Record: 53-29, first place in Pacific Division
A new season brought a new coach, as Jerry West replaced Bill Sharman. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won his second straight MVP award as the Lakers won the Pacific Division with a league-best 53 wins and seemed poised to win another NBA title.
Playoffs: The Lakers barely survived a first-round matchup against the Golden State Warriors, then were swept in the Western Conference finals by Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers.