |
6.2 |
12.6 |
62-20 |
2nd |
1984-85 |
28 |
28.7 |
10.5 |
6.6 |
63-19 |
1st |
| 26 |
18.8 |
5.9 |
12.6 |
62-20 |
3rd |
1985-86 |
29 |
25.8 |
9.8 |
6.8 |
67-15 |
1st |
| 27 |
23.9 |
6.3 |
12.2 |
65-17 |
1st |
1986-87 |
30 |
28.1 |
9.2 |
7.6 |
59-23 |
3rd |
| 28 |
19.6 |
6.2 |
11.9 |
62-20 |
3rd |
1987-88 |
31 |
29.9 |
9.3 |
6.1 |
57-25 |
2nd |
| 29 |
22.5 |
7.9 |
12.8 |
57-25 |
1st |
1988-89 |
32 |
19.3 |
6.2 |
4.8 |
42-40 |
6 gms |
| 30 |
22.3 |
6.6 |
11.5 |
63-19 |
1st |
1989-90 |
33 |
24.3 |
9.5 |
7.5 |
52-30 |
10th |
| 31 |
19.4 |
7.0 |
12.5 |
58-24 |
2nd |
1990-91 |
34 |
19.4 |
8.5 |
7.2 |
56-26 |
60 gms |
| 1991-92 |
35 |
20.2 |
9.6 |
6.8 |
51-31 |
45 gms |
||||||
| 36 |
14.6 |
5.7 |
6.9 |
53-29 |
32 gms |
1995-96 |
||||||
| 19.5 |
7.2 |
11.2 |
5-4 Finals |
3 MVPs |
Totals |
24.3 |
10.0 |
6.3 |
3-2 Finals |
3 MVPs |
||
| Here are the top 20 players for each franchise based on total Win Shares - regular season plus playoffs. The game totals include playoffs as well. Then I list the Win Shares per 100 total games played. Lastly, the number of All-NBA selections. These are only for games played with the team. An asterisk (*) by the years played means the player spent their entire career with the franchise. Rankings current through the 2019-20 season. |
| All-Time Lakers | ||||||
| |
|
Player, Years | WS | G | /100 | NBA |
| 1 |
SG |
Kobe Bryant, 1997-16* |
201.0 |
1566 |
12.8 |
15 |
| 2 |
G |
Jerry West, 1961-74* |
189.3 |
1085 |
17.4 |
12 |
| 3 |
PG |
Magic Johnson, 1980-91, 96* |
188.4 |
1096 |
17.2 |
10 |
| 4 |
C |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1976-89 |
181.7 |
1273 |
14.3 |
10 |
| 5 |
C |
George Mikan, 1949-54, 56* |
125.7 |
509 |
24.7 |
6 |
| 6 |
C |
Shaquille O'Neal, 1997-04 |
120.1 |
636 |
18.9 |
8 |
| 7 |
SF |
Elgin Baylor, 1959-72* |
119.6 |
980 |
12.2 |
10 |
| 8 |
F |
James Worthy, 1983-94* |
96.0 |
1069 |
9.0 |
2 |
| 9 |
PF |
Vern Mikkelsen, 1950-59* |
92.6 |
784 |
11.8 |
4 |
| 10 |
SG |
Byron Scott, 1984-93, 97 |
77.1 |
996 |
7.7 |
0 |
| 11 |
C |
Wilt Chamberlain, 1969-73 |
75.7 |
419 |
18.1 |
1 |
| 12 |
PF |
Pau Gasol, 2008-14 |
72.0 |
522 |
13.8 |
3 |
| 13 |
PF |
A.C. Green, 1986-93, 00 |
71.9 |
861 |
8.4 |
0 |
| 14 |
SG |
Michael Cooper, 1979-90* |
64.0 |
1041 |
6.1 |
0 |
| 15 |
G |
Gail Goodrich, 1966-68, 71-76 |
62.4 |
760 |
8.2 |
1 |
| 16 |
F |
Lamar Odom, 2005-11 |
60.7 |
608 |
10.0 |
0 |
| 17 |
G |
Derek Fisher, 1997-04, 08-12 |
57.4 |
1108 |
5.2 |
0 |
| 18 |
F |
Jamaal Wilkes, 1978-85 |
54.9 |
648 |
8.5 |
0 |
| 19 |
PF |
Rudy LaRusso, 1960-67 |
50.2 |
659 |
7.6 |
0 |
| 20 |
PF |
Happy Hairston, 1970-75 |
48.3 |
445 |
10.9 |
0 |
| SF |
LeBron James, 2019-Pres |
21.4 |
143 |
15.0 |
2 |
|
| PF |
Anthony Davis, 2020-Pres |
15.6 |
83 |
18.8 |
1 |
|
| All-Time Celtics | ||||||
| |
|
Player, Years | WS | G | /100 | NBA |
| 1 |
C |
Bill Russell, 1957-69* |
191.3 |
1128 |
17.0 |
11 |
| 2 |
SF |
Larry Bird, 1980-92* |
170.6 |
1061 |
16.1 |
10 |
| 3 |
GF |
Paul Pierce, 1999-13 |
152.9 |
1238 |
12.4 |
4 |
| 4 |
GF |
John Havlicek, 1963-78* |
151.0 |
1442 |
10.5 |
11 |
| 5 |
C |
Robert Parish, 1981-94 |
137.2 |
1274 |
10.8 |
2 |
| 6 |
PF |
Kevin McHale, 1981-93* |
133.7 |
1140 |
11.7 |
1 |
| 7 |
SG |
Sam Jones, 1958-69* |
107.5 |
1025 |
10.5 |
3 |
| 8 |
PG |
Bob Cousy, 1951-63 |
100.1 |
1026 |
9.8 |
12 |
| 9 |
C |
Dave Cowens, 1971-80 |
93.1 |
815 |
11.4 |
3 |
| 10 |
SG |
Bill Sharman, 1952-61 |
90.2 |
758 |
11.9 |
7 |
| 11 |
F |
Don Nelson, 1966-76 |
80.6 |
1006 |
8.0 |
0 |
| 12 |
C |
Ed Macauley, 1951-56 |
78.5 |
442 |
17.8 |
4 |
| 13 |
SF |
Cedric Maxwell, 1978-85 |
74.9 |
695 |
10.8 |
0 |
| 14 |
PF |
Tom Heinsohn, 1957-65* |
69.1 |
758 |
9.1 |
4 |
| 15 |
F |
Tom Sanders, 1961-73* |
63.0 |
1046 |
6.0 |
0 |
| 16 |
PF |
Kevin Garnett, 2008-13 |
59.0 |
480 |
12.3 |
1 |
| 17 |
SG |
Frank Ramsey, 1955, 57-64* |
58.7 |
721 |
8.1 |
0 |
| 18 |
PG |
Jo Jo White, 1970-79 |
58.3 |
797 |
7.3 |
2 |
| 19 |
PG |
Rajon Rondo, 2007-15 |
55.6 |
619 |
9.0 |
1 |
| 20 |
SG |
Ray Allen, 2008-12 |
52.8 |
449 |
11.8 |
0 |
| SF |
Jayson Tatum, 2018-Pres* |
23.4 |
270 |
8.7 |
1 |
|
| SG |
Jaylen Brown, 2017-Pres* |
17.8 |
340 |
5.2 |
0 |
|
| PG |
Kemba Walker, 2020-Pres |
7.8 |
73 |
10.7 |
0 |
|
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