1958-59 Season

Record: 33-39, second place in Western Division

Finishing with the worst record in the 1957-58 season turned out to be a blessing for the Lakers, since it earned them the No. 1 pick in the 1958 NBA draft. Their selection? Elgin Baylor. As a rookie, Baylor finished fourth in the league in scoring (24.9) and third in rebounding (15.0) and easily won the NBA's rookie of the year award.

Playoffs: The Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons in the division semifinals, then upset the favored St. Louis Hawks in the division finals, setting up the first NBA Finals matchup with future arch-nemesis, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had an 18-game regular-season winning streak against the Lakers, and swept them in the Finals for Boston's first NBA title.

Playoff Results


Western Division Semifinals


  • at Lakers 92, Detroit 89

  • at Detroit 117, Lakers 103

  • at Lakers 129, Detroit 102



Western Division Finals


  • at St. Louis 124, Lakers 90

  • at Lakers 106, St. Louis 98

  • at St. Louis 127, Lakers 97

  • at Lakers 108, St. Louis 98

  • Lakers 98, at St. Louis 97 (OT)

  • at Lakers 106, St. Louis 104




NBA Finals


  • at Boston 118, Lakers 115

  • at Boston 128, Lakers 108

  • Boston 123, Lakers 110 (at St. Paul)

  • Boston 118, at Lakers 113