1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the Lakers' 51st season in the National Basketball Association, and 39th in the city of Los Angeles.[1] It was the Lakers' final season at the Great Western Forum. During the offseason, the Lakers signed free agent Derek Harper. In his first season as a starter, Kobe Bryant finished second on the team in scoring with 19.9 points per game. At midseason, Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell were both traded to the Charlotte Hornets for All-Star forward Glen Rice, J.R. Reid and B.J. Armstrong, who was released and signed with the Orlando Magic.[2] The Lakers move continued midway through the season, signing free agent and rebounding specialist Dennis Rodman, who was well known for winning championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls.[3] However, after 23 games, Rodman was released by the team.[4]

1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers season
Head coach
General managerJerry West
Owner(s)Jerry Buss
ArenaGreat Western Forum
Results
Record31–19 (.620)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 4th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Spurs 0–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKCAL-TV
Fox Sports West
(Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)
RadioKLAC
(Chick Hearn, Stu Lantz)

The Lakers finished second in the Pacific Division with a 31–19 record in a season shortened to 50 games due to a four-month lockout. Their attendance for the season was 430,007 (12th in the league). In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 3–1 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, but were swept in four straight games by the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs during the Western Conference Semifinals.

Following the season, Reid signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sean Rooks was traded back to the Dallas Mavericks, rookie Ruben Patterson signed with the Seattle SuperSonics, and Harper was dealt to the Detroit Pistons, but was released and then retired.

Draft picks
Main article: 1998 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 26 Sam Jacobson Guard  United States Minnesota

[5]

Roster
Roster listing
1998–99 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
SG 8 Bryant, Kobe 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1978–08–23 Lower Merion HS
PG 2 Fisher, Derek 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1974–08–09 Arkansas-Little Rock
SF 17 Fox, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
PG 12 Harper, Derek 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–10–13 Illinois
PF 5 Horry, Robert 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama
SG 7 Jacobson, Sam  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1975–07–22 Minnesota
PF 40 Knight, Travis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1974–09–13 Connecticut
PG 10 Lue, Tyronn 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1977–05–03 Nebraska
C 34 O'Neal, Shaquille 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 325 lb (147 kg) 1972–03–06 LSU
SF 21 Patterson, Ruben 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 1975–07–31 Cincinnati
PF 11 Reid, J. R. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 1968–03–31 North Carolina
SF 41 Rice, Glen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–05–28 Michigan
C 45 Rooks, Sean 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1969–09–09 Arizona
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 1999–04–16

Roster Notes

Regular season

The Lakers went through three coaches during the season: Del Harris (6–6), Bill Bertka (1–0) and Kurt Rambis (24–13). Fourteen different Lakers started at least one game during the season.[6] From February 25 to March 12, the Lakers won ten consecutive games. Outside of the streak, the Lakers were 21-19 in all other games. During the season, over half of the Lakers' games were televised nationally.[6]

At season's end, the Lakers ranked second in the league in scoring at 99.0 points per game (only Sacramento averaged more points: 100.2 ppg). Despite the high scoring, the Lakers were the fourth worst Free Throw shooting team in the league with a percentage of .683. Shaquille O'Neal had a percentage of .540. Following the season, Rambis was fired as coach.

Season standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers 3515.700–22–313–1215–7
x-Los Angeles Lakers 3119.620418–713–1214–8
x-Sacramento Kings 2723.540816–911–1411–9
x-Phoenix Suns 2723.540815–1012–139–10
Seattle SuperSonics 2525.5001017–88–1711–10
Golden State Warriors 2129.4201413–128–178–11
Los Angeles Clippers 941.180266–193–223–16
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs3713.740–
2 y-Portland Trail Blazers3515.7002
3 x-Utah Jazz3713.740–
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers3119.6206
5 x-Houston Rockets3119.6206
6 x-Sacramento Kings2723.54010
7 x-Phoenix Suns2723.54010
8 x-Minnesota Timberwolves2525.50012
9 Seattle SuperSonics2525.50012
10 Golden State Warriors2129.42016
11 Dallas Mavericks1931.38018
12 Denver Nuggets1436.28023
13 Los Angeles Clippers941.18028
14 Vancouver Grizzlies842.16029
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

[7]

Record vs. opponents
1998-99 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —3–03–03–12–10–10–01–20–01–03–11–00–00–31–20–01–22–12–22–11–00–00–00–00–02–10–01–02–1
Boston 0–3—1–22–12–20–01–00–30–00–00–31–00–03–00–30–11–21–21–21–20–00–10–10–00–01–20–01–03–1
Charlotte 0–32–1—2–12–10–00–03–00–10–01–20–00–11–22–20–03–01–31–21–21–01–00–00–00–02–11–00–02–1
Chicago 1–31–21–2—0–30–10–00–30–00–00–31–00–01–21–30–02–11–20–31–20–00–00–00–10–11–20–11–01–2
Cleveland 1–22–21–23–0—0–00–01–21–00–10–30–01–00–31–20–03–01–21–21–21–00–00–01–00–02–20–10–01–2
Dallas 1–00–00–01–00–0—2–10–12–22–20–03–00–30–10–01–20–10–01–00–01–30–32–21–30–30–00–32–10–0
Denver 0–00–10–00–00–01–2—0–01–30–40–13–01–20–11–00–31–00–00–00–00–30–30–30–42–20–01–23–10–1
Detroit 2–13–00–33–02–11–00–0—0–00–02–10–00–02–12–10–12–12–10–41–31–00–00–00–11–02–11–00–02–1
Golden State 0–00–01–00–00–12–23–10–0—0–31–02–11–20–00–12–20–00–00–10–01–22–21–20–31–20–00–44–00–0
Houston 0–10–00–00–01–02–24–00–03–0—0–03–11–20–10–02–11–00–00–10–02–22–13–00–32–11–00–34–00–0
Indiana 1–23–02–13–03–00–01–01–20–10–0—0–01–02–23–00–03–12–11–21–20–00–10–00–00–02–10–01–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–10–10–00–10–00–30–30–01–21–30–0—0–40–00–02–21–00–10–00–00–31–21–20–30–30–11–31–30–0
L.A. Lakers 0–00–01–00–00–13–02–10–02–12–10–14–0—0–00–02–10–01–01–00–13–12–21–22–12–20–01–32–10–0
Miami 3–00–32–12–13–01–01–01–20–01–02–20–00–0—2–10–13–12–22–12–10–00–00–00–00–03–00–10–03–0
Milwaukee 2–13–02–23–12–10–00–11–21–00–00–30–00–01–2—1–02–12–11–21–20–10–00–00–01–03–10–00–02–1
Minnesota 0–01–00–00–00–02–13–01–02–21–20–02–21–21–00–1—0–00–10–00–01–20–33–12–22–10–10–33–10–0
New Jersey 2–12–10–31–20–31–00–11–20–00–11–30–10–01–31–20–0—0–30–31–20–00–10–00–01–02–10–00–02–1
New York 1–22–13–12–12–10–00–01–20–00–01–21–00–12–21–21–03–0—0–33–11–00–00–10–00–01–20–00–02–1
Orlando 2–22–12–13–02–10–10–04–01–01–02–10–00–11–22–10–03–03–0—1–20–00–01–00–10–01–20–00–02–1
Philadelphia 1–22–12–12–12–10–00–03–10–00–02–10–01–01–22–10–02–11–32–1—0–00–11–00–10–12–10–01–01–2
Phoenix 0–10–00–10–00–13–13–00–12–12–20–03–01–30–01–02–10–00–10–00–0—0–30–32–23–00–02–23–00–0
Portland 0–01–00–10–00–03–03–00–02–21–21–02–12–20–00–03–01–00–00–01–03–0—4–01–32–20–01–24–00–0
Sacramento 0–01–01–00–00–02–23–00–02–10–30–02–12–10–00–01–30–01–00–10–13–00–4—1–22–20–01–24–01–0
San Antonio 0–00–00–01–00–13–14–01–03–03–00–03–01–20–00–02–20–00–01–01–02–23–12–1—2–10–12–13–00–0
Seattle 0–00–00–01–00–03–02–20–12–11–20–03–02–20–00–11–20–10–00–01–00–32–22–21–2—0–02–22–10–1
Toronto 1–22–11–22–12–20–00–01–20–00–11–21–00–00–31–31–01–22–12–11–20–00–00–01–00–0—0–01–02–2
Utah 0–00–00–11–01–03–02–10–14–03–00–03–13–11–00–03–00–00–00–00–02–22–12–11–22–20–0—3–01–0
Vancouver 0–10–10–00–10–01–21–30–00–30–40–13–11–20–00–01–30–00–00–00–10–30–30–40–31–20–10–3—0–0
Washington 1–21–31–22–12–10–01–01–20–10–00–30–00–00–31–20–01–21–21–22–10–00–10–10–01–02–20–10–0—

Playoffs

West First Round

(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 3-1

Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-1)

West Conference Semifinals

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers: Spurs win series 4-0

  • Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 17): San Antonio 87, Los Angeles 81
  • Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 19): San Antonio 79, Los Angeles 76
  • Game 3 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 22): San Antonio 103, Los Angeles 91
  • Game 4 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 23): San Antonio 118, Los Angeles 107

Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference Semifinals (San Antonio won 4-2)

Player stats
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Corie Blount 14311.6.394.000.5003.3.1.1.32.3
Kobe Bryant 505037.9.465.267.8395.33.81.41.019.9
Elden Campbell 17119.1.436..6135.6.5.1.97.4
Derek Fisher 502122.6.376.392.7561.83.91.2.05.9
Rick Fox 44121.5.448.337.7422.02.0.6.29.0
Derek Harper 452924.9.412.368.8131.54.21.0.16.9
Robert Horry 38519.6.459.444.7394.01.5.91.04.9
Sam Jacobson 206.0.600.0001.0001.5.0.0.04.0
Eddie Jones 202036.2.423.313.7383.83.11.81.213.6
Travis Knight 372314.2.515.000.7593.5.8.6.74.2
Tyronn Lue 15012.5.431.438.571.41.7.3.05.0
Shaquille O'Neal 494934.8.576.000.54010.72.3.71.726.3
Ruben Patterson 2426.0.412.167.7101.3.1.2.12.7
J. R. Reid 251018.9.407.000.7174.0.9.6.05.0
Glen Rice 272536.5.432.393.8563.72.6.6.217.5
Dennis Rodman 231128.6.348.000.43611.21.3.4.52.1
Sean Rooks 3608.8.405.000.7082.0.3.1.32.7
  • Shaquille O'Neal averaged 26.3 ppg (2nd), 10.7 rpg (8th), and shot 57.6% (1st). For his efforts, he was named to the All-NBA second-team.
  • Kobe Bryant had a career high 19.9 ppg and added 3.8 apg. He was recognized as an All-NBA third-team.
  • Dennis Rodman played 23 games with the Lakers in 1999. He averaged 11.2 rebounds per game and the Lakers went 17-6 with Rodman in the lineup.
  • Glen Rice played in 27 games with the club and averaged 17.5 points per game. With Rice in the lineup, the Lakers went 16-11

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kobe Bryant 8839.4.430.348.8006.94.61.91.319.8
Derek Fisher 8829.8.418.345.8003.64.91.0.09.8
Rick Fox 8122.6.400.1901.0002.81.5.5.66.6
Derek Harper 7016.1.419.100.5001.42.1.3.14.3
Robert Horry 8022.1.462.417.7864.51.4.8.85.0
Travis Knight 303.3.333..5001.7.3.0.01.0
Tyronn Lue 3011.0.412.000..72.0.7.04.7
Shaquille O'Neal 8839.4.510..46611.62.3.92.926.6
Ruben Patterson 301.7.000...0.0.0.0.0
J. R. Reid 8822.3.357..7505.3.4.5.63.3
Glen Rice 7743.9.446.357.9663.91.6.7.118.3
Sean Rooks 706.9.333..833.3.4.0.11.3

Awards and honors
  • Kobe Bryant, All-NBA Third Team
  • Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA Second Team

References
  1. 1998-99 Los Angeles Lakers
  2. "Lakers Swap Rumors for a Victory". Los Angeles Times. February 17, 1999. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  3. "Rodman Signs Lakers Contract". Chicago Tribune. February 23, 1999. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  4. "N.B.A. : ROUNDUP -- LAKERS; Rodman's Act Finally Wears Too Thin". New York Times. April 16, 1999. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  5. "1998 NBA Draft History - Round 1". Mynbadraft.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "1998-99 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
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